Christopher HUNTINGTON
Biography

CHRISTOPHER HUNTINGTON, born in Norwich, November 1, 1660, being "the first born of males in the town." Born, thus, during the first year of the history of his native town. Born, thus, during the first year of the history of his native town, and destined to grow up in its infancy, and spend his manly vigor and mature age in its forming period, he was also designed and used by Providence, as a prominent contributor to the prosperity of its most vital secular interests, and a marked pillar of support to those of religion. His character, molded, mainly, by the very best of all influences, those of a quiet home, in which every day piety hallows every day toil, and over which a sense of duty rules as the deepest incentive to its labors and its pastimes alike, unfolded early with every element of consistency and strength. In a period of exposure and calling often for extreme adventure, he became resolute and fearless. In an age devoted to the revival of a simple and primitive piety, he became a humble, inflexible Christian; and with the best and amplest means at his disposal, trained himself to the most intelligent and effective dis- charge of every duty, either to God or the world.

He married for his first wife, May 26, 1681, Sarah, born January, 1663, daughter of Deacon Thomas Adgate by his second wife, Mrs. Mary Bushnell, widow of Richard Bushnell, of Saybrook. She was the mother of his first eight children and died in Norwich in February, 1705-6, aged 42. He married for his second wife, in October, 1706, Mrs. Judith (Stevens) Brewster, widow of Jonathan Brewster, a great grandson of the venerable Elder Brewster, the spiritual guide and teacher of the Mayflower pilgrims. She became the mother of four children.

In 1684 the town grant him a parcel of land on a small plain near the mouth of Crane brook.

In each of the years 1691, 1705 and 1709, he is on the record as the first townsman. He succeeded Richard Bushnell as town clerk, which office he transmitted, in due time, to his son Isaac.

In 1695 or '96 he was appointed deacon and in this office served with marked ability to the close of his life. He appears to have been a practical surveyor, and his decision on a dispute regarding land titles was in those early days an end of all strife. He was, accordingly, on the commission with his uncle Simon to re-deed the lands whose titles were in dispute.

He had become an extensive land holder as the early records abundantly show. In 1705, July 21, he and his brother Thomas deed to John Elderkin, "all that our one hundred acres of upland and meadows, which we hold in partnership, as it was given to us by our honored father, Christopher Huntington, as by his last will and testament."+ Conn. Colonial Records show that Christopher was deputy to the General Court, May and August, 1710, and that he was appointed Justice of the Peace in May 1714 and October 1715.

He died in Norwich, April 24, 1735, and his remains were interred, as his venerable headstone shows, on the brow of the hill in the southeast corner of the uptown burying lot in Norwich.

A genealogical memoir of the Huntington family in this country: embracing all the known descendants of Simon and Margaret Huntington, who have retained the family name (1863)
Author: Huntington, E. B. (Elijah Baldwin), 1816-1877
Subject: Huntington, Simon, 1583-1633; Huntington family
Publisher: Stamford, Conn., The author


From Norwich, CT Historical Society -- www.norwichhistoricalsociety.org/ -- Notes on Persons and Places in the Ancient Town of Norwich in Connecticut -- "The first born of males in Norwich. Son of Christopher Huntington the Founder. Born 1660; Died 1735. A man of the highest character, and a prominent contributor to the prosperity of the most vital interests of the town. Served near forty years in the office of a deacon. Town Clerk 1678 to 1691."


"Christopher Huntington, b. Nov. 1, 1660 - d. Apr. 24, 1735, the first white child to be born in Norwich, Ct.; m. there on May 26, 1881, his 1st wife Sarah Adgate, b. Jan 1663/ 4 - d. Feb. 1705/ 6, daughter of Deacon Thomas Adgate and his 2nd wife, Mary, widow of Richard Bushnell and daughter of Matthew and Elizabeth Marvin of Hartford, Ct. He was town clerk, deacon, town surveyor, deputy to the General Court, justice of the peace, and extensive land owner. His home still stands in Norwich. He and Sarah had 8 children. By his 2nd wife, Mrs. Judith (Stevens) Brewster, he had 4 more."

Source: Oliver, Rebekah Deal, The Bottum (Longbottom) family album : an historical and biographical genealogy of the descendants of Daniel ( -1732) and Elizabeth (Lamb) Longbottom of Norwich, Connecticut, Page 275-276



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