Person:David Ensign (7)

David was a farmer and miller and was also prominent in church and town affairs. He was chosen, 16 Feb 1665, chimney viewer; 23 Feb 1688, surveyor and grand juryman. He was one of the first settlers in West Hartford where he moved in 1686; his name headed the list of petitioners for the establishment of a new church. David was buried in the old cemetery of West Hartford where his gravestone bears the inscription: "Here lyeth the body of Mr. David Ensign who Died Decemr ye 14th 1727 in ye 83 year of his age." Mehitable divorced David in Oct 1682 for "ill conduct on his part." (See note 4) She married again in 1685, Isaac Sheldon of Northampton. David remarried Sarah Wilcox. Nanncewatt brought complaint against David for "obtaining a quille of wampum" and he was ordered to pay the Indian 40s on 29 Dec 1674. References: Hartford vital records, in Connecticut, United States. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records.

Ensign, David, Hartford, s. of James, m. 22 Oct. 1663, Mehitable, d. of Thomas Gunn, had David, b. 16 Nov. 1664; James, 8 May 1666; Thomas, 7 Dec. 1668; Sarah, 22 Jan. 1672; and Mary, 26 Jan. 1675. After his w. had been (for his ill-conduct) divoe. she bec. 1685, see. w. of Isaac Sheldon of Northampton. His s. James well perpet. the name. JAMES, Cambridge 1634, freem. 4 Mar. 1635, rem. a. 1639 to Hartford, [p.125] had large est. only s. David, bef. ment. and three ds. of wh. Sarah, perhaps, m. 6 My 1651, John Rockwell; Lydia was bapt. 19 Aug. 1649; and Mary m. Samuel Smith, afterwards of Northampton and Hadley. His will, of Nov. 1670, was pro. Mar. foll. JOHN, Scituate, s. of Thomas, by w. wh. d. bef. him, had only ch. Hannah, b. 1669; was k. by the Ind. at Rehoboth fight 26 Mar. 1676; had made his will in contempla. of such a result a few days bef. So this fam. in male line was extinct. THOMAS, Scituate, m. Jan. 1639, Eliz. Wilder of Hingham, prob. liv. there some yrs. had Hannah, bapt. 6 July 1640 wh. m. 19 Nov. 1658, Thomas Shepherd of Malden, not the Rev. of Charlestown, and d. 14 Mar. 1698; Eliz. wh. m. Nicholas Wade; and John, bef. ment. He was of Duxbury 1656, and d. 1663. His will of 16 July in that yr. names w. Eliz. and the three ch. [Genealogical Dictionary of New England Settlers Volume 2, page 125]

1. ↑ James Ensign, in Anderson, Robert Charles; George F. Sanborn; and Melinde Lutz Sanborn. The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635. (Boston, Massachusetts: NEHGS, 1999-2011)
   2:456.

   David (Ensign), b. about 1643 (on 27 February 1657/8, John Winthrop Jr. treated "Ensigne David 15 years" (WMJ 89]).

2. ↑ Nelson, Martha Eunice Ensign. Record of the Descendants of James Ensign and His Wife Sarah Elson, 1634-1939-1960. (United States: The Compiler, 1960)
   8, 9.

   David was a farmer and miller and was also prominent in church and town affairs. He was chosen, 16 Feb 1665, chimney viewer; 23 Feb 1688, surveyor and grand juryman. He was one of the first settlers in West Hartford where he moved in 1686; his name headed the list of petitioners for the establishment of a new church. David was buried in the old cemetery of West Hartford where his gravestone bears the inscription: "Here lyeth the body of Mr. David Ensign who Died Decemr ye 14th 1727 in ye 83 year of his age." … David being complained of by Nanncewatt for obtaining a quille of Wampum. David to pay the Indian 40 s. 29 Dec. 1674.

3.   Hartford Vital Records (NEHGS), in Connecticut, United States. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records
   106.

   David (Ensign), Sr., died Dec 13, 1727 [Frank Farnsworth Starr manuscript, 74].

4.   Charges against David Ensign were made in court in 1682 and are recorded in “Connecticut Court Assistants,” page 34.
   
   First: for bringing and spreading false reports concerning the death of the King, the flight of the Duke of York, and the Duke of Monmouth being made protector. This prisoner returns and said he heard so at New York.
   
   Second: for contempt of authority and that after so much means used, that he hath continually and unlawfully accompanied the wife of Thomas Long to the great dishonor of God, scandal of religion, and breach of the laws of the colony whereby he hath forefeited his bond made to Hartford County, Sept. 18, 1679.
   
   Third: that he hath committed adultery with Thomas Long's wife, or at least is suspiciously guilty thereof.
   
   The jury find the first article according to the prisoner's confession.
   
   They find the 2nd article and so consequently the breach of the bond, and they find the
   
   3rd article as suspiciously guilty of the gross act of adultery.
   
   David Ensigne having been complained of in these three articles which have been committed to a jury, and he is found guilty.
   
   The court, having considered the first article, that his misdemeanors therein in spreading such reports is notoriously dangerous and very offensive and there being no particular law that doth direct what punishment to inflict on such high misdemeanors, do inflict no punishment on him for the same, but leave to the consideration of the Court of Assistants in October next.
   
   The court approves the verdict of the jury in the 2nd article and do accordingly judge him, the said Ensigne, to have forfeited his bond to the county of Hartford and do order execution to be granted accordingly.
   
   And whereas the jury do find him, the said David Ensigne, suspiciously guilty of the gross act of adultery, and it being difficult to find out such notorious wickedness, not withstanding all care used, yet in this case wherein there hath been so great appearance of those gross ills, this court do order that the said David Ensigne give bond to the value of £400 in good estate, for his good behavior, and that he will totally forbear going into or keeping company with the said Long, which bond is to continue during the pleasure of the court of Assistants. In case he refuse to give bond, he is to be committed to prison, there to remain until the bond is given as aforesaid and do, for the miscarriage of above written, see good reason to defranchise him of his freedom in this corporation according to law.
   
   David Ensigne personally appeared July 23, 1682 and did bind over to the Publick Treasury of the Colony of Connecticut, all his housing and lands within the township of Hartford, both on the East and West side of the Connecticut River as they stand bound to him in the publick records of the said town, or by his father's last will in the court records, to stand as security for his good behavior, and that he will totally forbear going into or keeping company with Sarah, the wife of Thomas Long, according to the judgement of the Court of Assistants, passed against him at their last session May 31 last passed, and for the confirmation hereof he hath sett to his hand and acknowledged the same before John Allyn, Assistant and Secretary. Page 34.
   
   irish2all originally shared this to Flaherty Family Tree, ancestry.com, on 14 Nov 2012
   
   See also: http://myrledalton.blogspot.com.es/2011/06/mehitable-gunn-was-married-to-two-of.html