Person:John Marsh (122)

"John Marsh s of John & Sarah (Lyman) died Oct 1, 1744 ae 76 bur Center Ch … Sgt., Ens. & Lieut. Ens. John Marsh rec'd 2nd Ch Mch 15, 1712-3. … Was much concerned in the settlement of the 'western lands' and explored Litchfield, where he was one of the first settlers. Descendants of this family are still living in Hartford."

"John³ Marsh of Hartford, Litchfield and Hartford again was born in Hadley or Northampton, Mass. in 1668, the oldest son of John² and Sarah (Lyman) Marsh. All his children but one, the youngest, settled in Litchfield Ct. His boyhood and young manhood were spent at Hartford. Even in that focus of colonial authority and select thought he early attracted public attention. In 1704. at the age of 36 he became one of the selectmen as also in 1710 and 1714. He was then chosen by Hartford to explore its dimly known western lands: all Litchfield County except Waterbury on the south, being then unsettled. In 1715 he was the first Anglo-Saxon recorded to have trodden in that wilderness, and for 15 years his fortunes became connected with all the pioneer life of the County town, Litchfield, … He was commissioned by the Conn. Colony Lieut., May 17, 1717 and in May, 1722 Capt. and Justice of the Peace for Litchfield. The name John Marsh, for the first third of the History of Litchfield, occurs upon nearly every page, as the first explorer, one of the first selectmen, the first town clerk, an office he held for nine years, and at the beginning or end of nearly every public document in town transactions or acts of the Legislature. He is first of the list of proprietors. He drew second choice of village lots and chose next to Bantam river where he was appointed to erect a grist mill. In 1724 Indians were hostile, the Legislature directed that mounts be built within the forts: houses were fortified and a council of war was chosen in the record of whose acts John Marsh's name comes, first. In 1726 thirty effective men were ordered by the Legislature to Litchfield, twenty from New Haven and ten from Wallingford, to be under the command of Capt. John Marsh for the defense of the town. … That he did not relinquish hold upon Hartford appears in his being chosen selectman there in 1730, æ. 62, and again in 1735, æ. 67. …"

"Probate Records. Vol. XIV, 1742 to 1745. Page 144.

Marsh, John, Hartford. Will dated 17 September, 1741: Whereas, I, the subscriber, being at the present time sound in mind and memory, take this opportunity to put this my last will and testament into this writing: Unto my beloved wife I give 100 acres of land lying in the Township of Litchfield, it being the first 100-acre piece laid out to me in the 2nd going over, and is laid out near Waterbury River; and also the whole of my household goods; and likewise the 1-2 of my stock, that is to say, cattle, horses, sheep and swine, together with all the provisions in the house provided for food, to be at her dispose forever, she paying the legacies to my daughter Elizabeth Cook hereafter mentioned. And further, I give unto my wife the use of 1-3 part of my dwelling house and barn, together with 1-3 part of all my lands in Hartford, during her natural life. And further, I give unto my sd. wife Elizabeth the use of the 1-2 part of all my houseing and lands in Hartford during the time she remains my widow. Secondly, I give unto my sons living at Litchfield, that is, Ebenezer, William, George, Isaac and John Marsh, all my lands in sd. Litchfield which I have not before disposed of, to be divided as followeth: after Ebenezer hath £20 set out to him out of the whole, the remainder to be equally divided between them as they shall agree, or to be so divided by indifferent men as they shall choose; and also ratifying unto them all the lands I have already given to each of them by deed or otherwise, as appears in the Records of Land in the sd. Litchfield Town Book. Third, I give unto my son Hezekiah the whole of my homelott, together with all the buildings and orchard thereon, to be unto him, his heirs and assigns forever. I give unto my son Timothy Marsh and my son Hezekiah all the remaining of my lands in Hartford, to be equally divided between them, to be unto them, their heirs and assigns forever. Fifth, I give to my daughter Elizabeth Cook £30, to be paid within 12 months after my decease. The remainder of my moveable estate not before disposed of I give to my executors in order to pay my just debts and funeral charges. My well-beloved wife Elizabeth Marsh to be executrix, and my son Hezekiah Marsh, whom I do hereby constitute and appoint to execute this foregoing will and testament.

JOHN MARSH, LS.

Witness: Nathaniel Stanly, Sarah Stanly, Susannah Stanly."