Jonathan Sargeant (abt. 1615 - 1652)

Born about 1615 in England [uncertain]

Husband of Unknown (Unknown) Sargeant — married about 1640 in New Haven Colony [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 19 Dec 1652 at about age 37 in Branford, New Haven Colony

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Rob Stafford [send private message]

Biography

Jonathan Sargeant's birth year and origins are not known. He first appears on New England records on 1 July 1644, taking the oath of fidelity in New Haven, New Haven Colony^[1][2]. Jonathan was most likely in the area a few years earlier. Based on his estimated marriage year of about 1640, Jonathan was probably born about 1615. It is not known whether he arrived in New Haven Colony newly married, or married shortly after arriving.

The name of Jonathan's wife is not known. She is styled "goodwife" on her death record, which was an indication of social respectability in that era, and implies that Jonathan was also of a respectable social class. Based on the inferred birth years of their children, Jonathan was married about 1640^[3]. Jonathan and his wife had children, listed in the order of their baptismal record:

1. Jonathan (ca 1642)
2. Hannah (ca 1644), married Jonathan Baldwin
3. Thomas (ca 1646)
4. John (ca 1648), died about 1675 without heirs

Jonathan, Hannah, Thomas, and John, "children of Jonathan Sargants a member of the church of Branford", were baptized in the New Haven church on 10 June 1654 "by virtue of the Communion of Churches"^[4][5]. Jonathan (Jr.) became one of the original proprietors of Newark, New Jersey, where in 1666 he is styled Sr. Thus by 1666 he was married and had a son Jonathan, and so was born, say, by 1642. Hannah was married and had moved to Newark with her husband by 1668, so she was probably born by about 1644. Thomas signed the "New Plantation and Church covenant" of Branford in January 1667/8^[6][7][8], so he must have been of age then and thus born by 1646. A list of children born in Totoket (Branford) begins in 1649, and does not include John, so he was probably born about 1648^[9].

Jonathan is said to have been in Branford early, being listed among the earliest settlers there in 1644. Most of the people on the list were from Wethersfield, having left that town en masse due to an irreparable split in the congregation of the Wethersfield church. This suggests, but does not confirm, that Jonathan was earlier of Wethersfield^[10]. It also implies that at least his two youngest children were born in Branford.

Jonathan's only court record is in New Haven, as a witness in a complaint about the poor quality of shoes made by John Meges, on 22 October 1647. The shoemaker was the plaintiff, suing the defendant for providing bad leather. The court found both parties were at fault, the defendant for the bad leather, and the shoemaker for shoddy workmanship. The shoemaker was find 10 pounds, and the tanner 5 pounds, and the remaining "shooes" were to be burnt, so they could deceive no other purchasers^[1].

Jonathan's wife, "Goodwife" Sargant [sic.] died in Branford on 19 December 1651, and Jonathan died a year later on 19 December 1652^[11][9]. It is not known with whom the Sargeant orphans lived after their parents died. In 1655 Jonathan was bequeathed 10 pounds in the will of John England, who left a widow but died childless^[12]. Jonathan may have been living with them as household help.

Research Notes

At least one web site lists Jonathan's place of birth as Edinburgh, Scotland.^[13]. Jonathan's origins have to be considered in the context of his choice of living in a strict Puritanical community, which makes an English origin more likely.

Baptism record of son:

Father: Jonathan Sargent

Baptism Date: 10 Aug 1651

Baptism Place: New Haven, Connecticut, USA

Connecticut. ^[14]

Note: The above church record also lists their mother as Frances Bullard Sargent.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Hoadley, Charles J., M.A., Transcriber and editor in accordance with a resolution of the General Assembly of Connecticut; Records of the Colony and Plantation of New Haven, from 1638 to 1649 (Hartford; Printed by Case, Tiffany and Company, for the Editor; 1857.) Pages 138 and 347. Viewable on Internet Archive, page 138; page 347
2. ↑ COLKET, MEREDITH B., JR. Founders of Early American Families: Emigrants from Europe, 1607-1657. Cleveland: General Court of the Order of Founders and Patriots of America, 1975. 366p.
3. ↑ New England Marriages to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015; page 1329 TEXT: SARGENT, Jonathan (-19 Dec 1652) & ____ ____ (-19 Dec 1651); by 1640?; 4 ch. bap. Aug 10?, 1651; Branford, CT/Deerfield {Sargent (,5) 9; TAG 12:100; Reg. 9:363, 10:232}; by subscription; NEHGS member site
4. ↑ Church Records, New Haven, viewable on Family Search DGS 8141221, image 18 FamilySearch
5. ↑ "Vital Records from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register". Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (Compiled from articles originally published in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register.), Baptisms in New Haven, Conn, by subscription, NEHGS member site
6. ↑ Branford town records. Volume 1. Page 379. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK7-B3LP-R?i=166&cat=157834)
7. ↑ Genealogy. Volume 1. Number 2. Issue of 13 Jan 1912. Pages 11 to 12 (https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/112590/?offset=0#page=3&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q=)
8. ↑ Vital Records from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (Compiled from articles originally published in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register.), "Early Records of Brainford, now Branford, St.", pages 153-4, by subscription, NEHGS member site
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. vol 12, pages 100-101, (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .); by subscription; NEHGS member site
10. ↑ Rockey, J.L., History of New Haven County, Vol 2, Chapter 1 - The Town of Branford; published in 1897, viewable at blackstonelibrary
11. ↑ Connecticut: Vital Records (The Barbour Collection), 1630-1870 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011.) From original typescripts, Lucius Barnes Barbour Collection, 1928., Branford; by subscription; page 162 NEHGS member site
12. ↑ Atwater, Edward, "History of the colony of New Haven to its absorption into Connecticut", 1881, page 617, Viewable at Internet Archive
13. ↑ "Genealogy Report: Descendants of Jonathan Sargent/Sergeant", genealogy.com [1]
14. ↑ Church Records Index vol. 5 page 304. Page 460 on book. Connecticut State Library, Hartford, Connecticut.

• Genealogical & Memorial History of New Jersey Vol 3, page 1553

The SERGEANT Line

(I) Jonathan Sergeant, founder of this family, died December 9, 1652. He took the oath of fidelity at New Haven in 1644, and then removed to Branford, where the death of his wife occurred December 17, 1651. Children: Jonathan(II); Thomas d 1700; John d 1675; Hannah md Benjamin Baldwin.

(II) Jonathan Sergeant one of the original settlers of Newark, New Jersey. Children: Jonathan(III); John: Joseph.

(III) Jonathan Sergeant died about 1732. Md Mary ____, who died May 26, 1757, aged 80 years, having survived her husband >and married (second) as secod wife to Colonel John Cooper. Children:

1. Jonathan(IV) died 1776; md 1) Hannah (Nutman) Dod; md2) Abigail Dickinson - child: Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant
2. Thomas Sergeant
3. Daniel Sergeant
4. Rev. John Sergeant (missionary to Indians) born 1710; died July 27, 1749; md Abigail Williams
5. Mary Sergeant
6. Hannah Sergeant md Joseph Day, son of Paul and Phebe Day
7. Martha Sergeant md Joseph Harrison

• Rootsweb - Ladd, Reed, Cook, Engle, Hamilton, Lennon Ancestors reports death as 12/9/1652

Acknowledgments

• Thanks to Scott Givaudan for starting this profile.