Captain John Coe

     John was born on Friday, 10 May 1658 in Stratford, Fairfield County, Connecticut. On 12 January 1679, his mother gave to him his inheritence from his gather which consisted of a home lot of about one acre on the west side of Main Street & various other parcels. John married Mary Hawley, daughter of Lieut. Joseph Hawley and Katherine Birdseye, on 20 December 1682 in Stratford, Fairfield County, Connecticut. On 13 December 1683, he exchanged this lot with a similiar lot across the street then belonging to Thomas Uffoot. There he built a large dwelling house where he lived the rest of his life. John was an energetic person & of unusual ability. His business interests were many & varied; he was a farmer, land speculator, merchant, miller & inn keeper. He served in the militia during the French & Indian War in 1708. He and Mary were blessed with (an unknown value). John's wife, Mary, died on 9 September 1731 in Stratford, Fairfield County, Connecticut, leaving him a widower. John made his will on 20 January 1740 at Stratford, Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Having already given and advanced in position my four sons, viz., Robert & Joseph in lands in Durham, John in lands in Haddam, & Ephraim in lands in Middletown, I give to my son, Ebenezer, all lands & buildings in Stratford. To daughters, Hannah, wife of James Curtis of Durham, Catherine, wife of David Calhoun of Stratford, Mary, wife of Samuel Pickett of Durham, & Abigail, wife of John Guthrie of Durham; to granddaughter, Mary Burritt, daughter of my late daughter, Sarah Burritt, late wife of Israel Burritt of Durham.

John departed this life on Wednesday, 19 April 1741 in Stratford, Fairfield County, Connecticut. He was buried at Stratford, Fairfield County, Connecticut, in the Congregational Church Burial Ground. His will was probated on 5 May 1741. John's home became a homestead for six successive generations.

Additional Notes:

Westfield, Mass. August 23, 1708
My Dear Wife,
Thies come to bring my harty love and efections to you and to tell you of my earnest desiar to imbrace you in the arms of my love hoping they may find and ouers in health.
I have been very well ever since I left you for which I prays God. The post from Albani last weeke brings news that the enimy disagre and the french indians are turned bak; the scouts from dearfield have not yet discouvered the army. We look for a post from Albani tomorrow after which we are in great hops of being drawn ofe or the greater part of us. I am just now a going to Northampton to wait on our govenor which makes me in so much haste. So I remain til death your loving husband,
John Coe
Our soldiers here are all well.