Roote, Thomas
Thomas ROOTE (1648 - 1709) and Mary SPENCER (? - 1690)
my 8g-grandparents
Thomas ROOTE was born about 1648 in Farmington, CT. His parents, John ROOTE and Mary KILBOURN, were among the earliest settlers in Farmington, about 1640. By 1670, Thomas and his older brothers John and Samuel removed to Westfield, MA. Thomas had 3 wives, and 10 children, in Westfield.
Westfield, called Woronoco by the Indians, is a few miles west of the Connecticut River, near Springfield, in southeastern MA. Being west of the river, it was vulnerable to Indian attacks. A few trading posts appeared as early as 1639 or 1640, and the first permanent settlers came about 1660. Thus the ROOTE brothers were among the earliest settlers in Westfield.
1796 map of Westfield, MA and surrounding area. The MA/CT line is highlighted in olive green. This was before the "Southwick jog" was added to Southwick in 1804. The Connecticut River flows southward between Springfield and West Springfield.
At about age 22, Thomas married (1) in Oct 1670, in Westfield, MA, to Mary GRIDLYE or GRIDLEY, who died in 1673, leaving 2 children. She must have died in childbirth or shortly after.
Next, at about 27, Thomas married (2) on 7 Oct 1675, to Mary SPENCER, who bore him 6 children, one of whom was John ROOTE or ROOT, my 7g-grandfather. Mary died on 4 Nov 1690, after 15 years of marriage. Mary SPENCER, from Hartford, CT, was the daughter of Sergeant Thomas SPENCER and Sarah BEARDING.
Thomas, at about 43, married (3) on 25 Jan 1602, to Sarah DUMBLETON, daughter of John DUMBLETON, and widow of Josiah LEONARD. Sarah and Thomas had 2 children, and Sarah died on 3 Jan 1694. Thomas outlived all 3 wives, and died in Westfield, MA on 16 Aug 1709, at age 60 or 61.
Sarah DUMBLETON was my 8g-grandmother, not by her marriage to Thomas ROOTE, but by her marriage to Josiah LEONARD. So Sarah married both of Elisha ROOT's grandfathers.
Elisha 2861 ROOT was my 6g-grandfather.
Thomas and Mary
Thomas Root, father of Timothy, born about 1648 at Farmington, removed to Westfield, died August 16, 1709, married (second) October 7, 1675, Mary Spencer, died November 4, 1690, probably born May 20, 1655, and daughter of Sergeant Thomas Spencer, mentioned above, and his second wife Sarah, daughter of Nathaniel Bearding. [WRC, Vol. II, p. 810]
The data shown below, and the numbering system, are from [JPR], except where otherwise indicated.
1 Thomas 2803 ROOTE b: 1648 in Farmington, CT, d: 16 Aug 1709 in Westfield, MA, age 61
+ Mary GRIDLEY m: Oct 1670, d: 1673
......2 Thomas 2817 ROOT b: 01 Sep 1671, d: 25 Feb 1689, age 27
......2 Mary 2818 ROOT b: 21 Oct 1673
...... + Isaac MEECHAM m: 12 Dec 1700
+ Mary SPENCER m: 07 Oct 1675, d: 04 Nov 1690
......2 John 2819 ROOT b: 25 Dec 1676 in Westfield, MA, d: 01 Oct 1744, age 67
...... + Mary LEONARD b: 1688, m: 14 Apr 1703, d: 03 May 1766, age 77
......2 Samuel 2820 ROOT b: 16 Feb 1679 in Westfield, MA, d: 08 Dec 1712 in Westfield, MA, age 33
...... + Sarah WARNER m: 27 Jun 1711
......2 Elizabeth 2821 ROOT b: 16 Feb 1681, d: 10 Jan 1706, age 24
...... + Nathaniel BANCROFT b: 23 Sep 1680, m: 20 Dec 1705
......2 Sarah 2822 ROOT b: 27 Jul 1683
...... + WRIGHT
......2 Timothy 2823 ROOT b: 03 Dec 1685 in Westfield, MA, d: 02 Nov 1743, age 57
...... + Sarah PEASE b: 1689, m: 1710
......2 Ensign Joseph 2824 ROOT b: 16 Jun 1688, d: 10 Feb 1750, age 61
...... + Sarah d: 24 Jan 1758
+ Sarah DUMBLETON m: 25 Jan 1692, d: 03 Jan 1694
......2 Thankful 2825 ROOT b: 12 Nov 1693
......2 Mercy 2826 ROOT b: 12 Nov 1693, died young
Descendants
1. Thomas 2817 ROOT, son of Thomas 2803 ROOTE and Mary GRIDLEY, was born on 1 Sep 1671, and died 25 Feb 1689, at age 17.
2. Mary 2818 ROOT, daughter of Thomas 2803 ROOTE and Mary GRIDLEY, was born on 21 Oct 1673. Her mother died in the same year, possibly in childbirth. She married Isaac MEECHAM on 12 Dec 1700.
3. John 2819 ROOT, son of Thomas 2803 ROOTE and Mary SPENCER, was born 25 Dec 1676 in Westfield, MA, and died 1 Oct 1744, at age 67. He married on 14 Apr 1703 to Mary LEONARD, who was born 1688, died 3 May 1766, age 77 or 78, outliving her husband by more than 21 years. John 2819 ROOT and Mary LEONARD were my 7g-grandparents. See the John 2819 ROOT page.
4. Samuel 2820 ROOT, son of Thomas 2803 ROOTE and Mary SPENCER, was born 16 Feb 1679 in Westfield, MA, and died on 8 Dec 1712 in Westfield, MA, at age 33. He married on 27 Jun 1711 to Sarah WARNER. So Samuel died after about 17 months of marriage. The couple had no children.
Samuel 2820 ROOT
In his will he left his house and homestead to the ministry of the church in Westfield, after his wife should have deceased. His estate was valued at £279 10s. 11d. [See will in Appendix.] This homestead was situated in what is now a central portion of Westfield village. In 1816 the Mass. legislature created a corporation by the name of the Trustees of the Ministerial Fund in the town of Westfield, and this estate, together with perhaps some other grants from the legislature, was converted into money by sale of the land from time to time, the last sale being made April 26, 1862, and the fund now amounts to some $6000. [JPR, p. 323]
5. Elizabeth 2821 ROOT, daughter of of Thomas 2803 ROOTE and Mary SPENCER, was born on 16 Feb 1681, and died 10 Jan 1706, at age 24. She married on 20 Dec 1705 to Nathaniel BANCROFT, born 23 Sep 1680, son of Nathaniel BANCROFT and Hannah WILLIAMS. So Elizabeth died just 3 weeks after her marriage.
6. Sarah 2822 ROOT, daughter of Thomas 2803 ROOTE and Mary SPENCER, was born 27 Jul 1683. She married ___ WRIGHT.
7. Timothy 2823 ROOT, son of Thomas 2803 ROOTE and Mary SPENCER, was born on 3 Dec 1685 in Westfield, MA, and died 2 Nov 1743, at age 57. He married in 1710 to Sarah PEASE, daughter of John PEASE of Enfield, CT. They had 7 children.
Timothy 2823 ROOT
He went from Westfield to Enfield, and from thereabout 1713 to Somers Ct., where he was one of the first settlers. He lived near a small stream called the Scantic, eight miles from the Connecticut river. [JPR, p. 323]
1 Timothy 2823 ROOT b: 03 Dec 1685 in Westfield, MA, d: 02 Nov 1743
+ Sarah PEASE b: 1689, m: 1710 [birth date from SAR app for Alonzo Bailey Root]
......2 Elizabeth 2874 ROOT
...... + Ebenezer SPENCER m: 1733
......2 Sarah 2875 ROOT
...... + John ABBE b: 1717, m: 1739
......2 Timothy 2876 ROOT b: 1719 in Somers, CT, d: 21 Jun 1794
...... + Jemima WOOD b: 1730, d: 1807 [birth and death dates from SAR app for Alonzo Bailey Root]
......2 Thomas 2877 ROOT b: 1726 in Somers, CT, d: 15 Mar 1821 in Middlefield, CT; res. Enfield, CT, rem. in 1783 to Middlefield, CT
...... + Unknown m: Enfield, CT
...... + Alice PEASE b: 1736, m: 1764, d: 30 Dec 1821
......2 Anna 2878 ROOT
...... + Noah HEWLET b: 15 May 1730, m: 20 Mar 1756
Timothy 2876 ROOT
He built the house on the mountain at Somers, known as the Root house. They were most excellent people, devotedly pious, and worthy to be among the number of those called in God's providence to lay the foundations of a town. Before the building of the first meeting-house, the people used often to meet for public worship on the sabbath at his house. [JPR, p. 335]
8. Ensign Joseph 2824 ROOT, son of Thomas 2803 ROOTE and Mary SPENCER, was born on 16 Jun 1688, and died 10 Feb 1750, at age 61. He married Sarah, who died 24 Jan 1758. They had 10 children, probably all in Westfield.
Ensign Joseph 2824 and 3 of his sons were military officers, and carried the honor of their ranks throughout their lives. Joseph 2882 was a religious leader, and became Deacon of the church in Westfield. In 1743, brothers Aaron 2884 and Azariah 2887 removed from Westfield to Sheffield, MA, which was then called Poontoosick.
1 Joseph Ensign 2824 ROOT b: 16 Jun 1688, d: 10 Feb 1750
+ Sarah d: 24 Jan 1758
......2 Sarah 2881 ROOT b: 20 Apr 1714, d: 07 May 1714
......2 Deacon Joseph 2882 ROOT b: 23 Aug 1715 in Westfield, MA, d: 07 Jun 1789
...... + Ann BANCROFT b: 17 Apr 1720, d: 11 May 1799
......2 Thomas 2883 ROOT b: 15 Oct 1717, d: 1719
......2 Col. Aaron 2884 ROOT b: 20 Dec 1720 in Westfield, MA, d: 31 Aug 1809 in Sheffield, MA
...... + Rhoda RING m: 08 Sep 1748, d: Bef. 08 Oct 1763 in Sheffield, MA
...... + Jerusha STEELE m: 08 Oct 1763
......2 Thomas 2885 ROOT b: 13 Apr 1723 in Westfield, MA, d: 1779
...... + Ruth MOSELEY m: 15 May 1746, d: Bef. 06 Feb 1762
...... + Abigail COLLINS m: 06 Feb 1762
......2 Sarah 2886 ROOT b: 18 Mar 1726
...... + Martin ASHLEY m: 02 Apr 1750
......2 Col. Azariah 2887 ROOT b: 23 Aug 1728 in Westfield, MA, d: 03 Jul 1777
...... + Elizabeth SHEPARD m: 02 May 1751, d: 16 Feb 1786
......2 Capt. Eli 2888 ROOT b: 27 Feb 1731, d: 1804 in Pittsfield, MA
...... + Mindwell SACKETT b: 15 Feb 1732 in Westfield, MA, m: 10 Jul 1755 [birth date from SAR application for Ray E. McCURDY]
...... + Experience KELLOGG
......2 Amos 2889 ROOT b: 1733 in Westfield, MA
...... + Abigail SHELDON m: 17 Mar 1756, d: 17 Oct 1758
...... + Azubah HUBBARD
......2 Lucy 2890 ROOT b: 30 Apr 1738
Azariah 2887 ROOT was a farmer, and dealer in leather. He served as colonel in the revolutionary army, and died on 3 Jul 1777, at age 48, in the service, of small-pox, introduced by the British. His wife was Elizabeth SHEPARD, sister of General William SHEPARD of Westfield.
9. Thankful 2825 ROOT, daughter of Thomas 2803 ROOTE and Sarah DUMBLETON, was born 12 Nov 1693, a twin to Mercy 2825.
10. Mercy 2826 ROOT, daughter of Thomas 2803 ROOTE and Sarah DUMBLETON, was born 12 Nov 1693, a twin to Thankful 2825, and probably died young, as she is not mentioned in her father's will.
Sources
[CMN] History of Berlin, Connecticut (1916) by Catharine Melinda North
[SFT] Thomas Roote in the Solbrig Family Tree on Ancestry.com
[WRC] Genealogical and family history of the state of Connecticut; a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation (1911) by William Richard Cutter, et al Vol I Vol II Vol III Vol IV
Updated 22 Nov 2021 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.