Thomas Dewey, the emigrant ancestor of a large and influential family, seems to have become a dissenter and emigrated to America from Sandwich, Kent, England, with the early settlers under Governor Winthrop and Rev. John Warham. The records of Massachusetts Bay Colony mention him as early as August, 1633, when he was an inhabitant of Dorchester, and where he was enrolled a freeman, May 14, 1634. In 1635 he removed to Windsor, Connecticut, where he appears in a list of the settlers in 1640. He held considerable land, served as a juror of the particular court, and seems to have lived an honorable upright life. He married, March 22, 1639, at Windsor, Frances, widow of Joseph Clark. She died September 27, 1690, aged between seventy-five and eighty years. Children, born at Windsor, Connecticut:
- Thomas, February 16, 1640;
- Josiah, baptized October 10, 1641;
- Anna, baptized October 15, 1643;
- Israel, born September 25, 1645;
- Jedediah, December 15, 1647.
The monument erected over "Cornet" Thomas (2) Dewey, eldest son of the settler, is still standing in the old cemetery at Westfield, Massachusetts. It marks the resting place of the first Dewey born on American soil.
(II) Ensign Jedediah, son of Thomas (1) and Frances Dewey, was born at Windsor, Connecticut, December 15, 1647, died May, 1718, at Westfield, Massachusetts. On arriving at the age of twenty-one he sold lands in Windsor, and the same year is mentioned in Westfield. In 1672 he erected in company with others a saw and corn-mill. He owned considerable land, served in the various town offices, was selectman five terms, ensign in 1686, joined the church in 1680. He was by trade a wheelwright. About 1670 he married Sarah Orton, of Farmington, Connecticut, baptized August 22, 1652, at Windsor, died November 20, 1711, as per an old red sandstone slab in the old burying ground in Westfield. She was a daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Fell) Orton. Children, born at Westfield, Massachusetts:
- Sarah, March 28, 1672;
- Margaret, January 10, 1674;
- Jedediah, June 14, 1676;
- Daniel, March 9, 1680;
- Thomas, June 29, 1682;
- Joseph, May 10, 1684;
- Hannah, March 14, 1686;
- Mary, March 1, 1689;
- James, April 3, 1692;
- Abigail, November 17, 1694.
(III) Thomas (3), son of Ensign Jedediah and Sarah (Orton) Dewey, was born at Westfield, Massachusetts, June 29, 1692, died there March 15, 1758. He was a farmer; selectman 1717-19; joined the church January 1, 1727. He married, November 7, 1706, at Westfield, his cousin Abigail, widow of Joseph Ashley and daughter of Thomas and Constant (Hawes) Dewey. She was born February 14, 1681, at Westfield, died there December 20, 1747. He married (second) December 29, 1749, at Suffield, Connecticut, Elizabeth Harmon. Children, all by first wife and born at Westfield:
- Thomas, born April 20, 1708; died July 20, 1709;
- Abigail, born April 24, 1710;
- Israel, March 3, 1713;
- Hannah, June 22, 1715, married Jonathan Bartlett;
- Bashua, August 12, 1718;
- Thomas, November, 1721.
(IV) Israel, son of Thomas (3) and Abigail (Dewey) Dewey, was born at Westfield, Massachusetts, March 3, 1713, died November 23, 1773, at Great Barrington, Massachusetts, where he had settled February 7, 1757, with a wife and ten children, from Westfield. October 10, 1756, he bought a mansion house near Sheffield (Great Barrington). He was the real pioneer of the Berkshire Deweys, whose influence in the town he helped to found still remains; a man of great force of character. He settled first about a mile above the village upon which the government building known as the "Old French Fort" was located; four years later he removed to the village and built a dwelling house on the site now occupied by "Housatonic Hall," a seminary for young ladies. He also erected lumber and flour mills, held offices in town and church, and took active part in the growing town; he held a written theological discussion with Dr. Samuel Hopkins, pastor of the Congregational church, which was included in the life of Dr. Hopkins by Professor Edward A. Parks, of Anderson Seminary, and in other ways manifested a scholarship and breadth of intellectual view rare in his day. After his decease his younger sons continued the milling business until they removed to farms purchased in the vicinity. He married, September 19, 1734, at Westfield, Lydia, daughter of Consider and Elizabeth (Bancroft) Mosely, born February 19, 1716, at Westfield, died June 19, 1787, at Great Barrington. Children:
- Israel (2), born June 21, 1735;
- Benedict, December, 1736;
- Paul, March 6, 1739;
- Eleanor, January 5, 1741;
- Solomon, March 1, 1743;
- Lydia, October 1, 1745;
- Abigail, October 12, 1747;
- Josiah, born and died November 3, 1749;
- Justin, born January 5, 1752;
- Hugo, of whom forward;
- Josiah, October 23, 1755;
- Elizabeth, January 28, 1758, at Great Barrington;
- Elijah, born April 29, died May 6, 1760.
(V) Hugo, son Israel and Lydia (Mosely) Dewey, was born December 4, 1753, at Westfield, Massachusetts, died April 17, 1833, at Great Barrington, Massachusetts. He was a farmer in the west part of Great Barrington, and also operated the mills erected by his father, until 1791, when he sold them. He and his brother Justin lived on Seekonk road in adjoining houses. "They were notable characters and in some respects remarkable men. Both were large and portly, genial and sociable, and equally enjoyed fun. Living close together they were almost inseparable, going to church, to the village tavern, and taking their mug of flip together, farming together and raising and harvesting their crops at the same time, and living so good and just lives as to win the esteem and respect of their fellow townsmen. They died within a few months of each other." Hugo Dewey appears as private in Captain Enoch Noble's company, Colonel John Brown's regiment, June 29 to July 28, 1777; also as sergeant in Captain Silas Goodrich's company, Colonel John Ashley's regiment, August 17-27, 1777, in action at Bennington, under Brigadier-General Stark, and discharged by him. He married, in 1779, Hannah Sprague, daughter of Captain Silas, who moved from Roxbury to Great Barrington in 1772 and about 1790 to Bloomfield, Ontario county, New York, died November 28, 1813, at Great Barrington. Children:
- Clarisa, born September 28, 1780;
- Grotius, of whom further;
- Lydia, February 17, 1784;
- twin girls, born July 9, died July 10, 1786;
- Polly, born July 11, 1788, died unmarried, August 13, 1814;
- Betsey, born October 3, 1790;
- Silas, June 1, 1793, died June 9, 1866, at Norwalk, Ohio, married Sarah Smith, died 1846;
- Hugo (2), born February 17, 1796;
- George, June 1, 1798;
- Charles Grandison, April 4, 1800.
(VI) Grotius, son of Hugo and Hannah (Sprague) Dewey, was born February 10, 1782, at Great Barrington, Massachusetts, where he died December 29, 1860. He married, September 20, 1809, Maria Fairchild, of Alford, Massachusetts, daughter of Moses and Lucinda (Hamlin) Fairchild, born January 4, 1790, at Alford, died there December 10, 1822, and he married (second) October 19, 1825, Eliza Burr, born January 21, 1793, died September 18, 1826. He married (third) October 25, 1838, Eunice Litchfield, born November 2, 1796, died March 26, 1874. Children:
- Caroline Lucinda, born October 4, 1810, died August 25, 1840, of malarial fever, at Columbus, Mississippi, where she was a teacher in Mississippi Female College.
- Clarissa, born October 2, died November 20, 1812.
- Seymour Boughton, born August 25, 1814.
- John Fairchild, April 27, 1817.
- William, June 16, 1819.
- Theodore, March 26, 1822.
(VII) William, son of Grotius and Maria (Fairchild) Dewey, born June 16, 1819, at Great Barrington, Massachusetts, died December 30, 1893, at Gloversville, New York. He married, September 1, 1852, at Alford, Massachusetts, Nancy M., (see Stoddard), daughter of William and Elizabeth (Emigh) Stoddard, born February 1, 1831, at Alford, Massachusetts. Children:
- William Grotius, born August 18, 1853, died December 17, 1854;
- Alice, born October 13, 1855, (unmarried);
- Howard Grotius, of whom further;
- Elizabeth, born January 22, 1860;
- Edward Stoddard, February 10, 1862, of Gloversville, New York.
(VIII) Howard Grotius, son of William and Nancy M. (Stoddard) Dewey, was born at Great Barrington, Massachusetts, October 7, 1857. He was educated in the public schools and began his business career as clerk in a jewelry store, from there going to the insurance business. He became a resident of Gloversville in 1869, and after learning telegraphy was appointed ticket agent and telegraph operator at Gloversville for the Gloversville, Fonda & Johnstown railroad. Later he was agent for the Fulton County Coal company, then for six years was a leather manufacturer. He was then appointed general manager of the Fulton County Coal Company, which is the main source of supply for the Johnstown and Gloversville district and transacts a very large business. Mr. Dewey has other large and important business interests. He is president of the New York and New England Coal Company, secretary of the Carago Lumber Company, vice-president of the Coal Dealers' Association of Eastern and Central New York, and had other connections of a minor nature. He is a Republican, and has devoted much time to the public service. He was a member of the board of aldermen four years; mayor of the city one term; appointed postmaster by President Roosevelt in 1906, and reappointed by President Taft in 1910. He is a member of the Hospital board of managers, and a vestryman of Christ Episcopal Church. He is affiliated with Gloversville Lodge No. 429, Free and Accepted Masons; Johnstown Chapter No. 78 Royal Arch Masons; Holy Cross Commandery No. 52, Knights Templar; and Cyprus Temple, Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. His social club is the Eccentric Club of Gloversville. He married, April 12, 1894, Florence Hooker Leaning, daughter of Horace N. and Asenath (Spafford) Hooker, whose children are Frank, May, Florence, Horace and Ransom. Howard Grotius and Florence Dewey have Marjorie Asenath, born August 28, 1898.
(The Stoddard Line)
The coat-of-arms of the Ancient Family of Stoddard of London: Sa. — Estoilles and bordure Gu. Crest: Out a ducal coronet a demi-horse salient arm. Motto: "Festina Lente" — "Be in haste but not in a hurry. In the office of Heraldry, England, the origin of the Stoddard family is thus given:
"William Stoddard came from Normandy to England, A. D. 1066, with William the Conqueror, who was his cousin. Of his descendants we find record of Rukard Stoddard, of Nottingham, Kent, near Eltham, about seven miles from London Bridge, where was located the family estate of about four hundred acres, which was in possession of the family in 1490, how much before is not known, and continued until the death of Nicholas Stoddard, a bachelor, in 1765. From him the line is: Thomas Stoddard of Royston; John Stoddard of Gundon; William Stoddard of Royston; John Stoddard of Royston; Anthony Stoddard of London; Gideon Stoddard of London; Anthony Stoddard of London; William Stoddard of London. Anthony Stoddard, of London, emigrated to Boston Bay Colony, Massachusetts, about 1639. The name is derived from the office of standard bearer, and was anciently written 'De La Standard.'"
(I) The American ancestor was Anthony, son of William Stoddard. He emigrated from England and came to Boston about 1639. He was made a freeman in 1640, was deputy in 1650-59-60, and for twenty years successively from 1665 to 1684. He married (first) Mary, daughter of Emanuel Downing, of Salem, who was admitted to the church there November 4, 1638, and sister of Sir George, afterward Lord Downing. Children: Solomon, Samson and Simeon. He married (second) Barbara, widow of Captain Joseph Weld, of Roxbury, by whom he had Sarah and Stephen. He married (third) Christian ————. Children: Anthony, of whom further; Christian Lydia, Joseph, John, Ebenezer, Dorothy; Mary Jane and Grace, twins born July 29, 1669. Anthony Stoddard, the founder, died March 16, 1686-7.
(II) Anthony (2), son of Anthony (1) and Christian Stoddard (third wife), was born August 9, 1678, died September 6, 1760. He was graduated at Harvard College 1697, settled as minister in Woodbury, Connecticut, where he continued sixty years. He married (first) October 20, 1700, Prudence Wells, who died May 1714; (second) January 31, 1715, Mary Sherman, who died January 12, 1720. Children, eight by first wife: Mary, Solomon, Eliakim, Elisha, of whom further, Israel, John, Prudence, Gideon, Esther, Abijah, and Elizabeth, born November 15, 1719.
(III) Elisha, third son of Rev. Anthony (2) and Prudence (Wells) Stoddard, was born November 24, 1706, died 1766. He married Rebekah Sherman, and resided in Woodbury, Connecticut, his birthplace. Children: Solomon, Mary, Elisha (2), of whom further; David, Damaris, Jotham, Daniel, and Rebekah, born August 14, 1748.
(IV) Elisha (2), son of Elisha (1) and Rebekah (Sherman) Stoddard, was born November 4, 1735. He married, May 29, 1760, Ann Hunt. Children: Simeon, Thomas, Elisha (3), of whom further; Elihu, Esther, Samuel, Abel, Anna and Oliver, born 1777.
(V) Elisha (3), son of Elisha (2) and Ann (Hunt) Stoddard, was born May 1, 1765, died February 8, 1833. He married, November 22, 1791, Mary Crane, born August 7, 1767, died September 11, 1843. Children:
- Nancy, died in infancy.
- Betsy, died in infancy.
- Phineas, born July 7, 1797; married, October 18, 1815, Matilda Fair, born October 20, 1798, died October 30, 1848; he resided in Greenfield, Ulster county, New York.
- Nathaniel, born July 14, 1799; killed by a horse, August 20, 1833.
- William, of whom further.
- Mary C., born October 9, 1804; married, April 10, 1823, Samuel Millard; children: Almira, Theresa, Charlotte M., Charles F., Aaron B., and Oscar A.
- Celina, born June 19, 1807; married, November 29, 1836, William Sperry; children were all deceased in 1865.
- Augustus, born June 10, 1810; married, September 23, 1832, Harriet Toby; no living issue in 1865.
(VI) William, son of Elisha (3) and Mary (Crane) Stoddard, was born July 21, 1801. He was a resident of Alford, Massachusetts, and represented his town two terms in the Massachusetts legislature. He married, November 1, 1827, Elizabeth Emligh. Children:
- Nancy M., of whom further;
- Lester, born February 28, 1833, died April 18, 1848;
- Valerie, born November 5, 1834, died March 11, 1849;
- Benton, born June 21, 1840, married, September 11, 1862, Jeanette Baldwin.
(VII) Nancy M., daughter of William and Elizabeth (Emligh) Stoddard, was born February 1, 1831. She married, September 1, 1852, William Dewey. (See Dewey VII) Children: William, Alice, Howard G., Elizabeth and Edward.