Genealogy Report: Descendants of William Fellows

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Descendants of William Fellows

16.William⁴ Fellows (Ephraim³, William², Willyam¹ Fellow)^213,²¹⁴ was born 1666 in MA ²¹⁵, and died Apr 12, 1737 in Portsmouth, Rockingham Co., NH ^216,²¹⁷.He married Elizabeth Rust²¹⁸ Dec 07, 1693 in Portsmouth, Rockingham Co., NH ^219,²²⁰, daughter of Nathanial Rust and Mary Wardell.She was born Mar 14, 1671/72 in Ipswich, Essex Co., MA ²²¹, and died Oct 03, 1732²²¹.
Notes for William Fellows:
William bought the interest of a small lot on the corner of Green Street and Meeting House Green on Jan 7, 1694 from other heirs. By deed of sale Mar 29, 1790, William Fellows, mariner conveyed this lot. (Ref: Candlewood, by Waters )
William moved to Portsmouth, NH where he owned extensive land and kept an Inn. He was a Portsmouth, NH representative from 1722-1727. (Ref: Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire.)
Researchers note: George Marshall Fellows' research shows that Elizabeth Rust was the wife of William Fellows b. 1666, the first son of Ephraim (2) Fellows.Frank T. Waters states that this William Fellows, son of Joseph (2) is the husband of Elizabeth Rust, m. Dec 7, 1693. but gives no birth date for William.Hammatt shows no child by the name of William for Ephraim (2), but does show a William born to Joseph (2) but not birth date, he also concurs on a marriage betweena William Fellows and an Elizabeth Rust on the date specified. Ipswich Vital records do not go back far enough to reflect either Williams birth dates. Hammatt provides the only birth date for William son of Joseph as 1690 which, if correct, would negate any chance of he being the husband of Elizabeth Rust.
Notes for Elizabeth Rust:
Researchers Note: George Marshall Fellows' research shows that Elizabeth Rust was the wife of William Fellows b. 1666, the first son of Ephraim (2) Fellows.Frank T. Waters states that this William Fellows, son of Joseph (2) is the husband of Elizabeth Rust, m. Dec 7, 1693. but gives no birth date for William.Hammatt shows no child by the name of William for Ephraim (2), but does show a William born to Joseph (2) but not birth date, he also concurs on a marriage betweena William Fellows and an Elizabeth Rust on the date specified. Ipswich Vital records do not go back far enough to reflect either Williams birth dates. Hammatt provides the only birth date for William, son of Joseph as 1690 which, if correct, would negate any chance of he being the husband of Elizabeth Rust.

Children of William Fellows and Elizabeth Rust are:

Nathaniel⁵ Fellows ²²², born Apr 24, 1696 in Ipswich, Essex Co., MA²²².He married (1) Hannah Ayres Jul 16, 1724 in Portsmouth, Rockingham Co., NH ²²³; died 1730.He married (2) Sarah Morrell Odiorne Jun 30, 1741²²³; born 1709²²³; died 1751 in Portsmouth, NH²²³.

Notes for Nathaniel Fellows:
Nathaniel worked as a cooper. Both he and Hannah are listed as being from Portsmouth, NH.

+	82	ii.	William Fellows, born Feb 25, 1696/97 in Portsmouth, Rockingham Co., NH; died Bef. 1754 in Portsmouth, Rockingham Co., NH.
+	83	iii.	Elizabeth Fellows, born Apr 29, 1700 in Ipswich, Essex Co., MA.
+	84	iv.	John Fellows, born Mar 30, 1702 in Ipswich, Essex Co., MA; died in Dover, Strafford Co., MA.
	85	v.	Mary Fellows ²²⁴, born Oct 11, 1705 in Ipswich, Essex Co., MA²²⁴; died Jun 01, 1796 in Ipswich, Essex Co., MA ²²⁵.

      17.John⁴ Fellows (Ephraim³, William², Willyam¹ Fellow)^226,^227,^228,²²⁹ was born Oct 20, 1668 in Ipswich, Essex Co., MA ^230,²³¹, and died Oct 20, 1748 in Died of fever, Plainfield, Windham Co., CT ^232,^233,²³⁴.He married (1) Rachel Varney²³⁵ Oct 14, 1692 in Chebacco, Essex Co., MA ^236,²³⁷, daughter of Thomas Varney and Abigail Proctor.She was born Abt. 1672 in Chewbacco, Essex Co., MA ²³⁸, and died Bef. 1731 in Plainfield, Windham Co., CT.He married (2) Sarah^239,^240,²⁴¹ Aft. 1731.She was born Abt. 1667 ²⁴², and died Mar 28, 1759 in Plainfield, Windham Co., CT ²⁴³.
Notes for John Fellows:
John Fellows was born on October 20, 1668 and was one of the first of Ephraim's children to move away from home.John married Rachel Varney of Chewbaca on October 14, 1692, having eight children; Varney, Isaac, Rachel, Abigail and John Jr., Nathan, Ann and Mary.
Witchcraft fear swept the local area in the Spring of 1692 when two young girls made accusations against several local women in the town of Salem just a few miles south of Ipswich.The Salem Witchcraft Trials which resulted, became America's most notorious case of witchcraft hysteria.The new royal governor, Sir William Phips, established a special seven-member court to try those suspected of witchcraft.Jurors were drawn from church membership lists, and the chained defendants had no counsel. Hundreds were imprisoned and 19 ultimately were hung on suspicion of being witches.John Fellows along with Rachel's father, Thomas Varney signed a petition in April of 1692 testifying to the strong religious standing of Rachel's uncle, John Proctor and his wife Elizabeth, who had been jailed on suspicion of witchcraft in Salem. It was to no avail, as John was hung in August 1692. The Reverend Cotton Mather who had been one of the initiators of the trials, soon had doubts and as a result, made an impassioned sermon against the mass arrests and trails.By October, community leaders cast suspicion on the evidence and the special court in Salem was dissolved.Those imprisoned were pardoned and eventually indemnities were paid to the families of those killed. Elizabeth Proctor, although also having been found guilty, had received a stay of execution until the birth of he baby. As a result, she survived long enough to also be pardoned.
In 1696 both John and his father, Ephraim moved their families from Ipswich, Massachusetts and took possession ofthe Quinebaugh Land, East of the river by the same name, in an area now known as Windham County, Connecticut. John Fellows was one of the first to settle and establish what became the town of Plainfield, and was listed in town records as a "East side settler ".He was one of the first signers on a court petition dated May 31, 1699 to organize a town government. John Fellows was chosen constable. He helped lay out the division of Plainfield land several years later on February 28, 1703. John was sent as Plainfield's first representative to the General Court in May 1708 and again in 1714/5.
Court records show that John Fellows , Ebenezer Harris and John Gallup were wrongly forced off land they had planted grain on by a Major Fitsh and as a result, lost their crops.Ephraim and John were listed as one of those who could vote for the town officers in 1709.John may have spent some time in New London, CT area between 1706-1712 since his last three children were born there.John received land grants for his services in the "Narraganset War", a war against the Narraganset Indians who were fighting the Colonists during the King Philips War of 1675-76.John died of fever Oct 20, 1748 in Plainfield, Connecticut.
*******John Fellows Will******
In the Name Of God Amen. The Twenty first day of May in ye fourth year of his Majesties reign A.D. 1731.
I, John Fellows of Plainfield in the county of Windham in his majesties colony of Connecticut in New England Yeoman being of perfect mind and memory, blessed be God, calling to mind mortaliy of my body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to dye. I do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, that is to say principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul into ye hands of God, that gave it. Hoping through ye merits and death and passion of my Saviour Jesus Christ to havefull and free pardon, of all sins and to have everlasting life, and my body I commit to ye grave to be decently buried at ye discretion of my executors hereafter named. Nothing doubting but at ye general resurrection I shall arise and come again by ye mighty power of God, and as touching such worldly estate, wherewith it had pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give devise and dispose of ye same in the following manner and form.
That is to say, I give and bequeath unto my beloved son Isaac Fellows ten shillings in money to be paid by my executor ( hereafter named ), one year after my decease, which ten shillings with what I have already given him in land by Deed of Gift, which makes ye full of his portion.
Item.I give and bequeath unto my beloved son John Fellows ten shillings in money to be paid bymy executor ( hereafter named ), one year after my decease, which ten shillings with what I have already given him in land by Deed of Gift, which makes ye full of his portion.
Item.I give and bequeath unto my beloved son Nathan Fellows and his heirs forever, all my lands in Plainfield or elsewhere ( that have not already been given by Deeds of Gift to my sons Isaac and John Fellows ) with all ye buildings, furnishings and improvements thereon, continued with all my husbantry, tackling and tools to my son Nathan, he paying all my just debts and funeral charges and sd ten shillings before given to my son John Fellows, and also I give unto my son Nathan Fellows all of my moveable estate of what kind soever, he paying ye legacies hereafter given.
Item.I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Rachel Herrick four pounds money or bills of published credit to be paid by my executors two years after my decease with four pounds what she hath already received which makes ye full of her portion.
Item.I give and bequeath unto my daughter Abigail Halls deceased children, ten pounds of money or bills of published credit to be equally divided amoungst them and to be paid by my executor three years after my decease which makes up the full of their portion.
Item.I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Mary Fellows thirty three pounds money to be paid by my executors with what she hath already received which makes up sixty pounds which is ye full of her portion.
Item.I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Ann Fellows thirty pounds money to be paid by my executor, with what she hath already received which makes up sixty pounds which is ye full of her portion.
And I do hereby ordain , constitute and appoint my said son Nathan Fellows, my sole executor of this my last Will and Testament.
And I do Hereby disallow of all other will or wills by me heretofore made or willed. Ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Teastament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and fixed my seal today and year first above written.
Sealed, published, pronounced and declared by John Fellows to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of
John Fellows(Seal )
Jonathan Doan
John Welch
John Crory
(Source for John Fellows Will; The American Genealogist, Vol 17, Jan 1941, P159-160.)
Editor's note: No Varney listed in John's will....Possibly he died at a young age!?
John, son of Ephraim connection
Researcher note: The logic behind the reasoning that John Fellows was the son of Ephraim fellows. " William Fellows, the immigrant had 4 sons....so one of them had to be the father of John b. 1668.While it's true that William had two brothers,Samuel and Richard; we know that Richard did not leave descendants and the line of Samuel is well proven and documented and there is no possible way forJohn to have connected with that line.      We have Isaac who m. Joanna Boardman.A family Bible in existence today, proves their children and birth dates. SOURCE: NEHG Register, Vol. 127, No. 2, pgs. 125-129. The next son was Samuel b. ca. 1643....this is the person that some genealogist want to assign as the father to John.This Samuel was never married and lived with his sister and brother in law, Abigail & Samuel Ayres. Samuel Fellows died in Newbury or Rowley, MA on 1 Dec 1713. The Abigial (Fellows) and husband Samuel Ayres lived in Newbury and Rowley. Next son was Joseph b. Abt. 1750. He m. Ruth Fraile in Ipswich on 19 April 1675....therefore cannot be the father of John b. 1668. That leaves us with Ephraim who m. Mary ? .....the only possible Fellows man to be the father of John. In addition to this, as you know, they both went to Plainfield, Windham Co. CT and every generation afterward had a son named Ephraim.This lineage has been accepted for generations by many societies....based on the preponderance of the greater weight of evidence or if you will, common sense." Audrey Kinezian 1996.
Notes for Rachel Varney:
Rachel's uncle and aunt, John and Elizabeth Proctor were tried as witches in Salem, MA. She was not mentioned in her husband John's will written May 1731 and most likely preceded him in death.
Notes for Sarah:
Several researchers believe that John Fellows had a second wife Sarah. According to the work of Clarence Winthrop Bowden in "The History of Woodstock, Conneticut, a "Sarah", first married Jacob Warren in 1688. After her husband died in Plainfield, Ct Sep 3, 1727, she married John Fellows, son of Ephraim Fellows of Ipswich, MA. After John died Mar 29, 1751, with her age as 84, she married in Dec 11, 1751, Deacon Joshua Whitney aged 85. The First Congregational Church records of Plainfield show that on Dec 11, 1751, Sarah "Fellows" age 84, married Joshua Whitney, age 85. Since no other Sarah Fellows' were known to exist in Plainfield at this time (except Sarah daughter of John and Jerusha Fellows who was too young at the time), it must be assumed that this Sarah was a "Fellows" through marriage and hence the second wife Bowden attaches to John Fellows Sr. No marriage date between John Fellows and Sarah ??? has been found and there is no mention of a Sarah in John's will even though she supposedly out lived him.
Sarah Fellows "renewed ye covenant" in the First Congregational Church of Plainfield on Jan 1751.

Children of John Fellows and Rachel Varney are:

Varney⁵ Fellows ²⁴⁴, born Mar 25, 1694 in Ipswich, Essex Co., MA ^245,²⁴⁶.

Notes for Varney Fellows:
Varney died young.

+	87	ii.	Isaac Fellows, born Sep 01, 1696 in Plainfield, Windham Co., CT; died Aug 26, 1755 in Tolland, Tolland Co., CT.
+	88	iii.	Nathan Fellows, born Sep 01, 1696 in Windham Co., CT; died Sep 24, 1754 in Plainfield, Windham Co., CT.
+	89	iv.	Rachel Fellows, born Oct 22, 1698 in Plainfield, Windham Co., CT; died Jul 19, 1776 in Preston, New London Co., CT.
+	90	v.	Abigail Fellows, born May 13, 1701 in Plainfield, Windham Co., CT; died Sep 24, 1727 in Plainfield, Windham Co., CT.
+	91	vi.	John Fellows,Jr., born Mar 03, 1702/03 in Plainfield, Windham Co., CT; died Sep 10, 1757 in Salisbury, Litchfield Co., CT.
+	92	vii.	Ann Fellows, born 1710 in New London Co., CT; died Mar 15, 1776 in Preston, New London Co., CT.
	93	viii.	Mary Fellows ²⁴⁷, born Sep 27, 1712 in New London, New London Co., CT ²⁴⁸.She married George Molburn Oct 13, 1728 in Woodstock, Windham Co., CT ²⁴⁹; bornin Pomfret, Windham Co., CT ²⁵⁰.

18.Elizabeth⁴ Fellows (Ephraim³, William², Willyam¹ Fellow)^251,^252,^253,²⁵⁴ was born Sep 14, 1685 in Ipswich, Essex Co., MA ^255,^256,²⁵⁷, and died 1790 ²⁵⁸.She married Henry Stevens²⁵⁹ Mar 02, 1708/09 in Plainfield, Windam Co., CT ²⁶⁰, son of Henry Stevens and Elizabeth Gallup.He was born 1681 in Stonington, MA.
Notes for Elizabeth Fellows:
It is believed that Elizabeth and Henry had seven children. One of Elizabeth's descendants would be George Bush, 41st President of the U.S.
George Bush's Lineage from Elizabeth Fellows
Elizabeth Fellows(1) (b: 14 Sep 1685) / Henry Stephens Jr.
Lucy Stevens(2) (b: 1717/d: 4 May 1806) / Ephraim Smith (b: 5 Oct 1704)
Dr Sanford Smith(3) (b: 27 Feb 1760/d: 15 Jun 1815) / Priscilla Whippo (b: 1763/d:26 Aug 1838)
Harriett Smith(4) (b: 12 May 1800) / Obediah Newcomb Bush (b: 28 Jan 1797)
Rev. James Smith Bush(5) (b: 15 Jun 1825/d: 11 Nov 1889) / Harriett EleanorFay (b: 29 Oct 1829/d: 27 Feb 1924)
Samuel Prescott Bush(6) (b: 4 Oct 1863/d: 8 Feb 1948) / Flora Sheldon (b: 17 Mar 1872/d: 4 Sep 1920)
Senator Prescott Sheldon Bush(7) (b: 15 May 1895/d: 8 Oct 1972) / Dorothy Walker (b: 1 Jul 1901/d: 19 Nov 1992)
George Herbert Walker Bush(8), the Forty First President of the United Statesborn 12 June 1924.
Notes for Henry Stevens:
Henry Stevens (Stephens) (Henry4), b. 1681 Stonington, Ct., Congregationalist, settled at Plainfield, Conn. -m- in 1709 Elizabeth Fellows, b. 1685 at Ipswich, Mass., daughter. of Ephraim and Anna Fellows. Henry, et ux. returned to Stonington and was living there in 1715.

Children of Elizabeth Fellows and Henry Stevens are:

94	i.	Henry⁵ Stevens, born Dec 18, 1709²⁶⁰.
95	ii.	Simeon Stevens, born Apr 22, 1714²⁶⁰.
96	iii.	Lucy Stevens, born 1717 in Stonington, New London Co., CT; died May 04, 1806 in Pottstown, PA.

19.Ephraim⁴ Fellows (Ephraim³, William², Willyam¹ Fellow)²⁶¹ was born Abt. 1686 in Ipswich, Essex Co., MA ^262,²⁶³, and died Nov 21, 1757 in Canaan, Litchfield Co., CT ²⁶⁴.He married Mary Pierce Dec 03, 1711 in Plainfield, Windam Co., CT ²⁶⁵, daughter of Thomas Pierce and Mary Wyman.She was born Abt. 1692 in Woburn, Middlesex Co., MA ^266,²⁶⁷, and died Dec 16, 1774 in Canaan, Litchfield Co., CT ²⁶⁸.
Notes for Ephraim Fellows:
Ephraim came with his father from Ipswich, MA to settle in Plainfield, CT.
Included in a list of Freeman of Canaan, CT June 23, 1757 were Ephraim and his sons William, Ephraim Jr, Thomas, Jonathan and Joseph. Abeil was the only son not listed, possibly since he was not married yet. There is very little else in the way of records on Ephraim Fellows, son of Ephraim except his Will made on April 1, 1757, one month before his death. Ephraim may have died of smallpox.
Will of Ephraim Fellows
At a Court of Probate heldin Sharon for the district of Sharon this 17th day of Dec. 1757 present John Williams, Esq. Judge holding the same th(en) Abial Fellows of Canaan in the District aforesd Executor of the last Will and Testament of Ephraim Fellows late of sd Canaan deceased, appeared, and accepted of the (......) and exhibited a Will of ye sd deceased which was proved, and accepted and ordered to be recorded and kept on file which is as follows Viz;
In the Name of God amen the First Day of April 1757, I Ephraim Fellows of Canaan in Litchfield County and Colony of Connecticut in New England Husbandman being in Health and of Perfect Mind and Memory Thanks be given to Almighty God, but Calling to Mind the Mortality of My Body and knowing yet tis appointed to all Men Once to die I Give and Recommend my Soul into ye Hands of God yt Gave it and my Body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in decent & Christain Burial at the Discretion of my Executor hereafter named, nothing doubting but at the general Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty Power of God, and Bless me with in ys Life I give and Dispose of the Same in the Following Manner & Form-
Imprimis I give and bequeath to Mary my dearly beloved wife the Whole of my Movables ( after my just Debts are paid and ye Legacies hereafter mentioned ) to be and Remain to my and her Heirs & Assigns forever & also the Use and Improvement of one third Part of all my Improvements and Buildings; in the Township of Canaan aforesd to be andremain Her during Life.
Item I give and bequeath unto my well-beloved Son Ephraim Fellows all my Wearing Apparel and also yt ten Acre Pitch of Land in Canaan Aforsd lying on Rattlesnake Hill so called & (_) on the Southard Side of Hill to be and remain to him his heirs and Assigns forever-
Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Son Jonathan Fellows of Canaan aforesd the Following described Parcels of Land Lying in Canaan Aforsd ye first Part is the Half of my Home Lot to be divided as followeth ye North End of sd lot and to extend as far South as to a Upla (nd) South of Blackberry River to be divided bt a center & Parallel Line with the East and we (st) Side of sd Lot and sd Jonathan to have the West Part and south end of sd Home Lot to be divided Equally by a Parallel Line (-) the line of the North end of sdLot & sd Jonathan to have the North Part of sd South End of sd Lot The Second Part is the one half of the Meadow Lot yt shall remain after yt Two Acres is taken Off of the sd Meadow Lot on the East Side which joins to the Six Rod Road the 3d parcel is the One half of the twenty Acre Pitch of land laid to me which lies on the side Mountain joining to Mr Dan Holcombs land to be and remain to him the sd Jonathan Fellows his Heirs and assigns Forever to be his & their Own property Use and Behoof
Item I give and bequeath unto my well belovewd Son Abial Fellows whom I also make ordain sole Executor to ys my Last will and Testamt ye Following described Parcels of (land) lying & being in Canaan aforesd Ye First Parcel is the half of my Home Lot yt remains after Jonathans part of sd Home lot is Set off as by the Described Lines in Jonathans Bequeath, the Second Parcel is yt two Acres thats to be taken off of Meadow Lot next to the six rod Road and also half of the remainder of sd M(ead)ow Lot. the third Parcell of Land is all that Part of the 43 Shear in the Sec(ond) Division of Lands in Canaan Aforesd Yt Lyes East and bounds west partly on the Six Rod Road and partly on the Four Rod Road yt Leads out of the Six Rod Road a Little to the Southard of my- and Leads under Mountain Ward the fo(urth) Parcel of Land is about 8 acres, lying North of the Burying Yard and the Fifth Parcel of Land is the one half of the twenty Acre Pitch lying on the Side Mountain J(oin)ing to Mr Holcombs Land with my Buildings stand on Some of the aforesd Parcels of land to be and remain to him the sd Abial Fellows his heirs and Assigns forever
Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved Daughter Mary Marsh Two Pounds to be ra(ised) out of my movables to be and remain to her ye sd Mary her Heirs & assigns forever
Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Grand Son Jonathan Dean yt Lo(t) of Land laid to Me containing twenty three Acres Lying on the great Mountain in Canaan afordsd and also Twenty Sheep to be delivered to him the sd Jonathan Dean upon the First day of Novr A D 1758 to beand remain to him ye sd Jonathan Dean his Heirs and Assigns Forever
Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Daughter Merriam Stevens Two Pou(nds) to be raised out of my movables to be and remain to her ye sd Merriam- Heirs and assigns forever and I do hereby utterly Disallow Revoke & Disannull all and Every other Former Testamt Will and Legacy, Bequeaths 7 Executors by M(yself) in any ways before named willed & bequeathed ratifying and Confirming this to be my last Will & Testamt in witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand & se(al) ye Day & Year above sd
Signed Sealed Published pronounced & Declared by ye aforesd Ephraim Fellows as his Last Will and testment in Presence of ye Subscribers
Ephraim Fellows(Seal)
Isaac Lawrence
Benjah Dowglass
Andrew Stevens
Researcher's Note: Ephraim's son, William was not listed in his father's will since he had already been given his full part or portion of the estate. (Ref; Myrte M. Morris)

Children of Ephraim Fellows and Mary Pierce are:

+	97	i.	Mary⁵ Fellows, born Sep 27, 1712 in Plainfield, Windam Co., CT.
+	98	ii.	Ephraim Fellows, Jr., born Jun 12, 1715 in Plainfield, Windham Co., CT; died 1803.
+	99	iii.	Joannah Fellows, born Nov 12, 1717 in Plainfield, Windam Co., CT; died 1741 in RI.
+	100	iv.	William Fellows, born Nov 29, 1720 in Plainfield, Windham Co., CT; died Oct 24, 1755 in Canaan, Litchfield Co., CT.
+	101	v.	Thomas Fellows, born Mar 13, 1722/23 in Plainfield, Windham Co., CT; died Sep 25, 1810 in Canaan, Litchfield Co., CT.
+	102	vi.	Miriam Fellows, born Apr 02, 1726 in Plainfield, Windham Co., CT; died May 25, 1773 in Canaan, Litchfield Co., CT.
+	103	vii.	Jonathan Fellows, born Dec 11, 1728 in Plainfield, Windham Co., CT; died 1758 in Canaan, Litchfield Co., CT.
+	104	viii.	Joseph Fellows, born Mar 23, 1729/30 in Plainfield, Windham Co., CT; died Mar 16, 1819 in Kingsbury, Washington County, NY.
+	105	ix.	Abiel Fellows, born Oct 29, 1734 in Plainfield, Windham Co., CT; died Dec 25, 1812 in Canaan, Litchfield Co., CT.

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