Person:David Atwater (6)

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David Atwater ( October 8, 1615 - October 5, 1692) was a founder of the Colony of New Haven, Connecticut. He was the first of the New Haven Colony who was sworn a freeman of the United Colony.

David Atwater's Will

Examination of David Atwater's will, in connection with knowledge obtained from other sources, providess information on his children. One of his six sons, Joshua, had removed to Wallingford, Connecticut, where he married, June 24, 1680, Lydia Rothwell, and died soon after, leaving no children. One of his four daughters, the eldest child, Mercy, who married John Austin, died in child birth in 1683, and the will related to her children.

There are special bequests of lands to each of the surviving five sons, David, John, Jonathan, Samuel and Ebenezer, determined in relation to the portions of the estate already received by each. Two of the sons had already been established in business in New Haven, namely, Jonathan, whose name appears in the list of "Proprietors of New Haven, Conn., in year 1685," the bequests to him being, in the words of the will, "besides what also he hath already received," and the youngest son and child, Ebenezer.

The portions of the estate already received by these two sons may have been the requisite money capital for business, and possibly the town lot (now 120 to 128 College Street, north of Elm), assigned to David in the original division of the lands, with its improvements and the house and land formerly owned and occupied by Joshua, on what was known as Fleet Street, bought by David from Joshua 19th June, 1665, after the removal of Joshua to Boston—which house is said to have been occupied by the descendants of David for more than two hundred years—neither of these properties appearing in the inventory of his estate in 1692. To each of the three remaining sons there is a specific bequest of a homestead.

To David Atwater, Jr., whose name was in the list of Proprietors in 1685, as follows. Item. I doe Ratify and Confirm to David Attwater, junior, my eldest son, my old House, Barn and Orchard, which he already possesseth, and twelve acres, lying on both sides ye creek, adjoining to meadow of Issac Turner's, and twenty acres of upland, ten to ye Cornfield and ten in ye Neck, soth halfe that peese of land fensed in on ye west side of Road and ye Rock.

To John Atwater, whose name was in the list of Proprietors in 1685, as follows. Item. I doe give and bequeath unto my son, John Attwater, ye House and accommodations at Wallingford, with ye Rights and privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging, wch I bought of Samuel Potter, with two acres of meadow I had of John Dod, formerlv Ephraim Young's land, and one acre more of silt marsh next ye River, lying near my son David's.

To Samuel Atwater, whose name was not in the list of Proprietors in 1685, as follows: Item. For all the Rest of my lands, both uplands and meadow, with my dwelling house, barne and other buildings, wth the Orchard, privileges and appurtenances, I give to my son, Samuel, to be to him and to his Heires forever.

And for these lands and meadows, above mentioned, given to my other sons, my will is that it be to them and to their Heirs forever. And my further will is yt, if any sons see Cause to sell any of their lands, they shall first offer it to their Brothers, that they may have ye first refusal.

It would appear that there had been three divisions of lands to the planters, according to their original agreement, the third division, as indicated in the inventory, being about one hundred acres to him: Item. From my owne 3d Division, and wt I had of my son John, I give and bequeath unto my ffour sons, David, Jonathan, Samll and Ebenezer, to be equally divided between them.

And forr all ye Rest of my p'sonal estate, movables and stock of cattle, my will is it be equally divided between all my children, at least to ye vallew of it, my Grandchildren, sons of my daughter Austin, to be included for one share."

On December 9, 1691, he recorded his equal care for all his children in an Appendix to his will, without the formality of witnesses, in these words:

Know all men whom it may concern, that I, David Attwater, Senr, Doe upon further consideration, and from a desire to promote love and peece among my children, and to make, as neere as I can, an equall distribution of that estate wch God hath given me, I Doe heereby, as my will, give to each of my children, out of Samuell's part, five pounds, to be paid out of ye stock of cattle or as he may think best.

Probate record: This Appendix to ye will admitted by all of ye children & ye Court as if proved by witnesses. Agrees with ye Original Text. Wm. Jones, Clerk.

These extracts from the will of David Atwater, of Royton in Lenham and Cedar Hill, New Haven, end with its opening and closing words:

Know all men by these p'sents, that I, David Attwater, Senr, of New Haven, in ye Colony of Connecticut in New England, though weak of body, yet of Competent, sound understanding & memory, Doe Make and Ordaine this as my last will and testament, in manner and fform following:

Imprimis. I comend my sowle unto the hands of God, through Jesus Christ, my Redeemer, & my body to the earth, to be buried in a Comely and desent manner, according to the discression of my executors hereafter named."

Lastly. I doe hereby constitute and appoint my loving son-in-law, John Punderson, and my son Samuell, to be Executrs of this, my last will and testament. And Capt. Moses Mansfield, Overseer. And Doe order my son-in- law, John Punderson, and my son Samuell, to pay him twenty shillings for his trouble. And I doe hereby Revoak and make voyd all former will or wills. And Declare this to be my last will and testament.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seale this fourteenth day of April, one thousand six hundred ninety-one. 1691. David Attwater. [Seal.] Signed, sealed and delivered in p'sense of John Sayre Sworn in court: Samuel Sayre

Biography

David Atwater was the son of John Atwater (1567 - 1636). He was born and baptized in Royton in Lenham, Kent, England, on Sunday, October 8, 1615, and died in Cedar Hill, New Haven, on October 5, 1692 and is buried in the Cedar Hill Cemetery in North Haven. There is much written about him so I will divide this into two parts. He outlived most of the other original planters in new Haven. The immigration of David and his siblings, Joshua and Ann Atwater, to America was partially the result of the religious persecutions and illegal "taxation" by King Charles I in England. In addition, their parents had just died, as had their uncles. From David's birth thru 1633, George Abbott was the Archbishop of Canterbury.

During this period, the Puritans in his own Diocese of Canterbury were largely protected from the persecutions of Charles I by his personal authority. Archbishop Abbott permitted the French and Dutch churches to continue to worship according to their Presbyterian form in Maidstone, Sandwich, and Canterbury. One of these congregations worshiped according to that form in his own Cathedral Church of Canterbury as had been done from the time of Queen Elizabeth. [Abbott was employed on the authorized translation of the Bible under King James I.]

However, another Archbishop, Laud, gained unlimited sway over the mind of Charles I and convinced him that the Puritans should no longer be afforded asylum in England. When Archbishop Abbott died in 1633, persecution of the separatists became much more active. On Christmas Day, 1636, Laud wrote to the king that even though the ringleaders of the Brownists and other separatists from the Church of England had been imprisoned, the movements continued. "Neither do I see remedy like to be, unless some of their seducers be driven to abjure the Kingdom, which must be done by the judges at the common law, but is not within our power." Charles I responded with the memorandum: "C. R. Informe me of the particulars and I shall command the Judges to make them Abjure." Six months later, on June 26, 1637, Joshua, David, and Ann Atwater arrived in Boston on the Hector.

In addition to these ecclesiastical troubles, the forced loans and illegal extractions, resulting from the attempt of King Charles I to govern without a parliament, were severely felt. Each person was required to pay a fixed proportion of his property in land or goods. Those who refused were impressed to serve in the navy, others were imprisoned, "committed by special command of his majesty."

The financial implications on David, Joshua, and Ann Atwater were significant. According to the custom of gavelkind of the time, David, the youngest son, would retain the homestead and remain at Royton when his father died. Joshua had received the rest of the estate and was a mercer (merchant in fabrics) in Ashton, about seven miles from Royton. Both had received much from the estates of their uncles George and David, and from that of Ann, George's wife. Therefore, to leave for America on short notice likely meant selling all of their lands and possessions at a considerable disadvantage.

David Atwater was 22 years old when he arrived in New England in 1637. If he was one of those who accompanied Mr. Eaton to Quinnipiack in the autumn of that year, he returned to Boston, for only seven of the company, including his brother Joshua, remained at Quinnipiack through the winter. It is likely that David and his sister Ann stayed in Boston for the winter and sailed with the company for their new home in the spring of 1638. He signed the plantation covenant on June 4, 1639, the day of the constituent assembly in Mr. Newman's barn.

David was unmarried thru 1643 when his name appears on the list of 21 planters with a valuation upon their estates of £500 or more, "according to which he will pay his proportion in all Rates and Public charges from time to time to be accessed for civil uses, and expect Lands in all divisions which shall generally be made to the planters". (Barber's History and Antiquities of New Haven, edition 1831.)

David Atwater (1615 - 1692) Part Two

David married Damaris Sayre who was born in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, England, in about 1625, and she died in New Haven on April 1, 1691. She is the daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Aldrich) Sayre. David married Demaris before March 10, 1646/7, the date of the General Court, when the name of "David Atwater's wife" was read among those seated in the meeting-house.

In the first division of lands among the settlers, a farm was assigned him in the "Neck," as the tract between the Mill and Quinnipiac Rivers was called, in an area now part of Hampden, upon which it is believed that he lived until his death. He also had a town lot but never lived on it, preferring the farm. His neighbors included Nat Turner.

David was probably the first settler in this area that became Hampden (Hartley, 1959). He also had a house lot in New Haven town on what is now called State Street and may have lived there for a part of the year. In this first division of land in 1641, he received 24 ¼ acres in the meadow with 141 acres in the second division. His annual tax for this land was 1 pd.,11 shillings and 4 pence. He is listed in attendance in the general court of July 1, 1644, as well as March 10, 1646. In the Feb. 24, 1644 court he was appointed a fence viewer for the farms.

David was appointed town treasurer at the court of Oct. 22, 1645 he and several others were selected to audit the accounts of former treasurers. His role was renewed in 1646. At the court of July 7, 1647 he was fined for being absent from the watch one night. In 1649 he was called for letting his hogs go abroad and for not having them ringed as ordered and was fined 12 pence a hog (see John Cooper). David was involved in several estates. He took the inventory of the estate of: Henry Humiston with Thomas Barnes on Feb. 29, 1663 which was presented in court on May 3, 1664, William Potter with Thomas Yale on Aug. 2, 1662 and the inventory of Gilliam Mansfield on after Dec. 8, 1669 with William Bradley.

At the April 1663 court David Atwater and Mr. Goodenhouse asked for a decision about a land dispute on their adjoining boundary lines. They were both told it was their own fault for not getting their land measured. The court asked them to settle it themselves, which was most desired, or continue it at the next court. Both men requested to continue the issue at the next court. The court also ruled that Mr. Goodenhouse had do wrong to David Atwater in the dispute and ordered him to pay ten shilling for this along with charges of witnesses.

In 1665 a deed of sale from his brother Joshua of all his land and house in New Haven to him was recorded. Joshua is listed as living in Boston at this time. At the January 15, 1665 meeting, David along with others, was appointed to collect the church tax on the farms. He received 90 ½ acres in the third division of land in 1680. At the court of April 26, 1681 he was chosen surveyor of the highways, with William Johnson, for the ensuing year.

David and Damaris had ten children, all born in New Haven:

1. Mercy was born on February 29, 1647. She married John Austin (1643-1690) on Nov. 5, 1667 in New Haven. She died on Apr 14, 1683 in child birth in New Haven. They had nine children: John (1668-1683), David (1670-1713), Joshua (1673-1760), Mary (1675), John (twin) (1677-1773), Hannah (twin) (1677), Mary (1680-1683), son (1683 – Mercy also died in his child birth). All children were born in New Haven.

2. Damaris was born on November 12, 1647/48, baptized on October 21, 1649, and died on December 14, 1711. She married John Punderson (1644-1729) on Nov. 5, 1667 in New Haven. They had eight children: Abigail (1671), John (1673-1739), Thomas (1678-1742), Hannah (1679-1740), Mary (1683-1713), David (1686-1731), Samuel (1691-1731), Ebenezer (1694-1702). All were born in New Haven.

3. David was born on July 13, 1650, and died on January 10, 1735/6. His birth date has also been reported as July 13, 1651. He received 11 acres in the third division of land in 1680 and is listed as a Proprietor of New Haven in 1685. He married Joanna and lived upon and cultivated a portion of the land which was originally assigned to his father. They had three children: Joanna (1682-), Abigail (1684-1742), and Joshua (1686-1773).

4. Joshua was born on January 11, 1652/3. He moved to Wallingford where he married Lydia Rockwell on June 24, 1680. He and Lydia died in 1681, leaving no children.

5. John was born on November 1, 1654, and died in 1748. He married Abigail Glover on September 13, 1682. He is listed as a Proprietor of New Haven, CT, in the Year 1685 (NEGHSR, vol. 1, pp. 157–8). His second wife was Mary Beach, widow of John Beach. He then married Abigail Mansfield and settled in Wallingford on a farm which had belonged to his brother Joshua. He and Abigail Glover had ten children: John (1683-1765), Abigail 1685-, Mercy (1687-), Hannah (1690-), Joshua (1693-1787), Moses (1696-1786), Phineas (1699-1777), Ebenezer (1703-1758), Caleb (1705-1736) , Benjamin (1708-1792).

6. Jonathan was born on July 12, 1656, and died in New Haven on June 3, 1726. He married Ruth Peck on June 1, 1681. He is listed as a Proprietor of New Haven, CT, in the Year 1685 (NEGHSR, vol. 1, pp. 157–8). They had eleven children, all born in New Haven: Joshua (1681), David (1683-1727), Jeremiah (1684-1732), Mary (1686-1753), Ruth (1688-1758), Jonathan (1690-1760), Lydia (1693-1694), Joseph (1694-1766), Stephen (1696-1704), Damaris (1698-1762), Lydia (1701-1708).

7. Abigail was born on March 3, 1659/60 and died after 1692. She married Nathaniel Jones (1659-1684) on Oct. 7, 1684 in New Haven. He was born in Westminster, London, England. They had three children, the first and third born in New Haven and the second in Wallingford: Hannah (1687 – ), Theophilus (1690-), Abigail (1692-).

8. Mary was born on March 31, 1662. She first married Ichabod Stow on Oct. 22, 1688, secondly she married David Robinson.

9. Samuel was born on September 17, 1664, and died on September 17, 1742. He married Sarah Alling (1666-1742) on July 7, 1691, daughter of John and Elena (Bradley) Alling. They had eleven children: Samuel (1692-1713), Daniel (1705-1757), James (1696-1722), Sarah (1698-1699), Damaris (1700-1770), Caleb (1702-1775), Stephen (1705-1757), John (1707-1709), Seth (1711-1712), Mabel (1713). All were born in New Haven,

10. Ebenezer was born on January 13, 1666. He married Abigail Heating (1673-1731) on Dec. 9, 1691 in New Haven. They had four children: Sarah (1693-1761), Mary (1695-1772), James (1697-1766), Abigail (1700-1782). All were born in New Haven. Sarah married James Humiston (son of John) on Jan. 7, 1719.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Atwater, in Jacobus, Donald Lines. Families of Ancient New Haven. (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1974)
   1:60.

   "David (Atwater), bp 8 Oct 1615 Lenham, Kent, d 5 Oct 1692 (New Haven Vital Records)."

2.   David Atwater, in Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.