Rebeckah Tanner (1725 - bef. 1753)

Born 6 Jan 1725 in East Haddam, Hartford, Connecticut

Ancestors

Died before 1753 before age 27 in East Haddam, Hartford, Connecticut Colony [uncertain]

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Biography

Rebeckah Tanner, daughter of Thomas Tanner and Martha Borden, was born in 6 January 1724/5. ^[1] She passed away before 1753.

Evidence Gap

While the birth records for Rebeckah Tanner, daughter of Thomas Tanner, and the death records for Rebeckah Willey, wife of Joseph Willey, cited in this profile are sound; a reliable information source connecting Rebeckah Tanner, daughter of Thomas and Martha (Borden) Tanner as the wife of Joseph Willey is absent. FindAGrave asserts this marriage relationship to be true, as does the FamilySearch profile for Rebeckah Tanner, and numerous Ancestry.com family trees. However, no primary nor published secondary source has been located to affirm this marriage assertion; furthermore, neither Rebeckah nor her sister Mehitable are named in the distribution of the assets from the intestate estate of their father Thomas Tanner. All of the other known siblings (except sister Mehitable) are named in this distribution event, providing strong evidence that Rebeckah Tanner was deceased prior to the May 16th, 1753 distribution of her father's estate. Therefore the best available evidence strongly suggests that Rebeckah Tanner, daughter of Thomas Tanner was NOT the wife of Joseph Willey (1705-1790), but in fact Rebecca (Unknown) Willey (abt.1724-abt.1807), wife of Joseph, was an entirely different person, unrelated to Rebeckah Tanner, daughter of Thomas.

Genealogical Records

The following section of this profile provides detailed information found in the various cited sources. The purpose of this section is to provide the reader access to the information contained in the cited sources; to identify source data conflicts and identify the origin of data errors; and, finally, to provide a platform to analyze, cross-correlate, and comment on important aspects of the cited historical data record.

Vital Records

• Primary Source, The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records, East Haddam 1743-1857, Vol 9 ^[1]: Data Extract from Barbour at Ancestry Record 1062 #516530 or Coralyn Brown transcription East Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut Vital Records from Barbour Collection: for Thomas Tanner family:

1. ) East Haddam, CT. Barbour Vital Record: Page 363: or Here, free: Thomas Tanner and Martha ____, were married Jan 3, 1716/7 at East Haddam, Conn.
   1. ) Children of Thomas and Martha Tanner:
      1. ) William, son of Thomas & Martha, b. 15 March 1719.
      2. ) Mehittabell, dau. of Thomas & Martha, b. 21 Dec 1721.
      3. ) Rebeckah, dau. of Thomas & Martha, b. 6 Jan 1724/5.
      4. ) Martha, dau. of Thomas & Martha, b. 28 Dec 1727.
      5. ) Elizabeth, dau. of Thomas & Martha, b. 14 April 1730.

Half-siblings of Rebeckah Tanner:

• Primary Source, Connecticut Town Birth Records, pre-1870 The Barbour Collection, Vol 23., Litchfield Vital Records ^[2] The Litchfield, Conn, Barbour Collection cites following vital records for Thomas Tanner:

1. ) Litchfield, Conn. VR; page 237: Children born to Thomas and Martha Tanner at Litchfield Connecticut:
   1. ) Hannah, daughter of Thomas and Martha, b. June last 1735
   2. ) John, son of Thomas and Martha, b. Feb 4, 1732/3
   3. ) Ruth, daughter of Thomas and Martha, b. Sept 28, 1740
   4. ) Sarah, daughter of Thomas and Martha, b. Feb 8 1737/8

• Primary Source, Connecticut Town Birth Records, pre-1870 The Barbour Collection, Vol 7., Cornwall, Connecticut Vital Records ^[3] Data extract from Ancestry Record 1034 #527163:

1. ) Barbour Vital Record of Cornwall, Conn.; Page 400 Vital records for the family of Thomas Tanner Sr. of Cornwall, Connecticut:
   1. ) Hannah Tanner, married Moses Dean, both of Cornwall, 29 April 1757.
   2. ) Mehitable Tanner, dau of Thomas & Martha, died 17 July 1749.
      1. ) Submit Tanner, dau of Mehetible, b. 15 July 1749; d. same month 18th day.
   3. ) Ruth Tanner married Benjamin Dean, 14 Oct 1762, by Rev. H. Gold.
   4. ) Tommas Tanner {Jr}, son of Tommas & Martha, was born 30 June 1743.
      1. ) Thomas Tanner, of Cornwall, married Mrs. Anna BALDWIN, of Goshen, 30 Oct. 1765 by Abel Newell.
   5. ) William Tanner, of Cornwall, married Hannah NEWCOMB, of Kent, 23 March 1749, by Rev. Cyrus Marsh of Kent.
2. ) Barbour Vital Records of Cornwall, Conn.; Page 400 Image Children of Pierce Walter and Martha {Tanner} Walter: {Pierce Walter is known to be the husband of Martha Tanner, daughter of Thomas & Martha Tanner Sr. from the 1750 Probate records of Thomas Tanner Sr. ^[4]}
   1. ) John Walter, son of Pierce & Martha, b. 14 Jan 1754
   2. ) Mary Walter, daughter of Pierce & Martha, b. 19 Oct 1756.
      1. ) Mary Walter, daughter of Pierce & Martha, d. 20 March 1757.
   3. ) Sarah Walter, daughter of Parce & Martha, b. 24 Feb 1752.
3. ) Barbour Vital Records of Cornwall, Conn.; Page 407, 408 Image: Children of John White and Elizabeth {Tanner} White: {John White is known to be the husband of Elizabeth Tanner, daughter of Thomas & Martha Tanner Sr. from the 1750 Probate records of Thomas Tanner Sr. ^[4]}
   1. ) Betty White, dau of John & Elizabeth, b. 20 Dec 1761.
   2. ) Diana White, dau of John & Elizabeth, b. 14 Mar 1755.
   3. ) Ruana White, dau of John & Elizabeth, b. 25 Jan 1754; d. 30 Jan 1754.
   4. ) Ruth White, dau of John & Elizabeth, b. 1 Sept 1757.
   5. ) Thomas White, son of John & Elizabeth, b. 17 Jan 1752.
4. ) Barbour Vital Records of Cornwall, Conn.; Page 407, 408 Image: William Tanner of Cornwall, married Hannah NEWCOMB, of Kent; 23 March 1749, by Cyrus Marsh of Kent.
   1. ) Children of William and Hannah:
      1. ) Ebenezer, son of William and Hannah was born 20 Jan 1757.
      2. ) Ephraim, son of William and Hannah was born 17 June 1754.
      3. ) Tryal, son of William and Hannah was born 20 Dec 1751.
      4. ) William, son of William and Hannah was born 28 Jan 1762.

Probate Court Records

• Primary Source, Connecticut, Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999, ^[4] Data Extract from Ancestry Record 9049 #1894263:

1. ) Probate Administration: Image 412 of 1368: Probate bond,
   1. ) Know ye all Men by the Presents that We Martha Tanner and Israel Moss of Cornwall in the County of Hartford, in the Colony of Connecticut, in New England are holden and firmly bound and obligated unto Ebenezer Marsh Esq. Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Litchfield in the County & Colony aforesaid. Nineteenth day of June AD. 1750.
2. ) Probate Record, Thomas Tanner Estate: Image Cornwall, May 16th, 1753. Whereas we the Subscribers, being appointed by a court of Probate, hold en at Litchfield, ye May 8th 1753 to be Distributors of the Estate of Thomas Tanner late of Said Cornwall Deceased. According to Said Appointment we no do under oath According to the best of our judgment Distribute, Divide and set forth Said Estate to the widow and to the Several Children of the Said Deceased in the following form and order:
   1. ) To the widow one third part of the Estate, viz one third part of the Houfe and 2 pieces of Land. Boundary Description, House includes about 13 acres with an access right of way for land given to the children. The two pieces of land are described and noted to be 3 Acres and 31 rods
   2. ) To William Tanner, the Eldest Son of the Deceased, two ninths part of the remainder of the estate. Land boundary description, containing 6 & 1/3 acres. Also part of the homestead, viz 3 acres and 8 rods. Also another 59 Acres, total distribution valued at £220 (old Tenor)
   3. ) The Homestead set of Elizabeth White, boundary description.
   4. ) To Martha Walter, wife of Pierce Walter of Cornwall, one ninth part, ...boundary description... 6 acres & 2 rods, valued at £110 (old Tenor).
   5. ) To Elizabeth White, wife of John White of Cornwall, one ninth part of the estate; 6 acres & 2 rods, ...boundary description... valued at £110 (old Tenor).
   6. ) To John Tanner, son of Said deceased, one ninth part of the estate and house, consisting of 6 acres & 2 rods, ...boundary description... valued at £110 (old Tenor).
   7. ) To Hannah Tanner, Daughter of the Said Deceased, one ninth part of the estate and house, consisting of 7 acres, ...boundary description... valued at £110 (old Tenor).
   8. ) To Sarah Tanner, Daughter of the Said Deceased, one ninth part of the estate and house, consisting of 6 acres & 2 rods, ...boundary description... valued at £110 (old Tenor).
   9. ) To Ruth Tanner, Daughter of the Said Deceased, one ninth part of the estate and house, consisting of 8 acres & 2 rods, ...boundary description... valued at £110 (old Tenor).
   10. ) To Thomas Tanner, another son of Said Deceased, one ninth part of the estate and house, consisting of 6 acres & 2 rods, ...boundary description... valued at £110 (old Tenor).
   11. ) {Editorial: the absence of Mehetible and Rebeckah in the distribution of the estate, suggests both had died, without heirs, sometime prior to the time of the probate hearing.

Biographic and Genealogical References

• Secondary Source, Elias Fitch Tanner Genealogy of the descendants of Thomas Tanner, Sr., of Cornwall, Connecticut, ^[5] Data Extract:

1. ) Thomas Tanner Genealogy, Page ix: Special Introduction:
   1. ) Several traditions prevail respecting the origin of our branch of the American Tanners. The common one is that three brothers early came over from England and settled in New England, from one of whom our line has sprung. A more definite tradition says, that of three brothers in England, the oldest inheriting the property remained at home, while his two younger brothers, Thomas and William, sought their fortunes in the new world, one settling in Massachusetts and the other in Rhode Island. And early records of Tanners are found in both of these colonies.
   2. ) But we suppose that the ancestors of our line, originally of West England or Wales, emigrated to Rhode Island about 1640-50, soon after the first settlement of the colony, being dissenters from the strictness of the Puritans and sympathizing with the liberal principles of Roger Williams and his companions. These English Tanners or their near descendents settled in Westerly, East and West Greenwich, Providence and Newport, Rhode Island. About a century later they began to migrate into the "up country" Connecticut and New York, where several names and lines of them are known.
2. ) Thomas Tanner Genealogy, Page 1-2: THOMAS TANNER, SR. He is the first known ancestor and founder of the family; was born in Rhode Island about 1705-10. Married Martha between 1728-30; and moved to Cornwall Conn.; in 1740; bringing considerable stock and personal property; and becoming one of the first settlers and farmers of the town. He is believed to have had four children, two sons and two daughters, but little; however, is known of his life. After enduring the hardships of the wilderness and of a pioneer life; he died in his prime in 1750; and about 45 years old. He left a young family and a widow, who in May; 1751; was appointed administrator of his estate to settle an indebtedness.
   1. ) Children of Thomas and Martha Tanner Sr.:
      1. ) William, born about 1729; in Rhode Island. Married Hannah Newcomb of Kent, March 23; 1749. Settled in Cornwall and had six children; Consider, Tryal, Ephraim, Ebenezer; William and Joseph. {Editorial: son, William Tanner was born }
         1. ) Of his life or death little is known. See appendix (A) for outline history of his descendants.
      2. ) Mehetabel was born about 1733 in Rhode Island; and July 15, 1749; had a child "Submit," both mother and child dying three clays later, and were buried in the same grave. {Editorial: daughter, Mehetible Tanner was born 21 Dec 1721 at East Haddam, Connecticut ^[1]}
      3. ) Hannah, born about 1735, married Moses Dean of Cornwall, April 29, 1757, where she settled and had two children. I have been able to learn nothing more of her or the family.
         1. ) Her children were: Ezra, born Jan. 3, 1758, and Benjamin, born Nov. 29, 1760.
      4. ) THOMAS TANNER, JR. Thomas — the fourth child of Thomas and Martha Tanner and immediate founder of our line — was born in Cornwall on June 30, 1743, and when 18 he enlisted in the French and Indian war and served two years. He married Anna Baldwin October 30, 1765, settled in his native town, followed the carpenter's trade, and raised a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters.
3. ) {Editorial: there are several genealogical data items asserted in this publication which may be proven to be incorrect. First, the date of birth for Thomas Tanner Sr. was not 1705-1710. He was married to Martha ____ in East Haddam, Conn on Jan 3, 1717; ^[1] if he were born on 1705 he would have been 12 at the date of the wedding. His date of birth is unknown, but an good estimate to correspond to this 1717 marriage would be about 1695. Second Thomas Tanner's first son William was born 15 March 1719 at East Haddam, Connecticut, ^[1] and his daughter Mehetable was also born in East Haddam on 21 Dec 1721. ^[1] Third, the only known marriage records for the parents of Thomas Tanner are in Lyme, Conn, and it is recorded that he lived in East Haddam until about 1730, hence it is exceedingly probable that he was born in Lyme Connecticut, not Rhode Island. ^[1] Fourth, Thomas Tanner was the father of 10 Children; 3 sons and 7 daughters. ^[1]}

• Secondary Source, A history of the William Dean Family of Cornwall, Conn. and Canfield, Ohio, ^[6] Data Extract:

1. ) Dean Genealogy, Page 33: or at Ancestry Record 61157 #1655178 : Reuben and Ann (Carter) Dean were the parents of:
   1. ) {Second Son} Benjamin Dean; b. May 1734; d. 13 Aug 1815 at Canfield, Ohio; married at Canfield, OH on 14 Oct 1762, Ruth Tanner b. ____, d. 11 May 1812. She was the daughter of Thomas Tanner Sr. of Cornwall, CT, b. 1705 in Rhode Island. {Incorrect data from Elias Tanner Genealogy ^[5]
   2. ) {Fourth Son}: Moses Dean, m. Hannah Tanner, dau of Thomas Tanner Sr. of Cornwall, married Moses Dean on 17 May 1757.

Sources with Incorrect Rebeckah Tanner Information

Death Records

The following Find a Grave profile is for Rebecca (Tanner) Willey; however the author of the FAG profile entered Kezia rather than Tanner as her maiden name (2021-12-08):

• Primary Source, (burial); Tertiary Source (biography), Find A Grave Index ^[7] Data Summary:

1. ) Find A Grave: Memorial #17824734: Rebeccah Kezia Willey, daughter of Thomas Tanner (1705–1750) and Martha (Borden) Tanner (1700 – unknown), was born 6 Jan 1724, at East Haddam, Middlesex County, Connecticut, USA., and she died 2 Nov 1807 (aged 83) at East Haddam, Middlesex County, Connecticut, USA. {This Find A Grave profile asserts, without evidence, that Rebeckah Tanner, daughter of Thomas Tanner, was the wife of Joseph Willey. However as the distribution of the estate of her father Thomas Tanner ^[4] strongly suggests that she was deceased and without heirs prior to May 16th, 1753, this assertion of marriage is almost certainly incorrect.}
   1. ) Siblings:
      1. ) William Tanner (1719–1763)
      2. ) Ruth Tanner Dean (1740–1812)
      3. ) Thomas Tanner (1743–1818)
   2. ) Marriage. Rebecca Tanner married Joseph Willey (1705–1790)
   3. ) Children:
      1. ) Barnabas Willey (1747–1830)
      2. ) Demas Willey (1753–1836)
      3. ) Seth Willey (1756–1813)
      4. ) Cyrus Willey (1762–1843)
      5. ) Caroline Willey (1767–1846)
2. ) BURIAL. Rebeccah Kezia Willey was buried in the Hadlyme Church Cemetery at East Haddam, Middlesex County, Connecticut, USA.
   1. ) Find a Grave Notes: "relict of Mr. Joseph Willey in her 83d year. [Married Joseph Willey in 1746. Contributor: F.P. Kindler (49713120)] "
   2. ) Tombstone Photo: Inscription, "In Memory of | M^rs. Rebeccah Willey | Relict of M^r. Joseph | Willey who Died | No^v 1807 in ^the 83^rd | Year of her Age "

Research Notes

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   4. ) Braces {Editorial Note Example} are used to insert editorial comments; that is to say, information or clarification that is not contained in the original, cited source material.
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Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7} White, Lorraine Cook, The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records, East Haddam Vital Records 1743-1857, Vol 9. Vol. 1-55. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1994-2002. Available:

   1. ) Index to online availability of all 55 Volumes of the Barbour Collection.]
   2. ) Scanned copy of East Haddam Barbour Collection at Ancestry.com fee required
   3. ) Free onlline transcription by Coralynn Brown (Barbour East Haddam) Use Instructions: once at the site, you will need to scroll down to TANNER]

2. ↑ Litchfield Vital Records 1719-1854. Source Information: Ancestry.com. Connecticut Town Birth Records, pre-1870 ('The Barbour Collection) Barbour Vital Records, Litchfield, Conn. Ancestry Record 1034 #129541 database on-line. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. White, Lorraine Cook, ed. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records. Vol. 1-55. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1994-2002.
3. ↑ Barbour Collection, Cornwall Connecticut Vital Records 1740-1854. Connecticut Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (The Barbour Collection) [https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=1034&h=527163 Ancestry Record 1034 #527163 database on-line. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. White, Lorraine Cook, ed. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records. Vol. 1-55. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1994-2002.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} Connecticut, Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999, Ancestry Record 9049 #1894263 database on-line. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Connecticut State Library (Hartford, Connecticut); Probate Place: Hartford, Connecticut.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Tanner, Elias Fitch; Genealogy of the descendants of Thomas Tanner, Sr., of Cornwall, Connecticut, with brief notes of several allied families, also short sketches of several towns of their early residence, Lansing, Mich, Darius D. Thorp, Printer and Binder, 1893.
6. ↑ Dean, Bailey Sutton and Dean James Ernest; A history of the William Dean Family of Cornwall, Conn. and Canfield, Ohio : containing the direct descent from Thomas Dean of Concord, Mass., together with a complete genealogy of William Dean's descendants, The Press of The F.W. Robert Co., Cleveland, Ohio, 1903.
7. ↑ * Find a Grave, database and images (Rev date: accessed 02 December 2021), memorial page for Rebeccah Kezia Willey (6 Jan 1724–2 Nov 1807), Find a Grave Memorial ID 17824734, citing Hadlyme Church Cemetery, East Haddam, Middlesex County, Connecticut, USA ; Maintained by Jan Franco (contributor 46625834).

Other Sources

The following section provides a listing of source material that is pertinent to the profile subject, but not cited in the text of the profile.

• "Connecticut, Charles R. Hale Collection, Vital Records, 1640-1955", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7F3-ZXM : 16 September 2020), Rebeccah Willey, 1807.
• * The Harvey book : giving the genealogies of certain branches of the American families of Harvey,, North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 [Ancestry.com database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.

Web based Genealogies

• FamilySearch profile for Rebeccah (Tanner) Willey