Person:John Stanton (2)

From Thomas Stanton of Stonington, Conn. An Incomplete Record of His Descendants

John studied at Harvard College, the authorities of the Connecticut Colony desiring to train him for public affairs, and make him an Indian Interpreter. He served with distinction as a Captain in the war against Philip. In 1664 he was married to Hannah Thompson, a relative and perhaps a daughter of Rev. William Thompson of Braintree, Mass., whose son, Rev. William Thompson, Jr. resided in Stonington and New London, as a missionary to the Pequot Indians. He settled in Stonington, Conn., where he held an important position...

...A few years before his death, Capt. John Stanton gave his real estate to his sons by deed, as follows: - to Joseph he gave the homestead farm in Stonington; to John and Thomas he gave all his lands in Preston. Theophilus was not then living. John and Thomas settled on the lands in Preston. His will, dated in 1713, confirms these gifts of land. In 1737, his son John, then of Preston, applied to the Probate Court in New London for an equitable division of the Preston lands between him and his brother Thomas.

From Savage's Genealogical Dictionary

JOHN, Stonington, s[on]. of Thomas, the first, was wish[ed]. by the Conn[ecticut]. Governm[ent]. to be educ[ated]. for an Ind[ian]. interpret[or]. and teacher, and sent by his f[ather]. to Harv[ard]. Col[lege]. 1661, but not long eno[ugh]. stud[ied]. there to partake in the honors. He prob[ably]. learn[ed], more by practice and exper[ience]. of acquaint[ance]. with the unlet[tered]. natives; was freem[an]. 1666, liv[ing]. at s[tonington]. 1670-9, prob[ably]. had s[on]. of the same name, as he was call[ed]. sen[ior]. a capt[ain]. in Philip's war, and much employ[ed]. in every thing relat[ing]. to the Ind[ians]. By w[ife]. Hannah he had John, b[orn]. 22 May 1665; Joseph, 22 Jan. 1668; Thomas, Apr. 1670; Ann, 1 Oct. 1673; Theophilus, 16 Jan. 1676; and Dorothy, wh[o]. d[ied]. 28 Apr. 1699.

From It's About Time

John Stanton (1641-1713) was a pupil of the famous old school teacher of the Puritans, Elijah Corlet. In 1654 he and John Miner, son of Thomas Miner, were selected by the Court of Commissioners to be educated as Indian interpreters and teachers of the Gospel to the Indians. Both young men, however, ultimately left their studies, and devoted themselves to other pursuits.

In 1664, John Stanton became the first Recorder of the town of Southertown (now Stonington), Connecticut. The same year he married Hannah Thompson, daughter of Anthony and Catharine Thompson of New Haven, Conn.

In June 1674, Capt. John Stanton was elected Stonington Town clerk and held office till 1699. Selectmen were Thomas Stanton, Sr., Nathaniel Chesebrough, John Gallup, Sr., Samuel Mason, and Nehemiah Palmer.

1675 Thomas Stanton, John Stanton, and Capt. George Denison were among those who presented a petition and protest to the General Assembly of Connecticut, on behalf of the town of Southertown (Stonington). They protested against certain laws deemed by them unjust to their rights, peace and liberty. For so doing, one of them, Capt. Denison, was fined 10 pounds, and forbidden to hold office. Another one, Mr. John Stanton, "the towne's agent, for management of his agency, is fined ten pounds for that boldness, to be paid at the latter end of summer, at Boston, in money or corn, according to order." Meanwhile came the Indian uprising of King Philips War, and in May 1677, the fine, not yet paid, was revoked in recognition of the defendants' services in the war.

On 18 February 1675, John Stanton was commissioned captain of one of the four Connecticut regiments in King Philip's War. He was in command at the time of the capture of Canonchet, the chief sachem of all the Narragansetts. Canonchet was shot for his refusal to make peace with the English.

1. ↑ prepared by John D. Baldwin of Worcester, Mass. STANTON: Thomas Stanton of Stonington, Conn - An Incomplete Record of His Descendants. (Tyler & Seagrave, No. 442 Main Street, 1882).
2. ↑ Researcher.

   Brian Bonner Mavrogeorge, Elaine Tillquist Pavone

3. ↑ William Richard Cutter, A.M. New England Families Genealogical and Memorial Series. (Clearfield Company, NY, 1913; reprinted Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD, 1996, 1997)
   Series I, pp. 1040-1042.
4. ↑ Austin, John Osborne. The Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island. (Orig. 1887; Reprinted 1969 Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing)
   Vol. 4, p. 166.