Re: Theophilus "Stoffel" Elswaert

Hi cousins

I am also descended from Stoffel via Joris.

Stoffel's marriage entry states as follows (translated):

'1 June 1647
Appeared as before:
Theophilus Elswaert from Bristol, Mariner, 22 years old, having no parents, [ie no parents living.] living in the Smitsteechje [Little Smiths Alley,] & Annetje Jans from Amsterdam, 23 years old, living on the Boomschloot'.
In the margin: 'the Banns have been published in the English Church.' [Proclamation Book at Amsterdam, D.T.B. 464, folio 227.]

As far as the Ancestral file is concerned and the connection to Sir John Ellsworth and Lucia Bower PLEASE IGNORE IT!! I am in England, and 2 things strike me immediately. First of all, Theophilus/Stoffel was supposed to have been born in Bristol, Cambridgeshire. There is no Bristol in Cambridgeshire. The City and County of Bristol is on the opposite side of the country. Secondly; the only place in Cambridgeshire which could approximate to 'Eelstown or Eletown' is Ely and checks with the Cambridgeshire record office have revealed no baptisms or marriages of anyone called Ellsworth in either of the Ely churches. Thirdly, there is no record I can find (yet) of any Sir John Ellsworth ot Lucia Bower. Fourthly, the compiler of the Ancestral file (whose son I have spoken to,) left no documentation to support his conclusions. Fifthly; there is an Elsworth (village) near Cambridge, but no Ellsworth, and no Ellsworth or Elsworth family noted anywhere in or near it!

My conclusions are a) that the Sir John Ellsworth connection is spurious, both in regard to Stoffel Elsworth, and to any other Ellsworths, but I am happy to be proved wrong. b) that Stoffel Elsworth may well have been born in Bristol, but almost certainly has no connection with Cambridge whatsoever. c) that the Connecticut Ellsworths and the New York Elsworths are completely separate families, and that the only similarity occurs when the NY, Dutch, family started to adopt the LL in the early part of the 19th century, whether from fashion, oneupmanship or snobbery or whatever who knows.

Please feel free to shoot me down in flames as you like. But if anyone can give me documentary corroboration of the existence of Sir John Ellsworth and Lucia Bower, wherever they may be I would be highly delighted.

Sorry this is such a long reply, but I have been dying to get this one out into the open for ages!!

Best wishes,

John