[NI0103]
A son of Abraham and Sarah Mary Utter. He was one of the survivors of
the Wyoming Valley Massacre. He was a very large and strong young man
and not quite fourteen years old when in 1778 from Cumberland Co., PA, he
enlisted in the Revolutionary War. In 1780 he served as a privateunder
Captain McCallister. In March 1782, he served under Captain Harrell and
later under the command of General Green. In 1783, after returning from
the War, he married Martha Lycan, (Her wedding dress has been preserved
by her descendants.) For heroic services during the war, many soldiers
were granted land. Abraham was granted 300 acres in Tenn. So in 1784,
they left Pennsylvania and went south to take up the land grant in
Washington Co, Tenn. This land was on the north side of the Clinch
River, near Marysville. They lived at Nolichucky, Tuckaluchee Cove,
Miller Cove and Cade Cove, all in the beautiful Smokey Mountains Blount
Co. Tenn. Here they farmed and raised their family. They became members
of the historic Baker Creek Presbyterian Church. They withdrew their
membership on October 15, 1831 to move to Thorntown, Boone Co., Indian
where some of the older Utter relatives had gone as early as 1812. He
died at Thorntown, IN. just four years after his wife Martha. They are
both buried in the Cox Cemetery, one mile west and five miles south of
town. In 1901, the D.A.R. had a large monument erected, honoring him as
a Revolutionary War soldier and veteran. All 12 of his children were
born in Blount County, Tennessee.
Some marriages found in the Utter folder in the W. E. Parham Papers,
McClung Collection, Lawson-McGhee Library, Knoxville, Tenn. Information
was sent to Mr. Parham by Mrs. Allen V. Gray, c/o St. Phillips Cathedral,
Corner E. Hunter and Washington Sts., Atlanta, GA, prior to November,
1928. She was the Cathedral secretary. The information evidently came
from pension papers.)
Land Grants to Abraham Utter:
1011. (4:111-12) John Cromwell (first party), Abraham Utter (second
party) to Jesse KERR (third party): 19 Feb 1830, 100 ac on waters of
Baker's Creek adj lands of Robert Thompson and Nathaniel HARRISON, John
Hall and others (not named); part of a 212 ac Grant to Abraham Utter on 7
June 1809.
Some information came from Joe Gould (a grandson of a child of Abraham
who was born out of wedlock)...and sources are as follows:
Utter Family Records
Bible Records
Blount County, Tenn, Records
A History of Blount County, by Inez Burns
Nicholas Utter of Westerly, Rhode Island - by Katherine Watterman
The Swedish Settlement on the Delaware - by Amandus Johnson
J. T. Boddie - mentions Utter family - Pg. 223-66
Central Pennsylvania Marriages - 1700-1896 - by Dr. C. A. Fisher
History of Edgar Co., Ill
Peoples Guide - Directory of Boone Co., IN - by Cline
North Carolina Land Grants in Tennessee - 1778-1791 - pg. 13-15
D.A.R. Revolutionary War Records
Hartford, Connecticut Will Book 9
[NI0107] He never married. Died at 22 yr. old.
[NI0110]
A son of Abraham and Lydia Russel Utter. He was raised in Conn. and was
married there. Soon after they moved to Mass, just outside of Boston
where their children were born. About 1768, they joined a group to
settle the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania. It was here the horrible
Indian massacre occurred and his wife, Sarah and three sons, Moses, James
and Thomas were killed by the Indians. Two daughters, Joanna and Sarah
were taken prisoners but were later exchanged. Both girls lived to
marry and raise families. Their descendants still tell the stories of
the Wyoming Valley Massacre. After the massacre, Abraham took what was
left of his family and moved to Cumberland Co. PA. Abraham died Feb. 10,
1779 at Amenia, New York. More on the Wyoming Massacre in Sarah's
scrapbook and notes sections.
From the book, "Nicholas Utter of Westerly, R.I." by Katherine M. Utter
Waterman, G. B. Utter and W. B. Utter.
[NI0111]
The Wyoming Valley Massacre
The Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania, is situated in Luzerne County and
crossed by the Susquehanna River. It is crescent shaped, approximately 20
miles long and 3 to 4 miles wide.
A fertile, aluvial plain containing anthracite coal deposits, it is noted
for its beauty. The valley was claimed by connecticut under its charter
of 1662 which named its western boundary as the Pacific Ocean. This
description conflicted with the William Penn grant and the Wyoming Valley
was claimed by both colonies. It was settled in 1750-1760, mainly by
people from Connecticut. The French and Indian War interfered with its
settlement. The Iriquois Indians in 1754 repudiated the agreement with
the Connecticut colony and resold the rights to Penn. The
Pennamite-Yankee wars of 1769-1771 and 1775 was the result of the ensuing
dispute.
During the revolution, a large portion of the men of the valley joined
the Continental Army. A number of Tory-Loyalists remained and in 1778
were joined by a group known as Butler's Rangers, their Indian allies
(Iriquois) some Scots and Dutch, whom the Connecticut people had expelled
from the valley at the beginning of the war. The invaders were led by Sir
John Johnson, John Butler, and Joseph Brant.
Prior to the attack, the settlers had taken refuge in the fort known as
Forty Fort near Wilkes-Barre. The settlers did not number over 400,
chiefly boys and old men; the British force including 700 Indians was
about 1100. After a desperate battle fought on the 3rd of July, 1778, the
settlers were completely defeated, about 2/3 being killed. They were
forced to capitulate. After the surrender, many of the prisoners were
tortured and killed by the Indians. The greater part of the inhabitants
of the valley were compelled to flee to other settlements and endured
great hardships.
Christopher Starke, the 4th great grandfather of Mahala Place Pontius had
two sons killed at the Wyoming Massacre. They were Aaron and Daniel
Starke, brothers to our ancestor William Starke. William's wife was Polly
Cary. A Joseph Cary was one of the victims, perhaps her brother, and
Samuel and Nathan Carey (note the spelling) were survivors.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
------
Data taken from "History of Luzerne County" by H.C. Bradsby; Encyclopedia
Americana, Vol 29, page 590-591; Encyclopedia Britanica, Vol 23, page
833; and Colliers Encyclopedia, Vol 23, page 657
[NI0116] In a community where pillors of the church settled their differences with clubs and hatchets and the most public spirited citizens were the most shameless land grabbers, one wonders what a 'scamp of a vagabond fellow' might be. Abraham and his brother, Jabez, Jr. were 'scamps of vagabond fellows', wild and alleged horsethiefs. Jabez Jr. is known to have had a mulatto son. But they must have eventually settled down to marriage and families. Abraham married in 1715, Lydia Russel (daughter of Captain John Russel of New Haven, Conn.) A brother, Edward Russel married a sister of Abraham's, Katherine. Capt. Russel in 1720 and 1722, gave some of his land to his daughter Lydia and son-in-law Abraham. He is on record as having signed a quit claim deed to his interest in his father's lands on the Quinebaug River in Mass. Their heirs, on Aug. 26, 1761, signed quit claim deed for the property that Capt. Russel gave to Lydia and Abraham, so that it could be sold to one Abraham Hodges. At least seven of their grandsons fought in the Revolutionary War.
[NI0118] They had no children. Lydia died in 1749/50 and her husband married Lydia Warner less than a year after her death...1750/51.
[NI0121]
A son of Nicholas and Elizabeth Utter. In 1683 he was granted land in
Stow, Mass. and the following year he married. We don't know how he
lived but his name appears six times in Stow and Middlesex counties
records in regards to land tax and the birth of two daughters. In
Plainville, Conn., he appears on land evidence six times and three times
at Killingly. Also on sale of his father's land in Stonington, Conn and
Westerly and Richmond, R.I. On Jan 1698, he purchased land on the
Quinebaug River, which he later gave to his sons, Abraham and Jabez, Jr.
In 1706 he lived at Mortlake, later called Pomfret. They were members of
the Congregationalist Church of Canterbury, as it was very uncomfortable
to be anything else in those days in Conn. He signed his last deed May
25, 1727 and must have died right after this. His wife, Mary, went to
live with her daughter, Mary Hyde, until she died.
Taken from book, "Nicholas Utter of Westerly, R.I." by Katherine M. Utter
Waterman, G. B. and W. B. Utter in 1941.
[NI0124]
Nicholas Utter: Born 1630 in Sweden, Died August 17, 1722 in Stonington,
CT:
"'A Daughty Scandanavian Soldier - Sailor that of all North-men he dwelt
farthest North who so interested the King of Sweden that he had him to
court and had a scribe take down his storey." His inheritance from his
Viking ancestors was his love of freedom and independence, an affection
for home and family and a great desire to travel. His way of life was a
separate class - the Military of Sweden. New Sweden was a colony founded
in 1638 on the banks of the Delaware River. Nicholas was hired in
Stockholm in 1653 to come to the Colonies to fight the Dutch. They
fought for two more years and in 1655 the Dutch captured the strongest
fort, Fort Christina. Even though the victorious Stuyvesant arranged
with the New Sweden Governor Rising, for the return of all soldiers to
Sweden on October 23, 1655, many of them stayed in the New World.
Nicholas Utter, soldier, swordscutter and blacksmith, stayed. He was
listed as a married man on the lists from Sweden. Whether he left a wife
and family in Sweden or was widowed is not known, but in 1659 he married
Elizabeth ___, a widow with one daughter, Eleanor. He lived most of his
life at Westerly, Rhode Island. He recorded land at New Port, R.I. in
May 1678. He paid land taxes in Rochester, R.I. in September 1687 and
also at Kingston, R.I. In 1701 he bought more land in Westerly, and in
1699 he went before the Westerly town court on a boundery dispute. He
was supported in his lawsuit by the town council. Until 1714, his name
appeared thirteen times on the Westerly records. He received 100 acres
of land from the town of Westerly and bought two parcels from the
'Shannock Purchase' (the Shannock Purchase was a tract of land mostly in
the present town of Richmond, sold by the colony agents to encourage the
settlement of vacant lands.) Nicholas was employed in making a list of
the town estates and was a grand juryman for a setting of the General
Court at New Port. He engaged in many land transactions. He lived at
'Shannock Falls', near the present town of Shannock.
On January 8, 1714, he bought land in Stonington, CT. 'land bounded
south by the Asnawage River, near Glead Brook.' Here he lived until he
died. In his will-probated August 17, 1722 - he leaves 'amounts and
property to his widow and children and also 20 pounds tohis Brothern of
the first lay Baptist Church at Groton. My son Thomas to have a double
share of dividable estate for taking care of me in my old age.'
[NI0126] Thomas is listed as having married Hannah Cottrell in Joe Gould's information, but the New England Genealogy Registry lists him as marrying Mercy Cottrell.
[NI0129]
Utter Genealogy p. 16. Although mentioned in many places as a possible
step-daughter of Nicholas Utter of Westerly, RI,
her probable birth (based on her marriage year) would place her among the
other children of Nicholas Utter and wife Elizabeth, she is most probably
a blood daughter of Nicholas Utter of Westerly, R.I. !Torrey genalogy
gives the first birth of a child of Nicholas Utter and his second wife
as 1701, strengthening the case for Eleanor’s parentage as an Utter.
(taken from the New England Genealogy GEDCOM Database from E. Perry)
As per the book, "Nicholas Utter of Westerly, R.I.", it lists a document
saying that Eleanor was the daughter of the widowed Elizabeth before
Nicholas married her and Nicholas claims her as a daughter-in-law (as
they never knew what step children meant back then) in his will and
testament...so it's anyone's guess who she truly is, but she did mary
Matthew Randall and she did receive part of what was hers from the will.
[NI0132] * Her children were to receive her share in her father’s will written on date given, implying she was deceased as of that writing...mentioned in the RIGR (Rhode Island Genealogy Registry) p. 311-314
[NI0133] Information gathered from Byron and Roger Stone's Ancestory Genealogy Database with Family Treemaker on 2/98.
[NI0150] Possibly died at infancy.
[NI0152] Information based from the Greene Family Genealogy Database as of 2/98. Still needs more research.
[NI0154] Gathered from the Green Family Genealogy Database in the Family Treemaker Online sources in February 1998.
[NI0166] Was Capt. of 1st Co. Warwick RI; in Col Elliott's Reg
[NI0171] Information gathered from The Green Genealogy Database in Family Treemaker Online in February 1998
[NI0281] Is the brother of Lydia Russel who married Abraham.
[NI0299] He died very young.
[NI0300] Died in childhood.
[NI0305] He married Miss Willa, went to California in 1849 and never heard from again.
[NI0742] !Not mentioned in the will of her father, written on the date given. She m [n.d.] William SHELDON.
[NI0917] She was living for a settlement on her husband's estate on the date given.
[NI1006] !The BABCOCK genealogy (1903) has an interesting biography concerning him on page 22.
[NI1035]
!BABCOCK genealogy (1903). PENDLETON genealogy (1911), p 73. She was
living at the time her husband's will was written on the date given.
[NI1037] !She was the third wife of Nathan BABCOCK. She had one child, Mercy, b 21 Jul 1780. (In some records she is named "Mary".)
[NI1038] !BABCOCK genealogy (1903). Date given is year of birth of last child, Elkanah, b 1738.
[NI1046] !She is not mentioned in the will of her husband written on the date given.
[NI1049] !She may have been his second wife.
[NI1053]
!Date given is date of her mother's will.
New England Electronic GENDEX files.
[NI1062] !She was not mentioned in her husband's will, written on date given.
[NI1064] !He married (2) 23 APR 1761 Alice WEEKS of Warwick, RI.
[NI1066] !Date given is birth year of last child, Remember BABCOCK.
[NI1083]
!RIGR 11:151 -- the family moved from Charlestown to Westerly, RI abt Nov
1750
New England GENDEX electronic files.
[NI1085] !D/O William TANNER & Hannah TIBBETTS.
[NI1087] !He married (1) 10 Mar 1754 Dorcas GARDINER
[NI1093]
!Living at the time her husband wrote his will on the date given.
New England GENDEX electronic files
Reference #I7381
[NI1097] !He married (2) in Richmond Aft Jun 1803 Phebe -?- [no issue].
[NI1099] !RIGR: Vol. 2; pp 91-100. Mayflower Families: vol. 3; pp 87-88.
[NI1107] !He married (1) 11 Mar 1698/9 Mary SLOCUM.
[NI1108]
!In spite of many genealogists offering her an early death, she signed a
deed, yielding her "right of dower" in April 1747. Exeter, RI Land
Evidence Vol.6 pp 350-351.
New England GENDEX Electronic Files
[NI1118] Mentioned in her husband's will on date given. RIGR: 1989; p 135.
[NI1134] !S/O Abram UTTER & Hannah BURDICK. He m (2) Prudence LEWIS, who died in Adams Centre, NY 23 Feb 1863.
[NI1146] !She married (1) Daniel MEECH; (2) -?- WITTER
[NI1152] !Date given is date of birth of her last child, Joseph Lewis BLIVEN.
[NI1171]
The Wyoming Valley Massacre
The Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania, is situated in Luzerne County and
crossed by the Susquehanna River. It is crescent shaped, approximately 20
miles long and 3 to 4 miles wide.
A fertile, aluvial plain containing anthracite coal deposits, it is noted
for its beauty. The valley was claimed by connecticut under its charter
of 1662 which named its western boundary as the Pacific Ocean. This
description conflicted with the William Penn grant and the Wyoming Valley
was claimed by both colonies. It was settled in 1750-1760, mainly by
people from Connecticut. The French and Indian War interfered with its
settlement. The Iriquois Indians in 1754 repudiated the agreement with
the Connecticut colony and resold the rights to Penn. The
Pennamite-Yankee wars of 1769-1771 and 1775 was the result of the ensuing
dispute.
During the revolution, a large portion of the men of the valley joined
the Continental Army. A number of Tory-Loyalists remained and in 1778
were joined by a group known as Butler's Rangers, their Indian allies
(Iriquois) some Scots and Dutch, whom the Connecticut people had expelled
from the valley at the beginning of the war. The invaders were led by Sir
John Johnson, John Butler, and Joseph Brant.
Prior to the attack, the settlers had taken refuge in the fort known as
Forty Fort near Wilkes-Barre. The settlers did not number over 400,
chiefly boys and old men; the British force including 700 Indians was
about 1100. After a desperate battle fought on the 3rd of July, 1778, the
settlers were completely defeated, about 2/3 being killed. They were
forced to capitulate. After the surrender, many of the prisoners were
tortured and killed by the Indians. The greater part of the inhabitants
of the valley were compelled to flee to other settlements and endured
great hardships.
Christopher Starke, the 4th great grandfather of Mahala Place Pontius had
two sons killed at the Wyoming Massacre. They were Aaron and Daniel
Starke, brothers to our ancestor William Starke. William's wife was Polly
Cary. A Joseph Cary was one of the victims, perhaps her brother, and
Samuel and Nathan Carey (note the spelling) were survivors.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
------
Data taken from "History of Luzerne County" by H.C. Bradsby; Encyclopedia
Americana, Vol 29, page 590-591; Encyclopedia Britanica, Vol 23, page
833; and Colliers Encyclopedia, Vol 23, page 657
[NI1187] Was Capt. of 1st Co. Warwick RI; in Col Elliott's Reg
[NF042] Information gathered from the Lockwood Genealogy Database on 2/98.
[NF210] Information gathered from the Lockwood Genealogy Database on 2/98.
[NS21843] Personal Files
[NS11511]
Westerly records, He received 100 acres of land from the town of Westerly and bought two parcels from the 'Shannook Purchase' (the Shannook Purchase was a tract of land mostly in the present town of R
ichmond, sold by the colony agents to encourage the settlement of vacant lands.) Nicholas was employed in making a list of the town estates and was a grand juryman for a setting of the General Court a
t New Port. He engaged in many land transactions. He lived at 'Shannook Falls', near the present town of Shannook.
On January 8, 1714, he bought land in Stonington, Connecticut. 'land bounded south by the Asnawage River, near Glead Brook.' Here he lived until he died. In his will - probated August 17, 1722 - h
e leaves 'amounts and property to his widow and children and also 20 pounds to his Brothern of the first lay Baptist Church at Groton. My son Thomas to have a double shere of dividable estate for tak
ing care of me in my old age.'
As per his last will and testiment, dated 5 May 1722, before his death, Nicholas acknowledged Eleanor (supposed daughter of his wife, Elizabeth, whom was widowed when he married her in 1659) as his da
ughter-in-law rather than as a step-daughter who later married Matthew Randall)
Several genealogy databases list Nicholas as having a son, John, but this name was not mentioned in his will, rather a John Richmond (a close friend of Nicholas'). In some it also states John as havi
ng a wife Hannah Cottrell, but his son, Thomas is the one who married Hannah in 1701.
Nicholas was made a Freeman June 13, 1698.
Nicholas Utter: Born 1630 in Sweden, Died August 17, 1722 in Stonington, Connecticut.
" 'A Daughty Scandanavian Soldier - Sailor that of all North-men he dwelt farthest North who so interesed the King of Sweden that he had him to court and had a scribe take down his storey." His inher
itance from his Viking ancestors was his love of freedom and independence, an affection for home and family and a great desire to travel. His
[NS11513] Higgonson Books and Library of Congress 2nd Copy
[NS28353] Personal Files
[NS11303] Personal Files
[NS24183] Internet GENDEX files, Lockwood Family
[NS7421] Joe Gould and James Russell Utter files from Nicholas Mattson Utter family and confirmed at the Gene Starks GEDCOM database.
[NS7423] http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/a/n/d/Joni-G-Anderson
[NS26773] Personal Files
[NS26823] Personal Files
[NS11463] Personal Files