He married an Indian woman named Mary Uncas? How exciting!! Oops, how wrong! It seems there is no evidence whatsoever for this "fact" so let's just file thais in the back of the folder with a huge "unproven" on it. Benjamin did have a wife named Mary, who later married Joseph Ingham, but she was not Mary Uncas, at least not so far as we know. It would be totally out of character for a man married to an Indian to be named a constable of his town, anyway.
So let's start with what we think we know, since Benjamin is really the first documented person in the Atwell line. He was probably born about 1640, probably in England. There is a Benjamin Atwell in Maine by this time period but he is not considered a likely candidate to be Benjamin's father. Perhaps there is a tie in further back in England, but it's not yet been discovered. He is in New London, Connecticut in 1667 and may have arrived earlier, but if so, it is strange that his marriage and the birth of his first son were not entered in the New London records.
Benjamin was a carpenter by trade. We don't know whether he worked in the shipbuilding business which was part of New London's heritage, or whether he built houses and buildings, but he was a skilled tradesman. He was elected constable in 1675 and may have held that office earlier. At one time he owned two houses and lots in New London, but sold one in 1672. Perhaps he had built a new, larger house as his family grew.
Benjamin and Mary had eight children together, from about 1668 to April of 1682. Benjamin died between October 1682 and November 1683, and Mary married Joseph Ingram shortly after, probably about 1684. Benjamin's estate wasn't settled until 1712, after one son petitioned for a settlement in 1707.
Mary had one child with Joseph but they had separated by 1686 and despite court orders, Mary did not return to her second husband. Mary may have had a backbone somewhat unusual in our female ancestors of the 1600s. Whether this was a case of spousal abuse, or alcoholism, or any of a number of other factors, something made Mary decide to raise her 9 children on her own, except that Joseph eventually got custody of that child. She was a feisty woman, I would guess.
This is what we know of the story of Benjamin and Mary. I see Benjamin as a hard working man (aren't all carpenters hard workers?) and since he was elected constable he had the respect of his community. Mary was probably a woman who conformed to the times until she couldn't stand it any longer. I find much to admire in both of these ancestors. I just wish we could find Mary's identity!
The line of descent is"
Benjamin Atwell-Mary
Mary Atwell-Kingsland Comstock
Kingsland Comstock-Rachel Crocker
Rachel Comstock-John Eames
John Eames-Elizabeth Longbottom
Hannah Eames-James Lamphire
Susan Lamphire-Joseph Eddy
Susan Eddy-Hiram Stanard
Louis Stanard-Mary Alice Hetrick
Etta Stanard-Loren Holbrook
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants
I find this story line fascinating, and, also, must bring up a point that Joshua Attawauhood Uncas, apparent father of a Mary Uncas, left land in either Saybrook or Lyme (sorry I don't have the original article but did see it) to his descendants, in a documented will. This list of descendants included the name Atwell. Isn't that at least a little bit of possible evidence??
ReplyDeleteI have found the actual wording: The descendants of Benjamin Atwell received land in Old Saybrook as a grant of the Proprietors of land set aside for the children of Attawanhood. Will in Probate 20 November 1683
ReplyDeleteWell, this is certainly intriguing. If I may ask, how and where did you locate the document you mentioned? You may have made a real find!!
ReplyDelete