Henry Champion was born in England in about 1610 (year of birth based on his age at death). He emigrated to New England by 1647, when he was recorded in Saybrook, Connecticut.[1] Some Internet genealogies indicate that he was born in Saybrook in 1610 or 1611, and may claim that this date comes from Ancestry.com's "U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900," ,[2] but this is a misinterpretation of that source (the source does not indicate Henry's birthplace) and it is impossible; Europeans did not settle at Saybrook until 1636.
Death
17 FEB 1708/9 Lyme, New London, Ct.
The gravestone inscription gives the age at death as 97 and the year of death as 1708. [3]
AUG 1647 Saybrook, Middlesex, Connecticut, United States[4]
After his first wife's death, Henry was married to Deborah (Palmer) Jones, widow of Lewis Jones. They were married on 21 March 1697/8 in Lyme, New London, Connecticut. [5][6] Henry Champion died at Lyme, Connecticut, on 17 February 1708/9, "in his 97th year."[7] The couple had a prenuptial agreement. It provided that "whatever estate Deborah Jones shall carry with her to Henry Champean's habitation shall remain her own," would not become part of his estate, and would be distributed to her children from her first marriage after her death. Additionally, it stated that Henry would not dispose of any of his real estate by gift or sale without his wife's permission and that Deborah would be entitled to the widow's share of Henry's estate after his death. Henry was older than Deborah by about three decades, and a passage in The Champion Genealogy indicates that Henry Champion's descendants believed that Deborah took advantage of him through this prenuptial agreement:
"[Henry Champion's] second wife was a shrewd, scheming woman, for she induced this old man to make a very advantageous marriage settlement upon her, and finally involved him in a law suit with the widow of his eldest son, who resisted the resumption of the gifts her father-in-law had made her husband, and maintained in a very spirited manner the rights of herself and children."[8]
Henry Champion was in Saybrook, Connecticut, as early as 1647[5], thirteen years before the first town records of that place are dated. He participated in the hardships of early pioneer life, those hardships being shared by his first wife Sarah, to whom he was married in August, 1647, by the Reverend Mr. Sylvester Nash, of Saybrook.[6]. Later, when a portion of Saybrook was laid out and incorporated as Lyme, they were residents of the new town, and shared in its building and development -- "a first and most active founder."[7] He owned considerable land both in Saybrook and Lyme, in which latter place he had his "ear mark," 1674. There his house was built on the hill just east of the old meeting house, and near the old burying-ground.[8] The lands of Henry Champion are recorded as follows: “One parsell lying on the East side of the Great River Con. Whereon a house now standeth containing by estimation six ackers, the ends abutting against the highway North East and South West, the sides abutting against the land of Morgayn Bowers South East and the land of Joseph Jarrit North West.” [9] Also: “one parsell in the planting fielde on the East side of the great River Con. By estimation four ackers, the end abuts against Blacke Halle River N. East, and against the greate Marsh South West, the side abuts againstthe Land of Will. Bechous North West.”[10] He was made a freeman of Lyme, on the 12 May 1670. After having assisted in the development of Saybrook, Henry Champion removed with his family to the east side of the Connecticut River and became one of the first and most active founders of Lyme, being propounded a freeman of that town on May 12th, 1670. In 1671 he was involved in a land dispute between the towns of Lyme and New London. The dispute was with Renald Marvin and subsequently settled by an agreement dated 8 Sep. 1696.[11] In 1688 he paid taxes under Andros.[12] After the death of his first wife, he married, 21 March 1698, Deborah JONES, who drove a rather hard pre-nuptial bargain with him, of financial advantage to herself. He died in Lyme, 17 February 1708,"aged 98 years." She married again, 26 December 1709, Captain Henry Crane. He was born about 1635 and had married (1) about 1663, Concurrence, daughter of John MEIGS, of Killingworth, Connecticut, who had died there 9 October 1708.[13] Captain Crane died 22 April 1711, and Deborah TOWNER, ancestor of Emma Hale.[14] CHILDREN Sarah, born 1649; married 29 December 1673 "recorded 27 January 1673, by Leftenant Pratt", Henry Bennett, of Lyme. He died 17 January 1726, and she 31 March 1727. One of their eight children was Love, born 19 March 1685, who married John MACK of Lyme.[19] MARY, born 1651; married Aaron HUNTLEY. Stephen, born 1653; died "the beginning of May," 1660. Henry, born 1654; died "the middle of July 1704," He married 1 April 1684, Susanna, daughter of Balthazar and Alice DeWOLFE, of Lyme. They were the parents of five sons and four daughters.[20] After his death Susanna married (2) John HUNTLEY, senior of Lyme. Thomas, born April 1656; died 5 April 1705; married 23 August 1682, Hannah, daughter of Wolston and Hannah (Briggs) Brockway, of Lyme. They were the parents of five daughters and two sons[21], andancestors of several military men of distinction by the name of Champion, and of General Stephen DeWolfe, as well. Hannah Brockway was born 14 September 1664. After the death of Thomas, she married (2), as his second wife, John Wade, of Lyme, and died 2 March 1750.[22] Rachel, born about 1658; married John Tanner. FOOTNOTES 1. Directory Ancestral Heads of New England families, Holmes, xlv. 2. Champion Genealogy, Francis Bacon Trowbridge, 3. 3. Ibid. 5 4. Huguenot Refugees, Samuel Smiles, 407. 5. Champion Genealogy, 15 6. "Records of Saybrook," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 4:22. 7. New England Genealogies, Cutter, 4:1604 - 5; "First Settlers of Lyme," in History of New London, Calkins, 175. 8. New England Genealogies, Cutter, 4:1604/5. 9. Say. Rec. p. 10 10. Ibid 11. Lyme Town Rec. Book II, p. 130 & Genealogy of the Puritans, Hinman, 520. 12, New England Historical and Genealogical Register 34:373 - 6. 13. Boston Transcript, 8 January 1923. 14. Crane Genealogy, Ellen B. Crane; History of Ancient Woodbury, Cothren, 2:1484; Genealogy of the Towner Family, James W. Towner. 15. Ibid. 523 16. Mack Genealogy, Martin, 2:1408 17. Champion Genealogy, 37 18. Connecticut Genealogy 1:137 19. Mack Genealogy, Martin, 1:25; 2:1353.) 20. New England Historical and Genealogical Register 23:428. 21. Ibid. 23:428 22. Champion Genealogy, 37.
6a) This Henry is our Immigrant Ancestor in the Champion line. Although there is no proof of where he came to the US from, one theory is that he descended from the French branch of the family which had come to England at an earlier date and that he left England by way of Yarmouth, to New England. This would have been prior to 1647 which is when we first find him in the earrly Saybrook CT records. 6b) See; "The Champion Genealogy", History of the Descendants of Henry Champion of Saybrook and Lyme, CT by Francis Bacon Trowbridge, 1891 Also includes (P-6) a probable pedigree chart for Henry. Also includes Arms and Crest. 6c) LDS Film # 1597548 The Tobyne Family by Helen Maxwell Williams. p 88 6d) A Modern History of New London County, CT, by Marshall, Benjamin Tinkham. Lewis Historical Pub. Co. V2, biographical section, p 12. 5) In Saybrook Records, P 10, it states that Henry owned the following land; One parsel lying on the East side of the Great River Connecticut, whereon a house now standeth containing by estimation six ackers, the ends abutting against the land of Morgayn Bowers South East, and the land of Joseph Jarrit North West" Also one parsell in the planting field on the East side of the Great River CT, by estimation four ackers, the end abutts agains Blacke Halle RiverN. East, and against the great Marsh South West, the side abutts against the Land of Will Bechous North West. 7e) Prior to 1660, and previously to the foregoing record being entered, Henry had sold his lot "lying within the town plot" in Saybrook to Jonathan Rudd. This lot contained five roods, and "the one side abuts against the highway North and the other side abuts against the lands of Thomas Mirall and William Waller South, the one end abuts against the land of Thomas Rood East and the other end abutsagainst the highway West". This lot thus appears to have been the corner lot situated on the South side of the East and West road, and on the East side of the North and South road. 6f) See attached True Copy with seal from Deep River, CT, Town Clerk; "Marriage of Henry Champion and Children: Henry was married to Sarah in 1647" . 6g) They were married by the Rev. Mr. Sylvester Nash of Saybrook, and the couple lived in Saybrook, CT. where Henry assisted in the developmeent of Saybrook. About 1670 he moved to East Side of CT River and settled in the part of Lyme known as "Meeting House Hill". He was admitted a freeman there on May 12, 1670 and owned land. The records of the town were begun in 1674, and on June 18th of that year the following entries were made; 6g-2) Henry Champean's lot one the necke beyond the little stony brook, bounded East by the highwaie to a little tree by the marsh fronting North to the highwaie, West and South by the marsh, contayning aighteen ackers (18 acres), more or less; 6g-3) Henry Champean allowing John Laye Junior two ackers (2 acres) on the other side of the River adjoyningg to John Laye's medow. 6g-4) Henry Champean's meadow upon Stony Brook three ackers (3 acres) more or less bounded East by his own land, West and North by the commons, South by the medow of Renald Marvines. (According to Lyme Town Records, Book II, P 130; It appears that Henry Champion and Renald Marvin had a dispute about this land which was subsequently settled by an agreement dated Sep 8, 1696.) 6g-5) Henory Champean Senior's meadow upon Russ oylande containing three ackers, three quarders more or less bounded West upon the medow of Renald Mervines, southwardly upon the slow, North by the Coave, Eastwardly by the meadow of John Laye Senior. 6g-6) Henory Champean's meadow on his home lotte contayning tow ackers (2 acres), and three guarders more or less, bounded South on the Cricke and the land of Peter Pratte, North on his own uplande, South West upon the Cove. 6g-7) Henory Champean's home lot that he bought of Beltishaser (Belthazar) De Wolf, contayning ten ackers of upland more or less, bounded East on the highwaie, Northerly on John Laye Senior, and Westerly on the Cove, Southerly upon the medow of his own and the mouth of the Cricke. 6g-8) Henory Champean's Calf Pasture Land containing twenty ackers more or less bounded North upon the highwaie, East upon thee commons, Southwardly upon the land of Richard Smith, Westerly on the Commons, with one dwelling house beulte (built) upon it. 6g-9) Henory Champean hath laid out to him at Big Medow tow ackers and a half more or less, bounded South on the medow of Widow Waller at a pine tree, Easterly by a cricke, (creek) Northerly by the River and a little oylande. The foregoing records are dated June 18th 1674, and are recorded in the First Book of the Town Records of Lyme on pages 23 and 24, under attestation of Mathew Griswould and Renald Mervines, who were the town surveyors. See attached record documenting Henry to be the first Proprietor (New Englander), to own these lands. 6h) Henry is listed in the "New England Historical and Genealogical Register 4:22. He was one of the first and most active founders of Lyme. 6i) Also recorded in; New England Genealogies, Cutter, 4; 1604-5. 6j) According to; Genealogy of the Puritans, Hinman 520, In 1671, Henry was involved in a land dispute between the towns of Lyme and New London. Hinman also states; P 520, "Few families in the connecticut colony have been more prosperous than that of Henry champion, sen. When I speak of his family I include his numerous descendants. The branch descending from Thomas has been particularly fortunate in amassing wealth". 6k) According to; Mack Genealogy, Martin, Vol 2 P 1408: Colonel Henry, General Henry, and General Epaphroditus Champion all won distinction in the Revolutionary War (ibid 523), the latter of whom was Commissary General of provisions for the United States Army in 1778, and in 1793 was a member of the General Assembly. 6l) Champion Genealogy, P 37, states; There have been numerous other members of the legislature among the descendants of this pioneer. Major Henry champion of the War of 1812, and the Reverend George Champion, celebrated missionary to Zululand (listed in the Connecticut Genealogy vol 1, P 137, are also numbered here. 6m) He built his house near the old burying ground and occupied himself chiefly with agriculture. 6n) He married twice, had six children, and died at about the age of 97 years. The September following his death, an agreement was entered into between the heirs and the Widow Deborah regarding the distribution of the estate, and the original of this agreement has been preserved. 6o) Recorded in Saybrook Colony Vital Records; Land Records Vol 1 p 24., p 61 Says Henry was married in 1647, and lists the births of his children. 6p) According to; New England Historical and Genealogical Register 34; 373-6, Henry paid taxes under Andros. 6q) note that Henry and Deborah had a prenuptual agreement, and that it is witnessed by Joseph PECK, (Sarah's father?) and by Aaron HUNTLEY. 6r) See Inventory of the Estate of Henry Champion Senior. 6s) See photo of "Mr. Henry Champion" in Ancient Saybrook with his oxen.(this photo will be uploaded to my website as soon as I get a chance to do so.) 6t) This is from "Champion Genealogy, P 23" This is but a meager sketch of one whose life, however obscure, has an interest for his posterity. He was not of base degree, but of independent, if not gentle, condition, and had left the green homes of Old England and her pleasant firesides, to war with wild beasts and the still fiercer Pequots, exacting a hard and scanty subsistence from the soil which he had found a howling wilderness." 6u) If you happen to have a copy of the photo of "The Champion House" at East Haddam, please let me know so I can add it to this data. 6v) His descendants; Colonel Henry, General Henry, and General Epaphroditus Champion, all won distinction in the Revolutionnary War (ibid 523) , the latter of whom was Commissary General of provisionsfor the US Army in 1778, and in 1793, was a member of the General Assembly. (Mack Genealogy, martin 2: 1408). There have been numerous other members of the Legislature among the descendants of this pioneer, Major Henry Champion of the War of 1812 (Champion Genealogy, 37)
Francis Bacon Trowbridge. Champion Genealogy: History of the Descendants of Henry Champion, Saybrook and Lyme, Connecticut. New Haven, Conn. 1891. https://archive.org/stream/championgenealog01trow#page/n67/mode/2up [Much of this book's content about Henry Champion, Sr., is in the website of Sarah Elizabeth Rose]. Page 16: After having assisted in the development of Saybrook, Henry Champion removed with his family to the east side of the Connecticut River and became one of the first and most active founders of Lyme, being propounded a freeman of that town on May 12th 1670... Page 19: ... on page 24 of the "Old Book" of Saybrook Records it is recorded; [image of handwritten records of marriage and births of several children] From the origiinal it is evident that no part of the foregoing record was made before the date of the last entry — the ink and handwriting being uniform throughout. It was not until about this time [EDS note: 1660] that the records were kept systematically in Saybrook. An attempt was then made by the town clerk to enter all previous records, depending either upon his own memory or information derived from members of the several families. These earliest vital statistics are scattered promiscuously through the records of town and land transactions in the "Old Book of Saybrook Records. As to the name and family of the wife of Henry Champion no particulars have been gleaned from the early records ; she was probably the daughter or sister of one of the early settlers of Saybrook. The exact dates of her birth and death are likewise unknown, so that she has come on, been the mother of children, and passed off the stage and we know nothing more of her. His second wife was a shrewd, scheming woman, for she induced this old man to make a very advantageous marriage settlement upon her, and finally involved him in a law suit with the widow of his eldest son, who resisted the resumption of the gifts her father-in-law had made her husband, and maintained in a very spirited manner the rights of herself and children. page 23: CHILDREN BORN IN SAYBROOK, CONN. : *2. i. Sarah, b. 1649; m. Henry Bennett. 3. ii. Mary, b. 1641 : m. Aaron Huntly. iii. Stephen, b. 1653; d. the beginning of May, 1660.' 4. iv. Henry, b. 1654; m. Susanna De Wolf. 5. v.. Thomas, b. April 1656; m. Hannah Brockway. vi. Rachel, b. 165_?; m. John Tanner. [Note states that no record of Rachel's birth has been found, and quotes a legal document that provides evidence for her.]
↑ Inscriptions From Gravestones at Old Lyme, Conn. New England Historical and Genealogical Register. v. 77 (1923). page 198. "Mr. Henry Champion, Senr., died in 1708, in his 97th year.
↑ U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900. Ancestry.com. Ancestry Record worldmarr_ga #219915 Data: Birth date: 1610. Birth place: Marriage date: 1647. Marriage place: CT
↑Haddam, Middlesex CT Bios. Extracted from Encyclopedia of Connecticut Biography, The American Historical Society, 1917. Text (partial): Henry CHAMPION, the immigrant ancestor, came from England and settled in Saybrook, Connecticut, as early as 1647. He had various parcels of land in Saybrook, and about 1670 removed to Lyme, where he was one of the first and most active founders. He was admitted a freeman there May 12, 1670, and owned land.
U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900, by Yates Publishing. Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004. Ancestry.com.
Ancestry Family Trees. Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Ancestry Profile
Harris, Gale Ion. "Henry and Katherine Palmer of Wethersfield, Connecticut, and Newport, Rhode Island." The Genealogist, Fall 2003, Volume 17, No. 2, pp. 175-185.
Rumsey, Jean, "Two More Marriages for Deborah (Palmer) (Jones) Champion: Henry Crane of Killingworth and Richard Towner of Branford, Connecticut," The Genealogist 18 (Spring 2004): 97-98.
Is Henry your ancestor? Please don't go away! Login to collaborate or comment, or contact
the profile manager, or ask our community of genealogists a question.
Sponsored Search by Ancestry.com
DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Henry by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA.
However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line.
It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Henry: