Steele

   The name "Steele" is English and Scottish: from the Middle English term stele (‘steel’), hence a nickname for someone considered as hard and durable as steel, or occupational name for a foundry worker. The Coat of Arms is English, featuring a silver shield with a bend divided chequey ermine and blacck between two red lions heads, and three gold billets on a blue chief. The Crest is a lion's head erased gules.
   The family was first found in Cheshire, where they were seated from very early times, where they were Lords of the manor of Giddy Hall near Sandbach, and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D. Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Clement Steel settled in Virginia in 1651; followed by Isaac in 1683; Isaack Steel settled in the Barbados in 1683; James Steel settled in Boston Mass. in 1766.
   Our lineage to this family can be traced to RICHARD STEELE, born on 12 Apr 1549 in Fairstead, Braintree District, Essex, England. He was probably the son of RICHARD STEELE I (1525-1595) and MARGARET GRAHAM (1524-1626). Richard II married another Graham, ELIZABETH GRAHAM (1565-1626), on 10 Jan 1585 in Essex, England.
   The Graham family was first found in Midlothian, where they had been granted lands by King David I of Scotland. The Family Coat of Arms is a gold shield with three gold escallops on a black chief. The Crest features a falcon killing a stork. The Family Motto is "Ne oublie" ("Do not forget").
   Richard and Elizabeth had two children who we'll concentrate on, here, but there were probably more—their descendants include 4th great-grandson Noah Webster, 6th great-grandson O. Henry, 9th great-grandsons Henry Fonda and Norman Rockwell, 10th great-grandchildren Jane Fonda, Peter Fonda and Ted Dansen, 11th great-grandchildren Clint Eastwood, Viggo Mortensen, Treat Williams and Bridget Fonda... and us!

CHILDREN OF RICHARD AND ELIZABETH STEELE

GEORGE STEELE was born by about 1583 (based on the date given at his marriage); He married Margery Sorrell in Fairstead, Essex, on 12 Oct 1608. He then emigrated as a Puritan from Fairstead, Essex to Massachusetts Bay in 1633, and first settled in Cambridge; George Steele emigrated from Fairstead, Essex, England in 1633 along with his brother John Steele, another Founder of Hartford, first residing in Cambridge, where he was made freeman 14 May 1634, and owned six parcels of land. He then moved to Hartford in 1636. In 1637, he received a grant of land in Soldiers' Field in Hartford for his service in the Pequot War. In the land inventory of February 1639/40 he held eight parcels granted to him by the town: six acres on which his dwelling house stood with other outhouses, yards and gardens located on the corner of the road from his lot to the Great Swamp and the road from his lot to the South Meadow; He and Margery had the following children: Richard (Abt 1610 - d. 1639), Margery (b. 24 Sep 1612), John I (29 Sep 1615 - d. Abt 1616), John II (b. 20 Sep 1618), Mary (7 May 1620 - Bef Dec 1649), James (Nov 1622 - Aft 1698), Elizabeth (May 1628 - 25 Feb 1683/4), Rebeeca (b. 1629, hanged for witchcraft on 25 Jan 1663 on Gallows Hill in Hartford), and Sarah Steele (d. 10 Nov 1629, Fairstead, Essex, England). He was a surveyor of highways in 1640, was on the Hartford jury in 1643, 1649, 1650, and 1656. He was appointed to the committee to regulate slaughtering of cattle 24 Sep 1642. Margery died before 24 May 1663 (according to George's will. George died in Hartford between 24 May 1663 (date of will) and 21 Dec 1664 (date of his final property inventory).

JOHN STEELE was baptized 12 Dec 1591 in Fairstead, Essex, England. He married (1) RACHEL TALCOTT on 10 Oct 1622 in Fairstead, Essex, England, daughter of Founder JOHN TALCOTT and ANNE SKINNER. She was born abt. 1600 in Braintree, Essex, England, and died 24 Oct 1653 in Farmington, CT. Rachel as also the sister of Hartford Founder John Talcott, the sister of Sarah, wife of William Wadsworth, and she was an aunt of Hartford founder John Skinner. fter Rachel's death, John married (2) MERCY RUSCOE 25 Nov 1655 in Farmington, CT. She was born about 1610 in Sawbridgeworth, Herts, England, the daughter of ROGER and SARAH RUSCOE, and died after 04 Jul 1668, probably in Farmington, CT. There were no children recorded from his union. John Steele died 27 Feb 1664/65 in Farmington, CT. (See more below.)

   Richard died on 12 January 1631 in Fairstead, Braintree District, Essex, England. With that, his sons GEORGE and JOHN STEELE emigrated from Fairstead, Essex, England in 1633 with their young families. John brought his wife, RACHEL TALCOTT, and several children. The origin of the Talcott family is English. The surname was first found in Essex where they were anciently seated as Lords of the Manor. The family's Coat of Arms is Perpale (partitioned vertically) blue and gold, under a red chief with three silver roses. Some of the first settlers of this family name were recorded in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard, including our ancestors in Connecticut.
   The Steele families may have sailed to the New World on a ship called the "William and Jane" or the "Mary and Jane" in 1633. (John's daughter, Rachel, was baptised at Fairstead on 29 June 1632. He was in America by 5 August 1633, because the Bishop of London's Commissary Court records contain the following entry, dated 16 July 1632: "... the plaintiff Steele is now in Suffolk... [he] is to appeare to answer the said presentments if he be not beyond the sea.")
   Landing in the New World, our ancestor, John Steele, first resided in Cambridge, where he was made freeman 14 May 1634. He owned nine parcels of land in Cambridge, was Deputy to the General Court of Massachusetts for Cambridge in 1635, and was appointed Massachusetts Bay Commissioner for new settlements on the Connecticut River on 3 Mar 1635/6.
   In the winter of 1635/6, John led a group of men called the "Adventurers Party" to scout a new site on the Connecticut River to relocate Hartford. He became one of sixteen "founders" who settled the area of Hartford prior to the arrival of the rest of the colonists. This took courage, because of two warlike tribes, the Mohawks to the west and the Pequots to the east, who were not friendly with white settlers. Finally, the Pequot War erupted in New England from 1636 to 1638, between the Pequot nation and the colonists from the Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, and Saybrook colonies (and their allies from the Narragansett and Mohegan nations). The war concluded with the decisive defeat of the Pequot. In 1637, George Steele received a grant of land in Soldiers' Field in Hartford for his service in the war. About 700 Pequots had been killed or taken into captivity during the war. Hundreds of prisoners were sold into slavery to colonists in Bermuda or the West Indies. The colonial authorities classified Pequots as extinct, and survivors who remained in the area were absorbed into other local nations.
   In the Hartford land inventory of February 1639/40, John actually held four parcels of land: two acres on which his dwelling house stood with other outhouses, yards and gardens located on the main street, north of the home lots of Elder William Goodwin and Samuel Stone; two acres in the Little Meadow; three acres and thirty perches in the North Meadow; and twenty-one acres, three roods and twenty-two perches. He was the Recorder (town clerk) for Hartford beginning in 1640 until 1645, and became Recorder for Farmington when he removed there in 1645.

CHILDREN OF JOHN STEELE AND RACHEL TALCOTT

JOHN STEELE was born in 1624 in Essex, England. He traveled to the New World with his parents and married MARY WARNER (1626-1682) on 22 Jan 1645 in New England. "John Steel was maryed To Maryy [sic] Warner on the Twenty & Two of Jenrur [sic] one Thousand Six hundred forty & five." (Conn. Hist. Soc. vol. 14, 606). They had the following children: Samuel (1652-1709), John Steele III and Henry Steele. John II died on 8 Mar 1653 in Hartford, Connecticut. Dictionary creator Noah Webster is a descendant from this line, as are actors Treat Williams and Clint Eastwood.

SAMUEL STEELE was born in 1626 in Essex, England. He traveled to Colonial America and married MARY BOOSEY (10 Sep 1635 - 16 Mar 1703/4) in about 1652 in Farmington, Hartford Co., CT, and had the following children: Mary (b. 5 Dec 1652 - Bef Mar 1706/7), Rachel (b. 30 Oct 1654), Sarah (29 Dec 1656 - 23 Jan 1723), Samuel (11 Mar 1658/9 - 1660), John I (10 Dec 1661 - 1662), James II (31 Aug 1662- 15 May 1713), Hannah (b. 1668), Ebenezer (b. 13 Aug 1671 - 6 Oct 1722), and BARRETT STEELE (1676-1713, see below). Samuel died on 14 Aug 1685 in Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut, and is buried at Wethersfield Village Cemetery in Hartford County, Connecticut.

LYDIA STEELE (1633-1718) married JAMES BIRD (1631-1708) and they had the following children: Thomas (1670-1725), Rebecca (1670-1740), Samuel (1671-1728), Hannah (1671-1751), Lydia (1672-1735), James (1676-1708), and Mary Elizabeth (1678-1725), Mehitable (1682-1732) and Elizabeth Bird (1684-1770). Actor Shannon Woodward descends from this line.

SARAH STEELE (1637-1695) married THOMAS JUDD (1638-1703) and they had the following children: Thomas (1663-1724), Mary (b. 1670), John (d. 1716), and Sarah Judd (d. 1693). Actor Viggo Mortensen descends from this line.

MARY STEELE (1637-1718) married WILLIAM JUDD (1636-1690) and they had the following children: Mary (b. 1658), John (1667-1710), Rachel (1670-1703), Thomas (1672-1747), Samuel (1673), Daniel (1675-1748), and Elizabeth Judd (b. 1678). Actor Henry Fonda (and his actor children Jane and Peter), Ted Danson, painter Norman Rockwell, and writer O. Henry descend from this line.

   After Rachel's death, John married MERCY RUSCOE on 25 Nov 1655 in Farmington, CT. She was born about 1610 in Sawbridgeworth, Herts, England, the daughter of ROGER and SARAH RUSCOE, and died after 04 Jul 1668, probably in Farmington. There were no children recorded from his union.
   John Steele died 27 Feb 1664/65 in Farmington, CT, about a year after watching hia niece Rebecca get hung for witchcraft on Gallows Hill in Hartford. John's death is recorded in the Farmington land records, but there is no record of the time or place of his burial.
   Meanwhile, John's son SAMUEL STEELE was born in England and traveled to the New World with his parents. He became a farmer and a leading member of the community of Farmington, CT. He served as Deputy in the General Court and lieutenant in the militia. Who exactly he was serving in the British Empire came into question, however, during a series of conflicts regarding England's governance during the years 1642 to 1651, now known as The English Civil War. King Charles I summoned supporters to join him against his enemies in Parliament. In October 1642, nearly 10,000 men fought for Charles I and chased Parliament across the River Tamar. Although the newer, Puritan settlements in North America, notably Samuel's in Massachusetts, were dominated by Parliamentarians, the older colonies sided with the Crown. Friction between Royalists and Puritans in Maryland came to a head in the Battle of the Severn, until an agreement of general amnesty was reached. Fighting in England finally ended at the Battle of Worcester on 3 Sep 1651, with a Parliamentarian victory.
   Fortunately for Lieutenant Samuel Steele, things were more peaceful in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which largely remained neutral during the war, despite strong ties to radical Protestants in Parliament. While some colonists returned to England to fight, most stayed in Massachusetts, including Samuel. Hostilities with Native Americans had decreased, too. At that time, Native Americans had already inhabited the area around Connecticut for thousands of years. But the tribes in the Algonquin confederation around present-day Hartford, including the Podunks, the Poquonocks, the Massacoes, the Tunxis tribe, the Wangunks, and the Saukiogs, had good relations with the newly-arrived European settlers, especially after driving the warring Mohawks and Pequots out of the area. From 1657 to 1681, Samuel even purchased property from members of the Tunxi tribe either for himself or as an agent for the Town of Farmington.
   In 1675, Samuel bought the land rights of the Mohegan sachem Joshua, Joshua's wives, and mother-on-law at Indian Neck in Farmington. His wife, MARY JANE BOOSEY (1635-1704), also inherited property in Wethersfield from her late father LT. JAMES BOOSEY (1605-1649), and she and her family moved there in 1678. The origin of the Boosey surname is English. The family was first found in Northampton where they were seated from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D. The Coat of Arms is a silver shield with three black bars, and the Crest is a sea dragon. Our Boosey family came from Braunstone, Blaby District, Leicestershire, England, to Connecticut, where James was prominent in the Wehersfield area as a lieutenant in the militia, a Deputy to the Court, a surveyor, and plied his trade as a joiner and wheelwright.
   After Samuel's death in 1685, Mary returned to live in the house in Farmington. The house was owned by the Steele family until 1773, when it was sold to Isaac Gleason (the current memorial plaque on the house identifies it as the 'Gleason House'). Their children:

CHILDREN OF SAMUEL STEELE AND MARY JANE BOOSEY

JAMES STEELE was born on 31 Aug 1644 in Wethersfield, Connecticut. No further information.

MARY STEELE (b. 1652) married William Tryon (1645-1711) and they had the following children: Benjamin (1670-1738), David (1672-1730), Elizabeth (1673-1754), Thomas (1678-1679), Mary (1681-1710), Jonathan (1681-1711), Abell (1683-1761), Dorothy (1683-1758), Mabel (1685-1754) and Elizabeth Tryon (1686-1730). Mary died in Apr 1688 in Wethersfield Hartford, Connecticut.

RACHEL STEELE II was born on 30 Oct 1654 in Farmington, Hartford, Connecticut, and died in 1714 in Farmington, Hartford, Connecticut.

SARAH STEELE was born on 28 Dec 1656 in Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut. She married SAMUEL BOARDMAN (1648-1720) and they had the following children: Mary (1648-1720), Hannah (1685-1768), Sarah (1686-1686), Samuel (1689-1690), David (1692-1760), Cornet (1695-1771), Josiah (1699-1700), and Mehitable Boardman (1703-1732). Sarah died on 23 Jan 1733 in Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut.

SAMUEL STEELE II was born on 11 Mar 1659 in Farmington, Hartford, Connecticut. He married Ann Wells (1668-1738) and they had a son, Samuel Steele III (1689-1783). Samuel II died in Dec 1709 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut.

HANNAH STEELE was born in Aug 1668 in Farmington, Hartford, Connecticut. In 1685 she married (1) Richard Treat (1662-1712) and then on 12 Apr 1694 she married (2) John Hart (1669-1700). She died on 06 Oct 1722 in Farmington, Hartford, Connecticut.

EBENEZER "BOOSEY" STEELE was born on 30 Apr 1671 in Farmington, Hartford, Connecticut. On 15 Feb 1705 he married Sarah Hart (sister of John Hart, above, 1687-1751) in Farmington, Hartford, Connecticut. They had Mary (1706-1789) and Sarah Steel (b. 1708). He died on 6 Oct 1722 in Farmington, Hartford, Connecticut.

BARRETT STEELE was born on 24 Jun 1676 in Springfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America. He married MARY BROOKS (1677-1723) on 30 Dec 1697 in Springfield, and they were the parents of at least 2 sons and 6 daughters. He died on 4 Dec 1713, in his hometown, at the age of 37, and was buried in Springfield Cemetery, Springfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America.

Brookes

   Their son BARRETT STEELE was born in 1676 in Springfield. It should have been a peaceful time in Massachusetts during 1676, but conflicts with the area's Native Americans erupted again; the settlement was a flashpoint for King Philip's War, an armed conflict between a group of indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands against the English New England Colonies and their indigenous allies. The war is named for Metacom, the Pokanoket chief and sachem of the Wampanoag, who had adopted the English name Philip because of the friendly relations between his father Massasoit and the Plymouth Colony. The year Barrett was born saw intense fighting and significant losses on both sides of the conflict, including the pivotal Battle of Turner's Falls, and eventually the death of Metacomet (King Philip). The year also saw the Narragansett tribe being nearly completely defeated, with many survivors sold into slavery. The war continued in the most northern reaches of New England until the signing of the Treaty of Casco Bay on April 12, 1678.
   The colonies in Massachusetts started off as separate, privately-run colonies but by the end of the century the British government took control of them and merged them into one large royal colony under the close rule of the crown. This itself caused a lot of unrest and anxiety in Massachusetts at the end of the century and made the colonists fearful of the future of their colony. Barrett entered into a new union himself: He married MARY BROOKS (11 Jul 1677) on the 30 Dec 1697, in Springfield. They had the folllowing children:

CHILDREN OF BARRETT STEELE AND MARY BROOKS

MARY STEELE was born on 27 Oct 1698 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. She married JOHN HODGE (1694-1751) on 5 Apr 1717 in Springfield, Mass. They had the following children: Asahel (1717-1777), Mary (b. 1719), Margaret (1720-1813), Sarah (b. 1722), John (b. 1726, "bound out" to William Hayden of Windsor as a boy, no further information), and Thankful Hodge (1726-1758).

HANNAH STEELE I b: 24 Feb 1699 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts.

HANNAH STEELE II was born on 14 Mar 1701 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. On 27 Apr 1726 she married DANIEL KENT (1704-1774) in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut. They had the following children: Joel (1728-1786), Simeon (b. 1730), Charles (b. 1733), Asher (b. 1735), Phebe (b. 1735), Hannah (1738-1804) and Miriam Kent (1740-1777). Hannah died in 1740.

MERCY STEELE was born on 6 Mar 1703 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. She married NATHANIEL OLD (b: 2 Mar 1701/1702) on 18 July 1722 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut. They had the following children: Mercy (b: 30 Apr 1724), Azuba (b: 22 Oct 1727), and Abiah Old (b: 26 Sep 1729) in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut.

JOHN STEELE was born on 9 MAY 1707 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. On 7 Mar 1728 he married ABIGAIL BROOKS (1706-1774) in Springfield. They had the following children: John (1729-1790), Abigail (1731-1751), Mary (1734-1804), Rhoda (1735-1809), and Justus Steele (1749-1815). John died on 21 Feb 1793 in Longmeadow, Hampden, Massachusetts.

THANKFUL STEELE was born on 28 Sep 1708 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, according to town records; no further information.

ABIGAIL STEELE was born on 3 Nov 1710 in Springfield. She died on 3 Nov 1713 in Springfield, Massachusetts, according to town records.

SAMUELL STEELE was born on 21 Oct 1713 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. He died on 12 Oct 1803.

   Barrett Steele died on 4 Dec 1713 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. He's buried in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts.
   But the Steele/Brooks saga does not end there. Barrett and Mary's son JOHN STEELE married his first cousin, ABIGAIL BROOKS (3 Dec 1706 - 12 Aug 1774), on the 7 Mar 1727 in Springfield. Her father, BENJAMIN BROOKS (1671-1755), was the brother of her new mother-in-law, Mary Brooks (this makes Benjamin my 8th great-grandfather and my 8th great-granduncle!), and her mother was MARY BARNARD (1672-1740), connecting us to another prominent Hartford family.
   In Colonial America, while not explicitly addressed in all colonial laws, marrying first cousins was generally legal and socially acceptable. This was partly due to the lack of specific prohibitions in colonial legal codes, which often mirrored English law. In a time when mobility was limited and community ties were strong, marrying within the extended family, including cousins, was not uncommon. This practice helped maintain social and economic networks within communities.
   Anyway, John and Abigail had a LOT of kids:

CHILDREN OF JOHN STEELE AND ABIGAIL BROOKS

JOHN STEELE was born in 1729 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. He died in 1790 in Indian River, Washington, Maine.

ABIGAIL STEELE was born on 4 Dec 1731 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. On 26 Jun 1750 she married AMAZIAH SANDERSON (1732-1757) in Springfield, but she died on 6 Jan 1751 in Springfield.

MARY STEELE was born on 10 Mar 1734 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. On 9 May 1752 she married STEPHEN CHANDLER (1731-1804) in Springfield. They had the following children: Mary (1752-1810), Stephen Jr. (1754-1817), Tryphena (1754-1784), Samuel (1762-1809), Hiel (b. 1763), Hepzibah (1765-1765), Amy (1767-1803), Abner (b. 1769), and Hepzibah Chandler (1771-1833). mary died on 10 Sep 1804 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts.

RHODA STEEL was baptized on 22 June 1735 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts in Colonial America. On 8 Mar 1754 she married her sister Abigail Steele-Sanderson's brother-in-law, ROBERT SANDERSON (1734-1798) in Springfield. They had the following children: Sylvanus (1754-1834), Elnathan I (b. 1755), Rhoda (1757-1830), Azubah (1759-1779), Mary (1761-1762), Tryall (1762-1785), Achsah (1764-1806), Tirza (1767-1810), Submit (1769-1813), Elijah (1772-1850), Thankful (b. 1773), Elnathan II (1777-1854) and Charity Sanderson (1779-1780). Rhoda died on 7 Sep 1809 in Chester, Hampden, Massachusetts, now in a country called the United States of America.

ANNE STEELE was born on 25 Jul 1737 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. On 20 Apr 1758 she married SAMUEL WARNER, JR. (1734-1823) in Springfield. They had the following children: Ann (b. 1758), Seth (1760-1845), Louise (b. 1762), and Samuel Warner III (1763-1824). Ann died on 29 Apr 1818.

AARON STEELE was born on 13 July 1739 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. On 15 Nov 1763 he married Sarah Rumrill (1735-1805) Springfield, Massachusetts. Aaron was a sergeant in a company of Minute-Men which was called to duty on 20 Apr 1775. He served throughout the Revolutionary War, ultimately dying of sickness on 24 Nov 1777. His widow received half-pay until 25 Nov 1784.

SETH STEELE was born on 20 Dec 1741 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, but passed away in 1742.

SOLOMON STEELE was born on 23 Dec 1744 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. No further information.

RUBEN STEELE b: 14 Sep 1746 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. He died two months later on 16 Nov 1746.

JUSTUS STEELE was born on 13 Aug 1749 in Longmeadow, Hampden, Massachusetts. On 3 Mar 1768, he narried THANKFUL WRIGHT (b. 1746) in Springfield. They had the following children: Justin (1768-1805), Justus (b. 1773), Thankful (b. 1773), Sarah (b. 1774), Daniel (b. 1775), Martha (b. 1777), Squire (b. 1779), Solomon (b. 1781), Levi (1783-1840), Huldah (b. 1785), and John Steele (b. 1787). He died in 1815 in Broadalbin, Fulton, New York.

SQUIRE STEELE was born on 26 Aug 1752 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. On 15 Sep 1774 he married Tryphena Wright (1754-1803) in Springfield. Squire died on 3 Oct 1776 in Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts... which had just declared itself part of the United States of America.

   Abigail died on the 12th of August, 1774, in Springfield. John died almost 20 years later, on the 21st of February, 1793, at Longmeadow, Hampden County, at the home of Ezra Stebbins. Their daughter RHODA STEELE (christened on the 22nd of June in 1735) married ROBERT SANDERSON (b. 13 Jul 1734) on the eighth of March in 1754, in Springfield. They had a LOT of kids:

CHILDREN OF RHODA STEELE AND ROBERT SANDERSON

SYLVANUS SANDERSON was born on 4 Oct 1754 in Chester, Hampden, Massachusetts. He fought as a private in the revolution (click on the pension ledger at right), according the the pension request of his wife, CHARLOTTE COOLEY, who he married on 13 Nov 1783, according to Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 (Holbrook Research Institute). They had the following children: Moses (b: 26 Jun 1784), Calvin (b: 23 Feb 1787), Samuel (b: 13 Jul 1789), John (b: 9 Feb 1790), David (b: 19 Oct 1791), Jonathan (b: ABT 1793), Harvey (b: ABT 1794), Mary Merrill (b: ABT 1795), Charlotte (b: ABT 1797), Julia (b: ABT 1799), Sally (b: 1802), Chauncy (b: 1808). Sylvanus died on 1 Mar 1834 in Chesterfield, Hampden, Massachusetts.

ELNATHAN SANDERSON was christened on 8 Feb 1756 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts (click on the birth record, at right), according to Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 (Holbrook Research Institute).

RHODA SANDERSON was born on 14 Jun 1757 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts (click on the birth record, at right), according to Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 (Holbrook Research Institute). She married SOLOMON FERRE (26 Sep 1752 - 8 Feb 1835) on 11 Jul 1776 in Springfield. They had the following children: Stephen (b. 8 Jul 1776); Rhoda (b. 29 Aug 1777); Solomon (20 Apr 1780 - 10 Apr 1833); Daniel (29 May 1782 - 1834); Lovina (b. 12 Sep 1784); Orreen (b. 6 Jul 1785); Horace (11 May 1790- 26 Nov 1865); Edmund (b. 15 Feb 1796); and Sophia Ferre (b. 13 May 1798). Rhoda died on 19 Oct 1830 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts.

AZUBAH (RUBIA) SANDERSON was christened on 25 Mar 1759 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. Azubah married JOHN SHEPERD (1727 - 1784) on 20 May 1779 (click on the marriage record, at right), according to Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 (Holbrook Research Institute), but Azubah then died on 22 Aug 1779.

MARY SANDERSON was born on 13 Feb 1761 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts (click on the birth record, at right), according to Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 (Holbrook Research Institute). Mary died as an infant in 1762.

TRYALL SANDERSON was christened on 29 Aug 1762 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. He served as a private in Burt's Company, Guards, of the Massachusetts militia during the Revolution (click on Revolutionary War Service Record, at right), then married ELIZABETH SMITH (1741 - 1790) on 30 Apr 1785, according to Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 (Holbrook Research Institute). Tryall died on 25 Jul 1785.

ACHSAH SANDERSON was christened on 26 Aug 1764 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. She married JAMES WARNER (28 Mar 1765 - 1798) on 28 Apr 1789 in Springfield (click on the marriage record, at right), according to Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 (Holbrook Research Institute). They had the following children: Henry (15 May 1789 - 11 Apr 1838), Dorcas, James and Rebecca. Achsah died in 1806.

TIRZAH SANDERSON was born on 29 Mar 1767 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts (click on the birth record, at right), according to Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 (Holbrook Research Institute). She married LEWIS HANCOCK (9 May 1767 - 1791) on 2 Mar 1786 in Springfield. They had the following children: Sophia (1800- 1 Apr 1866) and Loren D. (5 Sep 1813 - 30 Nov 1898). Tirzah died in 1810.

SUBMIT SANDERSON was born on 27 Jun 1769 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts (click on the birth record, at right), according to Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 (Holbrook Research Institute). She married HEMAN (sic) PRIOR (7 Aug 1769 - 1813) on 20 Sep 1789 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. They had the following children: Heman (21 May 1790 - 1850); Levi (28 Feb 1794 - 1795); Rhoda (1799 - 1800); Ebenezer (1801 - 1802); Robert (1805 - 20 Feb 1875); Luther (1807 - 1808); Phillip (1809 - 1810); Leonord (22 Apr 1811 - 6 Feb 1878). Submit died in 1813.

ELIJAH SANDERSON was christened on 10 May 1772 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts (click on the birth record, at right), according to Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 (Holbrook Research Institute). He married Saloma Babcock (18 Jul 1775 - 1800) on 19 Oct 1795. They had the following children: Elisha Sanderson (4 Jan 1803 - 19 May 1865); Saloma (17 Sep 1806 - 25 Dec 1859). Elijah died in 1850 in Jackson, Indiana.

THANKFULL SANDERSON was christened on 11 Jul 1773 Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. On 2 Oct 1791 she married Jonathan Bolton in Blandford, Hampden, Massachusetts. They had the following children: Thankful (1792-1844), Rachel (1795-1856), Sally (b. 1797), James Sanderson (1802-1855), Rhoda Steele (1803-1874), David (1807-1865), and Polly Bolton (b. 1815). Thankful died on 10 Oct 1850 in Hancock, Delaware, New York.

ELNATHAN SANDERSON was born on 29 Dec 1777 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, and christened on 5 Jan 1778, according to Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 (Holbrook Research Institute). On 12 Feb 1801, he married Betsey Waters in Chester, Hampden County, Massachusetts (click on the marriage record, at right), according to Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 (Holbrook Research Institute). Family listed below. Elnathan moved to New York in 1806, and died on 29 Nov 1854 (best reading of his gravestone), "aged 78y." He is buried in the Quaker Cemetery, Philadelphia, Jefferson County, NY. (Gravestone photo courtesy of NNYGenealogy.com.)

CHARITY SANDERSON was christened on 4 Apr 1779 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. She died a year later, in 1780.

   Robert and Rhoda finally quit after 13 kids, probably because they had run out of names after "Submit," "Thankful" and "Charity."

GENEALOGY BARRETT STEELE (b. 1676) married MARY BROOKS (b: 11 July 1677) and begat... JOHN STEELE, who married ABIGAIL BROOKS (b. 3 Dec 1706) and begat... RHODA STEELE, who married ROBERT SANDERSON (b. 13 Jul 1734) and begat... ELNATHAN SANDERSON (1776 - 1854) married BETSY WALTERS and begat... DAVID SANDERSON (1804 - 1884) who married POLLY BRIGGS (1811 - 1867) and begat... MELISSA SANDERSON (1839 - 1921) who married LABAN HAUSE (1831 - 1906) and begat... FRANK HAUSE (1867 - 1951) who married FLADELLA RAYMOND (1869 - 1961) and begat... CARLISLE HAUSE (1891 - 1972) who married MARJORIE MARCHANT (1892 - 1939) who begat... CARLETON MARCHANT HAUSE, SR. (1917 - 1983) who married JEANNE BRUNNER (1918 - 2000) and begat... CARLETON MARCHANT HAUSE, JR. (b. 1939) who married MARTHA WENK (b. 1940) and begat... JEFF (who married LORI ANN DOTSON), KATHY (who married HAL LARSEN), ERIC (who married MARY MOONSAMMY), and MICHELE HAUSE (who married JOHN SCOTT HOUSTON).

Literature on the Steele Family

TOP IMAGE: Braintree, Essex. Illustration for The County of Essex by Thomas Wright, embellished with views from original drawings by William Bartlett.

The Samuel Steele House is the oldest home in Farmington, built in 1655. It stands at 23 Main Street, Farmington, Hartford County, CT, and is still a privately owned home.