Allen line: Captain Daniel Eldredge 1689-1736

Daniel Eldred (Eldredge, Eldridge) leaves us with a number of questions about his life, but we can see enough of his story to know we want to learn more.  Several specific locations are in dispute, as are some dates.  For instance, I have seen his birthplace as Stonington, Ct., Groton, Ct., and North Kingstown, Rhode Island.  His parents, Daniel and Mary (possibly Philips) Eldredge both died in North Kingston, so that seems to be a likely place for his birth to have taken place but the birth is recorded in Stonington.  The two towns about about 36 miles apart so this seems unlikely to be a matter of boundary changes.  

Our Daniel was born March 20, 1689/90, probably the oldest of the eleven Eldredge children.  As such, he would have worked with his father to learn the ways of farming.  He married Abigail Fish, daughter of Samuel and Sarah Starke Fish, on June 26, 1711.  The ceremony was conducted at by Rev. Ephraim Woodbridge, who was the first pastor of the church at Groton, although it's not clear whether the ceremony took place in Stonington or in Groton (again, it's reported in the Stonington records).

Daniel and Abigail had at least six children together, two boys and four girls.  The couple was busy but Daniel took time to participate in civic affairs in Groton, where the family settled down.  He was a deputy for Groton at least four times, and lieutenant and then captain of the Third Company there.  I have been unable to establish an occupation but most of Groton was built around the maritime trade in one way or another.  Ships built there traded with the Caribbean and it's likely that this involved the slave trade.  Daniel appears to have been mostly a farmer, but his inventory includes a Negro man and woman and two small children, so if nothing else, this supports my statement that the ship trade to the Caribbean likely involved the slave trade. 

Daniel died at West Mystic, on March 13, 1736 at the young age of 46.  We don't know the cause of death.  Had he been involved in a military campaign? Was it an accident, or an illness?  His will was written March 5 of 1736 so he likely knew death was near, and his will opens with almost a testimony of his religious beliefs.  In his will, he leaves his wife his best room and a bed room in the house, silver tankard, cups and spoons, riding gear and cows, as well as other personal property.  At least two of the daughters were likely still living at home, as they were unmarried at the time.  Son Daniel received the Eldredge home and farm and Charles received another farm and house.  Another parcel of land went to the four daughters to be divided equally (this was done in 1746) and the daughters also received the farm animals, except those already reserved to Abigail, and a horse each for the sons.  

His inventory is valued at almost 1400 pounds, not including the land, so Daniel was not a poor man.  He had 266 sheep and "about four score" lambs when the inventory was taken, plus other farm animals, books valued at five pounds, a cane with a silver cap, and more furnishings than many of our ancestors had.  I did not see any arms or ammunition but it's possible I missed them.  Daniel signed his will and Abigail signed her name when the will was proved, so this family was literate to some degree.  Abigail married Daniel Denison in 1737 and lived until 1784.  She is buried in the same cemetery as Daniel Eldredge, perhaps in the family plot. 

I'd like to know more about Daniel, of course, including his military ventures, if any.  And of course, I'd like to know to what extent he benefited from the slave trade, and what happened to the slaves.  

The line of descent is

Daniel Eldredge-Abigail Fish

Sarah Eldridge-Thomas Chester

Bathsheba Chester-Jonathan Havens

Elizabeth "Betsy" Chester Havens-John Starr

John Havens Starr-Clarissa Falley

Harriet Starr-John Wilson Knott

Edith Knott-Edward Allen

Richard Allen-Gladys Holbrook

Their descendants