• General Notes

  [phelps.FTW]
  
  [2812.ftw]
  
  [Brøderbund WFT Vol. 4, Ed. 1, Tree #2812, Date of Import: Nov 11, 1998]
  
  FORWARD
  
  There is, these days, a widespread, strong, sincere and growing interest in the persons and events of our country's past and in sites and places of historic interest. All of which is verily to the good, for we cannot understand the present and so prognosticate and attempt to form the future without a knowledge of the past. This interest in former things and persons has led on to an interest in genealogy, which is also widespread, strong, sincere and growing. Many people are keen to know who their forebears really were, whence they came and when, where they lived, their occupations and manner of life, their character and their later migrations and settlements. Hence, among many such, is our society of the Descendants of John Owen, our first immigrant ancestor. He came from somewhere in Wales and in 1640 settled in Windsor, CT, where he later married Rebecca Wade and became the ancestor of that branch of the Owen Family which has ramified and spread westward through the central sections of our country to the distant shores of the farther ocean.
  As to the appearance of John and Rebecca Owen we have no Knowledge whatsoever. Of them no pictures of any kind exist. In fact, there is an unfortunate lack of pictures of members of the Owen family through a long-drawn period of time. But if we may judge and imagine from such few more recent descendants, it is quite likely that John Owen, though rebust and strong, was not of lofty stature, and it is highly probable that his yes were blue. As to his temperament, religion and such like, if we may again judge and imagine from his more recent descendants, it is very likely that he was quite and reserved, though vehement when roused; more a thinker than a speaker; strong in his convictions; intensely loyal, with a deeply-seated sense of reverence; strictly truthful, devoid of all profanity and swearing and a most pronounced Calvanist in his theology. I can well imagine that John Owen was a reverent and a constant reader of his Bible and that on every Sabbath Day he was present at service in the Church, regardless of the weather, for Bible reading and Church going have always been among the most pronounce tradition in our family, landmarks which our fathers set and which we should not remove. John was doubtless fond of music. Perhaps he sang "The Men of Harlech." Perhaps he played on some instrument. The custom of giving Bible names to children, which long persisted in the family, was doubtless brought from Wales by John.
  It is a fact beyond dispute that all along the line, from 1640 right down to this here and now, the Owen family has been sublimely patriotic. They served in the Old French War, they served in 1812 and in 1861, and again they served in the First World War, so-called. And had John Owen been a youth in 1776, no doubt but he would have served, as several of his descendants did, in that forlorn but heroic army whose victory was forever changed in course of histroy worldwide. I do not believe that any large number of the Owen family were very conspicuously or lastingly successful in the business world; nor did they often hold office in city or state. But a few of them have been able jurists, and there was one Owen, John Jason by name, who in his day and generation was a teacher and a scholar in the classics of a deserved and lasting reputation.
  Interest in genealogical research in our family is not new. In 1883 the Rev. Eliphalet prepared a manuscript history of the decendants of his grandfather, Frederick Owen. In 1900 Sylvanus Owen II of Jefferson County, Wisconsin, dictated to his grandson the history of the decendants of his grandfather, Sylvanus Owen I. Neither of these men could trace his line all the way back to John Owen, Founder. Both belonged to the Josiah Owen line.
  About 1915 Mrs. Elizabeth Owen Burr of Suffield, CT, prepared a manuscript history of the Isaac Owen line, which is now in the State Library at Hartford.
  In printed form there is the brief sketch in H.R. Stiles' Histroy of Ancient Windsor, CT (1894). In 1929 Mr. W.A. Owen published his excellent article, "John Owen of Windsor and Some of His Descendants," in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register. In 1935 Mr. Hans Christian Owen published a brief supplement in the same magazine.
  For this Present Owen Genealogy we are chiefly indebted to the intelligent and painstaking labors, long drawn out, of Ralph Dornfeld Owen, of Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, and of Elijah Hunter Owen, genealogist, of Detroit, MI. And to them, our worthy cousins, we now extend our thanks. We commend the reading and the strdy of this volume not only to the descendants of John Owen and Rebecca Wade, his wife, but also to all others whose fathers and mothers were pioneers in out beloved country in that long ago, a procedure which may prompt them to go and do likewise with the genealogies of their own clans, and, of course, a copy fo this book should be in every Owen home.
  William H. Owen, S.T.D.
  
  New York City
  October 23, 1940
  
  THE OWEN FAMILY ASSOCIATION
  
  In the Spring of 1937 a committee was organized to arrange for a reunion of descendants of John and Rebecca (Wade) Owen to be held at the old town of Windsor in the state of Connecticut. The personnel of the committee included Hans C. Owen, New Haven, CT, Rev. William H. Owen, Ney York City, George Cheney Owen, Providence, RI, Mrs. C.J. Huyck, West Brookfield, MA, Elijah Hunter Owen, Detroit, MI, Attorney Owen N. Elliott, Cedar Rapids, IA, Mrs. Cassius C. Cottle, Los Angeles, CA, and Ralph Dornfeld Owen, Philadelphia, PA.
  On Saturday June 19, 1937 at the Parish House of Grace Episcopal Church in Windsor, CT fifty Owen kin from eleven states sat down to a luncheon served by the Ladies' Guild of the parish. Hans C. Owen delivered an address on "The Life of John Owen, Founder." In the business meeting a permanent organization was formed, and it decided to publish a comprehensive genealogy. Afterwards the group drove to the cemetery of the First Church and assembled at the grave of the Founder. Master David Williams Conrad, aged seven, a descendant in the tenth generation, placed a bouquet of red roses on the grave.
  The second reunion was held on Saturday June 18, 1938 at the Wake Robin Inn, Lakeville, CT. Thirty-Five Owen kin from ten states were present, of whom half stayed over until Sunday, Elijah Hunter Owen spoke on the "Hills of Home" and traced particularly the descendants of Joseph Owen I who had lived in this area, Salisbury, Sharon, aand Cornwall. Afterwards some of the group visited the local cemeteries. The group sent greatings to Mrs. Hannah Brewster Randall, Rio Grande, OH, aged ninety-eight, oldest known descendant of John and Rebecca (Wade) Owen, and to Julius Owen, Mahnomen, MN, aged ninety.
  The third annual reunion was held on Saturday and Sunday, June 24th and 25th, 1939, at the Elm Tree Inn, Farmington, CT. The program was dedicated to the descendants of Josiah Owen I. Ralph Dornfeld Owen delivered an address on "The Migrations of the Descendants of Josiah Owen I." Thirty-Five Owen kin attended the luncheon and half of them stayed over till Sunday. In the evening an informal program in the parlor of the Inn featured readings by Mary Owen of Detroit, MI, and Mrs. Loleta Levet Rowan of San Diego, CA. On Sunday morning all attended services at the First Church in Windsor and afterwards visited the grave of the Founder.
  The fourth annual renion was held on Saturday and Sunday, June 22nd and 23rd 1940 at the Elm Tree Inn, Farmington, CT Thirty-Five Owen kin, representing seven states, sat down to the luncheon. Attorney Ralf Hillemann Owen, Philadelphia, PA delivered an address on the topic "The Spirit of the Puritans." Mrs. Mavel Owens Wilcox, Chevyy Chase, MD, gave a reading. In the late afternoon one group drove to see historic Torrington, while another visited Simsbury, CT. After dinner all visited in the parlor and enjoyed a cheery log fire. A notable fact was that one-third of the group were young people under thirty years of age.
  On Sunday morning thiry Owen folk attended services in a body at the First Church in Windsor and heard our president, the Rev. Dr. William Henry Owen, New York City, conduct the service and preach on the topic "Remove Not the Ancient Landmarks." Afterwards the congregation accompanied the Owen Folk to the Grave of the Founder. The President offered a prayer, Miss Margaret Huyck read a poem, and Master David Williams Conrad laid flowers on the tomb.
  Twenty-Five kinsfolk later enjoyed the hospitality of Misses Arria and Esther Owen at a buffet luncheon in their home in Hartford.
  Officers of the association have included: President: Hans C. Owen, 1937-38, Mrs. C.J. Huyck, 1938-39, Rev. Dr. William Henry Owen, 1939-41.
  Each year there have been four vice presidents. The following persons have served in this capacity: Attorney Owen N. Elliott, Cedar Rapids, IA, Mrs. Ben Cowan, San Barnardino, CA, Mrs. Anna Owen Plumb, Torrington, CT, Mrs. Mabel Owens Wilcox, Chevy Chase, MD, and Attorney Ralf Hillemann Owen, Philadelphia, PA
  Attorney Owen N. Elliott and Rev. Dr. William Henry Owen have joined with the editor in guaranteeing one-half of the cost of publishing this genealogy.
  Elijah Hunter Owen has served continuously as genealogist, and Dr. Ralph Dornfeld Owen as secretary-treasurer. An annual report has been published in August and a news letter in February. Communications should be sent to the secretary in care of Temple University, Philadelphia.
  
  R.D.O.
  November 22, 1940
  
  JOHN OWEN
  
  The birthplace of John Owen, the Founder, has not been discovered. According to Windsor tradition he was born in Wales. The year of his birth has not been definitely determined: according to his tombstone he was born in 1622, but according to a deposition he made some years before his death, he was born in 1624.
  According to Henmon, John Owen is first mentioned in New England in the town records of New Haven in 1642. According to our present knowledge we cannot be sure that the man mentioned in New Haven is identical with our John Owen.
  Since the early Windsor records were lost, we cannot be sure just when John Owen settled in Windsor. The first definite fact we have is that on October 3, 1650 he married Rebecca Wade of Hartford nearby. The bride was the daughter of Robert and Jemima Wade. Robert was one of 127 original settlers of Hartford in 1639, and his name is inscribed on the Settlers Monument.
  At the time of his marriage John Owen joined the Church and became a freeman of the town, a voter. He bought a landgrant, 12 rods x 29 rods (200 feet x 500 feet) on the south side of the road leading west from the Palisade and bounded on the east by Hosford's Lane. It is a little west of and parallel with the present railroad track. Here Goodman John Owen and his family lived for twenty years.
  We know that John was respected highly in the community. An entry in the records tells us that in 1656, "In town meeting it was consented that Nicholas Wilson should sojourn with John Owen, so he live orderly with him." To make this entry clear, it must be understood that strangers coming to the town, particularly un-attached young men, were looked on with suspicion, and, if they were permitted to remain in the town, could do so only in the home of some person who, by virtue of good character and responsibility, would be surety for him. Special permission must be obtained in each case from the town meeting.
  John Owen was sexton of the meeting house in 1666. In 1667, for some reason unknown, Nathaniel Cook was appointed to that office. John felt aggrieved by that appointment, and we find this very interesting entry in the records:
  "John Owen shall have part of the pay with Nathaniel, though he did not of the work." His grievance must have been just indeed or else those hard-headed townsmen would never have issued such an order. Besides his many real estate transactions, John, like most of our better colonists, found time to pursue a trade. We find that the town on February 15, 1668, paid "John Owen for clapboarding he did on the meeting house before winter 7s, 4d."
  A petition of the year 1663 signed by twelve Windsor men includes the signatures of John Owen and John Osborn, showing that they had land interests at Hammonoscett, a newly-founded settlement later called Killingsorth.
  In 1670 John Owen and his family moved onto a piece of land on the Farmington River, opposite to Poquonok. The locality received the name of "Wales" from John Owen's nationality.
  During King Philip's War, the Owens must have taken refuge in the village. After the war was over, when Windsor people collected money for Simsbury, the average donation was two shillings; John Owen gave 1 shilling; other contributions ranged from 1 pound to 6 pence.
  In 1680, we find him on the east side of the Great River, where with other early settlers of Old Windsor, he petitioned the General Court at Hartford, "To grant that all those lands on the East side Connecticotte River, at present in the township of Windsor, may hence forward be a distinct and particular township." As the signatures of only proprietors and inhabitants were considered on documents of that kind, we know that John Owen not only owned land in East Windsor, but lived there. We find in the records several conveyances of land by John Owen to members of his family and others.
  John Owen died February 18, 1698 (Old Style), and Mrs. Rebecca Wade Owen died December 3, 1711. They had a numerous family, --eleven children. It is noteworthy that only eight grew up to raise families of their own.
  Before his death John disposed of his lands. In 1695 and 1697 he gave certain parcels of land to his sons Obadiah and Isaac.
  The records of the Probate Court contain the following statement about the estate of John Owen:
  "Inventory taken by Lieutenant Hayden and Benajah Holcomb April 5, 1699 and found to be worth L 29. Exhibited in court, being only personal estate and that given to the widow to be at her disposal, the children consenting."
  The Inventory included four coats and four pairs of britches, a powdering barrel, books and bottles, pewter platter, dishes, spoons and ladle, brass cast skillet and brass kettle, table cloths and a dozen napkins.
  John Owen's grave is located in the southwest corner of the cemetery behind the First Congregational Church at Windsor. An arbor vitae tree has grown over it and shelters the well-preserved tombstone. The latter is cut from red stone, and it is 22 inches wide and 22 inches high. The inscription is quite legible:
  
  John Owen
  Aged 76 Years
  Dyed Febrvary
  Y 18 1698
  
  
  
  
   

Details of John's family with Rebecca Wade