James Betts (1663 - 1753)

Born 1663 in Norwalk, Fairfield, Connecticut

Ancestors

Husband of Hannah (Boughton) Betts — married about 1700 in Fairfield, Connecticut Colony

Descendants

Died 6 Jul 1753 at about age 90 in Wilton, Fairfield, Connecticut

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Biography

This profile is part of the Betts Name Study.

James Betts was born around 1663 in Norwalk, Connecticut. ^[1] He married Hannah Bouton about 1705. He fought in the Indian Wars and received 5 acres of land in Norwalk on 12 January 1676 as reward. He moved to Wilton, Connecticut about 1700. In June 1726, he and his brother Samuel were appointed to a committee "to warn the inhabitants of said society of their respective meetings."

It was noted on 27 January 1727 that he and his family occupied the "second long pew" at church. That denoted that his was a prominent family. On 7 January 1730 he conveyed, to his son Benjamin, a dwelling house and barn and 10 acres on the east side of Norwalk River. James also gave him 26 acres on the west side of the river. This was probably a wedding gift as Benjamin had just married. In 1740 he served on the school committee.

By his father's will, he received "Ye other halfe of my now dwelling house, and halfe of my home lot, arable and pasture lands, also halfe of my orchard, not given to my wife." This house is still in existence, but was purchased for $1.00 for a shaker museum. The house was moved to a new location. It is in great condition with all the original floor boards and hand hewn nails. It has an indoor oven and an outdoor oven, one for each of the families that lived there.

• Daughter, Abigail, married Richard Dunning of Wilton, 8 Aug 1734
• Son David? (Research: Inventory for a David Betts of Norwalk was taken on 5 August 1729. James Betts of Norwalk was the administrator (no relationship given).^[2]

Sources

• Betts, Frederic H., 1888. Thomas Betts, of Guilford and Norwalk, and his Descendants. (based on the work of Caroli Wyllys Betts, deceased) pages 30, 32-3
• The abridged compendium of American genealogy: first families of America. A genealogical encyclopedia of the United States. By: Virkus, Frederick Adams, Published: (1925) Vol. 4, p.57

1. ↑ The New England Historical and Genealogical Register (NEHGR), editor, English Origins of New England Families, Vol. I, Vol. II, Vol. III (N.p.: n.p., 1984). Rec. Date: 22 Feb 2015. Cit. Date: 11 Apr 2015.
2. ↑ “Probate Records, v. 6-8, 1717-1750”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G92K-T2WC : 2 May 2022), FHL microfilm 007627301, Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut, Vol 8, 1725-1740, Page 209

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