Nicholas Ackley (son of John Ackley and Elizabeth Bailey) was born Abt. 1635 in Shalford, Essex Co., England, and died 29 Apr 1695 in East Haddam, Middlesex Co., CT.. He married Hannah Ford Mitchel on Abt. 1656 in Hartford, Hartford Co., CT..
Notes for Nicholas Ackley: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Nicholas ACKLEY was born about 1635.4,5,6,7,8 Birth records: United States/Europe 900-1880 has England as birth place others have birth place as Wales LDS has birth place as England U.S./Internat'l Marriage Records, 1340-1980 has birth place as England Compendium of American Genealogy, 1600s-1800s has birth place as Wales He was living about 1655 in Hartford, Hartford , Connecticut.4,9,10 He purchased land about 1662 in Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut4,10 He lived at lot No. 42 Trumbull street in Hartford, Hartford , Connecticut about 1665.2,4 He was living about 1668 in Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut.4,9,11 Colonial America CT Census has name as Acly, Necalas He died on 29 Apr 1695 in East Haddam, Middlesex , Connecticut.4,6,9,10,12,13,14,15,16,17 Ackley, Nicholas, of Haddam, died April 29, 1695. He left a widow and. children, John, Nathaniel, James, Hannah, Mary, Sarah and Lydia-perhaps another son. He moved from Hartford to Haddam. (For Ashley, p. 13, read Ackley.-.'-see P. 110.) He had his estate probated about 1695 in Hartford, Hartford , Connecticut.4,12 Name: Nicholas Ackley Location: Haddam Died 29 April, 1695. Invt. œ188-11-00. Taken 8 May, 1695, by John Scovel, John Bate, Alexander Rooly (Rollo). The children--5 Sons: John, Thomas, Nathaniel, James, Samuel; and 5 daughters: Hanna, Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary & Lydia. Court Record, Page 89--5 September, 1695: Adms. to John Ackley. Page 97--20 March, 1696: An Agreement between the Widow & Children of Nicholas Ackley, which this Court approve. Dist, on File: To the Mother-in-law œ12 and her own Estate that she brought to the House; the Eldest son a double share, and each of the others a single share. Signed: Witness: John Chapman, Abel Shaylor. Miriam Ackley, James Ackley, Thomas Ackley, Elizabeth X Shalor, Nathaniel Ackley, Hanna X Purple, John Ackley, Mary X Beppin, Samuel Ackley, Sarah Spencer, Lydia Robinson, wife of Thomas Robinson He Lewis Historical Pub. Co. in 1926 New York.4,18 TOWN AND CITY OF NORTHAMPTON
Northampton, the county seat of Hampshire County, was first settled by the white race in 1654. It was established as a town May 14, 1656 from common land called Nonotuck. June 4, 1685 bounds between Northampton and Springfield established. June 4, 1701 a strip of common land divided between Northampton and Westfield. November 12, 1720 bounds between Northampton and Hatfield established. January 5, 1753 part established as Southhampton. September 29, 1778 part established as Westhampton. September 29, 1778 part annexed as Southampton. June 17, 1785 part included in the new district of Easthampton, April 15, 1850 part of Hadley annexed. March 12, 1872 bounds between Northampton and Westhampton established. June 23, 1883, Northámpton incorporated as a city. September 5, 1909 part annexed to Holyoke. April 21, 1914 bounds between Northampton and East-Hampton established. This city is about five and one-half miles wide (north and south) by six and one-half miles east and west. Its area is 25.5 square miles equal to 22,720 acres. Its population in 1920 was 21,951. Net bonded indebtedness at close of 1924 was $512,000. Tax-rate, $28.10.
The Beginnings-There appears little doubt that the real projectors of the scheme that finally gave the organization of North-Hampton was John Pynchon, son of William Pynchon, the founder of Roxbury and Springfield, Elizur Holyoke, son-in-law of John Pynchon, and Samuel Chapin. Without wearying the reader with a long original petition, asking for this grant of land, it may be said that a second petition supplemented the first and this last one, signed by John Pynchon, Elizur Holyoke and Samuel Chapin, asked that the original prayer be heard, and stated that twenty-five families at least, were desirous of forming a new settlement, “many of them,” to use their own words, “of considerable quality for estates and fit matter for a church when it shall please God to give opportunity that way ;“ and further on it is stated that “the inducement to us in these desires is not any sinister respect of our own, but that we, being alone, by this means may have some more neighborhood in your jurisdiction.” This petition was granted by the General Court, May 18, 1653 and Messrs. Pynchon, Holyoke and Chapin were chosen as commissioners to lay out the plantation of Non-o-tuck. The next important thing was to buy the land in question from the Indians, and this was accomplished in the same Christian spirit in which Mr. Pynchon's humane father had dealt with the red men of the forest. The Indians having sold the land to the proprietors, the title became effective, and October 3, 1653, not two weeks after the close of the sale by the Indians, the proprietors met at Springfield to confer on future steps to be taken. The twenty-four proprietors were as follows: Edward Elmore, Richard Smith, John Gilbert, Wm. Miller, John Allen, Richard Wekley, Thomas Burnham, Matthias Foot, Thomas Root, Wm. Clark, Joseph Smith, John Stedman, Jonathan Smith, Wm. Holton, Robt. Bartlett, John Cole, Nicholas Ackley, John Webb, Thomas Stedman, Thomas Bird, Wm. James, John North, Joseph Bird, and James Bird. In the language of another it may be here repeated:
It is a somewhat singular fact that of the twenty-four petitioners for the settlement of Non-o-tuck only eight settled here, viz., Edward Elmore, William Miller, Thomas Root, William Clark, William Holton, Robert Bartlett, John Webb, and William Janes. The home-lots of the first settlers were located in the vicinity of what is now known as Market, Pleasant, King, and Hawley Streets. As the plantation increased, settlements were next made west of the “old church,” and later south of Mill River. The pioneers evidently gave but little attention to the laying out of streets and it has been said that they were laid out by the cows, the inhabitants building wherever these animals made a path. The causes which drove the fugitives from their native country to Plymouth Rock were still fresh in their minds, and the settlement had hardly been effected ere a movement was made toward the erection of a house p1 worship. It was placed under the control of the town, the town voting for the selection of a minister, his wages, etc. The first meetinghouse was contracted to .be built by five of the settlers, and to be completed by the middle of April 1655. March 13, 1657, the town employed an agent “to, obtain a minister, and to devise means to prevent the excess of liquors and cider from coming to town.” This commission alone clearly portrays the character of the pioneers of Northampton. They were religious and temperate, firm in the right, and with strength of character that rendered them conspicuous. They left their impress upon the following generations, and the “New England traits of character” have ever been synonyms with honesty, uprightness, sobriety, and Christianity.
The difficulty with the Indians in later years-the King Philip's war and later conflicts are treated elsewhere in this work, hence omitted here. Nicholas may have been one of several young men brought over to America by William Wadsworth. Daniel Brainerd and Nicholas were pioneers of Haddam CT. Nicholas had two pieces of land recorded to him in Hartford CT one piece bought after 1655 and sold on Mar 20 1667/8 to a John Mitchell. The second piece he sold to Nathaniel Standley in Dec 1663.( the 3 could have been an 8) The street Nicholas lived on in Hartford became known as Trumbull St. ( one of his great grandchildren was named Trumbull). He served as a fire marshall during the time he lived in Hartford. Nicholas was one of 28 young men who bought land in 1662 at "30 Mile Island" later called Haddam. Nicholas moved his family to this land in 1667. Nicholas owned in Haddam a 14 Acre home lot as well as the "little Island at the lower end of the cove" and a "6 acre lot towards Saybrook. This cove is where the Salmon River enters the CT River. At his death his estate showed a valuation of 188-11-00 pounds. He did not leave a will and on 5 Sept 1695, administration of his estate was granted to his son John. On 20 Mar 1696 the widow his 2nd wife and his children signed an agreement giving 12 pounds and the estate she bought to the "house" to his 2nd wife and to the eldest son John a double share and to each of the other children a single share.
*** (Another source lists among passengers an Ackley, ON THE TWENTIETH OF MARCH, 1630 a group of men and women, one hundred and forty in number, set sail from Plymouth, England aboard the good ship, the "Mary and John". It landed in Nantucket, Massachusetts on the Thirtieth of May, 1630. They soon settled at Dorchester, Massachusetts. Five years later, a group of this so-called "Dorchester Company" traveled 110 miles through the New England wilderness to settle in Windsor, Connecticut, where a trading post had been established as the first English settlement in the Connecticut River Valley 26 September, 1633. Surviving the rigors of the New England winters, Indian hostilities and other challenges, they raised their families in the staunch Puritan traditions. ***This source is not verifiable at this point and is only included as possible but not entirely credible.)
WILLIAM SPENCER, of East-Haddam, Conn., was married to Sarah Ackley, daughter of Nicholas Ackley, of Haddam, one of the first settlers of that town.
ACKLEY, NICHOLAS, was located on lot No. 42 Trumbull street, in Hartford, in 1665, and was chimney viewer in Hartford in 1662--he for a time lived at 30 Mile Island, at the lower end of the Cove, and had a 6 acre lot toward Saybrook.
the sons of Nicholas, settled east of the Connecticut river
Nicholas Ackley was located on lot No. 42, Trumbull Street, Hartford, CT., in 1665. In 1662 he was chimney viewer in Hartford. In the "Earliest Volume of the Town Votes of Hartford" appears this record, "It is ordered that evry howse shall have a ladder or tre at Most who shall reach (within) Two ffoote of the Topp of his howse uppon (the) forfeteur of fave shillings A mounth for (each) mounth he shall want the same." This vote gives us a hint only of the duties of a chimney-viewer, but Hinman, in his "First Puritan Settlers," makes the matter plain, thus--"As the office of Chimney-viewer is attached to the names of some of the first settlers, I take the liberty of explaining the cause. Immediately after the organization of the town of Hartford as a town, or, rather, as a company of land-holders, a law was enacted that all chimneys should be cleansed by the owner, once in a month, by a penalty provided by law. Therefore, that the law should be strictly obeyed and carried out by the inhabitants, for several years, a committee of respectable men (for no others held offices at that day) were appointed to see that all householders fully obeyed the law. It was also a law that each householder should provide a ladder for his house, where there was not a tree standing by his house, which reached within two feet of the top of the chimney. This law also came within the duties of the viewers of chimneys. At the time these laws were in force, men were selected to fill every office, high or low, with a single eye to the fact, that men who held the offices, should be of such a standing in society, as the men should honor their offices, and not the offices the holders of them. To effect this object, you find men who had filled a seat at the General Court, the next year filling the office of Hayward or Chimney-viewer. It was this practice of our worthy ancestors, which caused an officer--either civil or military, who held any place of power, to hold on to his titles with a tenacity--that living or dead--he never lost them." Nicholas Ackley was one of the twenty-eight young men who, in 1662, bought the land where the Haddams and some adjoining towns now stand. This purchase was long denominated "The lands at Thirty Mile Island," from an Island in Connecticut River which, it was calculated, was thirty miles from its mouth. The Indians, who reserved for themselves forty acres, together with Thirty Mile Island, and the right to hunt and fish where they pleased, roamed over the plantation for many years. Dr. Field says: "For forty or forty-five years from the time of settlement, the people were accustomed to carry arms with them to the place of public worship, that they might be able to defend themselves in case of a sudden attack." As the men could not have stayed in their homes with guns in their hands all the rest of the week, it is difficult to conjecture what comfort or security was left with the women and children. However, we have no account of any serious mischief to the first planters or their immediate descendants. All the inhabitants settled, at first, along the western border of the river, in what is now called Old Haddam. The larger number of their houses stood near together, on a hill overlooking at the present day, a landscape of great beauty. Most of the owners of these lands settled on them in the summer of 1662 or soon after; but some of the company were so slow in improving their rights that action was taken by the little colony to prompt them. Nicholas Ackley was one of these delinquents and he was reminded that he was wanted at Thirty Mile Island, in a way that resulted in the following promise from him to assure them that he would in fact become one of them, although it was perhaps, pleasanter to view chimneys in Hartford: "This writing made ye eight off November 1666 bindeth me niklis Akly of harford to come with my ffamely to settle att thirte mille Island by ye twenty ninth of October next inseuing date hearof ealso to have my part of fence up yt belongs to my home lot by ye Last of next insueing as of failing hearof to forfit ten pounds to ye inhabitant of thirte mile Island as witness my hand and Seall Nicholas Ackly witnes James Bate." Nicholas Ackley appears to have kept this agreement, as he removed from Hartford, and his name is recorded among the "first settlers at Thirty Mile Island," where he had a "six acre lot towards Saybrook," and he owned the little island near the Cove. Every one of his sons, seven in number, moved to the east side of the Great River, but he died on the west side. Having settled there nearly thirty years before, he still kept his home on that side. Dr. Patterson says: "March 19, 1671-2, Nicholas Ackley and wife Hannah, of Haddam, deeded to William Spencer, of same town, all their right in land between Sammon River and Lyme bounds; both divided and undivided. The Hartford probate records show that he died at Haddam April 29, 1695, and that his 2nd wife, Miriam, survived him
Nicholas ACKLEY and Hannah Ford MITCHEL were married about 1656 in Hartford, Hartford , Connecticut LDS has Ca 1655 LDS states Hannah of Hartford, Hartford Co., CT Hannah Ford MITCHEL was born about 1634 in England. another source has birth as 1639 U.S./Internat'l Marriage Records, 1340-1980 has year as 1629 one source has a child named Nicholas born in Hartford CT in 1665 and died in CT no date given Nicholas ACKLEY and Hannah Ford MITCHEL had the following children:
i. Nicholas ACKLEY was born about 1656 He died about 1682. Nicholas is listed in some sources as a son, however he is more likley a grandson of unknown parentage. Ancestry and Family of Sophia Fidelia Hall lists him as Nicholas Jr ii. Benjamin ACKLEY was born about 1656. He died about 1682.Benjamin is listed in some sources as a son, however he is more likely a grandson of unknown parentage. Ancestry and Family of Sophia Fidelia Hall lists him as a son iii. Hannah ACKLEY. iv. Elizabeth Mary ACKLEY. v. Sarah ACKLEY. vi. Sgt John ACKLEY. vii. Thomas ACKLEY. viii. Nathaniel ACKLEY was born about 1666 in East Haddam, Middlesex , Connecticut. LDS has birth as ca 1686, ca 1673, ca 1679, ca 1688 He died on 27 Feb 1710 in East Haddam, Middlesex , Connecticut.LDS puts his death date at 1709 He had his estate probated on 7 Mar 1710 in Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut.4,20 Name: Nathaniel Ackley Location: Haddam Invt. œ130-12-10. Taken 7 March, 1709-10, by Daniel Brainard, Joshua Brainard and James Parsivall. I, Nathaniel Ackley of Haddam, do make my last will and testament: I give to Esther Hungerford œ16 cash. The rest of my estate to be divided into nine equal parts, to be paid to my brothers' and sister's children: to my brother John Ackley's children a ninth part, to be divided equally between them; and so of the rest, to my brother Thomas Ackley (deceased) his children, and to my sister Elizabeth (deceased) her children. This to be secured in the hands of my brother Thomas Robinson, to be paid to said children when they come of age. The rest of the children's part to be put into the hands of the parents, to be paid to the children when they come of age. I appoint my brother James Ackley and my brother Thomas Robinson to be executors of this my will. Witness: Ebenezer Hills, Hannah Rowley, William Spencer, Jr. Nathaniel X Ackley, ls. Court Record, Page 8--21 March, 1709-10: Adms. with the will annexed to James Ackley and Thomas Robinson. Page 17--3 July, 1710: Whereas, this Court, the 14th of August, 1705, did appoint John Ackley and Nathaniel Ackley of Haddam to be guardians to Thomas, Job, Hannah and Anne, four children of Thomas Ackley, late of Haddam, decd, and the sd. Nathaniel Ackley being lately dead, the sd. John now appears and offers to take the guardianship upon himself. Record on File: 14 May, 1711: We the undersigned have received into our hands both real and personal estate of Thomas Robinson and James Ackley, Adms. to sd. estate, that doth belong to our children. William Spencer, Samuel Ackley, Edward X Purple, Thomas Gipson, John Ackley. Nathaniel never married, on his death in his will he made a individual bequest to Esther Hungerford (possibly his fiancee and quite certainly the daughter of Thomas Hungerford.) and left the remainder of his estate which totaled 130 lb, to be divided into 9 equal portions for each of the children of his 9 brothers and sisters. ix. Lydia ACKLEY. x. Mary ACKLEY. xi. James ACKLEY Sr. xii. Sgt Samuel ACKLEY.
Nicholas ACKLEY and Miriam MOORE were married in 1680 in Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut. LDS has marriage date of ca 1656 Miriam MOORE was born about 1630 in East Hartford, Hartford , Connecticut. one source puts birth as 8 Nov 1653 in CT LDS has of England and date as 1634 She died on 27 Feb 1710.
Nicholas ACKLEYwas born about 1635 Birth records: United States/Europe 900-1880 has England as birth place others have birth place as Wales LDS has birth place as England U.S./Internat'l Marriage Records, 1340-1980 has birth place as England Compendium of American Genealogy, 1600s-1800s has birth place as Wales He was living about 1655 in Hartford, Hartford , Connecticut.He purchased land about 1662 in Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut He lived at lot No. 42 Trumbull street in Hartford, Hartford , Connecticut about 1665. He was living about 1668 in Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut.Colonial America CT Census has name as Acly, Necalas He died on 29 Apr 1695 in East Haddam, Middlesex , Connecticut.Ackley, Nicholas, of Haddam, died April 29, 1695. He left a widow and. children, John, Nathaniel, James, Hannah, Mary, Sarah and Lydia-perhaps another son. He moved from Hartford to Haddam. (For Ashley, p. 13, read Ackley.-.'-see P. 110.) He had his estate probated about 1695 in Hartford, Hartford , Connecticut.4,12 Name: Nicholas Ackley Location: Haddam Died 29 April, 1695. Invt. œ188-11-00. Taken 8 May, 1695, by John Scovel, John Bate, Alexander Rooly (Rollo). The children--5 Sons: John, Thomas, Nathaniel, James, Samuel; and 5 daughters: Hanna, Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary & Lydia. Court Record, Page 89--5 September, 1695: Adms. to John Ackley. Page 97--20 March, 1696: An Agreement between the Widow & Children of Nicholas Ackley, which this Court approve. Dist, on File: To the Mother-in-law œ12 and her own Estate that she brought to the House; the Eldest son a double share, and each of the others a single share. Signed: Witness: John Chapman, Abel Shaylor. Miriam Ackley, James Ackley, Thomas Ackley, Elizabeth X Shalor, Nathaniel Ackley, Hanna X Purple, John Ackley, Mary X Beppin, Samuel Ackley, Sarah Spencer, Lydia Robinson, wife of Thomas Robinson He Lewis Historical Pub. Co. in 1926 New York. TOWN AND CITY OF NORTHAMPTON
Northampton, the county seat of Hampshire County, was first settled by the white race in 1654. It was established as a town May 14, 1656 from common land called Nonotuck. June 4, 1685 bounds between Northampton and Springfield established. June 4, 1701 a strip of common land divided between Northampton and Westfield. November 12, 1720 bounds between Northampton and Hatfield established. January 5, 1753 part established as Southhampton. September 29, 1778 part established as Westhampton. September 29, 1778 part annexed as Southampton. June 17, 1785 part included in the new district of Easthampton, April 15, 1850 part of Hadley annexed. March 12, 1872 bounds between Northampton and Westhampton established. June 23, 1883, Northámpton incorporated as a city. September 5, 1909 part annexed to Holyoke. April 21, 1914 bounds between Northampton and East-Hampton established. This city is about five and one-half miles wide (north and south) by six and one-half miles east and west. Its area is 25.5 square miles equal to 22,720 acres. Its population in 1920 was 21,951. Net bonded indebtedness at close of 1924 was $512,000. Tax-rate, $28.10.
The Beginnings-There appears little doubt that the real projectors of the scheme that finally gave the organization of North-Hampton was John Pynchon, son of William Pynchon, the founder of Roxbury and Springfield, Elizur Holyoke, son-in-law of John Pynchon, and Samuel Chapin. Without wearying the reader with a long original petition, asking for this grant of land, it may be said that a second petition supplemented the first and this last one, signed by John Pynchon, Elizur Holyoke and Samuel Chapin, asked that the original prayer be heard, and stated that twenty-five families at least, were desirous of forming a new settlement, “many of them,” to use their own words, “of considerable quality for estates and fit matter for a church when it shall please God to give opportunity that way ;“ and further on it is stated that “the inducement to us in these desires is not any sinister respect of our own, but that we, being alone, by this means may have some more neighborhood in your jurisdiction.” This petition was granted by the General Court, May 18, 1653 and Messrs. Pynchon, Holyoke and Chapin were chosen as commissioners to lay out the plantation of Non-o-tuck. The next important thing was to buy the land in question from the Indians, and this was accomplished in the same Christian spirit in which Mr. Pynchon's humane father had dealt with the red men of the forest. The Indians having sold the land to the proprietors, the title became effective, and October 3, 1653, not two weeks after the close of the sale by the Indians, the proprietors met at Springfield to confer on future steps to be taken. The twenty-four proprietors were as follows: Edward Elmore, Richard Smith, John Gilbert, Wm. Miller, John Allen, Richard Wekley, Thomas Burnham, Matthias Foot, Thomas Root, Wm. Clark, Joseph Smith, John Stedman, Jonathan Smith, Wm. Holton, Robt. Bartlett, John Cole, Nicholas Ackley, John Webb, Thomas Stedman, Thomas Bird, Wm. James, John North, Joseph Bird, and James Bird. In the language of another it may be here repeated:
It is a somewhat singular fact that of the twenty-four petitioners for the settlement of Non-o-tuck only eight settled here, viz., Edward Elmore, William Miller, Thomas Root, William Clark, William Holton, Robert Bartlett, John Webb, and William Janes. The home-lots of the first settlers were located in the vicinity of what is now known as Market, Pleasant, King, and Hawley Streets. As the plantation increased, settlements were next made west of the “old church,” and later south of Mill River. The pioneers evidently gave but little attention to the laying out of streets and it has been said that they were laid out by the cows, the inhabitants building wherever these animals made a path. The causes which drove the fugitives from their native country to Plymouth Rock were still fresh in their minds, and the settlement had hardly been effected ere a movement was made toward the erection of a house p1 worship. It was placed under the control of the town, the town voting for the selection of a minister, his wages, etc. The first meetinghouse was contracted to .be built by five of the settlers, and to be completed by the middle of April 1655. March 13, 1657, the town employed an agent “to, obtain a minister, and to devise means to prevent the excess of liquors and cider from coming to town.” This commission alone clearly portrays the character of the pioneers of Northampton. They were religious and temperate, firm in the right, and with strength of character that rendered them conspicuous. They left their impress upon the following generations, and the “New England traits of character” have ever been synonyms with honesty, uprightness, sobriety, and Christianity.
The difficulty with the Indians in later years-the King Philip's war and later conflicts are treated elsewhere in this work, hence omitted here. Nicholas may have been one of several young men brought over to America by William Wadsworth. Daniel Brainerd and Nicholas were pioneers of Haddam CT. Nicholas had two pieces of land recorded to him in Hartford CT one piece bought after 1655 and sold on Mar 20 1667/8 to a John Mitchell. The second piece he sold to Nathaniel Standley in Dec 1663.( the 3 could have been an 8) The street Nicholas lived on in Hartford became known as Trumbull St. ( one of his great grandchildren was named Trumbull). He served as a fire marshall during the time he lived in Hartford. Nicholas was one of 28 young men who bought land in 1662 at "30 Mile Island" later called Haddam. Nicholas moved his family to this land in 1667. Nicholas owned in Haddam a 14 Acre home lot as well as the "little Island at the lower end of the cove" and a "6 acre lot towards Saybrook. This cove is where the Salmon River enters the CT River. At his death his estate showed a valuation of 188-11-00 pounds. He did not leave a will and on 5 Sept 1695, administration of his estate was granted to his son John. On 20 Mar 1696 the widow his 2nd wife and his children signed an agreement giving 12 pounds and the estate she bought to the "house" to his 2nd wife and to the eldest son John a double share and to each of the other children a single share.
*** (Another source lists among passengers an Ackley, ON THE TWENTIETH OF MARCH, 1630 a group of men and women, one hundred and forty in number, set sail from Plymouth, England aboard the good ship, the "Mary and John". It landed in Nantucket, Massachusetts on the Thirtieth of May, 1630. They soon settled at Dorchester, Massachusetts. Five years later, a group of this so-called "Dorchester Company" traveled 110 miles through the New England wilderness to settle in Windsor, Connecticut, where a trading post had been established as the first English settlement in the Connecticut River Valley 26 September, 1633. Surviving the rigors of the New England winters, Indian hostilities and other challenges, they raised their families in the staunch Puritan traditions. ***This source is not verifiable at this point and is only included as possible but not entirely credible.)
WILLIAM SPENCER, of East-Haddam, Conn., was married to Sarah Ackley, daughter of Nicholas Ackley, of Haddam, one of the first settlers of that town.
ACKLEY, NICHOLAS, was located on lot No. 42 Trumbull street, in Hartford, in 1665, and was chimney viewer in Hartford in 1662--he for a time lived at 30 Mile Island, at the lower end of the Cove, and had a 6 acre lot toward Saybrook.
the sons of Nicholas, settled east of the Connecticut river
Nicholas Ackley was located on lot No. 42, Trumbull Street, Hartford, CT., in 1665. In 1662 he was chimney viewer in Hartford. In the "Earliest Volume of the Town Votes of Hartford" appears this record, "It is ordered that evry howse shall have a ladder or tre at Most who shall reach (within) Two ffoote of the Topp of his howse uppon (the) forfeteur of fave shillings A mounth for (each) mounth he shall want the same." This vote gives us a hint only of the duties of a chimney-viewer, but Hinman, in his "First Puritan Settlers," makes the matter plain, thus--"As the office of Chimney-viewer is attached to the names of some of the first settlers, I take the liberty of explaining the cause. Immediately after the organization of the town of Hartford as a town, or, rather, as a company of land-holders, a law was enacted that all chimneys should be cleansed by the owner, once in a month, by a penalty provided by law. Therefore, that the law should be strictly obeyed and carried out by the inhabitants, for several years, a committee of respectable men (for no others held offices at that day) were appointed to see that all householders fully obeyed the law. It was also a law that each householder should provide a ladder for his house, where there was not a tree standing by his house, which reached within two feet of the top of the chimney. This law also came within the duties of the viewers of chimneys. At the time these laws were in force, men were selected to fill every office, high or low, with a single eye to the fact, that men who held the offices, should be of such a standing in society, as the men should honor their offices, and not the offices the holders of them. To effect this object, you find men who had filled a seat at the General Court, the next year filling the office of Hayward or Chimney-viewer. It was this practice of our worthy ancestors, which caused an officer--either civil or military, who held any place of power, to hold on to his titles with a tenacity--that living or dead--he never lost them." Nicholas Ackley was one of the twenty-eight young men who, in 1662, bought the land where the Haddams and some adjoining towns now stand. This purchase was long denominated "The lands at Thirty Mile Island," from an Island in Connecticut River which, it was calculated, was thirty miles from its mouth. The Indians, who reserved for themselves forty acres, together with Thirty Mile Island, and the right to hunt and fish where they pleased, roamed over the plantation for many years. Dr. Field says: "For forty or forty-five years from the time of settlement, the people were accustomed to carry arms with them to the place of public worship, that they might be able to defend themselves in case of a sudden attack." As the men could not have stayed in their homes with guns in their hands all the rest of the week, it is difficult to conjecture what comfort or security was left with the women and children. However, we have no account of any serious mischief to the first planters or their immediate descendants. All the inhabitants settled, at first, along the western border of the river, in what is now called Old Haddam. The larger number of their houses stood near together, on a hill overlooking at the present day, a landscape of great beauty. Most of the owners of these lands settled on them in the summer of 1662 or soon after; but some of the company were so slow in improving their rights that action was taken by the little colony to prompt them. Nicholas Ackley was one of these delinquents and he was reminded that he was wanted at Thirty Mile Island, in a way that resulted in the following promise from him to assure them that he would in fact become one of them, although it was perhaps, pleasanter to view chimneys in Hartford: "This writing made ye eight off November 1666 bindeth me niklis Akly of harford to come with my ffamely to settle att thirte mille Island by ye twenty ninth of October next inseuing date hearof ealso to have my part of fence up yt belongs to my home lot by ye Last of next insueing as of failing hearof to forfit ten pounds to ye inhabitant of thirte mile Island as witness my hand and Seall Nicholas Ackly witnes James Bate." Nicholas Ackley appears to have kept this agreement, as he removed from Hartford, and his name is recorded among the "first settlers at Thirty Mile Island," where he had a "six acre lot towards Saybrook," and he owned the little island near the Cove. Every one of his sons, seven in number, moved to the east side of the Great River, but he died on the west side. Having settled there nearly thirty years before, he still kept his home on that side. Dr. Patterson says: "March 19, 1671-2, Nicholas Ackley and wife Hannah, of Haddam, deeded to William Spencer, of same town, all their right in land between Sammon River and Lyme bounds; both divided and undivided. The Hartford probate records show that he died at Haddam April 29, 1695, and that his 2nd wife, Miriam, survived him
Nicholas ACKLEY and Hannah Ford MITCHEL were married about 1656 in Hartford, Hartford , Connecticut.LDS has Ca 1655 LDS states Hannah of Hartford, Hartford Co., CT Hannah Ford MITCHEL was born about 1634 in England. another source has birth as 1639 U.S./Internat'l Marriage Records, 1340-1980 has year as 1629 one source has a child named Nicholas born in Hartford CT in 1665 and died in CT no date given Nicholas ACKLEY and Hannah Ford MITCHEL had the following children: i. Nicholas ACKLEY was born about 1656.2,4 He died about 1682.4 Nicholas is listed in some sources as a son, however he is more likley a grandson of unknown parentage. Ancestry and Family of Sophia Fidelia Hall lists him as Nicholas Jr ii. Benjamin ACKLEY was born about 1656. He died about 1682. Benjamin is listed in some sources as a son, however he is more likely a grandson of unknown parentage. Ancestry and Family of Sophia Fidelia Hall lists him as a son iii. Hannah ACKLEY. iv. Elizabeth Mary ACKLEY. v. Sarah ACKLEY. vi. Sgt John ACKLEY. vii. Thomas ACKLEY. viii. Nathaniel ACKLEY was born about 1666 in East Haddam, Middlesex , Connecticut. LDS has birth as ca 1686, ca 1673, ca 1679, ca 1688 He died on 27 Feb 1710 in East Haddam, Middlesex , Connecticut. LDS puts his death date at 1709 He had his estate probated on 7 Mar 1710 in Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut. Name: Nathaniel Ackley Location: Haddam Invt. œ130-12-10. Taken 7 March, 1709-10, by Daniel Brainard, Joshua Brainard and James Parsivall. I, Nathaniel Ackley of Haddam, do make my last will and testament: I give to Esther Hungerford œ16 cash. The rest of my estate to be divided into nine equal parts, to be paid to my brothers' and sister's children: to my brother John Ackley's children a ninth part, to be divided equally between them; and so of the rest, to my brother Thomas Ackley (deceased) his children, and to my sister Elizabeth (deceased) her children. This to be secured in the hands of my brother Thomas Robinson, to be paid to said children when they come of age. The rest of the children's part to be put into the hands of the parents, to be paid to the children when they come of age. I appoint my brother James Ackley and my brother Thomas Robinson to be executors of this my will. Witness: Ebenezer Hills, Hannah Rowley, William Spencer, Jr. Nathaniel X Ackley, ls. Court Record, Page 8--21 March, 1709-10: Adms. with the will annexed to James Ackley and Thomas Robinson. Page 17--3 July, 1710: Whereas, this Court, the 14th of August, 1705, did appoint John Ackley and Nathaniel Ackley of Haddam to be guardians to Thomas, Job, Hannah and Anne, four children of Thomas Ackley, late of Haddam, decd, and the sd. Nathaniel Ackley being lately dead, the sd. John now appears and offers to take the guardianship upon himself. Record on File: 14 May, 1711: We the undersigned have received into our hands both real and personal estate of Thomas Robinson and James Ackley, Adms. to sd. estate, that doth belong to our children. William Spencer, Samuel Ackley, Edward X Purple, Thomas Gipson, John Ackley. Nathaniel never married, on his death in his will he made a individual bequest to Esther Hungerford (possibly his fiancee and quite certainly the daughter of Thomas Hungerford.) and left the remainder of his estate which totaled 130 lb, to be divided into 9 equal portions for each of the children of his 9 brothers and sisters. ix. Lydia ACKLEY. x. Mary ACKLEY. xi. James ACKLEY Sr. xii. Sgt Samuel ACKLEY.
Nicholas ACKLEY and Miriam MOORE were married in 1680 in Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut.LDS has marriage date of ca 1656 Miriam MOORE4 was born about 1630 in East Hartford, Hartford , Connecticut.one source puts birth as 8 Nov 1653 in CT LDS has of England and date as 1634 She died on 27 Feb 1710.4,9
More About Nicholas Ackley and Hannah Ford Mitchel: Marriage: Abt. 1656, Hartford, Hartford Co., CT..
Children of Nicholas Ackley and Hannah Ford Mitchel are:
Nicholas Ackley (b. Abt. 1635, d. 29 Apr 1695)
Notes for Nicholas Ackley: