FOREWORD

THE foundation of this volume was laid by the will of the late Samuel St. John, of New York, and New Haven, Conn., published in book form in 1852, and now incorporated herein.

The work has been a labor of love, and it has been my wish that all who shall possess the book may enjoy it as much as I have its compilation. It has cost me a great deal of time and labor, during the past decade, expended without thought of compensation, save that which came from the satisfaction of preserving records and family traditions which were rapidly passing away. No attempt has been made to trace the family beyond the first American immigrant.

Notwithstanding all the efforts made, and care exercised, to verify names and dates, there are doubtless many errors. Perhaps an absolutely correct genealogy was never written. By far the larger portion of the facts herein recorded has been obtained from family Bibles, town, court, and cemetery records, or from published genealogies.

It is with regret that I confess many failures to receive replies to queries sent out, to which must be attributed some lack of connection among the records. And now that my work is ended, I particularly desire to thank all who responded so kindly to my inquiries, and to assure them that I shall ever cherish among my pleasantest memories their patient interviews, their warm hospitality, and kind letters.

To the Rev. Horace E. Hayden, author of Virginia Genealogies, and to Mr. David H. Van Hoosear, author of the Van Hoosear Genealogy, my gratitude is especially given for their valuable aid. I desire also to acknowledge the encouragement of the Rev. C. M. Selleck, Norwalk's historian, and the kind services of Mrs. M. Louisa Brodnax, genealogist, of New York City.

O. ST. J. A.

ABBREVIATIONS

The abbreviations used in this genealogy are as follows. abt., about; æ., aged; B., baptized; b., born; ch., child or children; d., died; d. s., died single; d. s. p., died sine prole, "without issue"; d. inf., died in infancy; d. y., died young; dau., daughter; disj., disjecta; Est., estate; grad., graduated; gr. s., grandson; gr. dau., granddaughter; Inv., inventory; L., land; m., married; N., Norwalk; P., pp., page or pages; Prob., probate; Rec., records; s. p., sine prole, "without issue "; s., single; T. P., Town Proceedings; T. S., tombstone; vol., volume; V. S., vital statistics; Will Bk., Will book: wid., widow. The initial of a place stands for the name of that place which next precedes the initial.

THE OLD STYLE AND NEW STYLE CALENDAR

The year, at the time of the American Colonial period, began March 25th and ended March 24th, and so remained until 1752; then the change was made to January 1st by Great Britain and her Colonies. Other European countries had made the change earlier.

From 1607 to 1752 double dating was the common practice for the months between January 1st and March. This was an attempt to give dates for a year beginning March 25th and at the same time. for a year beginning January 1st. This led to much confusion with regard to dates of marriages and births. (For further information. see articles on "Calendar" and " Chronology" in the Encyclopedia Britannica.)

INTRODUCTION

THE following items, names, etc., are given here because they appear on the records. No proof of connection has as yet been found with the first Matthias St. John.

Viscount Grandison was the son of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Blount) St. John. His younger brother, Richard, was ancestor of the Irish St. Johns, and I think of our Matthew St. John, who, by the way, lived in St. Botolph, Bishopsgate, in London, before going to Conn. (N. E. Hist. and Gen. Register, vol. 54, p. 342; Colonial Papers; British Public Records.)

June 24, 1619. Shareholders in London Co. William Sharley to Oliver St. John. Mrs. Millicent Ramsden to Oliver St. John. (Va. Hist. of Orange Co., N. Y., p. 488.)

Hector St. John came from France to Hamptonburgh, Orange Co., N. Y., and lived where Hezekiah Moffatt lived and died. He returned to France during the Rev. War, with one son. He afterwards returned to the U. S. as Consul to N. Y. The other son and daughter were educated in the eastern part of the U. S. Frances, the dau., m. a Frenchman named Otto and went to France. There he was made Count Otto and sent to the court at Vienna, etc. (Eagers' Hist. of Orange Co., N. Y., p. 488.)

Permission is granted Mr. Hector St. John to send his family by a Flag going up Hudson's River. (Rev. Events No. 205, Genl. Pattison issues permits; Orange Co., N. Y., Republican, 1904.)

Henry Wisner writes Gov. Clinton: "West Point, Feb. 19, 1778. I arrived here last evening broke roads over the mountains through the snow with 16 teams. I take liberty to observe that the people of our country are much alarmed at their apprehensions of St. Johns Being permitted to goe to New York I asked one of the most sensible of them what damage he could Doe; he observed that he might Advise the Burning of Sterling works in order to prevent our giting the Chain done. I told him I believed you would Consider well the matter Before you would grant that permition." (Vol. 2, 788, Clinton Papers.)

The Cornwall Com. Vouches for Mr. St. John; Orange Co., Apl. 7, 1778.