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[This information is from Vol. II, pp. 719-723 of Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs, edited by Cuyler Reynolds (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1911). It is in the Reference collection of the Schenectady County Public Library at R 929.1 R45. Some of the formatting of the original, especially in lists of descendants, may have been altered slightly for ease of reading.]
From the New England Historical and Genealogical Register it is learned (vol. II, p. 113) that on January 2, 1635, Thomas Stanton took passage for Virginia in the merchantman "Bonaventure," and that he recorded himself as being twenty years old. There was a John Stanton in Virginia prior to 1635, and from 1652 to 1658 there are records of a Robert Stanton, of Dorchester, Massachusetts, and of a Robert Stanton, of Newport, Rhode Island, a Quaker, who died 1672, aged seventy-three years. His descendants are numerous in the United States, and many of them still adhere to the Society of Friends. Edwin M. Stanton, Lincoln's great war secretary, was a direct descendant of this Robert of Newport. There is no evidence that Thomas and Robert Stanton were related or even acquainted, or in fact that Thomas was related to any Stanton then in America. The records in New London that might have told who he was and from whence he came were destroyed in 1781 by Benedict Arnold when he sacked and burned that town. Thomas did not long remain in Virginia. In 1636 he is on record in Boston, Massachusetts, as a magistrate. He next appears in connection with the Pequot war. Miss Caulkins says: "The services of Mr. Stanton as interpreter during the Pequot war were invaluable." In De Forest's "History of the Connecticut Indians," [i.e., John William De Forest's History of the Indians of Connecticut from the earliest known period to 1850] [he says "Some time in April (1637) a small vessel arrived at the fort (Saybrook, then commanded by General Lion Gardner), having on board Thomas Stanton, a man well acquainted with the Indian language, and long useful to the colonial authorities as interpreter." He was one of the magistrates in the trial of John Wheelwright at Boston, October 3, 1637. He [was] now married, and in February, 1639, is numbered among the one hundred and twenty-seven property holders of Hartford, Connecticut, with his father-in-law, Dr. Thomas Lord, who held the first medical license granted in the New England colonies. He came to America with Dorothy, his wife, April 29, 1635, in the ship "Elizabeth and Ann." From this time Thomas is of frequent mention in the records as Stanton, Staunton and Steynton. The name is compounded of two Anglo-Saxon words — Stan, meaning stone, and Ton, meaning town: Stonetown, or Stanton. His name appears on all Indian deeds and transactions of that period between 1636 and 1670. He was required to be present wherever a court conference or treaty was to be held. In 1649 he had permission to erect a trading house on Pawtatuck, with six acres of ground and a monopoly of trade on the river for three years. He probably went to Pequot in 1651 and took up his permanent residence in Stonington in 1658. In March, 1652, he was granted three hundred acres laid out in a square upon the river, next his former grant of six acres. In 1659 Chief Cassawashitt deeded to him the whole of Pawtatuck Neck, and the small islands that lay near it, known as "The Hommocks." This grant was confirmed by the court 1671. He removed his residence in 1658 to Wequetequock Cove, two and one-half miles from Stonington. He was the third settler there. This territory then belonged to the Massachusetts plantation, and was called Southington, Suffolk county, Massachusetts. In 1662 Charles II gave Connecticut a new charter that included Southington. In 1665 the name was changed to Mystic, and in 1667 the final change was made to Stonington. Perhaps the prominence and numbers of the Stantons had something to do with selecting a name so much like their own in etymology and meaning. In 1665 he was commissioner with authority to hold a semi-annual court at New London, the county seat. In September, 1666, the first court ever held in the county was assembled. The commissioners or judges were Major Mason, Thomas Stanton and Lieutenant Pratt. He was now continually in public office; the last honor to come to him was in 1666, when he was elected a member of the general assembly of Connecticut, to which he was re-elected each year until his death in 1677. He continued useful in Indian affairs, although largely superseded as interpreter by his sons, who all spoke the Indian dialect and were much in demand. He was a member of the First Congregational Church of Stonington, which he helped to organize. His son-in-law, Rev. James Noyes, was first pastor of that church. His long, active, useful and honorable life ended December 2, 1677. He is buried in the old family burying ground on the east side of Wequetequock Cove, about halfway between Stonington, Connecticut, and Westerly, Rhode Island. In 1637 he married Ann, daughter of Dr. Thomas and Dorothy Lord, of Hartford, Connecticut. She died 1688, surviving her husband eleven years. Children:
(II) Captain John, second son of Thomas and Ann (Lord) Stanton, was born in Hartford, Connecticut, 1641, died October 31, 1713, in Stonington, Connecticut. He and John Minor in 1654 were selected by the court of commissioners to be educated for teachers of the Gospel to the Indians, but both ultimately left their studies and engaged in other pursuits. In 1664 he was the first recorder of Sothertown. February 18, 1675, he was commissioned captain of one of the four Connecticut regiments in King Philip's war. He served with distinction, and was in command at the capture of Canonchet, the chief sachem of the Narragansetts. He married, 1664, Hannah Thompson, either daughter or sister of Rev. William Thompson (2), who was son of Rev. William Thompson (1), of Braintree, Massachusetts. Before his death Captain John divided his real estate among his sons. Children:
(III) John (2), son of John and Hannah (Thompson) Stanton, was born in Stonington, Connecticut, May 22, 1665. He was a farmer on lands in Preston, Connecticut, given him by his father. His will, dated February 13, 1747, was admitted to probate in Norwich, Connecticut, July 8, 1755. His wife Mary ———— and son Jabez were the executors. Births of children, recorded in Preston:
(IV) Daniel, son of John (2) and Mary Stanton, was born in Preston, Connecticut, June 8, 1708. His will is dated February 22, 1775, and he was then in a dying condition. He was a farmer of Preston all his days. He married (first) Dinah ———— (one authority says Stark, another says Galusha; there is strong probability that her name was Stark). She was the mother of ten of his children, and died after 1754. He married (second) Mary Clark, mother of his last child. Children, all born in Preston:
(V) John (3), son of Daniel and Dinah (Stark or Galusha) Stanton, was born in Preston, Connecticut, November 16, 1746. In 1790 he moved to Charlestown, Montgomery county, New York, where his wife died. In 1815 he went with his son, Captain Amasa, to Hornby, Steuben county, New York, where he died March 16, 1818. He was a farmer and large land owner. He married, January 14, 1774, Huldah Freeman, born October 9, 1757, in Preston, Connecticut, a descendant of Joseph Freeman, who settled in New London, Connecticut, in 1698. After the death of his wife Huldah, John Stanton went to Connecticut, and married a second wife, name unknown. She died soon and left no issue. Children:
(VI) Freeman, youngest son of John and Huldah (Freeman) Stanton, was born in Charlestown, Montgomery county, New York, March 11, 1796, died in Middleburgh, Schoharie county, New York, July 3, 1870. He was a merchant of the village of Middleburgh, where he had a successful business career. He retired to a large farm which he owned near the village, where he died. He was an intimate friend of Governor Bouck, of New York, General Jay Cady, and David Cady Smith. When Governor Bouck was appointed to the United States treasuryship at New York City he would not accept until his friend Stanton had promised to go with him as his assistant. He married, August 3, 1820, Maria, daughter of Abraham Lawyer, granddaughter of Johanns [Johannes?], who landed in America June 10, 1710. She was baptized April 3, 1798, and died May 3, 1869. Children, all born in Middleburgh:
(VII) Abraham Lawyer, second son of Freeman and Maria (Lawyer) Stanton, was born in Middleburgh, Schoharie county, New York, October 16, 1824. He was reared on the farm and followed agriculture and bee culture in connection with various enterprises until 1888, when he retired to Schenectady, New York, his present home. He is possessed of ample means, has a wonderful memory, and although in his eighty-sixth year is active and in good health. He has always been a Democrat in politics. He married, in Middleburgh, December 6, 1845, Sabina M. Bouck, born May 1, 1823, died January 10, 1860, daughter of Congressman Joseph Bouck and niece of ex-Governor Bouck, of New York. He married (second) Mary Morrow, who died in 1887, without issue. Children:
(VIII) Howard Mitchell, only surviving son of Abraham Lawyer and Sabina M. (Bouck) Stanton, was born in Middleburgh, Schoharie county, New York, July 19, 1856. He was educated in the public schools, and on arriving at his majority located in Schenectady, where he engaged in the hide and tallow business. Later he became a wholesale dealer in grocers', butchers' and shoemakers' supplies, and built up a very large and profitable business, handling everything required in the way of fixtures and appurtenances for supplying these lines of trade. His store is on Clinton street, Schenectady, and the business is now conducted under the firm name of Stanton & Ouderkirk, having admitted his son-in-law as a partner. He is a member of the Second Reformed Church, which he serves as trustee, and is a member of the consistory. He is a Democrat in politics, but has never aspired to public office. He is a member of the Masonic order, belonging to St. George's Lodge, Chapter and Commandery of Schenectady, and to Oriental Shrine of Troy, New York. He married, September 18, 1878, Roselia Garnsey, born in Middleburgh, New York, March 7, 1858, daughter of Montraville and granddaughter of William Garnsey, born 1805, died 1885, married, July 10, 1824, Celia Ferona Comstock, born in Kingston, New York, July 6, 1806. Children:
Mrs. Roselia (Garnsey) Stanton is a member of the Reformed church, a woman of quiet, domestic tastes and a most capable and devoted helpmate. Children of Howard M. and Roselia (Garnsey) Stanton:
Jan Janse Ouderkirk was a cooper in Beverwyck as early as 1692, and lived on the north side of Yonkers, now State street. He was commonly known as the "Smalle Cuyper." He was the earliest settler of the name in or about Albany.
(II) Pieter (1), son of John Janse Ouderkirk, married Alida, daughter of Johannes Clute, June 13, 1704, in the town of Niskayuna. His name appears on the records of the First Reformed Dutch Church, December 26, 1701.
(III) Pieter (2), son of Pieter and Alida (Clute) Ouderkirk, was born in Albany, May 8, 1720. His name appears on church records in April, 1767. He married, June 18, 1755, Machtelt, daughter of Takel Heemstraat.
(IV) Isaac, son of Pieter (2) and Machtelt (Heemstraat) Ouderkirk, married Angelica Van Slyke, October 3, 1794.
(V) William, son of Isaac Ouderkirk, was born March 1, 1808, died 1886. He married Susan Durney, who died March 4, 1890.
(VI) Charles, son of William and Susan (Durney) Ouderkirk, was born March 29, 1854. He is a contractor of machines and machinery, and is associated with the American Locomotive Company at Schenectady. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and a Republican in politics. He married, December 25, 1879, Margaret Hamilton.
(VII) Howard Russell, son of Charles and Margaret (Hamilton) Ouderkirk, was born in Schenectady, New York, April 27, 1881. He was educated in the public schools, and early engaged in public business life, and is junior partner of Stanton & Ouderkirk, wholesale grocers', butchers' and shoemakers' supplies. He is a deacon of the First Reformed Church, and a Republican. He has attained unusual honor in the Masonic order, is master of St. George's Lodge, and at the date of his installation was the youngest master that ever filled the office since the lodge was chartered in 1774. He is a member of St. George's Chapter, the Council and Commandery, and a trustee of Oriental Shrine, Troy, New York. He married, September 15, 1904, Edith Sabina, daughter of Howard Mitchell and Roselia (Garnsey) Stanton, of Schenectady. (See Stanton VIII.)
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