"William Gaylord, the eldest surviving son of Deacon William Gaylord, of West Hartford, Connecticut, was born in West Hartford, November 29, 1709. His mother was Hope, daughter of Thomas Butler, of Hartford.
He studied theology, and in May, 1732, began to preach in the Congregational Church in Wilton, Connecticut. A call to settle was given him on the 29th of August, and after some delay he was ordained, February 14, 1732-3. He was married a few days earlier (January 24) to Elizabeth, youngest daughter of the Rev. John Davenport (Harv. 1687), of Stamford. She died, after a year's illness, July 6, 1747, aged nearly 39 years, having borne him seven children, of whom only one son and one daughter survived their father.
He was next married, at Norwalk, May 25, 1753, to Elizabeth Bishop, by whom he had four sons and two daughters,—all but one son surviving him.
He died in office, 'of an apoplectic disorder,' January 2, 1767, in his 58th year. The inventory of his estate amounted to £451. His second wife survived him nearly forty-five years, dying October 1, 1811, in her 89th year."
