the colonial ancestryfreepages.rootsweb.com/~streeter/genealogy/brundage/the...autonomy to the...

THE COLONIAL ANCESTRY PART II | PAGE 1

Please send additions and corrections to William E. Brundage ([email protected]) Version 2010-05-15

© 2009 William E. Brundage | www.perry.streeter.com

THE COLONIAL ANCESTRY




THE COLONIAL ANCESTRY

THE SECOND GENERATION – THE IMMIGRANT ANCESTOR

A-f. JOHN BRUNDISH (THOMAS). b. likely abt. 1593, christened 5 June 1593 at

Rattlesden Parish, County Suffolk, England. d. undoubtedly btw. 20 May and

27 October 1639 at Wethersfield, CT. m. 1621 at Belstead, County Suffolk,

England RACHEL HUBBARD, dau. of James and Naomi Cooke/Cook Hubbard

of Mendlesham, County Suffolk, England. She b. c. 1600. d. by 1643 or 1648 (?)

at Fairfield, Fairfield County, CT. She m. 2nd on 5 August 1642 Anthony Wilson

of Fairfield, CT.

John said to be of Ipswich, County Suffolk, England at the time of his marriage

to Rachel Hubbard; occupation listed as tanner.

Immigrated to Massachusetts circa 1632-1635 from Felsham, County Suffolk,

England; at Watertown, MA where he was admitted freeman on 4 March 1635;

removed to Wethersfield, CT circa 1635-1637; unrecorded deed dated 20 May

1639 at Wethersfield, CT, confirmed by widow Rachel as administrix on

23 November 1639; estate inventoried 27 October 1639 by Andrew Ward and

Richard Gyldersly at L 174 s 6 in goods and chattel and L 130 in lands;

administration granted to widow Rachel 7 November 1639 at L 90 s 5 d 4; the

property in Wethersfield, CT was located along what is currently Sandy Lane.

Children:

A-f-a. James b. ? christened 11 April 1627

A-f-b. Mary b. ? christened 10 December 1628

A-f-c. Anne b. ? christened 1631

A-f-d. Susan b. ? christened 1631

A-f-e. John b. abt. 1635 / 1636

A-f-f. Bethia b. abt. 1637 / 1638

A-f-g. Posthume b. abt. 1639 / 1640




THE SECOND GENERATION – ADDENDUM

THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The Roman Catholic King James I (1603-1625) refused to grant any degree of religious

autonomy to the Puritan congregations in 1604, which began a division within the Puritan

church. Most Puritans desired to remain in England and work for religious toleration, but

others looked to America as a means of separating physically as well as spiritually from

the Church of England. After a short period in The Netherlands, the first group of

separatists arrived in Massachusetts in December 1620 – known to most Americans as

the Pilgrims.

When Charles I acceded to the English throne in 1625 he sought to eliminate any non-

conformist beliefs, notably those of the Puritans. This action caused three principle

events; the Great Migration of more than ten thousand Puritan separatists under John

Winthrop to Massachusetts (1630-1640), the English Civil War and eventual beheading

of Charles I (1642-1649), and the establishment of the Puritan Commonwealth under

Oliver Cromwell (1649-1660).

Thomas Hubbard, the father of James Hubbard and the grandfather of Rachel Hubbard

Brundish was burned at the stake at Hornden-on-the-Hill, County Essex, England on

26 May 1555 by Edward Bonner, the Catholic Bishop of London (The Book of Martyrs).

And from The Hubbard Genealogy is the following, attributed to Rachel Hubbard

Brundish:

“I have a testament of my [grandfather – sic] Cocke’s, printed 1549, which he

hid in his bedstraw, lest it should be found and burned, in Queen Mary’s days.”

The Queen Mary referenced was the infamous “Bloody Queen Mary” (1553-1558), the

Roman Catholic daughter of Henry VIII who attempted to stamp out Puritanism in

England.

As a tanner, John Brundish was a skilled tradesman. Probably in his late twenties he

married Rachel Hubbard from a devout Puritan family. She was probably in her early

twenties at the time of the marriage. Boyd’s Marriages of Suffolk County, England (Vol.

7 1601-1625) and the Belstead Parish Register list the marriage of John Brundish and

Rachel Hubbard in 1621. John and Rachel Hubbard Brundish were documented as the

parents of two children christened at St. Mary-at-the-Elm, Ipswich, County Suffolk,

England; James on 11 April 1627 and Mary on 10 December 1628. They were

undoubtedly the parents of twin daughters christened at St. Clements, Ipswich, County

Suffolk, England in 1631; Anne and Susan. However, the parents of Anne and Susan are

not named in the documents.




James and Naomi Cooke/Cook Hubbard left England in August 1633 aboard the ship

“The James” which landed at Salem, MA on 10 October 1633. And it could be that

John and Rachel Hubbard Brundish also sailed on the same vessel, although this is not

proved. Several Hubbards, perhaps including James and Naomi, were followers of the

Reverend Thomas Hooker. In 1636 he moved his congregation from Newton, MA,

settled Hartford, CT, and was responsible for the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

(America’s first democratic constitution). However, there is no evidence that John and

Rachel Hubbard Brundish were members of Hooker’s congregation.

John Brundish must have been accepted by the Puritan leadership in the Massachusetts

Bay Colony as his freeman status indicates. The congregational nature of Puritan

churches, a division over theological doctrine within the Puritan church, and a limited

source of land probably led to John’s and Rachel’s removal to Wethersfield, CT.

Some accounts cite John Brundish in Wethersfield, CT as early as 1635. And in 1634

the Reverend John Oldham led a group from Watertown, MA and founded Wethersfield,

CT. However, John Brundish was made a freeman of the church at Watertown on

4 March 1635, and so the 1634 removal date does not seem possible. It is noted that in

the summer of 1636 three entire congregations left MA and resettled at Windsor,

Wethersfield, and Hartford, CT and it is possible that John Brundish was part of this

relocation although no evidence supports this either.

John Brundish, as indicated by his estate inventory, was a relatively wealthy individual

having a net worth of over L 300 when he died around age forty-six. He left his widow

Rachel Hubbard Brundish over L 90, and if the interpretation of ‘L’ is correct left his five

children the following, “30 (L ?) to the sonne and 25 (L ?) a peece to each of the 4

daughters to be payd when each of them come to the age of sixteene years”. (“An Order

of the Particular Court of the Colony of Connecticut” dated 2 April 1640). His assets

therefore exceeded his debts by at least L 220; not enough to be considered rich but

certainly financially comfortable.

In 1634 the Pequot Indians killed two English traders and tensions rose among the

Pequots and Puritan settlers in Connecticut. A Puritan expedition two years later wiped

out a Pequot village on Block Island and, in retaliation, the Indians attacked White

settlements including Wethersfield, massacring around thirty Puritan settlers. In early

1637 the Puritan colonists and their Narraganset Indian allies destroyed nearly all of the

Pequots, ending the Pequot War.

In The Genealogies and Biographies of Ancient Wethersfield the author Henry Stiles

states that perhaps John Brundish was killed in a massacre by the Pequots during the

1636-1637 war. However this is demonstrably wrong as John Brundish was alive on 20

May 1639 at the time of the writing of an unrecorded deed.

His death is indicated to have perhaps been by suicide. On 23 November 1639 the

widow Rachel Hubbard Brundish confirmed the unrecorded deed of 20 May 1639 with

the statement, “but Providence so disposing of the aforesaid John Brundishe that before




the tym that the money was due & y writing confermed He put an end unto his lyf”.

(Jacobus, History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield)

However, the wording leaves open some interpretation. The ‘H’ capitalized in “He” may

indicate a reference to God putting an “end unto his lyf”; meaning that John Brundish

died of ‘natural causes’ and not by suicide.

Rachel Hubbard Brundish married in 1642 Anthony Wilson of Fairfield, CT as a second

husband and had a daughter Sarah Wilson b. likely in 1643. The exact date of Rachel

Hubbard Brundish Wilson’s death is not known. It is known that Anthony Wilson

married Sarah Jones Buckley in either 1643 or 1648, the deciphering of the last digit

being unclear in the documents. It is possible that Rachel died during child birth in 1643.

However, 1648 is also possible as a division of her property occurred between 1655-1657

as follows, “Anthony Wilson was to have the homelot in Fairfield that was Mary

Brundish’s, and to pay legacies to the children, John Brundish, Mary wife of Francis

Purdy, Bethia Brundish, and Posthume Brundish.” (Jacobus)

The previous shows that four of John and Rachel Hubbard Brundish’s children lived into

adulthood. Mary, John, Bethia and Posthume. James and at least Anne or Susan had to

have preceded John Brundish’s death in 1639. And another daughter, either Anne or

Susan, must have died unmarried between 1639 and 1655-1657.

Some family genealogies and other sources cite a daughter of John and Rachel Hubbard

Brundish named Deborah. And indeed a daughter could have been born between Anne

and Susan in 1631 and John in 1635/1636, and could have been the unnamed fourth

daughter who died between 1639 and 1655-1657. However, there is no evidence to

support this assertion. And if John and Rachel emigrated to Massachusetts in 1633 the

“gap” between children is easily explained. The unnamed fourth daughter was most

likely Anne or Susan, although Deborah could have been the middle name of either of

those two daughters, and the name that was used by the family members.

An early Brundage researcher Arthur N. Brundage believed that the last child Posthume

b. c. 1639 was actually a male child whose name was Jonathan. Posthume was a name

sometimes given to a child born after the death of the father and usually it was only a

temporary nomenclature. However, “An Order of the Particular Court of the Colony of

Connecticut” in 1640 definitely shows one male child and four female children. Thus,

John Brundish was succeeded by only one male heir, his son John.

A couple of Brundage family histories name an Abner Brundish as the father of John

Brundish the immigrant ancestor, and the likely source of this appears to be Lyle

Williams (1976). However, there is no evidence to support this, and the work of

Thomas W. Brundage of Hawaii clearly establishes Thomas Brundish of Rattlesden

Parish, County Suffolk, England as the father of John Brundish the immigrant ancestor.




THE AMERICAN SURNAME BRUNDAGE (AND ITS VARIANTS)

The family surname Brundage is truly American, derived from the English surname

Brundish. It is evident that during the 17th century in America Brundish evolved into

the surname of Brundage (with numerous variant spellings).

Records reflect several different origins of the family name. A couple of sources assert

that the surname Brundage is said to have had Dutch or German origins although this

assertion is incorrect. The English origin of the surname has been established, and it was

undoubtedly “Old English” evolving from the Anglo-Saxon dialect.

A COMPILATION OF FAMILY SURNAME HISTORICAL RECORDS

From Cutter, William. New England Families.

The surname Brandegee is spelled also Brundig, Brandig, Brandish, Brandiger,

Brondigee, Brandigat, Brandisley, Brondish, and Boudikee, and all these spellings

are found relating to John Brandigee, who was in Wethersfield as early as 1635.

He was doubtless of English birth, though the name is possible German or Dutch

originally.

From Holmes, F. The Ancestral Heads of New England Families 1620 – 1700.

Brandegee

Name of German or Dutch origin.

John was at Wethersfield, Connecticut in 1635.

Brundish

John, Freeman at Watertown, Massachusetts; removed to

Wethersfield, Connecticut.

From Stiles, Henry. The Genealogies and Biographies of Ancient Wethersfield.

BRANDEGEE (Brundig, Brandig, Brandish, Brandiger, Brondiger, Brandigat,

Brandisley, Brondish, Boundikee), are various spellings of a name found in old

records, all of which seem to connect with and apply to one JOHN BRUNDISH,

who was at Weth. probably as early as 1635-37, …

These various spellings of the name, as given above, together with the fact that

some of the early generations resided in the neighborhood of New York City

(Westchester and Dutchess counties), has given rise to the very natural opinion




that the family was of Dutch origin. But this opinion is controverted by Mr.

Marius Brundage, of Elizabeth, N.J. who considers it to be of English stock; in

which view we concur.

It will also be noted that the terminal of the name is spelled variously – dage,

digge, dyge. by members of the same stock; and that all the spellings contain

the same consonants B, R, N, D., with the first vowel O, U, or A. rather broad,

and the terminal S, H, or G, E. indicating that the G should be pronounced soft

and not hard as the G. in geese.

From Savage, John. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England.

Brandisly, John, Watertown at first, perhaps, freem. 4 March 1635, rem early

to Wethersfield, d. 1639, leav. wid. Rachel, wh. m. Anthony Wilson of Fairfield,

one s. and four ds.

Brundish, John, perhaps of Watertown at first, freem. 4 March 1635, rem. early

to Wethersfield, d. 1639, leav. wid. Rachel, wh. m. Anthony Wilson of Fairfield,

one s. and four ds.

From Farmer, John. A Genealogical Register of the First Settlers of New England.

Brandish, John, admitted freeman in 1635.

From Pope, Charles H. Pioneers of Massachusetts.

Brandish, John (residence not given), freeman 4 March 1634/5.

From Mead, Spencer. Ye Old History of Ye Town of Greenwich.

John Brundage, spelled also Brundish, Brondig, and Brondige, born in England

about 1585, came to America about 1632, and after a temporary sojourn in

Massachusetts, settled in Wethersfield, Connecticut where he died in 1639,

leaving him surviving his widow Rachel, and the following children: Mary, a

daughter, John, Posthume and Bertha.

From Jacobus, Donald Lines. History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield.

Brandish, John. (The name is also spelled Brundage).

A tanner, came to Watertown, Mass., thence to Wethersfield with the first




settlers. The name later was spelled Brundage.

Brundish, John, s. of John. Deputy (Rye) to Conn. Leg., May 1681.

Born about 1636; rem. from Fairfield to Rye, where he was the first Town Clerk,

and Deputy 1677; d. in 1697.

From Bolton, Robert Jr. The History of Westchester County, NY.

BRONDIG OF RYE. John Brondish or Brondig, was one of the first and

principal proprietors of Manusing Island and Poningoe Neck, in 1662.

From Baird, Charles W. The Chronicles of a Border Town, The History of Rye,

Westchester County, New York.

BRONDIGE. First written Brondig; of late years, written Brundage. John

Brondig, mentioned 1662-1697, perhaps the son of John Brundish of

Wethersfield, Conn., was one of the original settlers of Rye. He was the first

town clerk, and deputy to the General Court in 1677 and 1681.

A COMPILATION OF KNOWN SPELLINGS OF THE SURNAME

Brandish Brondish Brundish

Brundishe

Brondag Brundag

Brandig Brondig Brundig

Brundige

Brandiger

Brandagee

Brandegee

Brandigee Brondigee

Brondage Brundage

Brundege

Brondige Brundige

Brundidge

Brundydge

Brundridge

Others may perhaps include: Brandigat, Brandisly, Brandisley, Boudikee, and/or

Boundikee.




RECORDS OF THE PARTICULAR COURT OF THE COLONY OF CONNECTICUT

(From www.colonialct.uconn.edu – Records of Colonial Connecticut)

October The 27, 1639

A Inventory of the goods and Cattle of John Brundish of Wethersfiled.

L s d

Impn. his weareing aparrell, 3 0 0

It. his two beds compleat, 6 0 0

It. two prc of whets wth two pillowberes, 1 0 0

It. in brasse and pewter, 5 0 0

It. one chest, a boxe, a small cubbert & a table, 3 0 0

It. cushens, stooles & chaires, 0 10 0

It. Tramels, tongs, fier pan, bellowes, cobirons, rostiron, spit, and

frying pan, 1 5 0

It. in working tooles, 4 5 0

Ite. twelue bushels of Rye, 4 16 0

It. about fourscore and ten bushs of Indean corne, 18 0 0

It. one horse and mare, 48 0 0

It. one cow, 2 heifers, 2 calues, 55 0 0

It. in hay, 7 10 0

It. in debts due vnto him, 15 0 0

It. books, 2 0 0

______________

174 6

Debts due to be payd 62L. 10s.

her howse and land valued at 130L.

She hath 5 children, the 2 eldest girls, the next a boy, the other 2 girles.

Andrew Ward,

Richard Gyldersly.

A noate brought in Court since the Inventory as followeth:

Rachel Brundishe hath 14 acres of meadow, her howse lott 3 acres, and wt vpland belongs

thereunto in euery diuysion, sauceing wt her husband and shee hath sould, vizt. her shaire

beyond the Riuer and 6 acres in Penny wise.

Debts appereing since the Inuentory was made, 4L

Debts paid, 41L. 16. 4d.

Remayneing of the stodke of Cattle, 2 Cowes, on mare.




Novembr The 7th, 1639 A Particular Court

The Court admitteth the relict of Jno. Brundish of Wethersfield deceased to be Administratrix

for the use of her and her children.

Aprill. The 2d, 1640. A Particular Court

This day Rachel Brundish of Weathersfield presented an Inventory of her husbands estate, wch

amounted (all debts being payd) to 90L. 5s. 4d. and the house and land was rated at 130L. And

it was thought fitt and ordered that the relict of the sayd Jno. Brundish shall haue to her owne use

the 90L. 5.4.; and the land with the house to be for the childrens portions, vizt. 30L. to the sonne

and 25L a peece to each of the 4 daughters to be payd into the Court for their use when each of

them come to the age of sixteene yeares and in the meane tyme the widow to haue the use of the

land for bringing vp the children.

It was also ordered that yf the sayd Rachell doe thinke fitt to sell the house and land, she may

haue liberty soe to doe, provided before she make any sale thereof she fine suffitient security into ye

Court for the payment of the childrens portions att the tymes prefixed, and for the due education

of them; and having soe done, she may make her best advantage of the sayd house and landes,

provided also that yf any one or more of the children depart this life before they come to the age of

16 yeares, his or their portion is to be divided equally among those that survive.




THE THIRD GENERATION – “STOUT OLD JOHN OF RYE”

A-f-a. JAMES BRUNDISH (JOHN, THOMAS). b. ? christened 11 April 1627 at

St. Mary-at-the-Elm, Ipswich, County Suffolk, England, parents listed as John

and Rachel Brundish. d. probably young, perhaps in County Suffolk, England or

in MA or CT, as he is not listed in the estate inventory of his father on 27 October

1639 nor on the order of the Particular Court of the Colony of Connecticut

relating to the estate of his father on 2 April 1640. m. undoubtedly never.

A-f-b. MARY BRUNDISH (JOHN, THOMAS). b. ? christened 10 December 1628 at

St. Mary-at-the-Elm, Ipswich, County Suffolk, England, parents listed as John

and Rachel Brundish. d. 15 September 1684 at Rye, Westchester County, NY

(then Fairfield County, CT). m. 1st FRANCIS PURDY. He b. abt. 1627 in

England. d. 1658 at Fairfield, Fairfield County, CT. She m. 2nd JOHN HOYT/

HOIT. He b. 12 March 1614 at York, England. d. 1684 at Rye, Westchester

County, NY (then Fairfield County, CT).

Children: (with Francis Purdy)

A-f-b-a. John Purdy b. abt. 1650

A-f-b-b. Francis Purdy b. abt. 1651

A-f-b-c. Joseph Purdy b. abt. 1652

A-f-b-d. Daniel Purdy b. abt. 1655 / 1656

A-f-b-e. Mary Purdy b. abt. 1657 / 1658

Children: (with John Hoyt/Hoit)

A-f-b-f. Samuel Hoyt/Hoit b. abt. 1663

A-f-b-g. John Hoyt b. abt. 1664

A-f-b-h. Mary Hoyt b. ?

A-f-b-i. Rachel Hoyt b. ?

A-f-b-j. Simon Hoyt b. ?

A-f-c. ANNE BRUNDISH (JOHN, THOMAS). b. ? christened 1631 at St. Clements,

Ipswich, County Suffolk, England, although parents names are not listed.

d. either prior to 2 October 1639, or btw. 2 April 1640 and 1643 or 1648 (?).

m. undoubtedly never.

A-f-d. SUSAN BRUNDISH (JOHN, THOMAS). b. ? christened 1631 at St. Clements,

Ipswich, County Suffolk, England, although parents names are not listed.

d. either prior to 2 October 1639, or btw. 2 April 1640 and 1643 or 1648 (?).

m. undoubtedly never.




A-f-e. JOHN BRONDIG (JOHN, THOMAS). b. 1635 / 1636 apparently at either

Watertown, MA or Wethersfield, CT. d. bef. 2 October 1697 at Rye, Westchester

County, NY (then Fairfield County, CT). m. HANNAH (_____).

Apprenticed as a boy at Stamford, Fairfield County, CT; lived also at Greenwich,

Fairfield County, CT; removed to Rye, Westchester County, NY (then Fairfield

County, CT) bef. 1660.

One of the thirteen original proprietors of Rye; Oath of Allegiance to King

Charles II on 26 July 1662 and again on 26 January 1663; purchaser of Manussing

Island on 28 April 1663; owned land in the Poningoe Neck purchase; Rye Town

Clerk from 1662 until death; Deputy to the Connecticut General Court in 1677

and 1681; purchased land in Rye on 28 August 1687 by Thomas Merritt and

others; granted land patents in White Plains in 1694 and in North Castle in 1696;

estate inventoried 2 October 1697; mentioned in John Winthrop’s journal as age

30 in 1666.

Children:

A-f-e-a. John Brundige b. c. 1660-1664 (1662 ?)

A-f-e-b. Daniel Brondage b. c. 1660-1664 (1664 ?)

A-f-e-c. Ruth Brundige b. c. 1665-1669 (1667 ?)

A-f-e-d. Joshua Brondage b. c. 1665-1669 (1669 ?)

A-f-e-e. Joseph Brundige b. c. 1670-1672 (1671 ?)

A-f-e-f. Mary Brundage b. c. 1673-1678 (1675 ?)

A-f-e-g. Hannah Brundage b. c. 1673-1678 (1677 ?)

A-f-f. BETHIA BRUNDISH (JOHN, THOMAS). b. abt. 1637 / 1638, likely at

Wethersfield, CT. d. ? m. 1st TIMOTHY KNAPP. He b. 14 October 1632.

d. bef. 1685. m. 2nd JOSEPH TAYLOR. m. 3

rd JOHN MALOVE.

From The Witchcraft Delusion in Colonial Connecticut (1647-1697) by John

M. Taylor:

“Aprill 26th, 1654.

“Bethia Brundish, of the age of sixteene or thereabouts, maketh oath, as they

wer goeing to execution of goodwife Knapp, who was condemned for a witch

by the court & jury at Fairfield, there being present herselfe & Deborah

Lockwood and Sarah Cable, she heard goodwife Steplyes say, that she thought

the said goodwife Knapp was no witch, and goodwife Gould presently reproved

her for it.” “Witnes




Children:

A-f-f-a. Moses Knapp b. ?

A-f-f-b. Timothy Knapp (?) b. ?

A-f-f-c. Jonathan Knapp (?) b. ?

A-f-g. POSTHUME BRUNDISH (JOHN, THOMAS). b. abt. 1639 / 1640 undoubtedly

at Wethersfield, CT. d. ? m. undoubtedly JOHN WINTERS. He b. ? d. ?

John Winters and wife “Posthumy” mentioned in land deeds from 1692 until

1694.

Children: (?)




THE THIRD GENERATION – ADDENDUM

THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell’s Puritan Commonwealth was ended by the English

Parliament in 1660, and the son of the beheaded former King Charles I was installed as

King Charles II (1660-1685). Upon his death Charles II was succeeded by his son

James II (1685-1688) a staunch Roman Catholic Stuart. James II was deposed by

Parliament in the “Glorious Revolution” of 1688 – 1689, at which time the English

throne was offered to his Protestant sister Mary and her husband William, the Duke of

Orange.

In 1621 the Dutch West India Company of The Netherlands claimed all of the land lying

between the Connecticut and Delaware rivers, and began the establishment of a Dutch

colony known as the New Netherlands. Although never having a large colonial

population, Dutch influence was strongest in what is presently New York City and the

lower Hudson River region of NY. In 1664 the New Netherlands was peacefully

transferred from the Dutch to the English, creating the rough colonial borders of CT,

NY, NJ, and DL.

The birth date given for John Brondig varies drastically among family histories and

genealogical works: 1620 (Spencer Meade), 1629 (Rye Historical Society), 1631 in

England or 1633 in Salem, MA (Lyle Williams), and 1635 Watertown, MA or

Wethersfield, CT (LDS, Donald Lines Jacobus). Since John Brondig is cited as being

age 30 in 1666 in Winthrop’s journal, a later birth date of 1635 / 1636 would appear to be

correct and John was undoubtedly born in either Watertown, MA or Wethersfield, CT.

Some family researchers believe that John Brondig’s wife was Hannah Hunt, daughter of

James and Elizabeth (Best ?) Hunt. Hannah was b. abt. 12 February 1640 at Concord,

Middlesex County, MA. There is no documented evidence to prove this conclusion.

However, Daniel Brondage (son of John Brondig) and Samuel Hunt (brother of Hannah

Hunt) were involved together in a series of land transactions and so there is a connection

between the two families. It is plausible that Hannah Hunt was the wife of John Brondig,

but again it is not proved.

There are also some discrepancies among the children of John and Hannah Brondig in

various Brundage family histories. The Rye Historical Society records do not show the

daughter Hannah, but list instead a son David Brundage b. 1672. Lyle Williams includes

Hannah Brundage but adds an eighth child, a male named David Brundage b. 1672. And

LDS records include Hannah but add an eighth child, a male named Jonathan b. 1673.

The inventory of John Brondig’s estate dated 2 October 1697 (Fairfield Probate Records,

Book IV, Pg. 141) includes the following statement, “Hannah Brundage ye Relict of John

Brundage deceased made oath to ye truth of the above inventory. The names of the

Children: John Brundag, Daniell Brundage, Joshua Brundage, Ruth Scofield, Mary




Brundage, Hannah Brundage.” This clearly establishes that John and Hannah Brondig

had a daughter named Hannah.

An agreement dated 5 December 1698 among the sons of John and Hannah Brondig

(Rye Land Records, Liber (?) B, Pg. 86; also cited as Westchester County Deeds) states,

“Articles of agreement … between John Brindige, Joseph Brindige, Daniel Brundige and

Joshua Brundige concerning the Devision of the Lands Left amongst us by our Honoured

Father John Brundige Deceased … our honored mother Hannah Brindige … “. Therefore

there are four documented sons of John and Hannah Brondig.

As a result of the agreement it is apparent that son John received lands in Rye, on Byram

Ridge (North Castle), and in the “Lame Wills Purchase”; son Daniel received land in

White Plains and perhaps in Rye; son Joseph received land in Rye; and son Joshua

received land in Rye. Additionally, in the division of John Brondig’s estate his wife

Hannah received the home in Rye, and daughter Ruth Scofield received L 10.

There is one unanswered question in a reference to a Thomas Brundage who owned land

at Byram Ridge (North Castle) in 1679. If the name and date are correct this Thomas

Brundage must have been b. c. 1658 or before, and therefore could have been a son of

John and Hannah Brondig. The Brundage family researcher and compiler Thomas W.

Brundage of Hawaii lists Thomas the eldest child of John and Hannah, but does so with a

question mark. That no mention of a Thomas Brundage is made in the estate inventory of

John Brondig in 1697 could indicate that Thomas was deceased prior to that date,

however there is also no apparent reference to any heirs of a Thomas Brundage.

Although there is no evidence to indicate such, this Thomas Brundage could plausibly be

an older brother of John Brondig. It is documented that John and Rachel Hubbard

Brundish were married at Belstead, County Suffolk, England in 1621, and that their first

known child was James, christened on the 11 April 1627. So there is a “gap” of perhaps

six years that would allow for another child or other children. But this is mere

speculation.

In fact the date ascribed as 1679 could very well have been miscopied and the true date

was 1769. It is documented in several sources that a Thomas Brundage lived at North

Castle and was involved in land transactions during the 1760’s.

John Brondig was undoubtedly born in America. His father died during his early

childhood, and his mother died during his late childhood or early adolescence. As an

orphan his apprenticeship in Stamford probably provided room and board and little else.

Exactly how he was able to finance the purchase of land in Rye about 1660 is not known,

but being one of thirteen original proprietors indicates that John Brondig had some

financial assets before age twenty-five. While there is evidence that he did not purchase

land directly from the Dutch but from those that did, John was involved in direct

negotiations with Native Americans regard the Manussing Island purchase.




The fact that he was nicknamed “Stout Old John of Rye”, that he served as Rye Town

Clerk for some thirty-five years, that he served two terms in the CT colonial legislature,

and the numerous land acquisitions demonstrates that he must have been an active civic

leader and probably of some regard. The records also indicate that he was a relatively

wealthy individual, at least as measured by the value of land. Having signed two separate

oaths of allegiance to Charles II could indicate that John Brondig was also a church

leader and a man of some importance.

John Brondig was a citizen of the Colony of Connecticut, the border with the Colony of

New York not being established until well after his death.

RECORDS OF THE PARTICULAR COURT OF THE COLONY OF CONNECTICUT (From www.colonialct.uconn.edu – Records of Colonial Connecticut)

Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut – May 1658

This court doe grant liberty to John Brandig and Eliz: Purdy, who are administrators to the estate

of John Purdy of Rye, deceased, to make, signe, seale and deliver unto Francis Purdy deeds of

sale for the one halfe of those lands John Purdy aforesaid bought of John Jackson, lyeing in

Rye, which were purchased for the sayd Francis Purdy intentionally as appears by sundry

testimonies exhibited in the Court by Mr. John Bankes: which sayd deeds of sale when

completed according to law shall have full force and virtue to hold the sayd lands firm to the

sayd Francis Purdy, his heires and assignes forever.

Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut – 1677

The Deputies of the Court are:

For Rye; John Brundige

Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut – 1681

The Deputies of the Court are:-

John Brandige; for Rye




THE FOURTH GENERATION – THE CHILDREN OF “STOUT OLD JOHN”

A-f-e-a. JOHN BRUNDAGE (JOHN, JOHN, THOMAS). b. circa 1660-1664

(1662 ?) possibly at Stamford, Fairfield County, CT or Rye, Westchester

County, NY (then Fairfield County, CT). d. aft. 24 September 1742.

m. JOHANNAH (BUSH / BROCK ?). She b. 12 April 1671 at

Wethersfield, CT.

Mentioned in records in Rye btw. 1687 and 1719; called ‘Senior’ in 1707;

received land from the estate of his father including lands in Rye, on

Byram Ridge (North Castle), and in the “Lame Wills Purchase”; named in

Rye division of lots 18 February 1711; apparently sold out his rights as a

proprietor of Poningoe Neck after 1715.

Children:

A-f-e-a-a. John Brundige b. c. 1686

A-f-e-a-b. Joseph Brundige b. c. 1687

A-f-e-a-c. Jonathan Brundige b. c. 1688

A-f-e-a-d. (?) David Brundige b. c. 1700 (?)

A-f-e-a-e. (?) Joshua Brundige b. ?

A-f-e-a-f. (?) Jacob Brundige b. ?

A-f-e-b. DANIEL BRONDAGE (JOHN, JOHN, THOMAS). b. circa 1660-1664

(1664 ?) possibly in Rye, Westchester County, NY (then Fairfield County,

CT). d. aft. 1730. m. MARY (GALPIN ?).

Appears on list of Rye landowners dated 1683, but his name may have

been added after 1700; mentioned in Rye records and in White Plains

records btw. 1697 and 1730; received land from the estate of his father in

White Plains; purchased additional lands in White Plains 3 May 1715

from the patentees; applied with Samuel Hunt for a survey of White Plains

land in June 1721; applied for the survey again in December 1721

claiming 300 acres; map of White Plains filed 24 February 1722; received

a patent for 195 acres on his claim in 1724 or 1726, described as the

“Brondage Patent” as late as 1730; in 1726 son Benjamin mentioned in the

building of a mill by John Walton, which was purchased by Daniel

Brondage from Walton in 1729; sold the same mill to son Benjamin in

1730, and deeded the remainder of his patent to Benjamin also in 1730.

Children:

A-f-e-b-a. (?) John Brondage b. c. 1695

A-f-e-b-b. (?) Moses Brondage b. ?




A-f-e-b-c. (?) Samuel Brondage b. ?

A-f-e-b-d. (?) David Brondage b. ?

A-f-e-b-e. Benjamin Brondage b. c. 1700 (?)

A-f-e-b-f. Daniel Brondage b. ?

A-f-e-b-g. (?) Daughter b. ?

A-f-e-b-h. (?) Thamer/Tamar Brondage b. ?

A-f-e-b-i. (?) Mary Brondage b. ?

A-f-e-c. RUTH BRUNDIGE (JOHN, JOHN, THOMAS). b. circa 1665-1669

(1667 ?) probably at Rye, Westchester County, NY (then Fairfield

County, CT). d. ? m. 14 September 1689 RICHARD SCOFIELD.

Mentioned in estate inventory of her father on 2 October 1697 as

Ruth wife of Richard Scofield and left L 10.

Children:

A-f-e-c-a. Jeremiah Scofield b. 1 April 1691

A-f-e-c-b. Joshua Scofield b. 5 November 1693

A-f-e-c-c. James Scofield b. 1 April 1696

A-f-e-c-d. Jonathan Scofield b. 9 October 1698

A-f-e-c-e. Hannah Scofield b. 14 November 1700

A-f-e-c-f. Debra Scofield b. 14 February 1702/3

A-f-e-d. JOSHUA BRUNDAGE (JOHN, JOHN, THOMAS). b. circa 1665-1669

(1669 ?) probably at Rye, Westchester County, NY (then Fairfield County,

CT). d. probably btw. 1719 and 1727. m. unknown.

Mentioned in Rye records btw. 1697 and 1719; received land from the

estate of his father in Rye; mentioned as owning land that bounded land

owned by his brother Joseph Brundige 20 May 1701; lived in “Rye town”

and listed as a proprietor in 1718; son Joshua mentioned as “eldest son of

the late Joshua Brundage” in 1727.

Children:

A-f-e-d-a. Joshua Brundage b. c. 1705

A-f-e-d-b. Hannah Brundage b. ?

A-f-e-d-c. Deborah Brundage b. ?

A-f-e-d-d. (?) Joseph Brundage b. ?

A-f-e-d-e. (?) Gilbert Brundage b. ?




A-f-e-e. JOSEPH BRUNDIGE (JOHN, JOHN, THOMAS). b. circa 1669-1672


CT. d. aft. 1731/1732. m. bef. 1698 MARY (LANE/LAIN ?).

Mentioned in Rye records btw. 1697 and 1726; not mentioned in the estate

of his father, but named on 2 December 1698 in the articles of agreement

with his brothers concerning land from the estate of his father in Rye;

deeded land in Rye, with wife Mary, to Isaac Dunham (bounded by land

of his brother Joshua Brondige) 20 May 1701; undoubtedly the father of

Joseph Brundige, junior, so called in 1719; sold land to the Rector of the

Rye Church in 1713; may have sold land in Greenwich, Fairfield County,

CT to brother-in-law Richard Scofield and others 17 May 1715; Rye

Town Constable in 1719; mentioned in will of Peter Brown of Rye 11

February 1731/1732.

Children:

A-f-e-e-a. Absalom Brundage b. c. 1695

A-f-e-e-b. Joseph Brundage b. c. 1698

A-f-e-e-c. (?) David Brundage b. c. 1700

A-f-e-e-d. (?) Nathan Brundage b. ?

A-f-e-f. MARY BRUNDAGE (JOHN, JOHN, THOMAS). b. circa 1673-1678

(1675 ?) probably at Rye Westchester County, NY (then Fairfield County,

CT. d. possibly btw. 1737 and 1757 (?). m. aft. 1697 JOHN MERRITT.

Mentioned in estate inventory of father on 2 October 1697.

Children: (?)

A-f-e-g. HANNAH BRUNDAGE (JOHN, JOHN, THOMAS). b. circa 1673-1678


CT. d. ? m. perhaps 14 May 1718 DAVID HUESTED (?).

Mentioned in estate inventory of father on 2 October 1697.

Children: (?)




THE FIFTH GENERATION AND THE PROBLEMS WITH LINEAGE

The problem actually begins with a lack of documented birth dates for the Fourth

Generation, the children of John and Hannah Brondig. Various researchers have

assigned birth dates raging from 1656 through 1686, although any attempt at assigning

firm dates is guesswork at best.

I used the following criteria. John Winthrop establishes that John Brondig was b.

1635/1636 and if he married about age 25, which records show was customary, he must

have married about 1660. If he indeed married Hannah Hunt, she would have been age

20 about that time. So it seems probable that a first child was born circa 1661/1662.

Records also seem to indicate that children were generally born over period of

approximately 15 to 20 years. And therefore it is probable that the last child was born

circa 1676 - 1682.

Another problem associated with the Fourth Generation is the order of birth, for with an

absence of documented birth dates the assigning of the positions of birth is likewise based

on speculation. Generally it was the custom to list the male and female children

separately and in order of birth in a Will or estate inventory. However, the estate

inventory of John Brondig is not clear, especially regarding his son Joseph. Joseph is not

listed on the estate inventory but is mentioned a few months later in 1698 regarding the

division of John Brondig’s lands. This has given rise to speculation that Joseph may have

been born as late as 1677 and was therefore perhaps the youngest son. That the daughters

Mary and Hannah were not married at the time of John Brondig’s death in 1697 indicates

that they also were likely to be younger children and born later.

More serious difficulties begin with the Fifth Generation. There are some disjoined,

unconnected, and isolated references to various Brundages (with variant spellings) in

southwestern CT and the lower Hudson region of NY. And there are references to the

same first name in different locations that causes a great deal of confusion; is the

reference to one individual or separate individuals? Records simply do not exist to

clarify the problems. So in all but a few cases, the children born to the four sons of John

Brondig rests on interpretation with varying degrees of validity.

Further complications arise from an expanded period of birth dates for the Fifth

Generation, which conservatively could be dated from about 1685 through 1710 or

perhaps 1715.

The Fourth Generation John Brundige (b.c. 1662) was called ‘senior’ in 1707 indicating

that he had a son, the Fifth Generation John Brundige (b.c. 1686). Deeds indicate that he

also had another son, the Fifth Generation Jonathan Brundige (b.c. 1688). And there is

also evidence that he had yet another son, the Fifth Generation Joseph Brundige (b.c.

1687). The assigning of Fifth Generation sons David and Joshua are assumptions at

best, and I believe it incorrect that the Fifth Generation Jacob Brundige was his son.




The Fourth Generation Daniel Brondage (b.c. 1664) had a son Benjamin (b.c. 1700 ?), as

documented in land deeds and by Daniel’s Will. And evidence shows that he had another

son, the Fifth Generation Daniel b.? However, the assigning of Fifth Generation sons

John, Moses, Samuel and David is not documented and rests on speculation.

The Fourth Generation Joshua Brondage (b.c. 1669) had a son, the Fifth Generation

Joshua Brundage (b.c. 1705 ?) who was mentioned as the eldest son in 1727. That he had

Fifth Generation sons Joseph and Gilbert is again lacking in actual documentation.

The Fourth Generation Joseph Brundige (b.c. 1671) had a son, the Fifth Generation

Absalom Brundige (b.c. 1695), as documented in his Will and in land deeds. He also had

another son, the Fifth Generation Joseph Brundige (b.c. 1698) who was called ‘junior’ in

1719. The placement of Fifth Generation sons David and Nathan once more lies in

interpretation rather than in documented evidence.

My listing of the Fifth Generation borrows heavily from the work of Thomas W.

Brundage of Hawaii, who compiled and analyzed a vast amount of Brundage

genealogical material. His work, A Brundage Family Genealogy: An account of some of

the American descendants of John Brundish (1593-1639) who came from England to

Massachusetts in 1635, is probably the most well-researched attempt at establishing

correct lineages.

Obviously, without a clearly established and documented Fifth Generation, the

difficulties are exacerbated in the Sixth and Seventh Generations. Since it is not my

purpose to create a comprehensive lineage of the descendants of John Brondig, “Stout

Old John of Rye”, I am not attempting to establish speculative Sixth and Seventh

Generation lineages.

The next part therefore begins with Solomon Brundage (b. 1763) of Orange County, NY

and his descendants through his son John Brundage (b. 1799) of Greenwood, Steuben

County, NY, and is based on documented evidence. However, it seems undeniable that

all individuals with the surname Brundage (and its variant spellings) have to have

descended from John Brundish who immigrated to Massachusetts. In the last part I will

present a hypothesis of what I believe could be the connection of Solomon Brundage of

Orange County, NY to the lineage of Thomas Brundish of County Suffolk, England.




THE FIFTH GENERATION - ADDENDUM

BRUNDAGE SURNAME SPELLINGS IN COLONIAL RECORDS

(Second Generation through Fifth Generation)

Brundish Brundishe Brundich

Brandish

Brondish

Brindish Brindishe Brundiche

Brundig Brundige Brundage

Brondig Brondige Brondage Brondigee Brondiger

Brandig Brandige Brandigee Brandegee

Brindige

Brandidge

Brundidge Brundydge

Brundag

Brondag

Brandisly Brandisley

Brandigat

the colonial ancestryfreepages.rootsweb.com/~streeter/genealogy/brundage/the...autonomy to the...

Documents