Ancestors

William Churchill

William Churchill was born at Plympton on 2 August 1685, the eldest son of the first William Churchill of that town and of Lydia Bryant. His mother was a daughter of Stephen Bryant, the immigrant, and Abigail Shaw. He lived at a place in Plympton called Rocky Gutter. He and his wife were members of the church there, and he was several times a representative to the General Court. The 1904 genealogy of his family calls him a man of character and influence, which is more than it says of most of them.

He married Ruth Bryant, daughter of John Bryant and Sarah, on 4 January 1704. Her father was the John Bryant who died in 1736 in his eighty seventh year, and the Plympton clerk kept him carefully distinct from Lieutenant John Bryant, William's uncle. The two Bryant families were not related. William and Ruth had nine children between 1705 and 1727, the first born in October 1705. Among them were Rebeckah in January 1711/12, William in December 1714, Ruth in September 1716 and Sarah in February 1724/5. His brother Deacon Samuel married Ruth's sister Joanna, so the two households were doubled.

Ruth died in 1757 after fifty three years, and he married again, a widow named Meribah Gibbs. He had between two and three years with her before he died in February 1760. The Churchill genealogy gives the day as the 3rd. The Plympton town book gives the 23rd, and his age as 74 years 6 months and 20 days. Meribah outlived him and died on 16 November 1774 in her eightieth year.

If William Churchill is in your family, start your own tree.

Cite: Heirology, "William Churchill (1685-1760)", https://heirology.com/ancestors/william-churchill-1685-1760-1daab0.