Miriam married Samuel Pond on 5 Feb 1669/70 in Branford, Connecticut.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Her father's 1674 will refers to "Sam'l Pond, the husband of Miryam, daughter of Thomas Blatchly" and the proofing of the will was witnessed by Samuel Pond in addition to "Susanna Blatchly", Aaaron Blatchly, and Moses Blatchly.[12] One source lists her as "Miriam Blakey".[13][14] It is notable that the first two sources cited above for this marriage claim that the service of 5 January 1669/70 was performed by Rev. Abraham Pierson. According to the History of New Haven County, by 1667 Rev. Pierson had departed with his flock from Branford -- to found a settlement at Newark, New Jersey.[15] It thus seems more likely that the ceremony would have been performed either by a magistrate (not uncommon in Branford at the time)[16] or by Rev. Bowers[17][18][19]
An 1892 family genealogical history for Lucy Blakeslee appears to have erroneously switched the names of the husbands of Miriam and her sister Abigail.[20]
Miriam and Samuel had at least 9 children, all born in Branford:
Nathaniel Pond[21] -- Born 14 February 1676[22][23] Died 19 Oct 1679.[24]
Abigail Pond (1) -- Born in 1677.[25] Died 19 October 1679, age 21 months[26]
Abigail Pond (2)[31] - Born about 1684 (estimate based upon the year of her first marriage) . Named in Samuel's will as having married Isaac Tyler.[32] Married for the first time on 6 November 1704.[33] Married 2nd to Josiah Arnold.[34]. Abigail died after 1733 when she was named as an heir of her 2nd husband.[35]
Lois Pond[40] - Born in 1690[41] Baptized in 1690.[42] Married to Joseph Lee of Guilford on 24 June 1730.[43]
Moses Pond[44] - Jacobus reported the following events: Born 1693. Married to Mary Brainerd on 7 January 1718/1719. He died 21 November 1770.[45] Baptized in 1693.[46]
Miriam Pond[47] - Born in 1696.[48] Baptized in 1696.[49]
Mindwell Pond[50] Jacobus reported the following events: Born 1698. Died 1 Apr 1777 in Haddam; Married 26 Oct 1731 in Haddam to Joseph Brainerd.[51] Baptized in 1698.[52]
NOTE: Samuel and Miriam did not have a son Philip, according to reliable sources so far identified.
Inherited Guilford land from Thomas "deceased in Boston"
In 1674 "Aron Blachly and Moses Blachly and Samuel ponn the husband of marium the daughter of thomas blachly late deceased in boston with the consent of their mother Susannah Blachly" agreed to the division of lands in "gilford" inherited from Thomas Blachly.[53]
Deaths of Samuel and Miriam
Samuel died in Guilford, New Haven County, in 1718. His will, which documented that Miriam was still living, was written 30 Jan 1717/18 and proofed after he died that year.[54] A copy of the will is transcribed into New Haven probate records.[55]
While a source documenting Miriam's year of death has yet to be located, we know from Guilford land records that she died no earlier than 1719.[56][57]
↑Page 99: Branford, New Haven County. Marriages by Rev. Abraham Pierson. "Samuel Pond & Mirriam Blatchley, Jan. 5, 1669"
↑ Early Connecticut Marriages
as found on Ancient Church Records Prior to 1800, by Frederick W. BAILEY, Vol 2, 1896 (http://dunhamwilcox.net/ct/branford_newhav_marr.htm) "Samuel Pond & Mirriam Blatchley married 5 Jan 1669 by Rev. Abraham Pierson"
↑ Torrey Clarence A., New England Marriages prior to 1700 (Baltimore, MD, USA:: Genealogical Publishing Co.,, 2004, page 592
↑ "Connecticut, Vital Records, Prior to 1850," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP75-YTZ5 : 15 April 2022), Samuell Pond in entry for Mirriam Blachly, ; citing Marriage, Branford, New Haven, Connecticut, United States, Compiled by Lucius A. and Lucius B. Barbour, housed at State Library, Hartford, Connecticut; FHL microfilm 008272221.
↑ History of New Haven County, Connecticut, by Rockey, J. L. (John L.) 1892. Volume 2. Page 42 (https://archive.org/details/historyofnewhave01rock/page/42/mode/2up) "When Mr. Pierson removed to Newark, in the summer of 1666, he
employed John Bowers, of Guilford, to preach for those remaining
until the end of the year, when the town engaged him, as is shown
by the following record: January 6th, 1667. 'This certifieth that the inhabitants of the town of Branford did engage themselves unto Mr. Bowers ....' They renewed this arrangement from year to year until 1671
↑ History of New Haven County, Connecticut, by Rockey, J. L. (John L.) 1892. Volume 2. Page 41 (https://archive.org/details/historyofnewhave01rock/page/40/mode/2up)
This history provides a good description of the local religious practices in Branford at the time: "In church polity they were Congregationalists, hold-
ing the doctrine of parity, or of one order in the ministry, and that
all ministers are of equal official rank; and that each parochial church
is an ecclesiastical body complete in itself, with power to elect its own
pastors and deacons, to decide on the proper qualifications of those
who offer themselves for admission to membership with them, and to
receive, to discipline and exclude, as the majority shall judge to be
agreeable to the laws of Christ, the only head, law-giver and king of
the church. They further held to the propriety of asking advice from
other churches, reserving the right to follow or reject such advice, according to their judgment of expediency. ...The Reverend Abraham Pierson has been properly regarded as the first pastor of the church. Coming from South Hampton, L. I., with a part of his congregation from that place, and being a man of character and influence, he was here also the controlling spirit in all the affairs of the town until his removal to Newark, as has been stated. Mr. Pierson preached in the log meeting house ...The Sabbath services consisted of two sermons, each an hour long, timed by the hour glass standing on the pulpit. There was also a prayer, and two or three hymns were sung,
but there was no scripture reading nor any musical instruments. Men and women sat on opposite sides of the house, the boys sat by themselves, attended by a ' tithing man,' to keep order. Children were baptized in the meeting house, generally on the next Sabbath after their birth; sometimes on the day of their birth. Marriages were as often performed by some magistrate as by a minister. There were no public religious services at funerals; minister and people all attended and assisted silently and solemnly until the remains were buried. The meeting house roof, and so, in fact, the roofs of all the
houses, were thatched— sedgegrass was the material used."
↑ "Connecticut, Vital Records, Prior to 1850," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP75-YTZP : 15 April 2022), Mirriam Blachly, ; citing Marriage, Branford, New Haven, Connecticut, United States, Compiled by Lucius A. and Lucius B. Barbour, housed at State Library, Hartford, Connecticut; FHL microfilm 008272221.
↑ New Haven (Conn.) probate records. Probate records v. 3-4 1703-1719. Image 471 of 502 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L92K-G9ZT-V) He mentions his wife Miriam. He mentions his sons, Samuel, Moses, Josiah & Nathaniel (deceased). Daughters: Abigail, wife of Isaac Tyler, Lois, Miriam & Mindwell.
↑ New Haven (Conn.) probate records. Probate records v. 3-4 1703-1719. Image 471 of 502 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L92K-G9ZT-V) He mentions his wife Miriam. He mentions his sons, Samuel, Moses, Josiah & Nathaniel (deceased). Daughters: Abigail, wife of Isaac Tyler, Lois, Miriam & Mindwell.
↑ New Haven (Conn.) probate records. Probate records v. 3-4 1703-1719. Image 471 of 502 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L92K-G9ZT-V) He mentions his wife Miriam. He mentions his sons, Samuel, Moses, Josiah & Nathaniel (deceased). Daughters: Abigail, wife of Isaac Tyler, Lois, Miriam & Mindwell.
↑ New Haven (Conn.) probate records. Probate records v. 3-4 1703-1719. Image 471 of 502 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L92K-G9ZT-V) He mentions his wife Miriam. He mentions his sons, Samuel, Moses, Josiah & Nathaniel (deceased). Daughters: Abigail, wife of Isaac Tyler, Lois, Miriam & Mindwell.
↑ New Haven (Conn.) probate records. Probate records v. 3-4 1703-1719. Image 471 of 502 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L92K-G9ZT-V) He mentions his wife Miriam. He mentions his sons, Samuel, Moses, Josiah & Nathaniel (deceased). Daughters: Abigail, wife of Isaac Tyler, Lois, Miriam & Mindwell.
↑ New Haven (Conn.) probate records. Probate records v. 3-4 1703-1719. Image 471 of 502 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L92K-G9ZT-V) He mentions his wife Miriam. He mentions his sons, Samuel, Moses, Josiah & Nathaniel (deceased). Daughters: Abigail, wife of Isaac Tyler, Lois, Miriam & Mindwell.
↑ New Haven (Conn.) probate records. Probate records v. 3-4 1703-1719. Image 471 of 502 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L92K-G9ZT-V) He mentions his wife Miriam. He mentions his sons, Samuel, Moses, Josiah & Nathaniel (deceased). Daughters: Abigail, wife of Isaac Tyler, Lois, Miriam & Mindwell.
↑ New Haven (Conn.) probate records. Probate records v. 3-4 1703-1719. Image 471 of 502 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L92K-G9ZT-V) He mentions his wife Miriam. He mentions his sons, Samuel, Moses, Josiah & Nathaniel (deceased). Daughters: Abigail, wife of Isaac Tyler, Lois, Miriam & Mindwell.
↑ New Haven (Conn.) probate records. Probate records v. 3-4 1703-1719. Image 471 of 502 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L92K-G9ZT-V) He bequeaths property to his "wife Miriam during her lifetime". He also mentions his sons (Samuel, Moses, Josiah & Nathaniel (deceased)) and his daughters ( Abigail (wife of Isaac Tyler), Lois, Miriam & Mindwell. He says that his grandson is to live with Moses to learn the trade trade of caning & shoemaking.
↑ On 24 June 1719 "Mirriam Pond of Guilford" promptly sold to Stephen Bishop of Guilford, for 50 pounds, her 6 acres of land "at a place called the Rock". In a note at the bottom of the same page Miriam, as relict, surrendered to Stephen Bishop "all my right of dower and power of thirds" to the property. See Guilford land records (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJD-V9NJ-L?i=374&cat=358853) Volume 3. Page 22.
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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Miriam by comparing test results with other carriers of her mitochondrial DNA.
However, there are no known mtDNA test-takers in her direct maternal line.
It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Miriam:
What is the source for a death in Boston (where her father had died) rather than Branford/New Haven where her husband and children lived and died?
The 1718 Will of husband Samuel Pond ( https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/2454891:9049 ) says "... the third part of my estate I give to my wife Miriam ..." .
edited by Bob Pond