John Cornell (abt. 1652 - 1753)

Descendants

Died 1753 at about age 101 in Danbury, Fairfield, Connecticut, New England

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Anne B [send private message] and Ted Phillips [send private message]

There are two John Cornells (alt. Cornwell, Cornwall) who are frequently treated as one person.

This John's estate was settled in 1757. His children John Cornell, Mary Smith, Sarah Wood, Rebecca Barnum, Deborah Barnum, Hannah Gregory, and Abigail Northrop are mentioned. Bailey in his history of Danbury mentions John who died 1753 age 101 (born c. 1652). The children listed seem to have been born in the 1685-1705 range, which although it makes him a little older (in his 50's) is well within the range of possibilities, especially if he had a younger wife.

The other John was the son of John Cornell and Mary Russell. He was born 1681 according to the 1902 Cornell Genealogy. He married Mary Starr. They had a son John b. in 1724.

Obviously someone born in 1681 was not having children in the 1690s.

There is a John Cornell married to a Hannah Smith, who were shown as the parents of Mary Cornell Smith. These parents were disconnected when the two Mary's were merged - because Mary Smith was named in this John's will. The other John had different children from those named in the Will.

Biography

Bailey's History of Danbury speaks of a John Cornwall, who died in 1753, age 101.^[1]

In Vol 2 p 66 of the Danbury Probate Records an agreement dated 15 April 1757 shows the heirs of John Cornel.^[2][3][4]

1. John Cornell, only son
2. Mary Smith, eldest daughter
3. Sarah Wood, wife of Samuel Wood and 2nd dtr.
4. Rebecca Barnum, deceased (3rd dtr)and her heirs:
   1. Emb. Barnum, wife of Joshua Barnum of Dutchess Co., New York
   2. Rebecca Hawley, wife of Samuel Hawley of Danbury
   3. Timothy Barnum,
   4. Ruth Picket, wife of Joseph Picket, Jr.
   5. Sarah Hubbel, wife of Parruck Hubbell,
   6. Samuel Barnum Jr
   7. Jemima Barnum, minor her father Samuel Barnum Sr. acting for her.
5. Deborah Barnum, wife of Thomas Barnum
6. Hannah Gregory, wife of John Gregory
7. Abigail Northrop, daughter

Research Notes

William Cornell, the known immigrant, he had a son John b 1640 he married Martha Peck. John had a son b. 1671 he married Elizabeth Hinsdale. These are the only Johns born in the right timeframe, so not related to William.^[5]

Thomas of Rhode Island children don't fit either.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ Bailey, James Montgomery. History of Danbury, Conn., 1684-1896. New York: Burr Printing House, 1896.
2. ↑ McAuliffe, Judith Ann Wood. Judith Ann Wood McAuliffe genealogical collection : Wood family, Vol. 1 Be-Fa link to copy of probate record Original Vol 2 p. 66 Danbury Probate Records
3. ↑ Connecticut County, District and Probate Courts. Probate Records, Vol 1-3, 1744-1782. Specifically Vol 2 p. 66 Unindexed. Accessed at Ancestry ($)
4. ↑ “Probate records v. 1-3 1744-1782”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-892K-TF1K : 19 February 2023), FHL microfilm 007627321, image 236, Danbury, Fairfield, Connecticut, Vol 2, 1745-1775, Pages 66-67.
5. ↑ Cornwall, Edward Everett,. William Cornwall and his descendants : a genealogical history of the family of William Cornwall, one of the puritan founders of New England, who came to America in or before the year 1633, and died in Middletown, Connecticut, in the year 1678. (New Haven, Conn.: Tuttle, Morehouse and Taylor, 1901.)
6. ↑ Cornell, John . Genealogy of the Cornell family : being an account of the descendants of Thomas Cornell (New York : Press of T.A. Wright, 1902)