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Northrop Genealogy William2 Northrup b. 1666 d. ~ 1736 Milford, Connecticut

The period of William2's life (1666 to 1736) marks an interesting point in Colonial history. Some historians suggest that it is in this period that the colonists were changing from “Puritans” to “Yankees.”

At the beginning of the period we see some Colonists SO dedicated to a stringent Puritan lifestyle, that they moved to New Jersey to found another colony (New Ark, later to become Newark, N.J.) rather than accept the merging of the New Haven Colony (which included Milford Village) with the less strict Connecticut Colony under a CIVIL, rather than religious, government. LINK

At the time of William's birth, the Colony held and implemented extremely harsh laws to keep out Quakers More on Laws and other undesirables. This is also within the period when Connecticut indicts Colonists for witchcraft. Click for more on witch trials in Connecticut.

By the end of his life we see an expansion of setttlements through much of Connecticut with civil governments and some acceptance of

1666 William2, son of Joseph1, is born June 2, 1666 in Milford, CT. . He is the 7th child still living at the time of his mother's will in 1683. His father, Joseph1, one of the founders, will live 3 more years until Sept.11, 1669. Click for more details on this period


7 WILLIAM2 NORTHRUP (Joseph1), b. June 2, 1666, Milford. M. Mary Peck, dau. of Joseph. Will probated, New Haven, June 28, 1736. Children b. in Milford: Perhaps reached the age of 69 or 70.
27 i William3, b. Dec. 16, 1694.
28 ii Ephraim, b. Jan. 4, 1696.
29 iii Joseph, b. Feb. 6, 1698.
iv Hannah, b. Dec. 1, 1699; m. March 8, 1716, Roger Prichard, s. of Roger.
Had (1) Roger, b. Dec.
25, 1716; (2) Hannah, b. Oct. 2, 1718.
30 v Thomas, b. March 16, 1701 in Milford, CT.
31 vi John, b. June 17, 1703.
32 vii Job, b. 1705.
viii Ann, b. 1708.
ABOUT 27

YEARS SINCE THE SETTLEMENT AT MILFORD

When William2 was born, it was about 27 years since the formation of the settlement of Milford, Conn.

WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE COLONY
There was a greater physical protection a more comfortable life and continuing improvements --
Better houses--Education although probably mostly basic rote-learning,
A bridge, Mills -- sawmills, fulling mills or grist mills.

Agriculture enough to sustain themselves and even to export
some corn, grain, flaxseed, onions, livestock in commerce north to Boston or south to New York. Transportation and communication would have been on foot or horseback. Roads, even the Boston Post Road were little more than trails mostly over earlier Indian paths. The narrow muddly paths wouldn't be suitable for wagons yet. There is mention of shipbuilding inMilford in 1690 but it's likely these were coast hugging vessles.
more about early transportation

There was little contact beyond New Haven and Hartford -- an isloation that protected Milford from new ideas or lifestyles.

"a rigidity in principles and in religion and an ongoing suspicion of social change and innovation characterized the Connecticut personality at the close of the 17th century."

a rigidity in principles and in religion and an ongoing suspicion of social change and innovation characterized the Connecticut personality at the close of the 17th century.

OUTSIDE THE COLONY

It was still a very tough life.
Still mostly wilderness.
Many Native Americans were friendly to the colonists, but provocation from other sources sometimes brought their wrath on the existing colonies.

The sizeable bounties for cats that continue into the next century indicate the threat from wild animals

a passion for self-reliance and political independence nurtured by the protective Charter of 1662,
as late as1697 colonists from neighboring colonies were indicted for witchcraft.

1692 Fairfield, Wallingford and Stratford and 1697 Wallingford

So if things were getting better, why move to a new wilderness area?It'shard to say just what moved these young men to move to Newtown.

All indictions are that Joseph1 and probably William2 were among the "elect" of the Milford Colony and there is no indication that their religious beliefs were starkly different than william's.

It is possible they moved solely for the opportunity for land. With the large families of Milford colonies families, opportunities for farms were minimal. It is alo possible that they chafed a bit under the very strict control of the Puritans. "A rigidity in principles and in religion and an ongoing suspicion of social change and innovation characterized the Connecticut personality at the close of the 17th century."


Although independent from Royal control. Puritainism controlled ALL aspects of life in Connecticut for the first century or so. It was a theocracy "no sooner did they have freedom to follow their own devices, than they drew up the most drastic of laws and enforced them with grim harshness. ..." the New Haven Colony (including Milford) was more strict than the CT colony (all other Connecticut settlements)

If you held ideas other than those of Colony leaders. Extremely harsh laws regarding Quakers and other undesirables were enacted and enforced see details

The idea of “the Elect” dominated the political and social life. Only those few "Elect,” were preordained or “predestined” by God to achieve salvation.only “the Elect” could actually become members of the church they they were the ones who would become religious and political leaders

exercised considerable vigilance over the “good order” of families, carefully defined the rights and responsibilities of their members and quickly stepped in when transgressions occurred.

The Puritans had fled the economic and social disorder of England as much as its religious persecution, and they sought to establish communities in the new world that were cohesive and orderly as well as religiously pure. for more Connecticut Heritage information

To William's Son Thomas in Newtown


William2 Northrup b. 1666

1666 William, son of Joseph, is born June 2, 1666 in Milford, CT.

1666 May 10, 1666 New Haven County created. One of four original counties.
image courtesy www.myconnecticutgenealogy.com/ct_county/nh.htm
www.myconnecticutgenealogy.com/ct_county/nh.htm
1669 William2's father dies William2's father, the founder Joseph, dies. Is survived by his wife,William's mother, Mary.
 In 30 years the homes went from this  earliesthouses           early house
to this   a 1670 Connecticut house.


This is believed to be the oldest house in Milford, the Eells- Stowe House, built in about 1670. Note the smaller windows.

January 22, 1673 First ride starts to lay out the Upper Post Road.
1675 Milford The second mill built Milford (1675), the first fulling-mill.
1675 Milford

Several Colonists owned two brigs for West Indian commerce and a sloop for coasting-trade.
1678-1689 Land is set aside for Indians at Corum Hill (part of Stratford)

1683 William2's Mother dies in Milford, CT

Mother, Mary Norton Northrup dies surviving Joseph by about 14 years.She made her will Jan. 24, 1683.
1683 It appears, William2's mother-in-law, Mrs.(Francis) Norton, may have survived both Joseph1(founder) and his wife,Mary Northrup.
1683
William2 is the 7th child still living at the time of his mother's will in 1683.

The inventory of William2's mother's (Mary Norton Northrop) estate is dated Feb. 28, 1683. The will mentions Joseph, Samuel, Jeremiah (omits John, who probably was dead), Zaphar, Daniel. William, and Mary--the latter two being in their minority-- also her mother Norton.
1683 William about age 17

William, one of the two still minors at the time of their mother's death 1683 would have been 17 and his younger sister, Mary, about age 13.
1686

1686 – A County Road is laid out between Waterbury and New Haven through Bethany area.
1687 Charter Oak The political independence granted Connecticut under the Charter of 1662 was briefly threatened in 1685 when James II attempted to unite the New England colonies under one Royal government. This gave rise to the Charter Oak Incident when the charter mysteriously disappeared when all the candles went out just as it was about to be signed LINK
 
charter oak 1847
 
Charter Oak 1856
   
1690

1690

Shipbuilding, in the old yard a few rods below the mill (Fowler’s) had already begun. Bethuel Langstaff had built in 1690 a brig of 150 tons for Alexander Bryan; another in 1695 for Boston parties. (The “Sea-Flower” for Richard Bryan was launched in 1717. The “Isabella,” an East Indian, sold in New York in 1818, was the last built at Milford)
1690 1690 permission given for a ferry between milford and stratford
1693 William2 marries about age 27 Married Mary Peck dau. of Joseph Peck. 1693 in Milford, CT
1694 William2 and Mary Peck's son William (3) born in Milford 27 i William3, b. Dec. 16, 1694.
1696 William and Mary Peck's son Ephraim born Milford, CT 28 ii Ephraim, b. Jan. 4, 1696.
1698 William and Mary Peck's son Joseph born in Milford 29 iii Joseph, b. Feb. 6, 1698.
1699 William and Mary Peck's daughter Hannah born in Milford iv Hannah, b. Dec. 1, 1699; m. March 8, 1716, Roger Prichard, s. of Roger. Had (1) Roger, b. Dec. 25, 1716; (2) Hannah, b. Oct. 2,  718.
1701 William and Mary Peck's son Thomas born in Milford 30 v Thomas3 Northrup (William2, Joseph1), b. March 16, 1701 in Milford, CT.
1701 Yale established as Collegiate School, Saybrook At the acme of Connecticut’s educational system was Yale University, established as the Collegiate School in Saybrook in 1701
1703 William2 and Mary Peck's son John born in Milford 31 vi John, b. June 17, 1703.
1705 William2 and Mary Peck's son Job born in Milford 32 vii Job, b. 1705.
1705 Grist Mill built Thirty years later(1705), a grist-mill, was built, with "two sett of stone, one for English and the other for Indian grain, and “a good boult, so yt men, if they wish, may boult ye own flour.”
1708 William and Mary's son, Thomas would have been about 7 when approval was given for the new town, Newtowne.

In the early years of Newtown the area was known as Pohtatuck. In May 1708, the General Assembly voted that the land on the west side of Stratford or Potatuck River should become New Towne of the town of Newtowne.

Education ” Since children reflected the fundamentally sinful nature of all men, the primary function of education was more to restrain their naturally evil impulses than to promote intellectual curiosity.
1708 William2 and Mary Peck's daughter Ann born in Milford viii Ann, b. 1708.
1711 In 1711 Pohtatuck was incorporated as the town of Newtown.
1712 William2 is about 46 when son moves toNewtown
1712 Among the residents of Newtown, in 1712, were Thomas Northrup, Benjamin and Jeremiah and John (brothers) Northrup
1717 Yale University moves Yale University moves from Saybrook to New Haven amidst bitterness and controversy. Founded to ensure an educated clergy for the colony, it went on to produce much of the political elite of the state including the legislature, the colonial secretary and judges of the court.
1725 Mary Peck Northrop dies Mary Peck Northrup dies 1725 in Milford, New Haven Co., CT She is buried next to husband William's father in the old section of Milford Center Cemetery in Milford Some sources have her death as 1728.
William dies 1735 or 6

William2's Will probated, New Haven, June 28, 1736 Death before 28 JUN 1736

1736 William 2's will probated. Will probated, New Haven, June 28, 1736.
1738 Joel Northrop -- founding of the Parish of Amity from Milford.

Oct 1737 "Upon the memorial of Barnabas, Joel NorthrOP, Stephen Hind and others...in the northerly part of the bounds of Milford, at a place caled Northrop's Farms, &c praying that they may be set off from Milford and Joyned to their neighbors living on the westerly part of the bounds of New Haven..."
Oct 12, 1738 After examination and cosideration it was finally approved as the "Parish of Amity".

The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut 1636-1776 By Connecticut, Connecticut General Assembly, Council of Safety (Conn.),

1738 – Amity Parish is incorporated by the General Assembly of the Connecticut Colony. The Parish territory includes most of the present townships of Bethany and Woodbridge. Amity Parish includes the Two-Bit Purchase but not the One-Bit Purchase.
1742 – Amity Parish Congregational Meetinghouse is built on what is now the Woodbridge Town Green; Rev. Benjamin Woodbridge is the first minister.

Image Courtesy of David Parker Associates