Simon Wolcott

1625 - 1687  (62 years)

• Name	Simon Wolcott
  	— Farmer [2]
  Birth	11 Sep 1624/25	Gaulden Manor, Tolland, Somersetshire, England   [2, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, 25]
  General Information	According to Keatley (1941), he "was one of the few men in the Colony honored with the title 'Mister."  [9, 15, 24]
  Immigration	say 1635 (9 years)  [2, 6, 8, 12, 13, 19, 22, 23, 24]
  Simon's parents emigrated to New England when he was about five. He, and his siblings were sent for within ten years after, but the exact time of their arrival we have not been able to ascertain.
  Residence	Oct 1636 (11 years)	Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony   [9, 10, 23]
  In October 1636 he was recorded as living in Windsor, Connecticut.
  Freeman	1654 (28 years)	Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony   [12, 22]
  He was admitted as a freeman in 1654.
  Land/House	Apr 1661 (35 years)	Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony.   [15, 24]
  In April 1661 he sold his place in Windsor, Connecticut to the Saunders Brothers and moved to Simsbury, Connecticut.
  Land/House	From 1667 to 1668 (41 years)	Simsbury, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony   [7, 24]
  In 1667 and 1668 he received with others grants of land in Simsbury, Connecticut, then Massacoe.
  Offices Held	1668 (42 years)	Simsbury, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony   [24]
  In 1668 he was appointed by the General Court one of a committee who were empowered, with reference to grants in that place, "to further the planting of the same, and to make such just orders as they shall judge requisite for the well ordering of said plantation, so they be not repugnant to the public orders of this Colony."
  Offices Held	1671 (45 years)	Simsbury, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony   [14]
  He was the Representative to the General Court of Connecticut from Simsbury in 1671.
  Occupation	12 Oct 1671 (46 years)	Simsbury, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony
  On 12 October 1671 the General Court granting him liberty, under proper restrictions, to "dispose" of alcoholic liquors, was evidence of public confidence in him and of his good social standing.
  Military	11 Aug 1673 (47 years)	Simsbury, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony   [9, 15, 24]
  On 11 August 1673 he was appointed a Captain in the militia. The Committee for the Miltiæ do hereby appoynt Mr. Simon Woolcott and John Griffin to be those that shall command [Captain] the Traine Band of Simsbury for the present, and untill the Generall Court order otherwise, or the people there make their choyse."
  Offices Held	1674 (48 years)	Simsbury, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony   [9, 24]
  He was elected a Selectman of Simsbury in 1674.
  Moved To	1675 (49 years)	Simsbury, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony   [17, 19, 24]
  In 1675 he and the rest of the settlers were driven from the place by the Indians, and his property was destroyed. It is said that on his flight from the place he filled a brass kettle with his plate, &c., and sunk it in the deep mud of the swamp, but was unable to find it afterwards.
  Residence	1680 (54 years)	South Windsor, Hartford Count, Connecticut Colony   [24]
  After the loss of his place in Simsbury, he remained a few years in Windsor, and in 1680 settled on his land, on the east side of the Connecticut River, in the present town of South Windsor, Connecticut.
  Land/House	13 May 1680 (54 years)	South Windsor, Hartford Count, Connecticut Colony   [24]
  "May 13, 1680. This Court grants Mr. Simon Woolcot two hundred acres of land for a farme, provided he take it up where it may not prejudice any grant to any perticular person or to any plantation."
  Land/House	1686 (60 years)	South Windsor, Hartford Count, Connecticut Colony   [9, 24]
  In the Windsor Town List of 1686 his "Estate Rateable" is among the largest entered; but it was involved, and there remained little at his decease.
  Death	11 Sep 1687	Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony   [2, 4, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 21, 23, 24, 25]
  According to Wolcott (1881) His death was hastened, according to his son's account, by gloomy anticipations of the oppression and suffering which awaited the colonists under the coming administration of Sir Edmund Andros. These fears, as the result proved, were not wholly groundless, and they were probably heightened in his mind by the tragic scenes which had recently been enacted in his native county in England. Somersetshire had been the principal seat of the unfortunate operations of Monmouth's fatal expedition, and the former neighbors of the family in England, and their families, had furnished some of the victims for the "judicial massacre" of the brutal Jeffreys during his Bloody Assizes. The reign of King James II., during the few years it lasted, was naturally an object of strong dislike and dread to the colonists. [13, 24]
  Burial	Aft 11 Sep 1687	Palisado Cemetery, Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut, U.S.A. Palisado Cemetery, Windsor, Connecticut   [4, 15, 24]
  Siblings	4 brothers and 2 sisters
  1. John Wolcott,   b. 1 Oct 1607, Tolland, Somersetshire, England d. Before 1655, England  (Age 47 years) > 2. Henry Wolcott,   b. 21 Jan 1610/11, Tolland, Somersetshire, England d. 12 Jul 1680, Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut, U.S.A.  (Age 69 years) ▻ Sarah Newberry,  m. 8 Nov 1640   3. George Wolcott,   b. England d. 12 Feb 1663, Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut, U.S.A.   4. Christopher Wolcott,   b. England d. 7 Sep 1662, Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut, U.S.A. + 5. Anna Wolcott,   b. 1620, Tolland, Somersetshire, England d. 1677, Lyme, New London County, Connecticut, U.S.A.  (Age 57 years) ▻ Lt. Matthew Griswold,  m. 16 Oct 1646   6. Mary Wolcott,   b. Abt 1622, Tolland, Somersetshire, England d. 6 Sep 1689, Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut, U.S.A.  (Age 67 years) > 7. Simon Wolcott,   b. 11 Sep 1624/25, Gaulden Manor, Tolland, Somersetshire, England d. 11 Sep 1687, Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony  (Age 62 years) ▻ Joanna Cook,  m. 19 Mar 1657 ;   Martha Pitkin,  m. 17 Oct 1661
  Patriarch & Matriarch	father Wolcott   (2 x Great Grandfather)  Elizabeth Saunders,   c. 20 Dec 1584, Lydiard St Lawrence, Somersetshire, England d. 7 Jul 1655, Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut, U.S.A.  (Age ~ 70 years)  (Mother)
  Person ID, Branch	I16566
  Last Modified	4 Aug 2025

  
  

  Father	Henry Wolcott, Esq,   c. 6 Dec 1579, Bishops Lydeard, Somersetshire, England d. 30 May 1655, Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut, U.S.A. (Age ~ 75 years)
  Mother	Elizabeth Saunders,   c. 20 Dec 1584, Lydiard St Lawrence, Somersetshire, England d. 7 Jul 1655, Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut, U.S.A. (Age ~ 70 years)
  Family ID	F930	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Spouse / Partner 1	Joanna Cook,   b. 5 Aug 1638, Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony d. 27 Apr 1657, Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony (Age 18 years)
  Marriage	19 Mar 1657	Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony   [1, 8, 12, 14, 16, 18, 24]
  Age at Marriage	He : 31 years and 6 months - She : 18 years and 7 months.
  Family ID	F8440	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	3 Jun 2025

  
  

  Spouse / Partner 2	Martha Pitkin,   c. 12 Oct 1639, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England d. 13 Oct 1719, East Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony (Age ~ 80 years)  Other Partners: Daniel Clark, Esq.  m. 13 Oct 1719
  Marriage	17 Oct 1661	Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony   [1, 2, 8, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 21, 22, 24]
  Age at Marriage	He : 36 years and 1 month - She : 22 years.
  Children	From 1662 to 1679  [7, 11, 12, 14, 23, 24, 25]
  1. Elizabeth Wolcott (1662-1707) 2. Martha Wolcott (1664-1687) 3. Simon Wolcott (1666-1732) 4. Joanna Wolcott (1668-1755) 5. Henry Wolcott (1670-1746) 6. Christopher Wolcott (1672-1693) 7. Mary Wolcott (1674-1676) 8. William Wolcott (1676-1749) 9. Roger Wolcott (1679-1767) [He became the Governor of Connecticut]
  Family ID	F8438	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	12 Jun 2025

  
  

• Pedigree

  ← Click to display 1Simon Wolcott(11 Sep 1624/25 – 1687) 2Henry Wolcott, Esq(1579 – 1655) 4John Wolcott 8John Wolcott(1516 – 1571) 16father Wolcott 17 9Agnes Butler(1523 – 1606) 18 19 5Joan Cross 10 20 21 11 22 23 3Elizabeth Saunders(1584 – 1655) 6Thomas Saunders 12 24 25 13 26 27 7 14 28 29 15 30 31

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - 11 Sep 1624/25 - Gaulden Manor, Tolland, Somersetshire, England Residence - Oct 1636 - Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony Freeman - 1654 - Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony Marriage - 19 Mar 1657 - Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony Land/House - Apr 1661 - Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony. Marriage - 17 Oct 1661 - Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony Land/House - From 1667 to 1668 - Simsbury, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony Offices Held - 1668 - Simsbury, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony Offices Held - 1671 - Simsbury, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony Occupation - 12 Oct 1671 - Simsbury, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony Military - 11 Aug 1673 - Simsbury, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony Offices Held - 1674 - Simsbury, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony Moved To - 1675 - Simsbury, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony Residence - 1680 - South Windsor, Hartford Count, Connecticut Colony Land/House - 13 May 1680 - South Windsor, Hartford Count, Connecticut Colony Land/House - 1686 - South Windsor, Hartford Count, Connecticut Colony Death - 11 Sep 1687 - Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony Burial - Aft 11 Sep 1687 - Palisado Cemetery, Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut, U.S.A.  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos

  Signature of Simon Wolcott

  
  

• Sources 🟢 Primary Evidence 🟡 Secondary Evidence 🟠 Tertiary Evidence 🔴 Unreliable Evidence

  [S1158] Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, volume III (P-W), (Boston: New England Historic Genealogy Society, 1995). [S1622] anonymous. "Memoir of Hon. Oliver Wolcott, Sen, Governor of Connecticut, 1796-7" , (Boston: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume XXVI, January 1872). [S1524] Dean, John. "Medfield's Contribution to Harvard College, 1678", (Boston: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, volume X, 1856). [S14] Ancestry.com, Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current® http://findagrave.com, (Lehi, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.), Memorial ID 8275835 Simon Wolcott. [S1234] Gibbs, George. "Memoir of Oliver Wolcott", (Boston: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, volume IV, 1850). [S241] Griggs, Dan. McNall Genealogy, (manuscript, 2003). [S1620] Hinman, Royal R. Catalogue of Names of the First Puritan Settlers, (Hartford, Connecticut: Royal R. Hinman, 1846). [S1884] Jackson, Joseph C. British and American Family of Wolcott: Origin, Lineage, Service, (New York: Joseph C. Jackson, 1912). [S705] Keatley, Vivien Bulloch. The Cooley Genealogy, the Descendants of Ensign Benjamin Cooley, (Rutland, Vermont: Tuttle Publishing Co., 1941). [S1193] Parsons, Samuel H. "Record of Marriages and Births in the Town of Windsor, in Connecticut" , (Boston: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, volume V, 1851). [S1880] Pitkin, Albert Palmer. Pitkin Family of America: A Genealogy of the Descendants of William Pitkin, the Progenitor of the Family in this Country, from his Arrival from England in 1659 to 1886 ... Also Additional Notes of the Descendants of Martha Pitkin, who Married Simon Wolcott, (Hartford, Connecticut: Case, Lockwood and Company, 1887). [S1627] Rudd, Alice Böhmer. Wolcott Genealogy: The Family of Henry Wolcott, one of the First Settlers of Windsor, Connecticut, (Washington, DC: Guild Publishing Company, 1950). [S1882] Salisbury, Edward Elbridge. Family-Histories and Genealogies, (New Haven, Connecticut: Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor, 1892). [S956] Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May 1692 on the Basis of Farmer's Register, volume IV, (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1862). [S1881] Stiles, Henry Reed. The History and Genealogies of Ancient Windsor, Connecticut: Including East Windsor, South Windsor, Bloomfield, Windsor Locks, and Ellington, 1635-1891, Volume 2, (Hartford, Connecticut: The Case, Lockwood & Brainard Company, 1891). [S1887] Stott, Clifford L. "Humphrey Blake (1494?-1558) and his Descendants in New England and South Carolina: Blake, Richards, Selleck, Torrey, and Wolcott", (Boston: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 163, 2009). [S1885] Talcott, Mary Kingsbury. "Notes on the Pitkin Ancestry in England", (Boston: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume LXVI, 1912). [S91] Torrey, Clarence Almon, New England Marriage Prior to 1700, (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1985). [S1624] Trumbull, J. Hammond. The Memorial History of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1633-1884, (Boston: Edward L. Osgood, 1886). [S1235] W, W. H. "Researches among Funeral Sermons" , (Boston: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, volume XVII, 1864). [S1625] Wolcott, Chandler. Record of the Descendants of James and Miriam Wolcott, (Rochester, New York: Chandler Wolcott, 1907). [S1626] Wolcott, Chandler. Wolcott Genealogy: The Family of Henry Wolcott, One of the First Settlers of Windsor, Conn., (Rochester, New York: Genese Press, 1912). [S1229] Wolcott, Frederick. "Genealogies - The Wolcott Family", (Boston: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, volume I, July 1847). [S1623] Wolcott, Samuel. Memorial of Henry Wolcott, One of the First Settlers of Windsor, Connecticut, and of Some of His Descendants, (New York: Anson D. F. Randolph and Company, 1881). [S1231] Woodward, Ashbel. "Brief Memoirs and Notices of Prince's Subscribers" , (Boston: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, volume IX, 1855).