Rowland (Roland)Leete was born on August 6, 1708 in Guilford, Connecticut. He is the son of William and Hannah (Stone) Leete. William Leete and Hannah Stone had seven children; Ann (1700), Elizabeth (1705), Margery (1705), Roland (1708), William (1711), Jordan (1720), Solomon (1722). Rowland’s name is found spelled as Rowland and Roland in many records. I will be using the latter for the remainder of this blog. Roland is a great grandson of William Leete (1612-1683) who was the first governor of Colonial Connecticut and an early settler from England.

Roland married Mercy Dudley on December 29, 1738 in Guilford, Connecticut. Roland and Mercy had twelve children; Timothy (1739), Ruth (1740), Sarah (1744), John (1746), Asahel (1747), Hannah (1749), Sarah (1751), Abner (1753).

This is the first page of Roland’s Last Will and Testament written on the 10^th day of November in 1767. He was a sick man and he knew the end of his life was near. In it he identifies all of his children and his wife. The probate file is 22 pages long. Much can be gleamed from probate documents. Roland was a fairly well off man. He bequest one third of his estate to his wife, Mercy. The remaining two thirds of his estate was divided among his children. Timothy and Asahel are to split the land in the town of Granville, Massachusetts equally. The marsh land at Mulberry that Roland owns is to be divided between his remaining sons and daughters. John receives the largest parcel since he is executor of his father’s estate. Abner and Miles will receive parcels that are slightly smaller but still big enough to farm. The daughters, Ruth, Anah (Anna), Hannah, Sarah and Rachel will receive one quarter acres of land.

Two hundred and fifty four years ago today, Roland Leete died in Guilford, Connecticut. He is buried in the Leete Island Cemetery though his grave location and tombstone were lost long ago burial records indicate that he is buried here. Leete Island Cemetery is at 15 Moose Hill Road in Guilford Connecticut.

Rest in peace, Roland!

Love, Jan

Roland Leete is my 6^th Great Grandfather.

Coonrad (Conrad) was the son of Coonrad and Catherine Best born in 1799 in Germany. Catherine’s maiden name (Conrad’s mother) is unknown at this time. Coonrad and Catherine had three sons and a daughter. They were Casper( 1797), Coonrad (1799), Fredrick (1799), George (1803) and Elizabeth (1805).

Conrad Jr. married Catherine Louks. Catherine was born in Vermont. She was the daughter of Henry C. Louks and his wife Sara Sally Sluyter. Conrad and Catherine had 8 children. They were; Sarah Ann (1824), Miriam (1826), John Landon (1827), Hiram (1830), Thomas (1834), Catherine (1836), William Edward (1839) and Caroline (1842) .

In the 1851 Provincial Census, Conrad and Catherine are located in Dereham, Oxford County, Ontario. The children who remain at home are Hiram, Thomas, Catherine, (Wm)Edward, and Caroline. He list his occupation as farmer.

In the 1861 Agricultural Census for Dereham Township, Oxford County, Ontario, Conrad is listed. He has 50 acres of land. Forty one acres are tilled and growing crops and the remaining 9 acres are pastures for raising animals. In the 1861 Provincial Census, three “C Best” entries are listed in Dereham, Ontario. It is Conrad, Catherine and Caroline Best.

One hundred and sixty years ago today, Conrad died on November 16, 1861 in Dereham Township, Oxford County, Ontario. He is buried in the Best Cemetery located in Corinth, Elgin County, Ontario.

For me to find a last Will and Testament for my blog is fairly unusual. In this case, Conrad did write a will on November 15, 1861. In the will he is very explicit how he wants his estate handled. He had excluded his son Thomas for some reason. His estate was to be held in trust with his wife who would remain living on the 50 acres until her death at which time it is given to his youngest son, William Edward. All of the household goods and farm equipment were to go to William Crane and Hiram Best to be sold and the proceeds to be split evenly with all his children except Thomas Best.

Rest in peace, Conrad!

Love, Jan

Conrad Best is my four times Great Grandfather.

John Graham was born in 1547, the son of Lord Robert Graham and Margaretha La Fleming. He was born in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. Lord Robert Graham was 26 years old and Lady Margaret Fleming was 18 years old at the time of his birth. Lord Robert was killed in the battle of Pinkie Cleug on September 19, 1547 soon after John’s birth.

At the age of sixteen, John’s Grandfather had put him in the possession of the family castle and the barony of Mugdock. As master of the castle, he was presented with a seat in Parliament at Stirling. Throughout his life he was very involved with the Scottish government. John, the third Earl of Montrose, was renounced by Queen Mary of Scotland in 1567. He fought against Queen Mary at the Battle of Langside on May 13, 1568 where she was captured at Cranberry Hill and was force to abdicate. She was imprisoned in Lochleven Castle. Her half brother James Stewart, Earl of Moray was appointed Regent on behalf of the infant James VI, heir to the throne. John became Earl of Montrose when his Grandfather died in 1571.

In Scotland at this time, there was a period of instability within the government with no fewer than four different regents ruling the country in the space of seven years due to death and or assassination. Sir John was commissioned as a judge with Lord Glamis and Sir John Wishart from 1572 -1573 in an effort to regain stability to the country. There were intermittent civil war between the King’s forces and the Marians (supporters of Queen Mary). Finally, in 1573, through the good offices of Henry Killigrew, the English ambassador, a conference was held in Perth between the regent Morton with the King’s party and the leading supporters of Mary. As a result of the discussion all agreed to recognize Morton as regent, ended their allegiance to Mary, disbanded their forces and handed over all prisoners and property that they had taken. In return, those that had been in rebellion were allowed to reassert possession of their lands. In 1591 he was appointed and served as Extraordinary Lord of the Chancellor and President of the Council in 1591. In 1599, he served as the King’s Commissioner at the Union Conference and Viceroy of Scotland on 1604.

In addition, John Graham, the third Earl of Montrose was a Scottish Peer and Chancellor of the University of St Andrews for 1599 to 1604. He was the Lord High Commissioner to the Parliament of Scotland, from 1605 to 1606. He was the Great Grandson of King James IV of Scotland and his Grandmother was Janet Fleming.

John Graham married Jean Drummon, daughter of Lord David Drummond and Lilias Ruthven on August 24, 1563 in Montrose, Angus, Scotland. This was a contract marriage and Jean was his second cousin with her dowry being paid to John’s Grandfather, William Graham. They had four children; Robert Graham of Scotston (1566), Countess Lilias Graham (1570), First Baronet William Graham of Braco (1572), Sir John Graham the 4^th Earl of Montrose (1573).

Four hundred thirteen years ago today, on November 9, 1608, Sir John Graham died in Forfar, Angus, Scotland. He is buried at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Rest in peace, Sir John!

Love, Jan

Sir John Graham is my 11 X Great Grandfather.

Lydia Day was born on April 11, 1698 in Hartford, Connecticut. She was that daughter of John and Grace (Spencer) Day. John and Grace had ten children; Lydia (1698), Mary (1699), John (1701), Joseph (1702), Benjamin (1704), Editha (1705), Daniel (1709), David (1710), Abraham (1712), Isaac (1713).

I tried to determine when the Day family arrived in the colonies but as of this writing it is unknown. The earliest Spencer in America was Gerard Spencer we emigrated to the colonies in 1638. Gerard was Grace’s Grandfather and Lydia’s Great Grandfather. Joseph Fuller is the Great Grandson of Edward Fuller who arrived in the colonies on the Mayflower.

Lydia Day married Joseph Fuller on December 22, 1722. Joseph and Lydia had eleven children most of whom were born in Colchester, Connecticut. The eleven children were; Joseph (1723), Rachel (1724), Zachariah (1725), Grace (1726), Jeremiah (1728), Lydia (1729), Mindwell (1730), Ruth (1733) Abraham (1737), Jacob (1739), Isaac (1741). Joseph and Lydia resided in Colchester, Connecticut until 1738 or 1739 at which time they moved to Kent, Connecticut.

According to the history of the First Congregational Church of Kent, in January of 1740, eleven men gathered together and signed a covenant joining them to each other and binding them to the will of God. It was this gathering which formed the First Congregational Church of Kent, Connecticut. Joseph Fuller was one of the eleven men. Church records indicate that Joseph was appointed as a Deacon of the church on February 22, 1741. Lydia was granted membership on May 10,1741. The Fuller and Day families were instrumental in the early establishment in the state of Connecticut and the City of Kent and the First Congregational Church which is still active 280 years later.

According to the history of the First Congregational Church of Kent, in January of 1740, eleven men gathered together and signed a covenant joining them to each other and binding them to the will of God. It was this gathering which formed the First Congregational Church of Kent, Connecticut. Joseph Fuller was one of the eleven men. Church records indicate that Joseph was appointed as a Deacon of the church on February 22, 1741. Lydia was granted membership on May 10,1741. The Fuller and Day families were instrumental in the early establishment in the state of Connecticut and the city of Kent and the First Congregational Church which is still active 280 years later.

Two hundred and fifty eight years ago, Lydia Day Fuller died on November 2, 1763. She was sixty five years old when she died. She is buried with her husband and other family members in Good Hill Cemetery in Kent, Connecticut.

Rest in peace, Lydia!

Love, Jan

Lydia is my second cousin 7 times removed.