Extracted From
Middletown Upper Houses
a history of the north society of Middletown, Ct.
from 1650 to 1800
with genealogical and biographical chapters
on early families.
Charles Collard Adams
New York: Grafton Press, 1908.
[transcribed by Liz Matthews ]
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DESCENDANTS OF THOMAS RANNEY THIRD GENERATION 9 Thomas3 Ranney (Thomas2, Thomas1), b. Aug. 14, 1692, Upper Houses; m. Feb. 26, 1720, Esther Wilcox, b. Oct. 31, 1699, Upper Houses, dau. of Ephraim3 Wilcox (son of John2 Wilcox and Esther Cornwall) and Silence Hand, dau. of Joseph Hand and Jane Wright of Guilford. By the will of his father he received the farm on which he was then residing and on which he lived till his death, Mar. 22, 1764. She died Oct. 3, 1779. This farm is now the S. V. Hubbard place, a mile north of the Church Green, and is on the main road to Hartford. The estate was divided by agreement among the "aiers." The home lot comprised "seven aykers" and over. There had been advanced by deeds to Jeremiah £33-7-6; to Thomas £40; and to Ephraim £80. These three sons were to give their mother £7 per year for life. To "Abijay" was given half the house and home lot and £5 "rit" (right) in the "hous" and barn. Dorothy, ("Doole") and the other daughters each received money and other parts of the "parsnel a steat" (personal estate). The "distrebueshion" is signed by Widow Easter Ranney, and all the children except Abijah and Ephraim. The latter signed on returning on a visit from Westminster, Vt. Abijah bought the interests of the other heirs in the homestead and occupied it till 1795 when he disposed of it and removed to Sheffield, Mass. Children:
21 Thomas, b. Feb. 13, 1723. 22 Ephraim, b. Apr. 10, 1725. Desire, b. Sept. 3, 1727; m. Mar. 22, 1753, Moses Wilcox. Children: John, Reuben, Joseph, Samuel, Mary, Reuben, Desire. Esther, b. Feb. 11, 1730; d. unm. Jan. 18, 1817. Dorothy, b. Nov. 29, 1732; d. unm. Mar. 15, 1799. Azubah, b. Mar. 30, 1735; m. Oct. 24, ---- Lieut Charles5 Butler, a Rev. soldier, (Charles4, Richard3, Joseph2, Dea. Richard1). Child:
Submit Hand, b. Feb. 17, 1740; m. Jan. 30, 1766, Dea. John Gaines of East Middletown. 23 Abijah, b. Aug. 28, 1743. 10 Willett3 Ranney (Thomas2, Thomas1), b. Mar. 30, 1693-4, Upper Houses; m. (1) Apr. 20, 1720, New Haven, Ct., Anne Johnson, b. Feb., 1691, dau. of John3 Johnson and Mabel Grannis. She d. Mar. 29, 1731, and he m. (2) Dec. 23, 1731, Deborah4 White, b. Feb. 26, 1694, dau. of Jacob3 White and Deborah Shepard. He was a favorite grandson, judging from the will of Thomas1. He received from his father the Timber Hill property, so that he had a farm of 90 acres. He built the mansion now owned and occupied by Mr. William Bergin, and which is at the base of Timber Hill. He was a slave holder and caused the Negro children to be baptized. His tombstone indicates his standing in the community. He gave the homestead to his son Willett and purchased of Roger Gibson his homestead of four acres, north of the Thomas Stow house. He d. Sept. 5, 1751. And the name had become Ranney. ___________________ WILL OF WILLETT3 RANNEY In the Name of God Amen. The Second Day of September 1751. I, Willit Ranney of Middletown in the County of Hartford & Coloney of Connecticut in New England Yeoman, Being sick and week in Body, But of a Sound & perfect mind & memory thanks be given unto God: therefore Calling to mind the Mortality of the Body & knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Dye Do make & ordain this my Last & only Will & Testiment that is to say Principally & first of all I give & Recommend my Soul into the Hand of God that gave it, And my Body I Recommend to the Earth to be buried in Decent Christian Buriel at the Discretion of my Executors: nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall Receive the same again by the mighty power of God. And as Touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased Got to Bless me in this life I Give & Demise & Dispose of the same in the following Manner & Form Imprimis. I give & Bequeath unto my well Beloved Wife Deborah Ranney all that she brought with her when we were Merried to be at her own disposal: & I give her the improvement of one of my Dwelling houses which she shall choose & the improvement of one Third part of my Home Lott I live on & the land Adjacent to it, & one Third of my Whitmore Lott, Gipson Lott where my house stands & my Swamp Meadow Lot. This I give her so long as she remains my Widow. I also give her two Good Feather Beds with proper furniture includeing what she brought with her: I give her two Cows which she shall Choose & a Heifer Coming two years old, & my Rideing Mare & ten sheep, as long as she is my widow. & my will is that my two Daughters Thankfull & Elizabeth should live in the house with their mother as long as they or Either of them shall remain unmarried, & in case my wife should Dye before either or both my above named Daughters shall merry Then they or either of them shall have the Privilege of living with my son Willet Ranney. My will is that my wife shall have wood brought to the Door by my son Willet Ranney sufficient to maintain one fire & well prepared for that purpose. My will is that the Creatures I have given to my wife shall be kept thro the Winter upon the hay I have provided, & also a sufficient quantity of Grain & Meal shall be given my wife out of my moveables to supply her & my two Daughters who are to live with her for the year Coming. Item. I give & bequeath to my well beloved son Willit Ranney all my Lands & Buildings Except what shall be hereafter Disposed off to my Daughters I give my son Willet my Negro Man Peter, My team of four oxen & all my husbandry Tools my year old Coalt, my gun & Sword & war like stores & also all my wearing Apperril & my will is that after my wife has received out of my moveables sufficient provision for the year for herself & two daughters Thankful & Elizabeth Then what remains of my Moveable Money Bonds Book Debts shall be improved to pay my lawful Debts & funeral Charges & to make my two Daughters Thankful & Elizabeth equal to what either of their sisters have received who are already Merried, & what Remains my will is shall be equally Diveded between all my children. Item. I give & Bequeath to my well Beloved Daughters Thankful Ranney Ann Sage Rebecca Savage, Deborah Sage & Elizabeth Ranney my House & Lott that was Roger Gipsons which lays adjoyning unto William Savage & David Edwards: My Great Short Hill Lott that I bought of Ephriam Wilcox: My Hether Short Hill Lott Bought of the widow Doolittle, my lott north side of mountain Swamp Joyning to Mr. Hugh White & John Kirbey containing about fifteen or sixteen acres & my Lott the back side of Long Hill which I bought of the Widow Wolcot I mean that part I Dont improve, I suppose it to contain about half the Lott. These Lands I give to be equally Divided between all my Daughters. I do Hereby Constitute & appoint my well Beloved son Willet Ranney & Ebenezer Savage to be my Executors to see this my Last Will & Testiment Ratified & fulfilled according to the true intent & Meaning hereof, & I do utterly Disannul & make void all former Wills & Testiments & Ratify & Confirm this my Last & only Will & Testiment. In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my Hand & Seal the Day & year above written. Willet Ranney (SEAL) Signed, Sealed, Published, Pronounced & Declared by yhe said Willet Ranney as his Last Will & Testiment in the Presence of us the Subscribers. Edward Eells Churchel Edwards Joseph Barns Children by 1st marriage:
Anne, b. Oct. 9, 1723; m. Aug. 7, 1746; John4Sage 3d. Children: Reuben, Simeon, John, Simeon, James, Ann, Lucy, Sybil, Olive. They built the Ranney-Adams house in 1761. Rebecca, b. Oct. 3, 1726; m. Ebenezer Savage. (See the Savage Family.) 24 Willett, b. Mar. 29, 1731.
Elizabeth, b. Mar. 17, 1734; m. Apr. 17, 1755, Jonathan Savage. He d. Apr. 4, 1805. She d. July 18, 1779. Children, settled in New York: Jonathan, James, Jacob, Elizabeth, Lucy, David, Moses, Eleazar, Jonathan, James.
John2 Johnson (Robert1), b. in England. Married Hannah, dau. of John and Hannah Parmelee of Guilford. His estate was probated in 1687. She was living as late as 1693. They had nine children.
Children:
Anne, b. Feb., 1691; m. Willett Ranney. Hannah, b. May 23, 1710; m. Benjamin Hand of Middletown, son of Benj. and Sarah (Ward) Hand.] 11 George3 Ranney (Thomas2, Thomas1), b. Oct. 28, 1695, Upper Houses; m. ------ Mary Hale, b. ----- Glastonbury, Conn., dau. of Thomas Hale, cordwinder, and Mercy Hurlbut. Mr. Hale in 1711 purchased 125 acres in East Middletown. His will, filed in Hartford, gives property to the two grandchildren named herein. Mr. Ranney was one of those who removed to East Middletown. Just after his untimely death his father executed a deed to his son's "heirs," not naming them. These children were brought up in the family of Grandmother Hale, according to a tradition. He died March 28, 1725. She died Nov. 26, 1749. Both have tombstones in East Middletown. Their children in 1752 executed deeds by which George became the sole owner of the Hale homestead. It descended to Jonathan5 Ranney who died on it. Children:
Mary, bapt. Apr. 11, 1725. She married (1) Joseph Bush who d. June 12, 1749, at Surinam, "as per account;" (2) 1749-54 Thomas Davis who united with her, 1754, in releasing to George their interest in the Hale homestead.
12 Nathaniel 3 Ranney (Thomas2, Thomas1), b. June 17, 1702, Upper Houses; m. (1) May 13, 1731, Dorothy Hale, b. -----; d. Sept. 26, 1732; m. (2) Jan. 16, 1733-4, Rachel3 Sage, b. Jan. 1, 1707-8; d. Feb. 24, 1755, dau. of Jonathan2 Sage and Ann Bodwell; m. (3) Nov. 25, 1756, widow Thankful Willard, b. ----; d. Apr. 3, 1766. He inherited his father's homestead and d. Sept. 25, 1766. No gravestones. Children by 2d marriage:
Ozias, b. Aug. 22, 1736; d. Sept. 13, 1736. Rachel, b. Nov. 1, 1737; d. Nov. 4, 1737 Naomi, b. Nov. 1, 1737; d. Nov. 4, 1737. Rachel, b. July 3, 1742; m. Apr. 11, 1768, Elisha Spencer. Child: Ozias. Ozias, b. Mar. 15, 1744; d. "by estimate Nov. 15, 1762" in French-Indian War. 27 Abraham, bapt. June 7, 1746. Amos, bapt. May 22, 1748, served in Rev. War, d. unm. 1786. 13 John3 Ranney (John2, Thomas1), b. Oct. 1, 1703, Upper Houses; bapt. same day; m. (1) Mar. 17, 1723-4, Eunice Wright, b. ----; d. Sept. 20, 1730, dau. of Jonas Wright; m. (2) Feb. 25, 1730-31, Martha Miller, b. Mar. 28, 1705; d. Jan. 4, 1799, the church record says "94 yrs. 2 m. 1 d. Lived for years with her son-in-law Turpin." John Ranney was a drummer, 1745, in the Regt. sent to capture Louisburg. In 1755 John Ranney and John Ranney, Jr., served together in 4th Co., 1st Regt., French-Indian War. A John Ranney served in 1757, 1758, 1759 and 1760. John, Sr., died Sept. 18, 1760, in the hospital at Oswegatchie. Martha Miller was sister to Margery who m. Richard Ranney. Children by 1st marriage:
Eunice, b. Nov. 7, 1727; m. Mar. 29, 1750, Isaac Gill who d. July 4, 1759 at sea. Children: Hannah, Elizabeth, Sarah, Joshua, Mary. Hannah, b. Aug. 24, 1730.
Martha, bapt. Jan. 30, 1733-4. Timothy, bapt. Jan 27, 1735-6. In 1755-6 served in French-Indian War. Seth, bapt. Feb. 19, 1737-8. Huldah, bapt. Feb. 4, 1740; m. Aug. 21, 1764, Wm. Lucas of New Haven. Lucia, bapt. Apr. 11, 1742; m. Nov. 2, 1762, Henry Turpan (Turpin). 29 Amos, bapt. Apr. 22, 1744. 14 Richard3 Ranney (John2, Thomas1), b. Feb. 18, 1705, Upper Houses; m. Nov. 9, 1729, East Middletown, Margery Miller, b. Feb. 23, 1706-7; dau. of John Miller and Marcy Bevins. Probate records say he died Sept. 16, 1759. A Richard Ranney served Apr. 19-Sept. 30, 1758, in 7th Co., 1st Regt. Richard, Sr., owned a drum as per his inventory. But as four sons, one of them Richard, were in the service, it is left without an opinion. According to the land records he could sing: "No foot of land do I possess." There was in East Middletown a very intelligent Indian called Richard Ranney, a member of the Cong. ch. He applied for an obtained through the Legislature his share (10 acres) of the Indian Reservation. He res. in Newtown, Ct., when he sold it. The Mass. Muster Rolls show that Richard Ranney of Stockbridge was a private in Capt. Wm. Goodrich's Co. of Indians and enlisted Aug. 9, 1775. Children:
Richard, b. Sept. 8, 1732. 31 Elijah, b. Oct. 6, 1735. 32 Stephen, b. Jan. 15, 1737-8. Marcy, bapt. Dec. 30, 1739. Mary, b. Nov. 7, 1740. Jabez, b. Feb. 12, 1742-3; m. Jan. 15, 1767, Penelope Bowers. He served 1759 and 1762, in French-Indian War, also in Rev. War. Died May 16, 1811. Edward, b. Apr. 29, 1746, served in French-Indian War, 1759, 1760, 1761, and died in the service "by estimate Nov. 15, 1762." 33 Abner, b. Mar. 15, 1747-8 Hannah, b. Apr. 5, 1750; m. Joel Hall. (See the Hall Family.) Mary, b. Feb. 13, 1754. 15 Mary3 Ranney (Joseph2, Thomas1), b. Dec. 14, 1694, Upper Houses; m. Apr. 15, 1715, Samuel Shepard, b. Apr. 18, 1692. He was deacon from Dec. 3, 1745, to his death by drowning in the Connecticut River, Apr. 9, 1750. She d. Mar. 13, 1731-2, and he m. (2) Christian3 Savage (Wm.2, John1). (See the Shepard Family.) Children by 1st marriage:
Mary, b. Sept. 14, 1731; d. Sept. 14, 1742. ___________________ 16 Capt. Joseph3 Ranney (Joseph2, Thomas1), b. Apr. 11, 1699, Upper Houses; m. July 21, 1725, Abigail4 Warner, b. Nov. 18, 1704, dau. Capt. John3 Warner (Andrew2, Andrew1) and Anne2 Ward, dau. of Ensign Wm.1 Ward. He was given an eight-acre lot which had been given to his father by his grandfather. It is located on the east side of the upper green. The sycamores were set out by him in all probability at the time he built or his father built for him. His will, dated Jan. 8, 1780, gave to Stephen and Hezekiah, and to the male heirs of his deceased son, Fletcher, all his land not already deeded to them, in equal portions, excepting the land in Far Neck and Round Meadow, which he gave to his grandson Joseph, the eldest son of Fletcher. To his granddaughter, Grace Stephenson, he gave his case of drawers and one table. To his daughters, Rhoda, Abigail and Huldah, all his "indoor movables." To Hezekiah all his husbandry tools. The two sons were to give £10 to Rhoda "to make good their promise." And Joseph and the two sons were to give £5 more to Rhoda. He had built a house for Fletcher, which stood till 1903. Hezekiah retained the homestead and Stephen was a shipbuilder in Lower Middletown. He died Oct. 18, 1783; she died Feb. 14, 1777. Both have fine tombstones. Children:
Joseph, b. June 3, 1728; d. -----. 35 Stephen, b. Sept. 19, 1730. Lois, b. Aug. 2, 1733; m. May 11, 1756, Robert Stevenson. Child: Grace. Hezekiah, b. Apr. 1, 1736; d. Nov. 8, 1741. 36 Hezekiah, b. Sept. 1, 1742. Rhoda, b. June 27, 1738; m. Feb. 23, 1775, Edward Little. Abigail, b. Apr. 18, 1745; m. Dec. 1, 1766, Elisha Wilcox. Huldah, bapt. July 24, 1748; m. Dec. 24, 1772, Capt. Nathan Sage, the noted shipbuilder and captain of various merchant ships. He commanded in the Rev. War the vessels Hunter and Middletown and captured a British powder ship. At his marriage he purchased the original Savage homestead, but in 1776 he purchased the Rev. Joseph Smith house. He lost it abt. 1795 through debt. He then went to N. York State; was a judge, and then for 30 years Collector of Customs in Oswego, N. Y., where they are buried. His daughter Huldah m. (1) Normand Knox, (2) Russell Bunce, both of Hartford. Two sons died early and are buried here. 17 Daniel3 Ranney (Joseph2, Thomas1), b. July 13, 1707, Upper Houses; m. Jan 20, 1730, Esther Stow, B. Feb. 20, 1705-6, d. July 24, 1750, dau. of Dea. Samuel4 Stow (Thomas3, Thomas2, John1) and Esther Mould, dau. of Hugh Mould and Martha Coit of New London, Ct. He died Sept. 27, 1758, and his gravestone indicates his high standing. He was a captain in the merchant service. His first residence was the one-story house which stood till recently on the homestead. He purchased of Charles Wilcox the present D. B. Marsh house and grounds. In the last years of his life he erected the mansion now known as the Wightman house and owned by his descendants. The inventory included silk hose, knee buckles, shoe buckles, stock buckles, 2 johannas, quadrant, 3 old mariner's books, 2 old Bibles, 1 Testament, 7 beaker glasses, 1 glass punch bowl and cover. His slaves were London, £40; Phil, £40; George, £35; Jenny, £25; Peter, £18. His total property was valued at £1609-15-0. In the distribution to each of the three daughters it reads, "Her part of Peter." Comfort Butler and his wife, Sybil Ranney, sold their house and lot, the original Thomas Hubbard house, and rem. to the Daniel Ranney mansion. From them the Daniel Ranney mansion went to Capt. James Butler, then to S. K. Wightman, son-in-law, and is now held by his heirs. Children:
Daniel, b. Jan. 13, 1732-3; d. ----- ---, 1733. Mary, b. July 20, 1736; d. Nov. 18, 1741. 37 Lucretia, b. Mar. 12, 1737-8; m. May 16, 1755, Nathaniel4 Hamlin. (Richard3, William2, Giles1.) Marah, b. Feb. 24, 1743; m. Mar. 20, 1760, Stephen Jenkins, a shipbuilder. They rem. to Providence, R. I., and in 1796 she was residing in Savannah, Ga. Sybil, b. Aug. 29, 1744; m. May 2, 1762, Comfort Butler (See the Butler Family.) 18 Jonathan3 Ranney (Joseph2, Thomas1), b. Aug. 26, 1709, Upper Houses; m. Aug. 27, 1738, Guilford, Ct., Anna Parmelee, b. Mar. 27, 1720, dau. of Ebenezer Parmelee and Hannah Cruttenden. Hannah Cruttenden, b. May 10, 1701, was the sixth child of Abraham Cruttenden of Guilford, who had m. May 6, 1686, Susanna2 Kirby (John1). Jonathan Ranney remained with his father and after his death sold the homestead which had fallen to him and rem. to Guilford, where he d. July 30, 1773. The widow d. Oct. 22, 1785. Children:
Rachel, b. Jan. 29, 1741; m. Dec. 22, 1764, Samuel Caldwell, son of John, who came 1718 from Scotland. 38 Jonathan, bapt. May 20, 1744. Ruth, bapt. Apr. 8, 1750; m. Thomas Powers. Phineas, bapt. Nov. 4, 1753; d. unm. Oct. 3, 1769, Middletown, Ct. Reuben, bapt. ----- ---, ----; m. July 17, 1768, Lucinda Ward of Saybrook. She died Aug. 21, 1821. Children: Ruth, b. ----- --, ----; m. Joel Shelly. Betsy, b. ---- --, ----; m. Peletiah Leete. George, b. ----- --, ----; m. Nov. 24, 1786, Guilford, Lucy Sanford. He enlisted in Rev. Army from Guilford. Rem. to Lisle, N. Y. where he was pensioned. 19 Ebenezer3 Ranney (Ebenezer2, Thomas1), b. Nov. 22, 1704, Upper Houes; rec'd to full com. Jan. 13, 1741; m. Nov. 25, 1742, Margaret3 Ranney (Thomas2), b. Aug. 21, 1708, rec'd to full com. July 22, 1739. She d. July 28, 1783; he d. Dec. 22, 1783. No gravestones. He had inherited the original Ranney homestead. By his will, dated Dec. 24, 1778, he gave to his well-beloved wife, Margaret, "1/3 part of my buildings and lands during her natural life and all my indore movables to her disposal. To Ebenezer, my beloved son, whom I constitute and ordain the sole executor, all my lands, buildings and tenements, except the south end of my cold spring plain lot, and all my stock and husbandry tools. To my son-in-law, Nathaniel Smith, 10 acres of land at the S. E. cor. of my cold spring plain lot and this I give him for what he did for Lucy at her marriage. The remainder of the sd lot I give to my two beloved daughters Sarah Smith, now the wife of Nathaniel Smith and Lucy Sage now the wife of Reuben Sage." Children:
George, bapt. Sept. 29, 1745; d. July 18, 1847. 39 Ebenezer, bapt. Apr. 24, 1748. Lucy, bapt. Feb. 25, 1749; m. Aug. 16, 1772, Reuben Sage. Children: James, Luther, Reuben, Luther, Russell, George, Ezekiel, George, Sophia, Ruth, Lucy. |