Person:William Pitkin (3)

"William Pitkin; the progenitor of the family in America, who came from England in 1659, was possessed of great ability and tenacity of purpose. Endowed with a discerning mind, coupled with an excellent English education, coming into the Colony after its early settlement, he soon gained the full confidence of the Connecticut colonists. He was admitted a freeman, October 9, 1662, and was appointed the same year by the General Assembly, Prosecutor for the Colony. His marked ability gave him, in 1664, the appointment of Attorney-General, by the King. From 1675 to 1690, a period of fifteen years, he annually represented Hartford in the Colonial Assombly. In 1676 he was chosen Treasurer of the Colony. He was often appointed Commissioner by the Colony to the United Colonies. In 1676 he was appointed with Major Talcott to negotiate peace with the Narragansett and other Indian tribes. In 1690 he was elected a member of the Colonial Council, and so remained till his death. In 1693 he was sent by the Colony to Governor Fletcher of New York, to negotiate terms respecting the militia until Governor Winthrop's return from England, whither he had gone on the same business (see Hollister’s 'Connecticut,' p. 340). In 1693 'Mr. William Pitkin, Mr. Samuel Chester, and Captain William Whiting were appointed by the General Court to run the division line between the Connecticut and Massachusetts colonies' (see Trumbull's History, p. 410; also see Col. Rec., Vol. I, p. 363-413, Vol. II, p. 426, Vol. III, p. 19). Aside from his profession, he was also one of the principal planters of the town, having purchased a large tract of land on the east side of the river, on which his sons all settled. It embraced a portion of East Hartford Center … He owned one-third interest in a saw-mill and a grist-mill at 'Pitkin Falls,' so called from the number of dams and mills erected there, by the Pitkin family. He was also appointed with Mr. John Crow, to lay out the first Main and other streets on the east side of the river.

Although a member of the Church of England, he asked for the rights of baptism for his children in the Puritan Church of the Colony, and they were so baptized. The church records attest that they all 'owned their covenant' with and became members of the 'First Church of Christ in Hartford.' He left a large manuscript volume of religious writings, still extant, which show him to have been a man of piety and of no mean knowledge in theology also.

His character, as manifested throughout his life, and as revealed in the volume of his remarkable religious compositions, show that the part he took in the Church controversy … was one in which he was sincere and moved by honorable convictions … 'After having filled various and important offices, distinguished for his virtues and ability, he died in 1694' … He lies buried in the burial ground adjoining the 'First Church of Hartford,' Main street."

"William¹ Pitkin, born 1636, son of William Pitkin, Headmaster of the famous Berkhamsted (Herts) Grammar School for Boys, established 1541, and grandson of another William Pitkin, Gentleman, so-called in the 1619 royal charter of Berkhamsted and therein named Burgess, came to Hartford, Connecticut, in 1659 and two years later was appointed King's Attorney for the Colony. He was Deputy to the General Court or legislature, Treasurer of the Colony; Assistant, Commissioner of the United Colonies representing Connecticut, etc. His son William² Pitkin was Chief Justice of Connecticut and his grandson William³ Pitkin was Royal Governor of Connecticut."

"William Pitkin s of Roger of London [William of Berkhamsted] died Dec 15, 1694 ae 58 bur Center Ch mar 1660 Hannah Goodwin born 1639 died Feb 12, 1724 ae 86 dau of Ozias Goodwin and Mary Woodward. … Hfd 1659; East Hfd; liberty granted him to keep school in Hfd Mch 1660; freeman Oct 1662; was bred a lawyer; attorney for the Colony; deputy 1675; treasurer 1676-1677; assistant several years."

"Probate Records. Vol. V, 1687 to 1695. Page 200.

Pitkin, William, Hartford. Died 15 December, 1694. Invt. £703-19-06. Taken 10 June, 1696, by Joseph Olmsted, Nathaniel Goodwin sen. & Daniel Bidwell. The children: George Pitkin, 20 years September next; Elizabeth Pitkin, 18 next October; Ozias, 16 years September. (Age of the 3 youngest Children.) Will dated 27 September, 1694.

I William Pitkin sen. of Hartford do make this my last Will & Testament: I give to my brother Roger Pitkin and to my sister Martha Clarke and to my Cousin Roger Pitkin to each of them 10 Shillings. Item. I give to my beloved brother Capt. Caleb Stanly & my brother Nathaniel Goodwin 5 shillings to each. And to each of my grand children now living that shall attain the age of 12 years, I give a new bible. To my beloved wife I give the one-half of the rest of my moveable or personal Estate, given to be hers forever, and one-third of all my houseing and Lands for her life only. I give to my daughter Hannah Cowles 10 acres of upland, to her and her heirs, including her now husband. To my daughter Elizabeth Pitkin and to my two sons Roger & William Pitkin I give the half of the Land given me by Joshua Uncas his son & the Land given me by Owaneco, Equally to divide. I give them all my Books & Manuscripts. I give to my two sons John and Nathaniel Pitkin and their heirs all my Meadow or Swamp Land northward of John Day's Lott up to the four acres given to my son William. To my two sons George and Nathaniel Pitkin my Dwelling house, Barn, Outhouses, and all the Land they stand on that are adjacent to them, as orchards, Gardens and Yards, and a pasture, Plow Land and Bush Lott. I make my wife Hannah Pitkin & my two sons John & Nathaniel Executors, my two sons Roger Pitkin and William Pitkin to be Overseers.

WILLIAM PITKIN. LS.

Witness: Joseph Olmsted, Daniel Bidwell.

Note: See page 54-55 (Vol. VIII): Invt. of Capt. Daniel Clarke.

Court Record, Page 79—30 January, 1694-5: Will proven."