Ancestors

Samuel Church

Samuel Church died at Lyme, Connecticut, on 24 June 1718. Five printed works make him the father of Simeon Church of Chester, and a land record of his son Richard names "his father, Samuel Church, deceased, of Lyme."

The same works make him the Samuel born on 4 August 1663 to Deacon Edward Church of Norwalk and Hatfield. The History of Hadley, printed in 1905, lists Edward's children, and among them is "Samuel, b. April 4, 1662, d. May 6, 1662; Samuel, b. Aug. 4, 1663." The second son was given the name of the first, who had lived a month. That book does not follow him to Lyme. The family compilers joined the two men, and no known record names both places.

He married Susannah Hungerford, probably of East Haddam, across the river from Lyme. A family history of 1940 calls her the daughter of Thomas Hungerford, with a question mark. Their children were John in 1699, Mary in 1701, Edward in 1703, Samuel in 1706, Simeon in 1708, Hannah in 1712 and Richard in 1714.

Susannah died on 5 February 1713, leaving seven children, the youngest not a year old. Samuel died five years later, on 24 June 1718. Simeon was ten, and Richard was four.

The children grew up and settled near the river. Mary married Ebenezer Rowley. Richard married Hannah Church, a daughter of another Richard. Simeon became a blacksmith and the first clerk of Chester parish in Saybrook.

If Samuel Church is in your family, start your own tree.

Cite: Heirology, "Samuel Church (1663-1718)", https://heirology.com/ancestors/samuel-church-1663-1718-613364.