Holbrook line: David Winchell 1643-1723

49!  That's how many references there are to David Winchell in the "Documentary History of Suffiel, and he didn't even arrive there until he was about 34 years old.  Sometimes it's a feast, sometimes it's a famine.  This is definitely a feast, even though the print in this book is incredibly small.

But let's start at the beginning.  David Winchell was a first generation New Englander, born to Robert and Mary Phelps Winchell in Windsor, Connecticut on October 22, 1643.  He was one of ten children born to the couple, although it appears that one died close to birth and one died as a toddler.  The family lived in Windsor, and David married his wife, Elizabeth Filley, daughter of William and Margaret Filley there on March 1, 1672.

The young couple stayed in Windsor for a few years.  David contributed to a fund for those who lost much in King Philip's War in 1677, and then no more is heard of him in Windsor.  In fact, it appears that he was granted land in Suffield as early as 1671, so perhaps for a few years he lived in both places, or maybe it took a few years to get the house ready for his family.  He and Elizabeth spent the rest of their lives in Suffield,which was originally part of Massachusetts Bay Colony, and he was chosen as constable, selectman or land measurer for 25 years.  His home lot was on High Street in Suffield and it appears that he had several land acquisitions, including one as late as 1711.  Except, some of the townspeople objected to that particular land grant and it was soon annulled.

David was on the committee to oversee the construction of the first meeting house in 1679, and on a committee to secure the second minister of the church.  In 1692 he was on the list of those who were privileged to vote in town elections.  This may or may not be the same as a "freeman", but it was close.  Many of the assignments he accepted from the town were peace keeping type missions, where he was asked to help approach ministerial candidates, or unhappy ministers, or mediate a dispute about where a highway should go, or to help locate a school teacher for the town.

However, in Colonial Justice in Western Massachusetts there is mention in two places of scrapes David was in.  He was fined four pounds for scurrilous comments about the minister, and for pressing for a different constable in a town meeting, than was "contrary to the mind of the people".  In 1681 Lt. Anthony Austin complained against David Winchell and two other men for defaming him and for taking the dispute to a town meeting  Apparently the men apologized and that was the end of it.

So, peacemaker, disturber of the peace, church man, selectman, committeeman, land measurer, this is our ancestor.  He and Elizabeth had eight children together.  When he died at the age of 80, there were undoubtedly grandchildren and even great grandchildren to mourn him.  Elizabeth died five years later, in 1728.  I've not located a will that I was sure was his, or hers, and I would certainly like to do that.  However, we have much to be proud of when we think of David Winchell, and we may even appreciate him more, knowing he was not quite perfect!

The line of descent is

David Winchell-Elizabeth Filley
Elizabeth Winchell-John Trumbull
Hannah Trumbull-Medad Pomeroy
Medad Pomeroy-Eunice Southwell
Eunice Pomeroy-Libbeus Stannard
Libbeus Stanard-Luceba Fay
Hiram Stanard-Susan Eddy
Louis Stanard-Mary Alice Hetrick
Etta Stanard-Loren Holbrook
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants