596327

[phelps.FTW]

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 1, Ed. 1, Tree #0988, Date of Import: Oct 22, 1998]

John Whitmore (1589-1648)
John Whitmore came to New England about 1635, and as some records
show, had with him his five children. He arrived and stayed as a temporary
resident at Watertown, MA. In 1639 he is recorded as taking out a home
lot in Wethersfield, CN. This homesteader lot was located east of the
River landing, now called Rocky Hill. He built a house and barn on this
land. About 1640 he sold his land of 54 acres to Robert Treat and joined a
group led by Pastor Richard Denton and settled at Stamford, CN. Records
show that John Whitmore was awarded 10 acres of land in the second dis-
tribution at Stamford. He soon became a well respected citizen having been
made a freeman in 1642, was deputy to the General Court in 1643 and a
representative to the New Haven Assembly in 1647.
John Whitmore was a representative in the General Court of New Haven.
He was murdered at Stamford, where he lived, while in search of cattle in
the woods. An Indian, the son of a Sachem, brought in a report of his
death, which he charged to Taquatoes. His body was sought for in vain,
until that Indian led the way to the spot, and it was very evident that he
was one of the murderers; but he made his escape. An account of this
episode follows.
"(1649) The commissioners of New Haven informed the rest of the commis-
sioners, that in or about Oct. last, John Whitmore, one of the deputies of
Stamford, a peaceable, inoffensive man, not apt to quarrel or provoke any
of the Indians, going forth to seek his cattell, returned not according to
expectation, nor could be found by the English that sought him; but,
quickly after, the son of a Sogamore who lives near Stanford came to the
towne, and told the English that John Whitmore was murdered by one Tor-
quatoes, had some of his cloths and particularly his shirt, made of
cotton-linen. Hereupon the English and some Indians went into the woods to
take the murthered body for buriall; but, though they bestowed much time
and labore, could not find it. Divers of the English at Stanford suspected
Sangamore's son to be either the author or the acessory of the murder, but
had not the satisfying grounds to seize and charge him.
About two or three months after, Uncas coming to Stanford, calling the
Indians thither, and inquiring after the murdered body, the fore-mentioned
Songamore's son, and one Rohoron, another suspected Indian, led some of the
English, and some of Uncas his men, to the place where the murdered body,
or the relicts of it lay. The carcase was brought to Stanford. The
Sogamore's son, and Rohoron fell on trembling, and thereby confirmed the
suspicion of the English, and wrought suspicion in some of the Mohegin
Indians, so they said those two Indians were nought, meaning they were
guilty."
Sources:
WETMORE HISTORY by K.L.W. Stadel (1970) FHL 9299.273 W 534s.
The Wetmore Family of America by J.C. Wetmore (1861) FHL 9299.273 W 535w.