Esther/Hester COWLES

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Daughter of Samuel Cowles of Kensington

Esther/Hester married Thomas STANLEY on 2 Jan 1718. Thomas (son of Thomas STANLEY and Anna PECK) was born on 31 Oct 1696 in Farmington, Connecticut; died on 13 Oct 1755. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
He was a shoemaker by trade. His house was opposite the home of his father, in the north part of Stanley street, on the east side of the road, subsequently occupied by his son Oliver. he was elected deacon in 1795. Late in life he was somewhat deaf, and stood in the pulpit the better to hear. His hair was then white, and he used an ear trumpet. his habits were strictly puritanical; he was a careful observer of holy time his wife shaving his face invariably on Saturday afternoon, when all preparations were made for the Sabbath. He lived to the great age of nearly ninety years, dying April 28, 1817.

Timothy married Lydia NEWELL on 5 May 1757. Lydia was born about 1737; died on 17 Dec 1826. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Thomas Stanley and Esther Cowles

Notes:

Name:
He was a large farmer, and by his ability and address ultimately became one of the leading men of the town. He united with the church in 1768, and was, with one exception, the wealthiest member of the parish. On the tax-roll of the society for 1772, containing one hundred and twelve names, his list is set at L172.05.0., which is only five shillings less than that of Nathan Booth, whose list was L172.10.0.

Mr. Stanley early became interested in military affairs, and was made captain of the militia. He warmly espoused the cause of the colonies in their resistance to the oppressions of the mother country. We find the record of a town meeting of Farmington, held June 15, 1774, on the arrival of the news that the port of Boston had been closed by the British Parliament, when it was voted to assist in rendering help to that unfortunate city, and Gad Stanley, with others, was chosen a committee to take in subscriptions of wheat, corn, provisions, etc., for that purpose. In December of the same year the town voted their approval of the Articles of Association adopted by the continental Congress, pledging the friends of the colonies not to purchase goods import3ed from England, and appointed Gad Stanley and Noah Stanley, and others, "a committee of inspection to transact all those matters that belong to them according to ye true sense and design of ye Congress in sd. Articles expressed." he was also one of a committee to prepare a general Plan of Agreement as to the manner in which these measures of non intercourse should be carried into effect.

it was further voted that Gad Stanley and others should be a committee "to repair to New Cambridge and there to answer with Persons suspected to be unsound in their political sentiments, or such of them as shall see cause to attend on sd. committee to reclaim in a peaceful way to a sense of duty as far as lies in their power." The object of this inquisition was to ascertain who were unfriendly to the cause of the colonies, and take measures to remove or silence them. It was a rigid proceeding, savoring little of liberality, but judged to be necessary at a time when the very existence of the liberties regarded as inalienable to every British subject, was threatened.

Next year, march 15, 1775, we find Gad Stanley chosen one of a committee "to give licenses for the use of Tea to such persons within their respective societies as shall appear to the whole to each society belonging that are here particularly named to be under absolutely necessity for the same," which means that though it was unpatriotic for the well and strong to drink tea, yet it might be necessary for the infirm and aged, in which cases, upon permission of the committee, it might be allowed without a compromise of principle or character. Various proceedings before this committee are recorded, trying persons for the unlicensed use of tea, laboring on Fast Day, and other offenses against what was deemed required by patriotism and morality in that critical condition of the colonies.

When the war actually broke out, Captain Stanley was prompt in resorting to arms. Just at that time two British vessels appeared off New London, and an express was sent into the country to convey the alarming intelligence. He arrived in New Britain on the Sabbath, just before the close of the afternoon service. As soon as the blessing was pronounced, Captain Stanley stepped forward, and with a loud voice gave notice to his company to appear on parade before the meeting-house door the next morning. The spirit thus manifested grieved the heart of the good clergyman, who, as a lover of law and order, had the sentiment of loyalty to his sovereign warm in his heart. "What," he exclaimed,"will you fight against your king?" "Yes," replied one of the sergeants, "and I would kill him as quick as I would a black snake, if I could catch him." The ill-timed expostulation of Doctor S. awakened no small resentment in the inflamed minds of the patriots, and but for the intervention of Colonel Lee, whose influence was great, it might have been serious for the clergyman.

Captain Stanley was present in the battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776. It was a disastrous day for the American troops, all of whom were raw recruits, while their enemy were the disciplined troops of England and Germany. Captain Stanley maintained his position as long as it was possible, and at last, when the retreat was ordered, succeeded, by a masterly maneuver, in leading off his regiment safely past the British forces. he was subsequently made a colonel, and ever after retained that title.

During this summer, his fifth child, a son, was born. The joyful news was reported to the absent father, with the request that he would say what his name should be. In due tie the answer was sent:

"If he turn out a likely lad,
It might be well to call him Gad."

After the war, Colonel Stanley served in nearly every important office in the town. He was a representative from Farmington from 1778 to 1782; and from Berlin from 1785 to 1804, continuously. His name was associated with Colonel Lee and others in school and parish affairs, in securing the incorporation of Berlin as a distinct town, in attending to highways and the town expenses generally. He was chairman of the committee chosen to call and settle Rev. Newton Skinner, as a colleague of Doctor Smalley, and received him into his family for some months as a boarder. He was an active member of the church, though church-membership then did not imply all that it now does. It is stated, for instance, that under Doctor Smalley's ministry, only two laymen, Colonel Lee and Ensign Mather, were ever heard to pray in public. He was interested in the welfare of the schools, and the records show that his daughters, with those of Doctor Smalley, Deacon Noah Stanley, and others, were teachers in the district schools during the summers.

Gad Stanley married, October 29, 1767, Mary Judd, daughter of John and Mary (Burnham)Judd, granddaughter of Rev. William Burnham, of Kensington, a "lady well born and bred," descended from Wolcotts and the Appletons, who were reputed to be of the bluest blood of the colonies. He died January 10, 1815, aged seventy-nine and his wife, January 8, 181, aged seventy.

Gad married Mary JUDD on 29 Oct 1767 in Farmington, Connecticut. Mary (daughter of Lieut. John JUDD and Mary BURNHAM) was born on 31 Aug 1748; died on 8 Jan 1818 in New Britain, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]