Person talk:John Gunn (3)

Was John Gunn b 1647 really a Captain? [2 October 2012]

(Moved from User talk:Jillaine)

Hello, Jillaine

I notice you placed a citation on the name of John Gunn (b. 1647 in Windsor, CT), and may have given him the title of captain. The only title I have discovered for this John is "Quartermaster." But his son John Jr. (b. 1682 in Westfield, MA) did hold the title "Captain." I have seen documents in which the two have been confused. Do you have firm information that John Sr. was also a captain? John Sr. was my 7th great-grandfather, so I have a special interest in collecting data on him.

Cheers, James Gunn--Gunnj 11:52, 12 May 2009 (EDT)

John, the source I have for John Gunn b 1647 being a Captain is Westfield and its historic influences : 1669-1919.

Specifically, page 91, which reads:

[In a paragraph describing Thomas Gunn who died 1680] His son, Capt. John, was born in Windsor, July 8, 1647. He married in Westfield, January 22, 1678, Mary Williams, daughter of John and Mary Buckley Williams who also came from Windsor.

Admittedly such a citation is not as FIRM as one might like. But that's where this particular information comes from.

-- jillaine 15:08, 12 May 2009 (EDT)

John Gunn's son, John (b. 1682), was indeed a Captain. He was a commissioned officer in Westfield, and was involved in the indian wars of the time. Of course it's possible his father also had the title, but it seems more likely that the two have gotten confused by researchers. John Jr's tombstone is in the Mechanic Street Cemetery in Westfield, Massachusetts, and reads as follows:

Here lies Interr'd The Body of Capt John Gun who departed this life April the 26, 1748 in the 66th year of his age--Gunnj 09:50, 3 September 2009 (EDT)

John Gunn's tombstone can be viewed at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Gunn&GSiman=1&GScid=1974883&GRid=14639413

The inscription on that tombstone reads "Here lyeth the body of John Gunn of Westfield, Quarter Master, who died ... aged about 82 years". Of course it's possible he also held the title of Captain, but it seems to me the "correct" titles are the ones given on the tombstones of John Gunn Sr. and John Gunn Jr (see above).--Gunnj 08:37, 2 October 2012 (EDT)

Removed section on Phelps from narrative [16 December 2009]

George Phelps, born 1606? Tewksbury Parish, Gloucestershire, England. Married 1st Philury Randall, daughter of Philip Randall and Joanne Fush, 1637 Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut (had 6 children). Married 2nd Frances Randall (see #1453), also a daughter of Philip Randall and Joanne Fush, 16 November (or 2 November?) 1648 Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut (her 3rd husband; had 3 children). Died 8 May 1687 Westfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts (He had already sold most of his land to John Gunn, apparently planning to move back again to Windsor, but he died first.) Source: http://book-smith.tripod.com/frakes.html

Why is this paragraph about Phelps on Gunn's page?--Jillaine 09:45, 16 December 2009 (EST)