EDWARD MESSENGER

• Death Notes
  • LIVED IN WINDSOR SETTLEMENT IN 1650, MARRIED OWNED LAND IN WHAT IS NOW BLOOMFIELD, CT DIED HARTFORD COUNTY
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    Edward MESSINGER. Born in 1617 in England. Edward died in CT on 12 May 1688; he was 71.
    

• General Notes
  •  Edward Messenger was born before 1630 in England.1 He was the son of (___) (___). He married Dorcas(?) (___) circa 1649.1,2 He died after February 1686 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Conn., when he is mentioned in a deed by Job Drake.3
        
    Immigration: before 1650.
    
         Edward Messenger's origins are unknown and references to Edward of Windsor, Henry of Boston, and Andrew of New Haven and Long Island, as brothers, has little basis. There is some certainty that Henry and Andrew were related, however, there has yet to be found any direct connection between them and Edward. That said, Edward did have business dealings in Boston and New York so the possibility does exist. Henry, of Boston, is probably the best documented of the three and it is known that he was entitled to a coat of arms which were passed on to his son.
         Edward Messenger was surely born in England by 1630, perhaps much earlier. He married, probably about 1649, possibly in England but probably in Connecticut. Edward's close connection with the Drake family at Windsor suggests his wife might have been related to them, but not even her given name is known, though some suggest "Dorcas" with no evidence.
         Matthew Grant recorded the births of Edward's three children in his "Old Church Record" and in "Volume II of the Land Records of the Colony of Connecticut." In both books, Grant specifically says that he is recording the number of children born in Windsor, in Edward Messenger's case three. The fact that the three children born of Edward from 1650-55 were recorded at Windsor strongly suggests that Edward's wife was from Windsor and may have remained with her family while he was at New London. Edward himself, probably located to Windsor in 1653 or 1654. Before 1655, his land and business records involve New London with some reference to Boston. The Boston connection could support a relationship with Henry Messenger of Boston.
    
         It appears that Edward did a lot of traveling, perhaps driving cattle, both to New York and Boston - areas in which Andrew and Henry Messenger lived. In discussing the Indian troubles during King Philip's War in 1675, John Winthrop, Jr. wrote to his son, apparently with concern, that "Ed: Messinger is gone this weeke alone w cattle...."
         In 1661, Edward bought "the just one half of the three hundred and nine acres of land called Greenfield, which the sd Job [Drake] purchased of Thomas fford, but at present not divided from the other half or one Hundred fifty four acres and a half that yet Remains in the property of Job Drake." About 1678, and perhaps on the occasion of his marriage, Edward Messenger assigned a deed of land to his son, Nathaniel, which Edward had purchased from Simon Buell. The transaction was witnessed by Matthew Grant and John Drake Sr. In 1683, Edward and Job divide up the lands that they had held in common for over 20 years and Edward deeds parcels to his son Nathan and his daughter Dorcas and her husband Peter Mills (the Dutchman). Apparently Edward was still living on 3 February 1685/6 when Job Drake sold 14 acres at Greenfield to Nathan Messenger saying, "only Edward Messenger is to have the benefit and improvement of one acre and halfe of the grass land dureing the time of his natural life....". Job Drake signed all of these deeds while Edward signed with his mark (a round, upper case E). This is the last record we have of Edward Messenger.4 
    
    
    
         Children of Edward Messenger and Dorcas(?) (___):
    Dorcas Messenger   b. 23 Sep 1650, d. 18 May 1688
    Nathaniel Messenger+   b. 18 Jun 1653, d. c 1693/94
    Deliverance Messenger   b. 7 Apr 1655, d. 1676
    Citations
    
    [S100] NEHGR, Helen S. Ullman, "The Three Messengers: Henry, Andrew, and Edward: Clearing the Decks", 152(1998):363 .
    [S101] Clarence Almon Torrey, New England Marriages, Edward Messenger entry.
    [S100] NEHGR, Helen S. Ullman, "The Three Messengers: Henry, Andrew, and Edward: Clearing the Decks", 152(1998):371 .
    [S100] NEHGR, Helen S. Ullman, "The Three Messengers: Henry, Andrew, and Edward: Clearing the Decks", 152(1998):353-372 .