Historical Marker describing the settling of Enfield
2001, Historical Marker in front of the Museum on Enfield Street, Enfield Connecticut
Historical Marker - .... ENFIELD Connecticut settled in 1680 .... Established as the Township of Enfield in 1683, this area was part of the Springfield Plantation granted to William Pynchon and others by the Massachusetts General Court.
Springfield was settled in 1636 but no effectual grants were made until after King Phillips war 1675-1676.
In 1679 John Pease and his brother Robert of Salem Massachusetts, visited the land and spent the winter alone in a hut on the hillside of the present day Enfield Street Cemetery. The next spring 1680 they removed their families along with those of their father John Pease Sr. and Elisha Kibbe to Freshwater Plantation. Within three years thirty more families from Salem and vicinity joined them.
In 1688 a purchase for 25 pounds Sterling was made of the Indian Sachem Nottatuck of all lands from the Asuntuck or Freshwater Brook to the Umquatuck at the foot of the falls and extending eight miles east.
The Springfield Committee governed Enfield until 1693, when the town began to control its own affairs. ENFIELD became part of Connecticut in 1749 by secession from the Royal Government of Massachusetts Bay and union with the charter government of Connecticut. The groundwork for such a step had been laid for more than a century earlier by an error in the surveyors Woodward and Saffery, who in 1642 established a boundary between the colonies running southwestward nearly to the site of Windsor. { erected by the Town of Enfield in 1976 }
Enfield's first settlers, Enfield, Hartford, Connecticut
The first recorded contact between Europeans and Native Americans in Connecticut occurred when Dutch explorer Adriaen Block sailed up the Connecticut River in 1614. Block may have made it as far as the rapids at Enfield. In less than a century after that first meeting the Native American population was decimated and displaced from what had become Enfield.
In 1674, the General Court of Massachusetts granted land stretching as far south as Asnuntuck Brook to the Town of Springfield. That year, Springfield's John Pynchon built the first European structure in what would soon be Enfield, a saw mill on the Brook. The saw mill was destroyed one year later during King Philip's War.
Enfield's first settlers, John Pease, Jr. and Robert Pease, arrived in 1679 from Salem, Massachusetts, and spent their first winter camping in a shelter dug into the side of a hill. The next Spring, they were joined by their families and other settlers from Salem; by the end of that year (1680) about 25 families had settled in the area. In 1683, the Town of Enfield was incorporated. At this time, the town extended east ten miles from the Connecticut River and south six miles from Longmeadow Brook. Five years later, on March 16, 1688, the townspeople purchased Enfield from a Podunk Indian named Notatuck for 25 pounds Sterling. It is unclear what claim Notatuck actually had to the land, or whether he was selling the land or the rights to use it.
Enfield's population was growing. Little villages with names like Wallop and Scitico were settled within Enfield's 60 square miles during the first decades of the 1700s. In 1734 the eastern-most village was incorporated as the Town of Somers.
As a result of an error in the survey done in 1642 by Woodward and Saffery, Enfield was settled as part of Massachusetts Colony. A 1695 survey corrected the error, showing that Enfield, as well as Suffield and Somers, was within Connecticut Colony's borders. Apparently unhappy with the Massachusetts government, the citizens of Enfield first discussed separating from Massachusetts at a 1704 Enfield town meeting. Perhaps they weren't really that unhappy, because it wasn't until 1747 that Enfield began to officially pursue becoming part of Connecticut. Legal action was taken in both the Massachusetts and Connecticut Legislatures and in court in London, England. In 1750 Enfield seceded from Massachusetts and became part of Connecticut Colony.
found on ancestry.com
Genealogical and Family History of the State of Connecticut
1600-1700s, Connecticut
Cutter, William Richard. Genealogical and Family History of the State of Connecticut: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation. New York, NY, USA: Lewis Publishing Company, 1911.
Robert (2), son of John Pease, was born May 14, 1656, at Salem. He first settled at Salem in the Northfields. He shared with his elder brother in the enterprise of leaving the sea-coast to seek out and make new homes for himself, his relatives and neighbors in the Connecticut Valley. It is said that he was one of the first constables chosen by vote of the town of Enfield. He died at Enfield, 1744, aged eighty-two years. He married, December 16, 1678, Abigail Randall. Children, the first born at Salem, the others at Enfield: William, September 26, 1679; Mary, March 11, 1681; Abigail, 1682; Robert, February 2, 1684; Samuel, December 30, 1686, mentioned below; Ephraim, April 9, 1689; Daniel, May 23, 1692; Hannah, June, 1694; Margaret, December, 1695; Ebenezer, 1699.
Cutter, William Richard. Genealogical and Family History of the State of Connecticut: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation. New York, NY, USA: Lewis Publishing Company, 1911.
found on ancestry.com
From John James Stephens II diaries
He settled in the "Northfields" district of the town. After 1678 and before 1682, they settled at Enfield, Connecticut, where he was one of the first constables. Essex Deeds, 6:110, shows:24 August 1682, Robert Pease, son of John Pease, late of Salem, for L40 paid by John Bullock of Salem, Innholder, conveyed one acre there in the North Field with a house thereon, bounded by highway, William Osburne, Samuel Ebourne, and Isaac Cooke; also three acres in said field bounded by John Burton, Job Swinnerton, Caleb Bufam, and Samuel Gaskin; wife Abigail Pease released dower and both made their marks; wit. Hilliard Veren, (court officer) and George Adams; Acknowledged before William Browne (Assistant of Salem) same day; recorded 5 March 1683/4.
found on ancestry.com
First Enfield Settlers
Enfield's first settlers, John Pease, Jr. and Robert Pease, arrived in 1679 from Salem, Massachusetts, and spent their first winter camping in a shelter dug into the side of a hill. The next Spring, they were joined by their families and other settlers from Salem; by the end of that year (1680) about 25 families had settled in the area. In 1683, the Town of Enfield was incorporated. At this time, the town extended east ten miles from the Connecticut River and south six miles from Longmeadow Brook.
found on ancestry.com
PEASE STORY
THE PEASE FAMILY
The history of my Pease family in New England starts with the Widow Margaret (King) Pease who was married to Robert Pease (the Locksmith) and her son Robert Pease who came from Great Baddow, Essex, in England.
Margaret King was born about 1570 at Chelmsford in England and was the daughter of Francis King. She married Robert Pease about 1586, in Great Baddow. He died April 16, 1623 in Chelmsford. Her son Robert was born October 28 1589 in Chelmsford. She and her son Robert came in the Frances in 1634, where they landed in Boston or Ipswich and settled in Salem. It is said that Robert's brother John was also on the ship, as well as his eldest son Robert. Robert's wife Marie (French?) and other children are said to have come at a later date on another ship.
He settled in Salem where in January of 1637 he and his brother are given grants of land.The Widow Margaret Pease's will was dated September 1, 1642 and proved January 1, 1645. In it she mentions a grandson John son of Robert.
Robert was admitted into the Salem Church on October 1, 1643 and two weeks later three of his children were baptized there. The inventory of his estate was filed August 27, 1644.
History of Salem Vol 1. pages 370 -372
FISHING AND SHIPBUILDING
Mrs. Margaret Pease was probably widow of Robert Pease, and is said to have come from Great Baddow, Essex County, England. With her son Robert, she sailed in the Francis for America from the port of Ipswich in April, 1634, and landed at Boston. They settled in Salem.
MRS. MARGARET PEASE died in the winter of 1644-5; child:1. Robert,2 born about 1607.
ROBERT PEASE2 married Marie --; died in the winter of 1644-5; she survived him; children :1. Robert,3 born about 1628;2. John,3 born about 1630;3. Abraham;3 living in 1645;4. Nathaniel,3 baptized October 15, 1643; married Mary Hobbs March 15, 1667; living in 1673;5. Sarah,3 baptized October 15, 1643; married October 22, 1667, John Sampson of Beverly6. Mary,3 baptized October 15, 1643; probably married Isaac
John Pease son of Robert was born in England about 1630 and came to this county when a boy. He received by his Grandmother Margaret's will a major portion of estate and placed him in the care of Thomas Watson, of Salem to "dispose of as his own child."
He settled in the part of Salem known as Northfield, where he owned a farm. On July 4, 1667 he joined the Church of Salem, and April 29, 1668 he was admitted as a freeman of the colony.He and his wife were dismissed from the Salem church to join the church at Springfield Massachusetts, settling in the part that later become Enfield Connecticut. In 1682 he was back in Salem to testify in a lawsuit involving a boundary line.
He was considered a good citizen and active in the church. He died suddenly on July 8, 1689 while making preparations for building a house.
He married first to Mary Goodell, who was born about 1630 in Salem and died January 5, 1668. She was the daughter of Robert and Catharine Goodell. He married secondly to Ann Cummings on December 8, 1669 she died at Enfield on June, 29, 1689. She was the daughter of Isaac Cummings.
JOHN PEASE;3 his grandmother, in her will, gave him to Thomas Watson as his own child; removed to Enfield, Connecticut, in 1682; married, first, Mary Goodale; she died January 5, 1668-9; married, second, Ann Cummings of Topsfield December 8, 1669; she died in Enfield June 29, 1689; he died there July 8, 1689; children:
Children of John and Mary are:1. John,4 born May 20, 1654; 2. Robert,4 born May 14, 1656;3. Margaret,4 born October 8, 1658;4. Abraham,4 born June 5, 1662; lived in Enfield; married Jane Mentor; died in 1735, without issue;5. Mary,4 baptized May 5, 1667; probably married Alexander Renalds, July 16, 1686;6. Jonathan,4 born Jan. 2, 1668-9; lived in Enfield; married Elizabeth Booth October 11, 1692; died in 1721; had children;
Note: in the Cuttler's NE Families he lists Mary as being born October 8, 1658 instead of Margaret and he no Margaret is listed among his children with Mary or Ann.
Children of John and Ann are:7. James,4 born December 23, 1670; lived in Enfield; married Hannah Harmon October 18, 1695; died at Enfield in 1748; had children;8. Isaac,4 born July 15, 1672; lived in Enfield; deacon; married Mindwell Osborn in 16gi; died July 9, 1731;9. Abigail,4 born December 15, 1675; died in Enfield July 9, 1689.
CAPT. JOHN PEASE,4 joiner; removed to Enfield in 1682; married Margaret Adams of Ipswich January 30, 1676-7; died in Enfield in 1734; children:1. John,5 born April 22, 1678; lived in Enfield; married Elizabeth Spencer of Hartford, Connecticut; died at Enfield in 1761;2. James,5 born in 1679; lived in Somers; married Mary Abbe in 1710;3. Margaret,5 born January 24, 1683, in Enfield;4, Ann,5 born October 29, 1685, in Enfield;5. Jonathan,5 born January 29, 1687;6. Mary,5 born May 24, 1688, in Enfield;7. Sarah,5 born September 27, 1689, in Enfield; married Timothy Root8. Joseph,5 born March 10 1692, at Enfield.
I have found a few other interesting notes on John Pease:
According to Miss. Caulkins in her History of Norwich;
There was a John Pease located at Norwich, his name and lot registered in the Town Plat, as a Proprietor in the N.W. extremity of the settlement along with the first planters of Norwich. She goes on to say that he must have been there as early as 1660, as the town book was started and that his name appears on a contract which was made with John Elderkin in 1654, to erect a corn-mill for the town of Mohegan, and was now understood to be erected on the land of John Pease or at Norman's Acre, before November 1661.
A John Pease was also found at New London, Farmer says;
John Pease was a member and Captain of the Ar. Co. in 1661. He might have returned to the Plymouth Colony, and from thence removed to Enfield, or he might have removed direct from Norwich or New London to Enfield in 1683. As the name and age of the man appears to be the same as that of John Pease who had resided at Salem, there is little doubt he was the same man. He was a good surveyor and a gentleman of education.
found on ancestry.com
Enfield's first settlers, Enfield, Hartford, Connecticut
The first recorded contact between Europeans and Native Americans in Connecticut occurred when Dutch explorer Adriaen Block sailed up the Connecticut River in 1614. Block may have made it as far as the rapids at Enfield. In less than a century after that first meeting the Native American population was decimated and displaced from what had become Enfield.
In 1674, the General Court of Massachusetts granted land stretching as far south as Asnuntuck Brook to the Town of Springfield. That year, Springfield's John Pynchon built the first European structure in what would soon be Enfield, a saw mill on the Brook. The saw mill was destroyed one year later during King Philip's War.
Enfield's first settlers, John Pease, Jr. and Robert Pease, arrived in 1679 from Salem, Massachusetts, and spent their first winter camping in a shelter dug into the side of a hill. The next Spring, they were joined by their families and other settlers from Salem; by the end of that year (1680) about 25 families had settled in the area. In 1683, the Town of Enfield was incorporated. At this time, the town extended east ten miles from the Connecticut River and south six miles from Longmeadow Brook. Five years later, on March 16, 1688, the townspeople purchased Enfield from a Podunk Indian named Notatuck for 25 pounds Sterling. It is unclear what claim Notatuck actually had to the land, or whether he was selling the land or the rights to use it.
Enfield's population was growing. Little villages with names like Wallop and Scitico were settled within Enfield's 60 square miles during the first decades of the 1700s. In 1734 the eastern-most village was incorporated as the Town of Somers.
As a result of an error in the survey done in 1642 by Woodward and Saffery, Enfield was settled as part of Massachusetts Colony. A 1695 survey corrected the error, showing that Enfield, as well as Suffield and Somers, was within Connecticut Colony's borders. Apparently unhappy with the Massachusetts government, the citizens of Enfield first discussed separating from Massachusetts at a 1704 Enfield town meeting. Perhaps they weren't really that unhappy, because it wasn't until 1747 that Enfield began to officially pursue becoming part of Connecticut. Legal action was taken in both the Massachusetts and Connecticut Legislatures and in court in London, England. In 1750 Enfield seceded from Massachusetts and became part of Connecticut Colony.
found on ancestry.com
John Pease 1654-1734
from:
A genealogical and historical record of the descendants of John Pease, Sen By David Pease, Austin Spencer Pease
"JOHN PEASE (3 JOHN 2 ROBERT 1) eldest son of JOHN Sen and MARY GOODELL PEASE some time of Salem Massachusetts last of Enfield Connecticut born at Salem May 30 1654 married Margaret Adams of Ipswich Mass January 30 1677
He was apprenticed at Salem to one John Symonds who was probably a carpenter and joiner Symonds died soon after In his will he assigned his apprentice to his son James during the term of time in the indenture paying 40 in four years 10 per annum. It seems probable he continued the occupation of his apprenticeship until his removal from Salem as evidenced by the sale of his land house and shop.
He and his brother Robert are said to have gone to Enfield in 1679 two years before they removed their families there and lived the first winter in an excavation in the side of a hill about forty rods from where the first meeting house stood. In 1685 they had extra land given them because they had been the first cummers.
It was undoubtedly this son John Pease who is named in the deed as one of the commissioners who made the purchase of the larger portion of the town of Enfield in March 1681 He was one of the most prominent men in the history of the town of Enfield, was indefatigable in his efforts to promote and advance its prosperity when an infant settlement and after its incorporation as a town. He was appointed land measurer by the town was one of the first selectmen chosen by the town and was the first captain of the first militia company in Enfield. He died at Enfield 1734 aged 80 years.
His children were 9
1 JOHN born at Salem April 22 1678
2 JAMES born at Salem 1679
3 MARGARET born at Enfield January 24 1683, married Josiah Colton 1709, died 1775
4 JONATHAN born at Enfield January 29 1687. Probably died infant
5 ANN born at Enfield October 29 1685, married Jeremiah Lord of East Windsor, Connecticut
6 MARY born at Enfield May 24 1688, married Thomas Abbe 1714, died 1746
7 SARAH born at Enfield September 27 1689, married Timothy Root of Somere 1710, died 1750
8 JOSEPH born at Enfield March 10 1692
Salem and Enfield Town and Essex and Old Hampshire County Records and New England Genealogical and Historical Register "
found on ancestry.com
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