Generation 1

LIEUT. THOMAS MINOR (abt 1607 - 1690) of Charlestown and New London

Parents:

Thomas Minor was born on 23 Apr 1608 in Chew Magna, county Somerset, England. [Ref, p. 16] He died on 23 Oct 1690 [Ref] in Stonington. [Ref, p. 17] He is buried in the ancient graveyard in Stonington and his headstone says: "Here Lyes the body of Livtenant Thomas Miner aged 83 departed 1690". [Ref] He married Grace Palmer on 23 Apr 1634 in Charlestown. [Ref]

Thomas Minor came to New England in the Winthrop fleet, arriving at Cape Ann on 12 Jun 1630. [Ref, p. 16] He was one of the first members of the First Church in Charlestown, joining in about 1631. [Ref] Thomas received Lot 18 in the first division of land at Mystic Side, now Charleston, on 6 (1) 1637. [Ref, p. 16]

Thomas moved from Charlestown to Hingham, where four of his children were born, and then to Stonington in 1645. [Ref, p. 16] There he had a grant of a home lot and built a house and then sold them. [Ref, p. 16] He bought a large tract of land lying on the borders of Wequetequack Cove in 1652. [Ref, p. 16] He ran into some difficulty when it turned out that land he had purchased had already been sold to his father-in-law. [Ref, p. 16]

Thomas is on a 4 Mar 1633/4 list of freemen. [Ref]

Thomas was an original member of the Church of Christ in Stonington on 3 Jun 1674. [Ref]

Children of Thomas Minor and Grace Palmer:

1. John Minor [Ref] was born in Charlestown in 1636. [Ref, p. 17]
2. Dea. Clement Minor was baptised on 4 Mar 1638 in Hingham. [Ref, p. 17] He died in Oct 1700 and was buried in the ancient burial ground in New London. [Ref] He was a freeman in 1668. [Ref]
3. Thomas Minor [Ref] was baptised on 10 May 1640 in Hingham. [Ref, p. 17]
4. Ephraim Minor was baptised on 1 May 1642 in Hingham. He died on 16 May 1724 in Stonington. He married Hannah Avery.
5. Joseph Minor [Ref] was baptised on 25 Aug 1644 in Hingham. [Ref, p. 17]
   At the 10 May 1666 court in Hartford, Mr. Thomas Stanton was requested to administer the freeman's oath to Joseph Minor. [Ref 2;32] Joseph and his wife were admitted to the first church in Stonington on 11 Apr 1675. [Ref]
6. Dea. Manassah Minor was born on 23 Apr 1647 in New London. [Ref, p. 17] He died on 29 Apr 1728, age 82 [Ref] in Stonington. [Ref] He is buried in the ancient graveyard in Stonington and his headstone says: "Here lieth the body of Deacon Manasseh Miner Who died April 29th 1728 in ye 82nd year ofhis age." [Ref] He married Lydia Unknown. Lydia was born about 1650. She died on 12 Aug 1720 in Stonington. [Ref] She is buried in the ancient graveyard in Stonington. Her headstone says: "Here Lyeth the body of Lyde Minor Who departed August ye 12 1720 in ye 70 year of Her age." [Ref]
   Mannassah was the first white male born in New London. [Ref] He was admitted to the first church in Stonington on 3 Oct 1686. [Ref] Lydia, the wife of Mannasah Minor, was admitted to the first church in Stonington on 15 Sep 1695. [Ref] Manassah was chosen deacon of first church in Stonington on 12 Mar 1701. [Ref]
   some descendants of Manassah Minor
   
7. Ann Minor [Ref] was born on 28 Apr 1649 in New London. [Ref, p. 17] She died on 13 Aug 1652. [Ref, p. 17]
8. Marie Minor [Ref] was born in 1650 in New London. [Ref, p. 17] She died on 29 Jan 1660 in Stonington. [Ref][Ref, p. 17, says 24 Jan]
9. Samuel Minor [Ref] was born on 4 Mar 1652 in Stonington. [Ref, p. 17]
10. Hannah Minor [Ref] was born on 15 Sep 1655 in Stonington. [Ref, p. 17]
11. Eunice Minor [Ref]
12. Elizabeth Minor [Ref]
13. Judah Minor [Ref]

Mary Minor owned the covenant at the first church in Stonington on 18 Apr 1689. [Ref] The widow Mary Minor was admitted to the first church in Stonington on 28 Apr 1708. [Ref]

Generation 2

EPHRAIM MINOR (bp. 1642 - 1724)

Parents: Lieut. Thomas Minor and Grace Palmer [Ref, p. 19-20][Ref, p. 17]

Ephraim Minor was born about 1641. He was baptised on 1 May 1642 in Hingham. [Ref, 1;79][Ref, p. 17] He died on 16 May 1724, age 83, in Stonington. [Ref] married Hannah Avery on 20 Jun 1666 in Stonington. [Ref] She died on 22 Aug 1721, age 77, in Stonington. [Ref]

In his diary, his father wrote, "Apr, 1666: The 11th day wensday The macth was made up between Ephraim and hanah Averie I gave the 2 horses to Ephraim and Joseph to buy their weding suits sbath day the 15th Sabath day 22 Ephraim and Hanah was put oveer the meeting house door." In June he wrote, "wensday the 20, our Ephraim was married." [Ref, 1;79]

At the 10 May 1666 court in Hartford, Mr. Thomas Stanton was requested to administer the freeman's oath to Ephraim. [Ref 2;32]

Ephraim was an original member of the Church of Christ in Stonington on 3 Jun 1674. [Ref]

Ephraim served in King Philip's War and received arable land and cedar swamp in Voluntown for his services. [Ref, 1;79]

The 13 May 1675 court at Hartford appointed Mr. Nehemiah Palmer and Ephraim Minor to lay out land for the wife of Thomas Shaw. [Ref 2;57] Ephraim was deputy to the Connecticut court on 12 Oct 1676 [Ref 2;286], 12 Oct 1676 [Ref 3;86], 11 Apr 1690 [Ref 4;15], 8 May 1690 [Ref 4;23], 10 Oct 1706 [Ref 5;2], 2 Apr 1707 [Ref 5;17], 13 Oct 1709 [Ref 5;114], 10 May 1711 [Ref 5;205] and 19 Jun 1711 [Ref 5;245]. He was appointed justice of the peace on 8 May 1707 [Ref 5;21] and 13 May 1708 [Ref 5;62]. He was appointed as Ephraim Minor, Esq. on 12 May 1609 [Ref 5;94], 11 May 1710 [Ref 5;145] and 10 May 1711 [Ref 5;219].

Ephraim's brother Manasseh kept a diary. In it, he says that Ephraim led a company in in the Indian Wars on 25 May 1704. In August he went with a new supply of soldiers to Deerfield. He came home on 1 Sep 1704. [Ref, p. 183]

Ephraim Minor, selectman of Stonington, took inventory of the estateof John Hallam of Stonington on 5 Feb 1701. [Ref, 11;156]

Ephraim Minor of Stonington sold six acres of upland to James Covey of Westerly for 40 s. on 5 Nov 1706. [Ref]

Children of Ephraim Minor and Hannah Avery:

1. Hannah Minor was born on 5 Apr 1667 in Stonington. [Ref][Ref, 1;80] She died on 26 May 1667 in Stonington. [Ref][Ref, 1;80, says 25 May]
2. Capt. Ephraim Minor was born on 22 Jun 1668 in Stonington. [Ref][Ref, 1;80] He was baptised on 16 Jun 1672 in New London. [Ref, 1;80] He died on 19 Feb 1739/40 in Stonington. [Ref, 1;80] He married Mary Stephens of Taunton on 24 May 1694 [Ref, 1;80] in Taunton. [Ref] She died on 27 Sep 1748 in Stonington. [Ref]
   Ephraim Minor owned the covenant at the first church in Stonington on 18 Apr 1689. [Ref] He was confirmed captain of the second Stonington company or trainband on 13 Oct 1715. [Ref 5;520] Capt. Ephraim Minor was admitted to the first church in Stonington on 16 Aug 1719. [Ref] He was a deputy from Stonington many times, a selectman and justice of the peace. [Ref, 1;80]
   some descendants of Ephraim Minor
   
3. Thomas Minor was born on 17 Dec 1669 in Stonington. [Ref][Ref, 1;80] He was baptised on 16 Jun 1672 in New London. [Ref, 1;80] He died on 8 Sep 1688 in Stonington. [Ref][Ref, 1;80]
4. Hannah Minor was born on 20 Apr 1671 in Stonington. [Ref][Ref, 1;80] She was baptised on 16 Jun 1672 in New London. [Ref, 1;80] She married Samuel Frink on 6 Jan 1692 in Stonington. [Ref][Ref, 1;80]
   Hannah Minor owned the covenant at the first church in Stonington on 18 Apr 1689. [Ref] Hannah, the daughter of Ephraim Minor, was admitted to the first church in Stonington on 30 Mar 1690. [Ref]
5. Rebeckah Minor was born in Sep 1672 in Stonington. [Ref][Ref, 1;80, says 17 Sep] She was baptised on 15 Nov 1674 in Stonington. [Ref][Ref, 1;80] She died on 15 Jan 1746/7 in Stonington. [Ref, 1;80] She married Josiah Grant on 8 Jul 1696 in Stonington. [Ref][Ref, 1;80]
   
6. Elizabeth Minor was born in Apr 1674 in Stonington. [Ref][Ref, 1;80, says 30 Apr] She was baptised on 15 Nov 1674 in Stonington. [Ref][Ref, 1;80] She married John Brown. [Ref, 1;80]
   some descendants of Elizabeth Minor
   
7. Samuel Minor was born in Dec 1676 in Stonington. [Ref][Ref, 1;80, says 9 Dec 1675] He was baptised on 13 Mar 1680 in Stonington. [Ref]
8. Deborah Minor was born on 15 Apr 1677 in Stonington. [Ref][Ref, 1;80] She was baptised on 3 Jun 1677 in Stonington. [Ref][Ref, 1;80] She died in Aug 1678 in Stonington. [Ref][Ref, 1;80]
9. Deborah Minor was born in Apr 1679 in Stonington. [Ref says Apr 1678][Ref, 1;80] She was baptised on 30 Mar 1679 in Stonington. [Ref][Ref, 1;80] She died in Aug 1698 in Stonington. [Ref][Ref, 1;80, says 8 Sep] She married Joseph Pendleton on 8 Jul 1696 in Stonington. [Ref, 1;80] He married second Deborah's cousin Patience Potts. [Ref, 1;80]
10. Ens. Samuel Minor was born in 28 Aug 1680 in Stonington. [Ref says Aug 1681][Ref, 1;80] He was baptised on 13 Mar 1680/1 in Stonington. [Ref, 1;80] He died on 8 Dec 1717 in Stonington. [Ref, 1;80] He married Ann Denisonon 7 Apr 1702 in Stonington. [Ref, 1;80]
    Samuel was an ensign of the train band. [Ref, 1;80]
    
11. Lieut. James Minor was born in Nov 1682 in Stonington. [Ref] He was baptised on 9 Apr 1682 in Stonington. [Ref][Ref, 1;80] He died on 3 Jun 1726 in Stonington. [Ref, 1;80] He married first Abigail Eldredge on 22 Feb 1704/5 in Stonington. [Ref][Ref, 1;80, says 2 Feb] She died on 13 Aug 1720, age 32, in Stonington. [Ref] He married second Sarah Ayers on 4 May 1721 in Stonington. [Ref, 1;80]
    James was a lieutenant of the trainband, deputy and selectman. [Ref, 1;80]
    
12. Grace Minor was born in Sep 1683 in Stonington. She was baptised on 14 Nov 1683 in Stonington. She married William Palmer.
13. John Minor was born on 19 Apr 1685 in Stonington. [Ref][Ref, 1;80] He was baptised on 7 Jun 1685 in Stonington. [Ref][Ref, 1;80] He died in 1717 in Stonington. [Ref, 1;80] He married Mary Eldridge on 5 May 1709 in Stonington. [Ref][Ref, 1;80]
    John was a justice of the peace. [Ref, 1;80]
    
14. Unknown son Minor (twin) was born on 22 Mar 1687 in Stonington. [Ref] He was baptized on 23 Mar 1687 in Stonington. [Ref]
15. Unknown daughter Minor (twin) was born on 22 Mar 1687 in Stonington. [Ref] She was baptized 23 Mar 1687 in Stonington. [Ref] McKendree [Ref, 1;80] says that twin sons were born and died on 22 May 1687.

Generation 3

GRACE MINOR (b. 1683)

Parents: Ephraim Minor and Hannah Avery. [Ref, 1;80][Ref, p. 52]

Grace Minor was born in Sep 1683 in Stonington. [Ref][Ref, 1;80] She was baptised on 14 Nov 1683 in Stonington. [Ref][Ref, 1;80] She married William Palmer on 10 Jan 1701/2 in Stonington. [Ref, p. 52][Ref, 1;80, says 1701] William was her half first cousin once removed

References

Bartley, Scott Andrew, "George Lanphear of Westerly, Rhode Island, and his Descendants, Part III," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 160, 2006, 47-60.

Jacobus, Donald L., "New London Probate Records: Files before 1710," The American Genealogist 11, 134, 153-157; 13, 1936, 246-7.

Leavitt, Emily Wilder, Groups of Palmer Families from Walter Palmer of Charlestown and Rehoboth, Mass., Stonington, Conn., Privately printed by David Clapp & Sons, Boston, MA, 1901.

McKendree, Avery Elroy, The Groton Avery Clan, Cleveland, unknown, 1912.

Minor, Manasseh, The Diary of Manasseh Minor: Stonington, Conn., 1696-1720, unknown, Frank Denison Miner with the assistance of Hannah Miner, 1988.

Minor, Thomas, Diary of Thomas Minor, originally published 1899, Book digitized by Google from the library of the University of Michigan and uploaded to the Internet Archive, http://www.archive.org/details/diarythomasmino00minogoog.

No Author, History of the First Congregational Church, Stonington, Conn., 1674-1874 with the Report of the Bi-centennial Proceedings, June 3, 1874, Richard A. Wheeler, T. A. David and Co., Norwich, 1875.

No author, The Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, Hartford, Brown & Parsons, 1850-1890.

White, Lorraine Cook, ed., The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records, Vol. 1-55, Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co., 1994-2002.