John Deming (abt. 1615 - bef. 1705)

Born about 1615 in Shalford, Near Colchester, Essex, England [uncertain]

Husband of Honor (Treat) Deming — married about 1637 in Wethersfield, Connecticut Colony [uncertain]

Descendants

Died before 21 Nov 1705 before about age 90 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut

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John Deming migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 92) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

There are no references in any of the early genealogies, or in any of the reputable sources, listing, or even suggesting, parents for immigrant John (of Wethersfield, Connecticut). Parents Jonathan Deming and Elizabeth (Gilbert) Deming are probably a confusion with Jonathan Deming (c.1639-1700) and Elizabeth (1654-1714) from a later generation. If anyone has a valid source for these parents we can easily re-attach this pedigree.

Biography

John Deming, immigrant, was long of life but short on verifiable basic facts.

Because of his association with the Nathaniel Foote family, it is believed that John came from Essex, England, perhaps Shalford parish, near Colchester. He was born around 1612 or 1615, based on the fact that he died in 1705 at about age 90.

In the "History of Ancient Wethersfield...&c" (HAW) he appears in a list of settlers from places other than Watertown, Mass (apparently many of the settlers of Wethersfield were from Watertown) with the notation that most arrived between 1636 and 1640, none later than 1645.^[1] This history also notes that Jonathan Deming (whether Sr. or Jr. is not clear) was chosen surveyor by Wethersfield in 1699 for an area called "Poke Hill", an area a little Northeast of Folly Bridge. (HAW:32)

John Deming appeared on a list of Wethersfield residents along with his father-in-law Richard Treat who were still "original society" church members in 1640 at a time when many people left to colonize what became Stamford, Connecticut. (HAW:149). He also appeared on a list of church members in 1658 (HAW:161). Based on this it would seem likely that his children's christening records should appear at Wethersfield as opposed to a nearby town.

He received a grant of land from the town (as opposed to from the church) in 1662 listed as "in the street" so possibly a commercial space? (HAW:40) A Joseph Deming was granted land by the church but no date is specified and if or how he was related to John Deming is not certain. John's property was on the East side of High Street, HAW:74 and 89 give details of it's location.

He married Honor Treat, the daughter of Richard Treat (Richard calls him son in his will and lists his daughter by the name Honor Demon^[2]), about 1637, based on the estimated births of their children.

Several death dates have been suggested for John: 1661 (on the FindaGrave memorial # 34191663); between Feb 1692 (he signed a codicil to his will) and 1695, when he did not receive a town land grant. However, other documents list John Deming, Sr. as being among 114 participants in the Five Mile distribution of land in which he received 339 acres 169 1/2 rods and his son John, Jr. received 183 acres 91 1/2 rods. [Hartford Court Records -1701, Apl. 28, vol. IVF, p 116 T V] {This citation needs to be checked}. It is believed that he died around 21 Nov 1705, when his will was proved. He resided in Wethersfield at the time, and it is believed that he was buried in the Wethersfield Village Cemetery.

It is known that John's son, David, was a rope-maker, and that John left his shop tools to David in his original will. It has been suggested that John may also have been a rope-maker. The codicil leaves the tools to John. We don't know if John Jr. was a rope-maker.^[3]

The Will of John Deming Senr of Wethersfield Conn.   "I, John Deming Sen'r, of weathersfield, being of Good understanding & sound Memory, doe see it my duty to set my house in order, & to setle my estate so that peace may be continued in my famaly, when I shall be gathered to my fathers & I doe therefore Make & declare this to be my last will & Testament, hereby renowncing & making voyd all former wills & Testaments by me made, & establishing this onely to be my last will & Testament.
  first I commend my spirit to God expecting Salvation onely by Jesus Christ, & my body to a comely Christian Buriall expecting a glorious resurrection & reunion of soule & body In the last day.
  for my worldly Goods I haveing allready done well for my son John, I now give him my Great Bible Geneva print, & my feather bed & boulster & my Great Ketle, To be to him & his heires forever.   I give to my son Jonathan my fifty acre Lott, at the west side of the Bownds, to be to him & his heies for ever
  I give to my son Samuel my house & Home lott, wth all the buildings upon it, containing Nine acres be it more or less & is Bownded as In the records as allso my meadow adjoyning, containing about seventeen acres be it more or less & abutts on mr willys South, Tho Standige his Land east the Highway North & my home Lott west, & Twelve acres in the west swamp at the reare of my son davids Lott, allso I give unto him my flock of Sheep & my neat cattell & all my horses & Horse kind, & all my swine, & all my moveables within dores, & all my Moveables with out dores (not otherwise dissposed by this my Last will) & all my husbandry, tooles & Implements all to be to him & his heires forever, he payeing my Just debts & funerall charges, & such Legacies as I doe hereby appoynt him to pay.
  I give to my son david all my Materialls & tooles in my Shop & my booke debts he payeing those debts I owe about my Trade.
  I give to my sonn Ebenezer my best coat & my best Hatt.
  I give to my daughter Morgan my daughter Beckly my daughter Hurlbut my daughter Wright five pownds apeice to be payd by my executor with in five yeares after my deceasse.
  I give to my couzen Unis Standidg & to my cousin Sarah wyer wife of John Wyer Twenty pownds apeice to be payd by my executor within Two yeares after my decease.
  I give to my daughter Moody as a token of my love to her Ten shillings, I haveing allready given her a Good portion.
  I give to my Grand Child Ann Beckley five pownds to be payd her by my executor at her day of Mariage.
  I doe hereby constitute & appoynt my son Samuell to be my whole & sole executor of this my Last will and Testament & desire my Honored friend Capt Sam'll Talcott & my son Ebenezer Deming to be overseers whoe I desire to Assist my executor wth their best advice in all his occassion & to see this my will be duely attended,
  finally I doe desire and commend all my children to know fear & serve the God of their father with all their hearts might & strength, & to Live in Love & unity one with another that God even my God may be with them & blesse them
  for confirmation here of I have Set to my hand & seall June 26 1690 signed sealed & declared John Deming Red wax seal in presence of us Sener John: Allyn George Grave

"February 3d 1692, whereas I gave my son John my great Bible my feather bed & Boulster, & my great Ketle I doe now with draw that Guift & I give unto, my sayd son John all my materiall & tooles in my shop & my book debts he paying those debts I ow about my Trade & whereas in my will above I gave my Grand Child Ann Beckley five pownds she having miscarryd I withdraw my guift from her and that five pownds I give to my sonn David for the confirmation hereof & of all the above writen I doe hereunto set my hand the day & yeare above written. signed sealed & declared in presence of us John Deming (Seal) John Allyn Zacharihah Sandford (On the reverse side of the will appears the following:)

"Att a Court of Probates holden at Hartford. November 21st 1705 Zachariah Sandford one of the Witnesses of the within written Last Will of Mr. John Deming dec'd appeared in this Court and made Sollemn Oath, that he was present & saw the Sd John Deming Subscribe & Seal the Addition or Codicill to the Sd within written Will, and did hear the Sd John Deming declare the Same, with what else is Contained in this Sheet, to be his last Will & Testament, and that then John Allyn Esq, the other of the Sd Witnesses was present also, and With him Signed as Witnesses thereunto, & that the Sd John Deming was at the Same time (according to his Judgement) of Sound and disposeing mind and Understanding. Test Caleb Stanly Clerk. "

Original images of the will and probate are available at ancestry.com.^[4]

When did John Deming, Senior the immigrant die?

A 1919 work about the Goodwin family lines^[5] makes a good case for a death by 27 Mar 1696 and possibly 25 Apr 1695. The 1695 date is based on lack of appearance on a list of men allotted land by the town, but lack of proof is not proof of lack. The 1696 date is better reasoned; when Jonathan Deming the son of the immigrant made his will on that date, one of the witnesses was "John Deming Sr" which was written in a different and much firmer hand than the signature of the immigrant on his 1690 will. Given that John Deming the immigrant had sons named Jonathan and John, this implies that John the immigrant was dead and his son John, previously "Jr", was now "Sr" as he had a son John of his own.

However, the only thing we know with 100% certainty is that he was dead by 1705 when an inventory of his estate was presented to the court.

Children

As listed in Genealogy of the Desc. of John Deming (There are other lists with other "orders" and data.)

1. Sgt. John, b. 9 Sep. 1638. .Wethersfield d 23 Jan 1712 in W. m 12 Dec 1657 Northampton Mass Mary Mygatt .
2. Sgt Jonathan, b. about 1639 in W. D 8 Jan 1700 W m 1) 21 Nov 1660 W Sarah Graves 2) 25 Dec 1673 W Elizabeth Gilbert
3. A daughter(1), b. about 1643, m. a Beckly of Wethersfield. (Hannah)
4. Rachel b. about 1644, m 16 Nov. 1665, John Morgan of Wethersfield,
5. Samuel, b. about 1646. W d 6 Apr 1709 W m 29 Mar 1694 Sarah Buck
6. Mary, b. about 1648, m. about 1670, John Hurlburt of Wethersfield.
7. Mercy, b. about 1651, m. Thos. (or Jos.) Wright of Wethersfield, and d. 17 Dec. 1714, s. p.
8. 6. David, b. about 1652. In W d 4 May 1725 Boston m 14 Aug 1678 W Mary
9. Sarah, b. about 1654, m. Samuel Moody of Hartford, and d. 29 Sept., 1717, in Hadley, Mass.
10. Ebenezer, b. about 1659 in W. D 2 May 1705 W. m 16 Jul 1677 in W Sarah

The alleged Frances Deming wife of Richard Beckley

A daughter Frances is non-existent.
"Richard Beckley ... m. Frances Deming, dau. of Hon. John Deming." (pp 1330-1331) "Hon. John Deming ... His dau. Frances m. Richard Beckley and it is thought that she was mother of ... but dates are lacking, to prove the fact. (pp 1332-1333) ^[6] Also: BECKLEY ... RICHARD, New Haven 1639, rem. to Wethersfield bef. 1668, had prob. two ws. of wh. the latter was a d. of John Deming"^[7]

This Frances also appears in the "History of Ancient Wethersfield" (one of Torrey's sources) as married to Richard Beckley when in fact, the most logical analysis of existing data in John Deming's 1690 will shows that it was John's daughter Hannah who married John Beckley. This analysis is shown on page 55^[8] and contrasts to information in the same book on page 272 showing "Frances" and Richard Beckley. Page v.2. 272 also states that John Deming had a daughter Hannah who died unmarried in 1713 when in fact that seems to be Hannah Deming, daughter of John's son Samuel Deming.

Sources

1. ↑ The history of ancient Wethersfield, Connecticut :comprising the present towns of Wethersfield, Rocky Hill, and Newington, and of Glastonbury prior to its incorporation in 1693 : from date of earliest settlement until the present time based upon the manuscript collections of the late Judge Sherman W. Adams, and recast, enlarged, and edited by Henry R. Stiles. Published: New York : Grafton Press, 1904. Vol 1. p. 30
2. ↑ Deming, Judson Keith. Genealogy Of The Descendants Of John Deming Of Wethersfield. Connecticut With Historical Notes. Dubuque. Iowa 1904
3. ↑ "Deming and Allied Families." Americana, American historical magazine, Volume 13. National American Society, 1919. p. 286
4. ↑ Connecticut, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999 for John Deming Hartford Probate Packets, Deming, Cle-Deming, Stephen, 1641-1880 $subscription and free image courtesy of ancestry.com
5. ↑ Various ancestral lines of James Goodwin and Lucy (Morgan) Goodwin of Hartford, Connecticut by Starr, Frank Farnsworth; Goodwin, James Junius, 1835-1915 Publication date 1915 Vol 2. p. 239
6. ↑ Smith, Sophia. Mack genealogy. The descendants of John Mack of Lyme, Conn., with appendix containing genealogy of allied family, etc (Rutland, Vt. : The Tuttle Co., printers, 1903) Published at Ancestry as North America Family Histories 1500-2000 at Archive.org
7. ↑ Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May, 1692. Vol. I-IV. (Boston, MA, USA: 1860-1862). p. 151 v. 1.
8. ↑ The history of ancient Wethersfield, Connecticut : comprising the present towns of Wethersfield, Rocky Hill, and Newington, and of Glastonbury prior to its incorporation in 1693 : from date of earliest settlement until the present time based upon the manuscript collections of the late Judge Sherman W. Adams, and recast, enlarged, and edited by Henry R. Stiles. Published New York : Grafton Press, 1904. v.2. p. 55

See Also

• Genealogy of the descendants of John Deming of Wethersfield, Connecticut Published 1904 by Press of Mathis-Mets co. in Dubuque, Ia; Page 11
• Jacobus, Donald Lines. An American Family, Botsford-Marble Ancestral Lines (Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor, Connecticut, 1933) Page 237
• Preston, Belle. Bassett-Preston Ancestors (Tuttle Morehouse & Taylor Co., New Haven, Conn., 1930) Page 80-1

• His brother is Thomas Deming, and sister, Elizabeth Deming.

• Mackenzie, George Norbury (ed.). Colonial Families of the United States of America, In which is Given the History, Genealogy and Armorial Bearings of Colonial Families who Settled in the American Colonies from the Time of the Settlement of Jamestown, 13th May, 1607, to the Battle of Lexington, 19th April, 1775 Vol VI (Baltimore, Maryland: The Seaforth Press, 1917) p. 178-9.
• Stiles, Henry Reed. and Sherman W. Adams. The History of Ancient Wethersfield Connecticut... Vol I – History, Part 1. New York: The Grafton Press., 1903. https://ia800306.us.archive.org/11/items/historyofancient11adam/historyofancient11adam.pdf
• Torrey, Clarence Almon. Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700 (Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore, 1985)
• U.S. Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 (National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, Louisville, Kentucky) Microfilm, 508 rolls.
• Filby, P. William, ed. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s (Gale Research, Farmington Hills, MI, USA, 2012) Place: Connecticut; Year: 1635; Page Number: . Note: http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=pili354&h=894416&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt Data: Text: Arrival date: 1635 Arrival place: Connecticut APID: 1,7486::894416
• Connecticut Census, 1790-1890 Author: Jackson, Ronald V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp. Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 1999.Original data - Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes.Or Note: APID: 1,3537::0