September 3, 2011

Founding Family: Theophilus Eaton of New Haven Colony

This is a well known Eaton progenitor, perhaps you can claim descendancy from him.


Theophilus, first Governor of the New Haven Colony, was born in the year 1590, at Stony Stratford in England.  Theophilus and his brothers, the Revs. Samuel, and Nathaniel Eaton were among the children of the Rev. Richard Eaton, of Over-Whetley, Co. Chester, England, who died not long after July 1616. Rev. Richard Eaton, who was born in 1563, received his education at Lincoln college, and became vicar of the parish of Great Budworth, in Cheshire. He afterwards removed to Stony Stratford, where he was for some time pastor of a church, and from thence he removed to Coventry, where he died in the pastoral office, in 1617, at the age of 54. Mather characterizes him as "a faithful and famous minister."


Governor Eaton was twice married. Of his first wife we have no other account than that she died after becoming the mother of two of his children. His second wife was Ann, the widow of David Yale, Esq., and daughter of Dr. Thomas Morton, the bishop of Chester. [Note: Ann was daughter of George Lloyd, bishop of Chester.] At the time of this marriage, she had three children, David, Thomas and Ann Yale, to whom, says Mather, Mr. Eaton "became a most exemplary, loving and faithful father." Edward Hopkins married Ann, and the three children came to New England with their mother.

Governor Eaton, in his will, names three children only--doubtless all who were at that time living. Mather says that two of his children died of the plague in London. Of those who died before him, his son Samuel was the most distinguished. He was born in 1629, came with his father to New England, graduated at Harvard college in 1649, and was chosen a magistrate of New Haven colony in May, 1654. He and his wife died with two days of each other, in June, 1655."(42)

The three children named in the Will, were Theophilus, Mary, and Hannah. Theophilus, a son by the first marriage (Incorrect: Theo Jr. was son of second marriage -- his mother was Anne Lloyd Yale Eaton), came to this country, but returned and settled in Dublin. Mary was married to Valentine Hill, who, in 1658, removed to Pascatawqua in New Hampshire. He had been a deacon in the First Church of Boston. Hannah, after the death of her father, accompanied her mother to England, where, in 1659, she was married to William Jones, an English barrister, son of Col. John Jones 
(this may also be incorrect), brother-in-law of Cromwell, and one of the regicides executed on the Restoration in 1660. 
Source:  Memoir of Theophilus Eaton by Jacob Bailey Moore (1797-1853)

7 comments:

Barbara Lee Fitzsenry said...

Great Budworth in Cheshire, England, was the main home of Theophilus Eaton and family before their migration to the new world and earliest noted in 1269. It consisted of the Chapelries of Little Leigh, Lower Whitley, Lower Peover, Witton and its constituent townships Allostock, Anderton, Antrobus, Appleton, Aston by Budworth, Barnton, Bartington, Castle Northwich, Cogshall, Comberbach, Crowley, Great Budworth, Hartford, Higher Whitley, Hulse, Lach Dennis, Little Leigh, Lostock Gralam, Lower Whitley, Marbury, Nether Peover, Nirches, Northwich, Peover Inferior, Pickmere, Plumley, Seven Oaks, Stretton, Tabley Inferior, Wincham, Winnington, Witton cum Twambrook. Most of Dutton was in this parish, as well as a detached portion of Marrston township, and the Dutton family was kin to Eatons as illustrated through their Coats of Arms. Witton chapelry also contained a small part of the Rudheath Lordship.

Barbara Lee Fitzsenry said...

As contributed recently by EFA member, Sandra Kardux skardux@gmail.com: "I have will information on Eatons of Chester, first of William of Over Whitley 1639, John and Elizabeth of the Pole 1629, John of Over Whitley 1640, Robert of Hatton and Daresbury 1646, and George of the Pole. I have yet to confirm their kin relation to one another but am sure they are related. Please take note of John of Over Whitley and wife Anne as their children may have connection to our John and Joan of Wales as the children may be the same George, John and Sarah that came to PA in 1683."

Kats 'n K9s said...

I'm a descendant of William Jones and your info is incorrect. There is NO evidence that he was the son of Col. John Jones. Jones had ONE son who survived him. His name was NOT William, but JOHN. JOHN never came to America. He married and stayed in England. Col. Jones had NO children with Catherine Whitstone. William Jones of London is NO relation.

http://wbo.llgc.org.uk/en/s-JONE-JOH-1597.html

L. Maples said...

I recently became a member of the Order of the Crown of Charlemagne through my descendancy from Ann Lloyd Eaton. She was a descendant of King John of England through his daughter Joan who married Llewelyn "Fawr" ap Iorweth, Prince of Wales. And of course, there are so many lines that can be followed from this Lloyd line.
Very exciting!
LInda Alcott Maples

Lloyd de Vere Hunt said...

I'm confused. It says that Theophilus Jr. was from his dad's first wife. But

Grace Hillier married Theophilus Sr December 3, 1622 and died February 27, 1625/6.

Elizabeth Eaton was born/christened to Theophilus and Grace Sep 19 1624 St Nicholas Acons, London, London, England
*******
Theophilus Jr was born to Theophilus and Ann (Lloyd Yale Eaton) and christened on March 11, 1630 Saint Stephan Coleman Street, London, London, England

Hanna Eaton was born to Theophilus and Ann (Lloyd Yale Eaton) and christened on October 17, 1632 at Saint Stephan Coleman Street, London, London, England

Esperanza said...

Hello!
I do not descend from Theophilus Eaton....or, maybe I do? His second wife, Anne Lloyd Yale, is my 10th great-grandmother. I don't descend from their children, but the Yale children from Anne's first marriage to Thomas Yale. I find this all very interesting!
I visited New Haven in October 2016 and had no idea about my ancestors that helped to settle there. I only learned about them after my visit.
My great-grandfather, Fred Upson Allen, was born in Wallingford, Connecticut in 1888. His parents were Alfred Upson Allen and Emma Elise Todd. Her Todd ancestors married into the Yale family, so that is how I am related to Anne Lloyd Yale.

Barbara Lee Fitzsenry said...

Since I can't seem to reply directly to comments made by guests, I would indeed still like to thank Kats 'n K9s for her entry indicating that it was incorrectly stated that William Jones was "son of" Col. John Jones. As such, I would like to make several additional comments. You are correct -- this information was provided through the memoir of historian Jacob Bailey Moore which was referenced in 2011. Not being contradicted at the time, but later proving to be incorrect, the post was not updated. What did precipitate such a misunderstanding may simply have been the fact that Hannah & William Jones, who later became Deputy Gov of New Haven colony, arrived in Boston, Massachusetts, on July 27, 1660, in company with the regicides, judges Edward Whalley and William Goffe. During their hiding in New Haven, Jones' house was their place of refuge for eleven days. Meanwhile, Col. John Jones (c. 1597 – October 17, 1660) was a Welsh military leader, politician and one of the regicides of King Charles I. He was indeed a brother-in-law of Oliver Cromwell. Jones was born at Llanbedr in North Wales and is often surnamed Jones Maesygarnedd after the location of his Merionethshire estate. Jones was appointed Commissioner of the High Court of Justice in 1649, as a member of which he became one of the fifty-nine signatories to King Charles I's death warrant. After Charles II of England was restored to the throne, Jones was arrested whilst out walking in London, put on trial, and found guilty of regicide. On October 17, 1660, Jones was hanged, drawn and quartered. Perhaps it was thought that William Jones (and John Davenport) helped the regicide judges since he was "related" to this Col. John Jones.