James Ensign and Sarah --

James Ensign was christened 1 June 1606 in Rye, Sussex, England, the son of Thomas Ensing and Constance Pilcher. He was mentioned in his father's 1631 will (see TAG 56:220), inheriting his father's lands and goods not otherwise bequeathed and named his sole executor. His father also directed James to resign a certain parcel of land to his brother Thomas (the land having been purchased by father Thomas from Anne Wybourne before she married the son Thomas), if the younger Thomas paid James a specified amount.

James married Sarah --. The Great Migration Begins entry for James states that while it could be supposed that James had a wife before Sarah (due to a gap of about eight years between the first two known children, it is more likely that she was his only wife (due to the first child being named Sarah, as well as Sarah (--) Ensign's will naming Sarah (Ensign) Rockwell's children as her grandchildren). Douglas Richardson (TAG 60: 100) gave her maiden name as Elson but without any evidence to support it.

They came to New England in 1634 and settled first in Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts. James was admitted freeman 4 Sep 1634. James was appointed fenceviewer in Cambridge 4 Apr 1636. They probably moved to Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut by 1636 and were certainly there by 1639, when James was listed as one of the "Brethren in Full Communion" and Sarah was listed as one of the "Sisters in Full Communion" at the founding of the Second Church in Hartford 12 Feb 1669/70. James served on the Connecticut petit jury several times (once in 1655, twice in 1656, and once in 1661) and was appointed as constable at Hartford 6 March 1661/2. James may have briefly resided at Hadley, Hampshire, Massachusetts as John Winthrop, in his Medical Journal, states that he treated "Rockwell, Ruth, 11 years, grandchild of Goodman Ensigne of Hadley" 7 April 1666.

James was apparently a cooper, as on 30 December 1662, John Ayres, son of William and Judith Ayres, was apprenticed to him to learn that trade (note that Judith had been accused of witchcraft just before the apprenticeship contract and the couple fled after the contract was made). James left John forty shillings "to buy him tooles when his time is out."

James's will was dated 23 November 1670 (unsigned "because he had a purpose if God gave him strength to have added some more") and proved 2 March 1670/1. The inventory on his estate was taken 23 December 1670 and exhibited 1 March 1670/1. Sarah died May 1676. Her will was dated May 1676 and proved 6 December 1676. The inventory on her estate was taken 29 May 1676.

James and Sarah’s children are:

  1. Sarah Ensign, born about 1631, married John Rockwell (bp. 18 Jul 1627 in Dorchester, Dorsetshire, England, son of William and Susan (Capen) Rockwell, m. 2) Deliverance Hayes 18 Aug 1662 in Hartford, d. 5 Sep 1673 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut) 6 May 1651 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut.
  2. Thomas Ensign, born about 1639, received medical treatment from John Winthrop in Nov 1657 ("Goodman Ensigne's son of about 18") and 6 Dec 1657 ("Ensigne Tho").
  3. Mary Ensign, born about 1641, treated by John Winthrop ("Ensigne Mary 16 years"--see GMB) in November 1657, married Samuel Smith (b. 27 Jan 1638 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut to Henry Smith and Dorothy --, freeman 1676, d. 10 Sep 1703 in Hadley, Hampshire, Massachusetts), as indicated by an entry in John Withrop's medical journal: "Smith Sam: 2 y: son of Sam: of Wethersfeild whose wife in Goodman Ensigne's daughter" (7 Jul 1664, Winthrop Medical Journal, cited in Great Migration Begins), moved about 1666 from Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut to Northampton, Massachusetts and later to Hadley, Hampshire, Massachusetts, died in 1713 (according to Torrey).
  4. David Ensign, born about 1641, treated by John Winthrop 27 Feb 1657/8 ("Ensign David 15 years"), married 1) Mehitable Gunn (dau. of Thomas Gunn, m. 2) Isaac Sheldon) 22 Oct 1663 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, divorced in 1682. David began an affair with Sarah (Wilcox) Long, the wife of Thomas Long. In 1681, Thomas sued for and was granted a divorce from Sarah in 1681 and Mehitable sued for and was granted a divorce from David. Mehitable stated at the time of the divorce that David "is now gon from his wife to New York, and it may well be Concluded he has gon after the Said Longs wife again." She also stated that David had "Carryed it, in a Lascivious manner towards the wife of Samuell Elmer" the previous winter. On 23 Mar 1681, a complaint was brought before court against David comprised on three charges: 1) for spreading a false report "concerning the death of the King, the flight of the Duke of York, and the Duke of Monmouths being made Protector," 2) for contempt of authority as he "hath Continued Unlawfully to Accompany with the wife of Thomas Long...whereby he hath forefeited his bond made to Hartford County, September 18th. 1679," and 3) for committing adultery with Sarah. He was required "to give bond to the Vallue of four hundred pounds in good Estate for his good behaviour, and that he will totally forbear going into, or keeping company with the said Long" or to be committed to prison (David did give the bond). The court found reason at that time to "defranchise him of his freedom in this Corporation according to Law" (revoke his privileges as a freeman and voter) because of his behavior. David married 2) Sarah Wilcox (dau. of John Wilcox, the former wife of Thomas Long) after 1682. He was an original church member at West Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut and died 13 or 14 Dec 1727 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, buried in Old Center Cemetery, West Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, inventory on his estate taken 1728-9 with an additional land inventory in New Hartford, Litchford, Connecticut taken 6 Nov 1734. A document signed by David and dated 7 Apr 1721 was exhibited in court on 7 Jul 1730 which stated that his son David, with whom he was living, should be rewarded out of his estate for providing "temporals for the subsistence and comfort of my outward man." His son David exhibited an account of his administration on 19 Sep 1734 but another son Thomas objected against it as it was "not appearing by evidence that his father did want maintenance all the time as is set down in sd. account" (David Jr. and Thomas appear to have continued to dispute the estate until at least 25 Feb 1734/5).
  5. Hannah Ensign, born about 1645, treated by John Winthrop 24 Dec 1658 ("Ensigne Hana 14y:"), 4 Apr 1667 ("Ensigne Hanna 21 y: daughter of James Ensigne of Hartford"), 7 Apr 1668 ("Hanna wife of ____ Eason of Hartford" for a pain in her head), and 9 Apr 1668 ("Eason Hanna formerly Ensigne"), married Joseph Easton (b. abt. 1648, son of Joseph Easton).
  6. Lydia Ensign, baptized 19 Aug 1649 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut.


Sources: 

  1. Ancestry.com. England & Wales, Christening Index, 1530-1980 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2008. Original data: Genealogical Society of Utah. British Isles Vital Records Index, 2nd Edition. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, copyright 2002. Used by permission.
  2. "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906," database, FamilySearch; citing ; FHL microfilm unknown.
  3. "Massachusetts Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910," database, FamilySearch; citing Hadley, Hampshire, Massachusetts, reference p 5; FHL microfilm 186,152.
  4. Title: Volume 122 Part 1 West Hartford, Ancestry.com. Connecticut, Church Record Abstracts, 1630-1920 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: 2013. Original data: Connecticut. Church Records Index. Connecticut State Library, Hartford, Connecticut.
  5. Connecticut, Town Marriage Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection), Ancestry.com, Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.Original data - White, Lorraine Cook, ed. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1994-2002.
  6. Ancestry.com. Connecticut Town Death Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: White, Lorraine Cook, ed. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records. Vol. 1-55. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1994-2002.
  7. Ancestry.com. Connecticut, Deaths and Burials Index, 1650-1934 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: "Connecticut Deaths and Burials, 1772–1934." Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2009, 2010. Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records.
  8. Ancestry.com. The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, 1847-2011 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: New England Historic Genealogical Society. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston: The New England Historic Genealogical Society.
  9. Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999. Original data: Jackson, Ron V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp.. Massachusetts Census, 1790-1890. Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes.
  10. Ancestry.com. Hartford, Connecticut Probate Records, 1639-1700 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000. Original data: A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records, Hartford District, 1635-1700. Vol. I. n.p., 1906.
  11. Ancestry.com. Hartford, Connecticut Probate Records, 1700-1729 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000. Original data: A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records, Hartford District, 1700-1729. Vol. II. n.p., 1906.
  12. Index to Crimes and misdemeanors, 1st series, 1662-1789, Hartford: Connecticut State Library, 1913, p. 190, http://cslib.cdmhost.com/digital/collection/p128501coll3/id/101, retrieved 19 Feb 2018.
  13. Connecticut: Minutes of the Court of Assistants, 1669-1711. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2013.) Originally published as: Colony of Connecticut, Minutes of the Court of Assistants, 1669-1711, by Helen Schatvet Ullmann, CG, FASG. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB498/i/13267/79/24795680
  14. Torrey, Clarence Almon, New England Marriages Prior to 1700, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2004.
  15. Savage, James, A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1990 (originally published Boston, 1860-1862).
  16. Cutter, William Richard, New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial, Vol. 4, New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913, p. 1614.
  17. Gravestone of David Ensign, Old Center Cemetery, West Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut .


Records related to the James and Sarah Ensign family but not copied below due to copyright considerations:

  1. Entry for James Ensign, Ancestry.com. New England, The Great Migration and The Great Migration Begins, 1620-1635 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Original data: Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633, Volumes 1-3; The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volumes 1-6. Boston: New England Historical and Genealogical Society, 1996-2011.
  2. Richardson, Douglas, "The Ensign Family of Scituate, MA and Hartford, CT," The American Genealogist, Vol. 56, Oct 1980, p. 219-20.
  3. Richardson, Douglas, "Further Data on the English Origins of the Ensign Family," The American Genealogist, Vol. 60, Apr 1984, p. 97-100.
  4. Reed, Paul C., "The English Ensigns: Ancestral to Thomas Ensign of Scituate, Massachusetts, and James Ensign of Hartford, Connecticut," TAG, Vol. 75, Jan 2000, p. 1-15.
  5. Entry for William Rockwell (father of John Rockwell), The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010), (Originally Published as: New England Historic Genealogical Society. Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols., 1995). https://www.americanancestors.org/DB393/i/12107/1596/23895955
  6. Entry for Joseph Easton (father of Joseph Easton), Great Migration 1634-1635, C-F. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume II, C-F, by Robert Charles Anderson, George F. Sanborn, Jr., and Melinde Lutz Sanborn. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB115/i/7373/392/235160301


Church Records

Name:    James Ensigne
Gender:    Male
Christening Date:    1 Jun 1606
Christening Place:    Rye, Sussex, England
Father:    Thomas Ensigne

Source: Ancestry.com. England & Wales, Christening Index, 1530-1980 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2008. Original data: Genealogical Society of Utah. British Isles Vital Records Index, 2nd Edition. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, copyright 2002. Used by permission.


                                                                           Vol.     Page
David, Sr., orig. ch. mem.; adm. com. [  ]     1         264

Source: Title: Volume 122 Part 1 West Hartford, Ancestry.com. Connecticut, Church Record Abstracts, 1630-1920 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: 2013. Original data: Connecticut. Church Records Index. Connecticut State Library, Hartford, Connecticut.
 

Town Records

Name:    Samuell Smith
Gender:    Male
Birth Date:    27 Jan 1638
Birthplace:    WETHERSFIELD TWP,HARTFORD,CONNETICUT
Father's Name:    Henry Smith
Mother's Name:    Dorothy

Source: "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F74Y-WFZ : 3 December 2014), Samuell Smith, 27 Jan 1638; citing ; FHL microfilm unknown.


Name:    David Ensign
Gender:    Male
Marriage Date:    22 Oct 1663
Marriage Place:    Hartford, Connecticut, USA
Spouse:    Mehetabell Gunn
Parent Name (David):    James
Parent Name (Mehetabell):    Thomas

Source: Ancestry.com. Connecticut, Town Marriage Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: White, Lorraine Cook, ed. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records. Vol. 1-55. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1994-2002.


Name:    David Ensign Sr.
[David Ensigne Sr.]
Death Date:    13 Dec 1727
Death Place:    Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Source: Ancestry.com. Connecticut Town Death Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: White, Lorraine Cook, ed. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records. Vol. 1-55. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1994-2002.


Name:    David Ensign
Birth Date:    abt 1645
Age at Death:    82
Death Date:    14 Dec 1727
Death Place:    Connecticut
Gender:    Male
FHL Film Number:    3370

Source: Ancestry.com. Connecticut, Deaths and Burials Index, 1650-1934 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: "Connecticut Deaths and Burials, 1772–1934." Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2009, 2010. Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records.


Name:    David Ensign
Event Type:    Death
Death Date:    13 Dec 1727
Death Place:    Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Source: Ancestry.com. The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, 1847-2011 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: New England Historic Genealogical Society. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston: The New England Historic Genealogical Society.


Name:    Samll Smith
Gender:    Male
Death Date:    10 Sep 1703
Death Place:    Hadley, Hampshire, Massachusetts

Death record of Samuel Smith

Source: "Massachusetts Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC9D-7ZF : 10 December 2014), Samll Smith, 10 Sep 1703; citing Hadley, Hampshire, Massachusetts, reference p 5; FHL microfilm 186,152.

Freemanship Records

Name:    James Ensign
State:    MA
County:    Massachusetts Colony
Township:    Freeman 4 Sep
Year:    1634
Database:    MA Early Census Index

Source: Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999. Original data: Jackson, Ron V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp.. Massachusetts Census, 1790-1890. Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes.

Probate Records

Name:    James Ensign
Location:    Hartford
Date of Will:    23 Dec 1670
Page:    87-8
Full text:    Invt. ś729-02-09. Taken 23 December, 1670, by James Steele, George Grave Jr.I James Ensign of Hartford, being at prsent, thorow the wise dispensation of my most mercifull God, weak in body but of sound understanding & memory, waighting for my change, doe therefore declare this to be my Last will & Testament: Whereas, I have formerly given to my son david the swamp Lott Bought of Richard lyman, on the east side of the Great River, & six Acres in the South meadow near the forty Acres, & sixteen Acres of upland Near Rocky hill, & his dwelling house & part of my Home lott which he hath had no Legall assurance of, I doe now give & confirm the same to him and his heirs forever. I doe also confirm to my sonn Joseph Easton & his heirs forever, one Acre & halfe of Land In the Indian Ground, which Land I had of the Widow Watts. I doe give all the rest of my estate of what sorte soever, both goods & chattells, to my beloved wife Sarah Ensign during her Naturall Life, & desire my sonns david ensign & Joseph easton to assist her in the management & improvement thereof, so that she (as much as may) be freed from distractions; & I doe make my beloved wife sarah ensign sole executrix of this my Last will & Testament. After the decease of my wife it is my will that my sonn david, his heirs & assigns, Shall possesse & enjoy my now dwelling house & Home Lott wth all the appurtenances belonging thereto, as allso all my Land In the south meadow, both meadow & swamp, & all the upland I now Stand Seized of or appertains to me & Lying on the south side of the little river In Hartford. I allso give and bequeath to my sonn david & his heires forever, Six acres of Goodman Phillips his swamp Lott on ye east side of the river, & one Third of the Barne standing thereupon, he paying such legacies as I shall appoynt to the value of Fifty pounds.I give to my son Joseph easton the remaynder of Goodman Phillips his swamp Lott on the east side of the great river, wth two thirds parts of the Barne standing thereupon, he paying such Legacies as I shall appoynt to the value of Thirty pounds.I give to my daughter Mary Smith, the wife of Samull Smith, what I have Layd out towards the building of their house, & ten Acres of Land Morgagd to Samull Burr, & Twenty pound more to be paid by my executrix & overseers, provided my sayd sonn Samull Smith giving way to have it Bound over so that my sayd daughter shall dispose of it to her children as she sees Cause at her decease. If he refuse that, then I give my sd. sonn & daughter the use of what I have given her as Long as they live, & that at their decease it shall pass to my daughter's children.I give my Grand Child Ruth Rockwell Thirty pounds; to my Grand children Sarah & Lydia Rockwell five pounds apiece; to my son John Rockwell, as a Token of my Love, forty shillings. I give as a Token of my respect to our Honrd Governor Winthrop, five pound. I give as a Token of my respect to my dear pastor, Mr. Whiting, five pound. I give towards the building of the new meeting house six pounds. I give to John Ayres, to buy him tooles when his time is out, forty shillings. I doe allso desire & Command my Executrix & my two Sons to take care that the Widow Ann Phillips her Last will be duly & faythfully fulfilled. (Not signed.)The above writing was read to James Ensign the 23 of November, 1670, & owned to be his will; & the reason why he subscribed it not was because he had a purpose to have added somewhat more.Attest: John Allyn.David Ensign, Joseph Easton.Inventory exhibited in Court 1st March, 1670-1.
Source:    A DIGEST OF THE EARLY CONNECTICUT PROBATE RECORDS.1663 to 1677.

Name:    Widow Sarah Ensign
Location:    Hartford
Date of Will:    29 May 1676
Page:    184
Full text:    Invt. ś44-10-00. Taken 29 May, 1676, by George Grave, John Richards. Will dated May, 1676:I Sarah Ensign of Hartford, widow, being sick & weake yet of perfect memorie through the mercy of God, to prevent future trouble doe desire to dispose that small portion of this worlds goods God hath betrusted me with, in this my Last will & Testament: I give to my beloved daughter Mary Smith an Iron pott & gun, & Blankett I lent her, & a payre of curtains lent her, to be to her & her heirs forever. I give to my dear daughter Hanna Easton my Great Table & Forme, & my chest at mr Richards. I give to my Grand child Ruth Rockwell one Feather bed & the bedding belonging to it, & my Cow, & cobirons, tongs, & halfe a dozen Napkins, & my Brass kettle. I give to my Grand child Sarah Rockwell halfe a dossen of Napkins, one payre of Sheets & the best rug. I give to my Grand child Lydia Rockwell The Trundle bed & beding belonging to it, & halfe a dozen of Napkins. I give to Sarah Smith a Small Bible as a token of my respect to her. I will that my wollen wareing Cloaths be equally divided between my daughters Mary, Hanna & Mehetibell, & my Grand children Sarah, Ruth & Lydia. I give to my son davids children halfe a dozen of Napkins & two pewter platters. The remaynder of my estate I give to my beloved son David & his heirs for ever, he paying my just debts; & I doe appoynt him to be executor of this my Last will & testament. In witness hereof I have sett to my hand this May, 1676.To James ensign she gave ś5; to Joseph easton, her grand child, 20s & one of her books; to Ruth, her best hatt & Mr. Hooker's book; to Sarah, one of Mr. Burroughs' books; & to Mr. Whiting, 20 or 30 shillings if her estate hold out.No signature or witnesses. Exhibited 6 December, 1676. Proved and accepted.attest: John Allyn.
Source:    A DIGEST OF THE EARLY CONNECTICUT PROBATE RECORDS.1663 to 1677.

Source: Ancestry.com. Hartford, Connecticut Probate Records, 1639-1700 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000. Original data: A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records, Hartford District, 1635-1700. Vol. I. n.p., 1906.


Name:    David Ensign
Location:    Hartford
Date of Will:    1728-1729
Page:    Invt. in Vol. XI, 68-345
Full text:    Invt. in Vol. XI, Page 68-345 Invt. ś288-16-00. Taken 1728-9 by Ciprian Watson and Isaac Kellogg. Additional inventory of land valued at ś14-10-00, lying in New Hartford, taken 6 November, 1734, by Cyprian Watson and Isaac Kellogg. Court Record, Page 190--2 April, 1728: Adms. granted to David Ensign, son of the decd. Page 108 (Vol. XI) 22 February, 1733-4: On the 7th day of July, 1730, Isaac Kellogg and Joseph Webster exhibited a wrighting in Court, signed by David Ensign, as followeth: I, David Ensign of Hartford, Senr., purposeing to continue my abode with my son David during my natural life, he having obliged himself to provide temporals for the subsistence and comfort of my outward man, do by these presents covenant and promise that he shall be full, truly and sufficiently rewarded for the same out of my estate. For witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of April, Anno. Dom. 1721. Witness: Joseph Webster, Isaac Kellogg. David Ensign. Acknowledged in Court, 7 July, 1730, by Joseph Webster and Isaac Kellogg. Page 10 (Vol. XII) 19 September, 1734: David Ensign, Adms., exhibited now an account of his Adms., and Thomas Ensign, one of the sons of the sd. decd., objected against the last article in sd. account as not appearing by evidence that his father did want maintenance all the time as is set down in sd. account. Whereupon the determination thereof is continued by consent of the parties until the 20th of this inst. at two of the clock, afternoon. The parties accordingly appeared and produced their evidences as per writ were cited respecting the premises. Also, Jeames Ensign, one of the heirs to sd. estate, was present. This Court, having heard the pleas of the parties, do order that the sd. David Ensign, Adms., shall be allowed out of the estate, for the supporting of the sd. decd., in sickness and in health, from the 7th of April, 1721, until December 13th, 1727, 7 shillings and sixpence pr week (excepting one month, when it is evident he was supported by others of his children), which amounts to the sum of ś128-12-06. The whole of the sd. Adms. account amounts to ś139-06-05, which account is accepted. Page 15--4 December, 1734: David Ensign, Adms., is ordered to sell land amounting to the sum of ś124-00-10 and charges of sale, at 20 days notice, at beat of drum, place, day and houre. Thomas Ensign appeals against this sale of land; also appeals from the acceptance of the account. Page 22--25 February, 1734-5: Thomas Ensign granted an appeal to the Superior Court to be holden at Hartford, in and for Hartford County, on the fourth Tuesday of March next.
Source:    A DIGEST OF THE EARLY CONNECTICUT PROBATE RECORDS. 1723 to 1729.

Source: Ancestry.com. Hartford, Connecticut Probate Records, 1700-1729 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000. Original data: A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records, Hartford District, 1700-1729. Vol. II. n.p., 1906.

Court Records

Ensign, David, dealt with for relations to wife of Thomas Long & put under bonds for suspicious actions & for bringing false public news concerning death of king &c. Mar. 23, 1681..............................................I:193

Source: Index to Crimes and misdemeanors, 1st series, 1662-1789, Hartford: Connecticut State Library, 1913, p. 190, http://cslib.cdmhost.com/digital/collection/p128501coll3/id/101, retrieved 19 Feb 2018.


Page 78:
Thomas Long having petitioned this Court for a Release from his Conjugall Tye to Sarah his wife, and it appearing by Sufficient Testimony that Shee is removed from him, and hath accompanied with David Ensigne, and Avowed him to be her husband, and the Said David owning her to be his wife, and accordingly bedded and boarded together and Carrying together as man and wife; these things together with the great Suspicions of Such Adulterous practices perpetuated between them, not only abroad of Late, but formerly, doth give good ground to grant the Said Thomas Long a release from his Conjugal tye to the Said Sarah long, which is hereby accordingly Granted.

Pages 88-89:
Upon the Petition of Mehittabell Ensigne, that Shee might be freed from her Conjugall tye to David Ensigne, The Court have Considered the Case, and finding Testimony that the Said David Ensigne hath Sundry times withdrawn himself from his wife the Said Mehittabell, and bedded and boarded with the late wife of Thomas Long, and owned her to be his wife, and Carryed So towards her; and hath not had nor desired Communion with the Said Mehittabell for a long time, as Shes Alledgeth, & hath but the Last Winter Carryed it, in a Lascivious manner towards the wife of Samuell Elmer; and is now gon from his wife to New York, and it may well be Concluded he has gon after the Said Longs wife again. -- Upon those Considerations this Court do See good reason, and accordingly do grant the said Mehittabell Ensigne a release from her Matrimonial tye to the Said David Ensigne. And this Court do Order that an Inventory of the Personall Estate of David Ensigne be taken, and that it be equally divided between the Sd David Ensigne & Mehitabel. And this Court orders that the House the Said Mehittabell now lives in She be not Mollested in her Inhabiting there without order of this Court by any person whatever.

Pages 71-72:
David Ensigne is Complained of in Court. 1st for bringing and Spreading of falls reports concerning the death of the King, the flight of the Duke of York, and the Duke of Monmouths being made Protector. -- To this the Prisoner returns and Saith, he reports he heard so at New York. 2ndly for Contempt of Authority, in that after So much means Used and promises made, he hath Continued Unlawfully to Accompany with the wife of Thomas Long, to the great dishonor of God, Scandall of Religion, and breach of the Laws of the Colony, whereby he hath forefeited his bond made to Hartford County, September 18th. 1679. -- 3dly that he hath Committed Adultery with Thomas Longs wife, or at least, is Suspiciously guilty thereof. -- The Jury find the first Article according to the prisoners Confession. -- and they find the Second article, and So Consequently the breach of the bond. -- And they also find the third Article, as suspiciously guilty of the gross Act of Adultery.

David Ensigne haueing been Complained of in these three Articles, which have been Committed to A Jury, and he is found guilty. -- The Court having Considered the first Article, that his Misdemeanor therein in Spreading Such reports, is Notoriously dangerous and very offensive, and there being no perticular Law that doth direct what punishment to inflict on Such high Misdemeanors, do at prsent inflict no punishment on him for the Same, but leave to the Consideration of the Court of Assistants in October next. -- This Court approves the Verdict of the Jury in the Second Article, and do accordingly Judge him the sd Ensigne to have forfeited his bond to the County of Hartford, and do order Execution to be granted accordingly. -- And whereas the Jury do find him the Said David Ensigne Suspiciously guilty of the gross Act of Adultery, and it being difficult to find out Such Notorious Wickedness, not withstanding all care Used, Yett in this Case wherein there hath been So great appearance of those gross evills, This Court do order that the Said David Ensigne give bond to the Vallue of four hundred pounds in good Estate for his good behaviour, and that he will totally forbear going into, or keeping company with the said Long, which bond is to Continue dureing the pleasure of the Court of Assistants, in Case he refuse to give bond, he is to be Committed to Prison, there to remain till bond is given as aforesaid. And do for the Miscarriages abovewritten See good reason to defranchise him of his freedom in this Corporation according to Law.

David Ensigne personally appeared the 23d of July 1681, and did bind over to the Publick Treasury of the Colony of Connecticutt, all his houseing and Lands within the Township of Hartford, boath on the East & West Side of Connecticutt River, as they Stand Meeted and bounded to him in the Publick records of the Said Town or by his Fathers Last Will in the Court records to Stand as Security for his good behaviour, and that he will Totally forbear going into or keeping company with Sarah the wife of Thomas Long according to the Judgment of the Court of Assistants past against him at their last Session May 31 last past and for Confirmation hereof he hath sett to his hand And,
David Ensigne
Acknowledged the Same before Mr. John Allyn Assist. and Secretary

Source: Connecticut: Minutes of the Court of Assistants, 1669-1711. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2013.) Originally published as: Colony of Connecticut, Minutes of the Court of Assistants, 1669-1711, by Helen Schatvet Ullmann, CG, FASG. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB498/i/13267/79/24795680

Torrey's New England Marriages Prior to 1700

ROCKWELL, John2 (1627-1673, ae 46); & 1/wf Sarah ENSIGN (-1659); 6 May 1651; Windsor, CT
SMITH, Samuel (1639/40, 1638/9-1703) & Mary [ENSIGN] (-1713); ca 1661; Wethersfield, CT/Northampton, Hadley
ENSIGNENSIGN, David (1644-1727) & Mehitable GUNN (1644-1720); m/2 Isaac SHELDON 1685?, 1686?; 22 Oct 1663, div Oct 1682; Hartford  
ENSIGN, David (1644-1727) & 2/wf Sarah [WILCOX] (1648-1717/18), div wf of Thomas; long aft 1688; Windsor, CT
EASTON, Joseph (1646-1711) & Hannah [ENSIGN] (-1659); b 1669; Hartford  
 
Source: Torrey, Clarence Almon, New England Marriages Prior to 1700, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2004.

Savage's Genealogical Dictionary

Vol. 4
SMITH,
SAMUEL, Northampton, s. of the Rev. Henry, and the only one, wh. reach. mature life, the freem. of 1676, had m. a. 1662, Mary, d. of James Ensign, and had Samuel, and Sarah bef. his rem. from Conn. to where he had Dorothy, bapt. 1667; Ebenezer, 1668; beside Ichabod, b. 24 Jan. 1670; Mary, 18 Jan. 1673; James, 12 June 1675; and Preserved, Aug. 1677. Aft. the d. of John Russell, at Hadley, h. of his mo. he rem. to Hadley, to take care of her, and d. 10 Sept. 1703. Of his five s. three, viz. the eldest, sett. at Suffleld, where Ichabod, the youngest of them had Samuel, b. 1700, wh. m. Jerusha, d. of Atherton Mather, and had Cotton M. Smith. Ludicrous perversity in modern days of this genealogy, so as to make the blood of the Mathers follow thro. wrong f. and wrong m. beside sinking in the male line one generat. yet grasp. in the female at one too old. See p. 34 in the valua. Centen. of Rev. Alonzo B. Chapin, where all the error is giv. for truth. His Excellency, John Cotton Smith, Y. C. 1783, late Gov. of Conn. was thus, it is said, misdirect. by his f. Rev. Cotton Mather S. Y. C. 1751, wh. seems to have partak. in one ill habit of his illustr. namesake. How he should exchange the name of his mos. f. for that of her gr.f. is less strange, however, than it might seem, if we suppose the reference being oft. made to the famous Dr. M. in the youth's hearing, he always assoc. [[vol. 4, p. 133]] the Presid. of the Coll. at Cambridge with that rare title, and thot. more of Increase, than of the humble neph. Atherton Mather, from wh. his own prefix came. Good substitution the f. made in the child's name by enrich. him with an honor. designat. tho. no Cotton blood ran in his veins, as had heedless. been assum.

Source: Savage, James, A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1990 (originally published Boston, 1860-1862).

Cutter's New England Families

(II) Samuel, son of Rev. Henry Smith, was born in Wethersfield, in 1638 39. He lived at Northampton, Massachusetts, from 1666 until about 1680. He removed then to Hadley, to take care of his mother. The following taken from his letter in 1698-99, refers to his stepfather, John Russell: "But he was sometimes a little short of ye Charity which thinketh no Evil, at ye least I was wont to think so when his Hand was too heavy on my Shoulders & I remembered ye sweetnesse & ye Charity of my firste Father, but on ye whole said he was a Goode Man & did well by my Mother & her children & no doubt we did often try his wit & temper." Samuel Smith died at Hadley, September 10, 1703, aged sixty five. He married Mary, daughter of James Ensign, the immigrant who was one of the first settlers of Hartford. Children: Samuel, deacon; Sarah, born before her father's removal to Northampton; Dorothy, baptized 1667, at Northampton; Ebenezer baptized at Northampton, 1668; Ichabod, born at Northampton, January 24, 1670, mentioned below; Mary, Northampton, January 19, 1673; James, Northampton, June 12, 1675; Preserved, Northampton, August 1677.

Source: Cutter, William Richard, New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial, Vol. 4, New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913, p. 1614.

Gravestones

Gravestone of David Ensign, Old Center Cemetery, West Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut (photo credit: C Greer, findagrave.com):
Gravestone of David Ensign

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Author: Michelle A. Boyd

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Last updated 19 Feb 2018