Ancestors of Richard R. Wilson and Catherine G. Stevens:Information about Christopher Christophers
Hon. Christopher Christophers (b. Abt. 1631, d. July 23, 1687)
Notes for Christopher Christophers:
From Susan E. Roser, "Mayflower Increasings," (2nd ed. 1995) (Gen. Pub. Co., Baltimore), p. 25:
"Although Christopher's first wife Mary did not die until 1676, he and Elizabeth had children born in 1668 and 1673.Elizabeth was brought before the courts on 16 Sept. 1673 and found guilty of committing fornication with Christopher, 'which sin of hers is higly aggravated as being the second of yt nature with the same party who is a married man.' (New London, CT Court Rec.3:63>.)"
From John R. Totten, Christophers Genealogy:Jeffrey and Christopher Christophers of New London, Conn.,(successive issues of New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, April 1919 to July 1921 inclusive; reprinted 1921) by N.Y. Geneal. & Biog. Soc.), p. 41:
"Hon. Christopher Christophers, b. about 1631, as he was 56 years old at his date of death, June 23, 1687, at ______, England (possibly Devonshire as his son Richard Christophers was born at Cherston Ferrers, on Torbay, near Dartmouth, in Devonshire, England); he came over to this country either direct from England or by the way of Barbadoes and settled in New London, Conn., about 1665.His house in New London was located where now is the northwest corner of Main and Federal Streets; he was engaged largely in the shipping exchange trade with Barbadoes and was the owner of many vessels."
. . .
Totten, Christophers Genealogy, pp. 43-44:
"The first mention of Christopher Christophers in New London records is in the year 1665, when he made and recorded a co-partnership with Charles Hill; thus forming what was the first co-partnership in shipping and trading in New London of which there remains any record.The names of both these partners appear that year for the first time on the roll of inhabitants of New London, and the earliest specific date relating to them is June 26, 1665, when they purchased on Mill Cove, the warehouses and wharfage where Richard Hartley and John Tinker had formerly traded.In the articles of co-partnership they are styled 'Charles Hillof London, guirdler and Christopher Christophers mariner.'The firm of Hill and Christophers were engaged in trade with Barbadoes.
"Several vessels were built by Mould and Coit, shipwrights of New London, for the partners Hill and Christophers, among them were the NEW LONDON, 70 tons, delivered to the owners June 25, 1666, and called a ship; the barque REGARD in 1668; and the sloop CHARLES, 22 tons, in 1672.The NEW LONDON was a larger vessel than any theretofore constructed in New London and was employed on voyages to Europe.Thomas Forster, John Prout and John Prentiss (the second of the name) were successively her commanders.Almost every merchant that sent out vessels at that period made occasional voyages himself, either as master or as supercargo.
. . .
Totten, Christophers Genealogy, p. 44:
"In the disputes as to land ownership which arose in 1667 between the towns of New London and Saybrook, the town of New London appointed (amongst others) the partners Hill and Christophers members of a commission to recover the rights of New London and settle the boundary 'according to ancient grants of the Court.'
"From the above stated facts quoted in most part verbatim from various parts of Caulkin's HISTORY OF NEW LONDON, it appears that Christopher Christophers was able to establish himself immediately upon his arrival in New London as a trading merchant and ship owner whose prosperity seemed to be an already established fact, or else was of unusually speedy development after his arrival there -- as is evidence by his almost immediately purchasing ships of considerable value for the firm to which he belonged, and by his subsequent acquisition of large landed interests.He was well thought of in the community and left the imprint of his force and character upon the children he left to succeed him.He was a Deputy to the General Assembly of Connecticut at Hartford, to represent New London, Oct. 11, 1683, and Oct. 8, 1685.
"He seems to have been possessed of certain moral weaknesses which reflect in no flattering manner on his character for purity of body.[An allusion to his fathering two illegitimate children with Elizabeth Brewster Bradley, before and after the death of her first husband Peter Bradley, and both before her marriage to Christopher Christophers.]These moral delinquencies were as prevalent in those early days as they are now in modern times.[1919]These defects of character in no wise prevented him from being one of the leading men of New London, and he moreover did all in his power to extenuate the wrong done by him by his subsequent marriage to the widow Bradley."
From James Savage, Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, vol. 1, pp. 383-84:
CHRISTOPHERS, CHRISTOPHER, New London 1667, mariner, of Devonsh. brot. from Barbados w. Mary, and ch. Richard, John, and Mary. His w. d. 13 July 1676, aged 54, and he m. Eliz. wid. of Peter Bradley, d. of Jonathan Brewster, and d. 23 or 25 July 1687, aged 55, if the gr.stone wh. makes his age ten yrs. less than that of his w. be correct. Perhaps the best change would be that on the w.'s stone, as she might well be thot. younger; but the evidence is strong, that the inequality was real, and she felt her disadvant.CHRISTOPHER, New London, s. of Richard of the same, was judge of the Co. Ct. and an Assist. had Christopher, wh. fill. the same offices after his f.JEFFREY, New London, br. of Christopher the first, came a. the same time with him, had ds. Margaret, Joanna, and ano. beside only s. Jeffrey, wh. m. and d. 1690, of smallpox, with his w. within three wks. leav. no ch. He was call. 55 yrs. old in 1676, and rem. in old age with the two ds. liv. in 1700 at Southold, L. I. Margaret m. Abraham Coney; Joanna m. 25 Dec. 1676, John Mayhew of New London; and the other d. m. 3 Packer of S.JOHN, New London, mariner, younger s. of Christopher the first, m. 28 July 1696, Eliz. perhaps d. of John Mulford, and d. at, Barbados, 3 Feb. 1703, leav. wid. and four ch. His wid. m. 21 Oct. 1706, John Picket.RICHARD, New London, elder br. of the preced. b. says a fam. reg. 13 July 1662, at Cherton Ferrers, Torbay, Devonsh. a. 6 ms. from Dartmouth, m. 26 Jan. 1682, Lucretia, d. of Peter Bradlee, whose mo. m. her f. had Christopher, bef. ment. b. 2 Dec. 1683, H. C. 1702, and other ch. but their names and dates have not been seen. His w. d. 7 Jan. 1691, and he m. 3 Sept. foll. Grace Turner of Scituate, perhaps d. of John, by wh. he had more ch. in all fifteen, and d. 9 June 1726. The name bec. extinct at N. L. a dozen yrs. ago, but descend. infem. lines are there.RICHARD, Boston, by w. Ann had Deborah, bapt. 30 Aug. 1685; Lydia, b. 1, bapt. 3 July 1687; and Henry, 6, bapt. 18 Nov. 1688; and was a householder in 1695. That he may have been the same as the preced. is an easy conject. but less prob.
More About Christopher Christophers:
Fact 1: June 26, 1665, At New London; entered ptrship w/ Chas. Hill.1289
Fact 2: June 26, 1665, Purchased warehouses & wharfage on Mill Cove.1289
Fact 3: October 11, 1683, New London's Deputy to Gen'l Assembly of Conn. at Hartford; prominent citizen.1290
Fact 7: Mariner, New London; Successful merchant-trader.1291
More About Christopher Christophers and Mary Berry:
Marriage: August 16, 1654, prob. Cherston-Ferrers, Devonshire, England.1291
More About Christopher Christophers and Elizabeth Brewster:
Marriage: Bef. June 5, 1677, prob. New London, Connecticut.1292
Children of Christopher Christophers and Mary Berry are:
- +Richard Christophers, b. July 13, 1662, Cherston Ferrers, on Torbay, Devonshire, England1293, d. June 9, 1726, New London, New London Co., Connecticut1294.