Calvin Tilden was born in Hebron, Tolland County, Connecticut on 23 September 1744 to Isaac Tilden, Jr. and Irene Phelps[1][2][3]
Migration north to Richmond, Berkshire County, MA
Sometime after 1758 (when Calvin's youngest sibling was born in Hebron[4]) Calvin's family moved north from Hebron, Connecticut to Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts -- where Calvin married in 1775[5] and where Calvin's father died in 1792.[6][7] From the dates and locations of marriage or first deliveries of Calvin's sisters, it seems likely that the family migrated between 1768[8][9] and 1771.[10]
Marriage and children
Calvin married Lydia Fuller in Richmond on 1 Feb 1775[11].
There are two hypotheses as to the parentage of Lydia Fuller. According to a Fuller family genealogy written in 1914[12], she was Lydia (Fuller of Salisbury) Tilden (1755-1832), the daughter of Elisha Fuller and Esther (Hungerford) Fuller who migrated to RIchmond from East Haddam Connecticut where she had been baptized in 1757.[13] However, this same Fuller family genealogy stated that Elisha himself did not move to Richmond until about 1798. Such a late date of migration is consistent with Esther Fuller being included on a 1788 list of members of the 2nd Congregational Church of East Haddam[14] as well as the 1790 census record which showed a houshold in East Haddam headed by Elisha Fuller immediately adjacent to households headed by Noadiah Fuller, Noadiah Fuller, Jr. and Daniel Fuller -- two of Elisha's brothers and a nephew of Elisha Fuller.[15] The name of Uriel Fuller, Lydia's brother, appeared on a separate page of the same census record.[16] If her parents and extended family still lived in East Haddam, Connecticut on 1 February 1775, how could a woman who was not quite 18 years old have married on that date in distant Richmond ?
According to an alternative hypothesis, Calvin's wife Lydia was Lydia (Fuller of Salisbury) Tilden (1755-1832), the daughter of Jeremiah Fuller (1717-abt.1786) and Bethiah (Dean) Fuller (abt.1718-1804). Like Calvin's parents and grandparents, this Fuller family had first lived in Lebanon, Connecticut (where Calvin's father was born), then moved 10 miles west to Hebron, Connecticut (where Calvin was born). By 1752 they had moved 70 miles further northwest to Salisbury, Connecticut -- near the border with western Massachusetts.[17] It was in Salisbury, Connecticut that a son named Luther was born in 1753 and Lydia was born on 28 Dec 1753.[18] Jeremiah Fuller moved further to Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts -- arriving by the time that he signed his Will (naming "Lydia" as a daughter) in 1785.[19] Jeremiah's oldest daughter Dorcas married Asahel Cogswell in Richmond in 1770[20] and gave birth to twins there in 1771.[21][22] This suggests that the family of Jeremiah Fuller had removed to Richmond by this time. A history of Lenox and Richmond listed "Jeremiah Fuller" as one of the residents of Richmond who fought in the Revolutionary War.[23] Although this more likely referred to the son of the subject of this profile, it suggests that the family had moved to Richmond by the time of the war. According to a different Fuller family genealogy written in 1898[24], Lydia married "John TIlden". Note that Calvin had no brother named John. He did have an uncle and a cousin named John, both of whom lived their entire lieves in Connecticut. Might the Lydia of this Fuller family be the wife of Calvin Tilden?
Calvin and Lydia had at least 9 children, all born in Richmond:
Luther, b. 17 Apr 1776[25], d. 25 Feb 1826 in Cornwall, Vermont[26]
Jeremiah (twin), b. 19 Jun 1777[27], d. 4 Aug 1777 in Richmond[28]
Isaac (twin), b. 19 Jun 1777[29], d. 11 Jul 1777 in Richmond[30]
Clarissa, b. 3 Jul 1778[31], m. Philip Pond on 9 Mar 1796[32] , d. 26 Nov 1830 in Augusta, New York[33][34]
Calvin, b. 10 Oct 1780[35], d. 9 May 1797 (age 16) in Cornwall, Vermont[36]
Lucy, b. 30 Sep 1782[37], m. 4 Mar 1802 to Ebenezer Hurlburt in Cornwall, Vermont[38]
Theron, b. 1 Jun 1785[39], m. Anna Blodgett in Cornwall, Vermont on 3 Jan 1809[40]
Levi, b. 15 Feb 1787[41], m. to Catharine Benton in Cornwall on 6 May 1824[42], d. 20 May 1837 in Cornwall, Vermont.[43]
Lydia, b. Feb 1789[44], m. Luther Hurlburt in Cornwall, Vermont on 29 Dec 1808[45]
Revolutionary War service
Calvin first entered service in April 1777 as a Sergeant in the Berkshire County militia and engaged in campaigns near Saratoga (leading up to General Gates' pivotal victory there in September/October of 1777)[46][47] As part of that campaign, Calvin marched to Bennington, about 50 miles south of Cornwall, Vermont where he would settle after the war.
Migration further north to Vermont
Sometime after 1790 (when the census enumerated a household in Richmond headed by Calvin Tilden[48]), Calvin and Lydia moved their family to Cornwall, Addison County, Vermont where records show that almost all of their surviving children married and/or died.
There is a record from the 1800 census of a Cornwall, Vermont household headed by Calvin Tilden.[49]
In Cornwall, Calvin established himself, along with his son Luther, as a wheelwright, making spinning wheels for those households producing woolen or flax threads.[50][51]. He was known as "Captain Tilden"[52], although (unlike Daniel Tilden (1743-1833)), a muster roll has yet to be located to document that he held a rank higher than sergeant during the Revolutionary War.
Death
Calvin died in Cornwall, Vermont on 26 Mar 1822 at age 78 years.[53][54]
Lydia surivived another ten years and died in the same town on 5 Aug 1832.[55][56]
↑ Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Silver Books, Volume Eighteen, Part 2, The Descendants of Richard Warren Through His Children Mary, Anna, and Elizabeth, Published 2011, Page 147
↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/47373789/isaac-tilden : accessed 28 May 2022), memorial page for Isaac Tilden (30 Sep 1715–9 Jan 1792), Find a Grave Memorial ID 47373789, citing Cone Hill Cemetery, Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by Kim Frye (contributor 47034099) Photo of the headstone with iInscription: "In Memory of Mr. Isaac Tilden who died Jany 9th 1792 Aged 77 Years.
↑ Judith Tilden married Oliver Buel in Colchester (6 miles south of Hebron) on 15 Dec 1768. "Connecticut, Vital Records, Prior to 1850," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS56-D3DC-D?cc=2843390 : 15 April 2022), > image 1 of 1; compiled by Lucius A. and Lucius B. Barbour, housed at State Library, Hartford, Connecticut.
↑ Genealogy of some descendants of Captain Matthew Fuller, John Fuller of Newton, John Fuller of Lynn, John Fuller of Ipswich, Robert Fuller of Dorchester and Dedham to which is added supplements to volume I: Genealogy of some descendants of Edward Fuller of the Mayflower, and volume II: Some descendants of Dr. Samuel Fuller, of the Mayflower. By William Hyslop Fuller. 1914. Page 49. (https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/58139/?offset=4#page=49&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q=)
↑ Volume 1 of the records of the 2nd Congregational Church & Eccesiastical Society of East Haddam (Millington Church). Image 14 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3F-6S9Z-P?cat=865667908 ). Second Congregational Church and Ecclesiastical Society of East Haddam -- better known as the Millington Church and Society. A Record of Persons Baptized Since Nov 20 1745. "Ezra, Lidya and Uriel Fuller Children of Elisha and Esther Fuller".
↑ Volume 2 of the records of the 2nd Congregational Church & Eccesiastical Society of East Haddam (Millington Church). Page 9 (Image 45) (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3F-6S96-L?i=44&cat=28058). "A List of Members of the Church of Christ in Millington. Dec 13 1788 ..... 36. Esther Fuller (Removed) .. of Lieut Elisha" The word "(Removed)" was added at a later date.
↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51560257/silas-cogswell: accessed 25 October 2023), memorial page for Silas Cogswell (3 Jun 1771–3 Jun 1850), Find a Grave Memorial ID 51560257, citing Hudson Cemetery, Dexter, Washtenaw County, Michigan, USA; Maintained by Brian (contributor 47144646).
↑ "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XFNJ-VMX : 19 February 2021), Theron Tilden and Anna Blodget, 1809. Image 1115 of 3631.
↑ "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V89W-QCH : 19 February 2021), Lydia Tilden, 1832. Image 444 of 3609. Date of death - 5 Aug 1832; Age at death - 77 yers; Husband - Capt Calvin Tilden; Name of Cemetery - Church
↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/67722840/calvin-tilden : accessed 28 May 2022), memorial page for Capt Calvin Tilden (23 Sep 1744–26 Mar 1822), Find a Grave Memorial ID 67722840, citing Cornwall Central Cemetery, Cornwall, Addison County, Vermont, USA ; Maintained by Beverly Kane (contributor 46485975) . Photo of headstone with inscription.
↑ "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V89W-QCH : 19 February 2021), Lydia Tilden, 1832. Image 444 of 3609. Date of death - 5 Aug 1832; Age at death - 77 yers; Husband - Capt Calvin Tilden; Name of Cemetery - Church
↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/68282404/lydia-tilden : accessed 28 May 2022), memorial page for Lydia Fuller Tilden (28 Dec 1755–5 Aug 1832), Find a Grave Memorial ID 68282404, citing Cornwall Central Cemetery, Cornwall, Addison County, Vermont, USA ; Maintained by Beverly Kane (contributor 46485975) . Photo of headstone with inscription.
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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Calvin 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 Calvin: