"The direct evidence in regard to John's descent, is defective; the circumstantial evidence seems adequate. The son of Ebenezer was born in the right year; he is the only John of that era whom we have not otherwise placed; and New Milford in which he appears at the age of 23 adjoined Danbury on the north. He had a sister who married Smith and lived in Amenia, N. Y. According to Mrs. Sawin, he learned his trade of Cornet Kasson—a military man. … Frederick A.7 writes: 'I have often heard my father say he was going to Oppenheim to see his father.' Mrs. Sawin writes: 'My great-grandfather lived with my grandfather [Philo] a good many years, and died there in 1850; he was 98y., 2 m., 20 d. old.”
