Person:John Miner (1)

John (Minor), bp. Charlestown 30 August 1635 [ChCR 46].

MINOR, or MINER
JOHN, Stratford 1659, eldest s. of Thomas of New London; wh. the Commissnrs. of the Unit. Col. of N. E. desir. in 1654, to have qualif. at Eastford to be an instruct. of the natives, was town clk. of S. and rep. 1667 and 76, and of the new town of Woodbury very many yrs; m. 19 Oct. 1658, Elizabeth d. of Richard Booth, had John, b. 9 Sept. 1659; Thomas, 29 May 1662; Hannah, 2 Aug. 1664; Elizabeth 16 Jan. 1667; Grace, 20 Sept. 1670; Joseph, 4 Mar. 1673; Ephraim, 24 Oct. 1675; Sarah, 19 June 1678; Abigail, 6 Feb. 1681; and Joanna, bapt. July 1683; and he d. 17 Sept. 1719 but the wid. liv. to 24 Oct. 1732, prob. 92 or 3 y

Minor, John, s. of Thomas. Deputy (Stratford) to Conn. Leg., Oct. 1676; Deputy (Woodbury), Nov. 1683, May and Oct. 1684, May and Oct. 1685, May and Oct. 1686, May and June 1687, May 1689, May 1692, Oct. 1695, May 1696, May 1697, Oct. 1698, May 1703, Oct. 1705, May and Dec. 1707, May and Oct. 1708, May and June 1709, May 1710. Capt., Woodbury Trainband, May 1684. Commissioner for Woodbury, 1679-87, 1689-97; Justice, 1698-1719. Son of Thomas and Grace (Palmer) Miner, bapt. at Charlestown, Mass., 30 Aug. 1635, d. at Woodbury, 17 Sept. 1719, in 85 yr.; married at Stratford, 19 Oct. 1658, Elizabeth Booth, dau. of Richard, b. at Stratford, 10 Sept. 1641, d. at Woodbury, 24 Oct. 1732. Will 17 Aug. 1719, proved 14 Nov. 1719; wife Elizabeth; sons John, Thomas, Joseph, Ephraim: son William Gaylord "in complement of my daughter"; daus. Elizabeth Walker, Grace Grant, Sarah Curtis, Abigail Treadwell, Johanna Gaylord. Inv. of Capt. John who died 16 Sept. 1719.

First among the settlers, men of note in Woodbury, and foremost in all difficult undertakings, was John Minor, an interpreter to the Indians, a justice of the quorum among the magistrates, a captain in the militia, and a deacon in the church. He was also a surveyor, a necessary and important character in a new country. All the Indian deeds in this region were executed before him, from his being able to act as interpreter. He was town-clerk of Stratford for ten years from 1666, with the exception of a year, and held the same office in Woodbury for thirty years from its beginning. He was for twenty years, almost always a member of the General Court, held an influential position there, and was frequently appointed on committees for the composing of serious differences and the solving of difficult questions. Early in life he acquired a good knowledge of the Indian dialects, and conversed with them with ease and fluency. In consequence of this, the rulers of the Colony wished to prepare him for a preacher of the gospel to the Indians. … Upon the 23d of September 1654, the subject was brought before the Commissioners of the United Colonies, and they (concurred). … Under this action, both John Minor and John, son of Thomas Stanton, were received and kept at school and college for two or three years. Minor lived with Mr. (Samuel) Stone for some time after, and acted as an interpreter for him when he preached to the Indians. But he did not follow the plan of his patrons. What induced him to turn his attention to other affairs, does not appear. He became, however, an honorable and useful citizen, turning his knowledge of the Indian tongue and his education to good account. He died at an advanced age, and was buried in the south-west part of the ancient burying ground, but no stone remains to mark the spot-naught save a numerous posterity sleeping around him.

"Minor, … John, Capt., d. Sept. 17, 1719, in the 85th y. of his age [LR2:186]"