John Scovell

Notes

• [JScovell descendants Helen Edwards.FTW]
  Reference: "A Survey of the Scovils or Scovills in England and America; Seven Hundred Years of History and Genealogy," by Homer Worthington Brainard, 1915, pg 133.
  "How John Scovell was induced to emigrate to New England, and in what manner he reached there, and how he came to arrive in Farmington, Connecticut, are all alike unknown. No paper, letter or personal account of the voyage or journey is known to exist. If he ever informed his sons, all tradition of the matter has been lost. It may be considered certain that he was not a Puritan, and did not emigrate for religious or political reasons. The probable cause, as shown in Chapter I of this volume, was the decline in estate of the family and the loss of the little farm of "Whole Place" in consequence of the death of his father, Richard Scovell. His widowed mother and he himself are found a few miles away from his native parish, and after her death in 1654 he had almost nothing to tie him to the home land. Yet it required courage to emigrate, and thereby he showed that he was a young man of vigor and action, and perhaps of some means.
  The first mention of him in New England is his marriage record, and he at once thereafter is found living at Farmington, where he acquired land and the rights of a proprietor. The early records of the town are defective, and it is now impossible to say when and how he obtained those rights.
  Farmington Town Acts, vol. 1, page 15. "This 18 Janua. 1670. Land given to severall men on these conditions hereafter expressed. the particular persons are .......Moses Ventrus 18 acres..........George Orvis heirs 14 acres...........John Scovel 15 acres."
  Farmington Records of Deeds, vol. 1, page 41. "Lands in Farmington belonging to John Coale and his heirs forever. Jan. 14, 1674.......One parsell which he bought of John Scovell as appeareth by a deed bearing 1683, 4 acres, bounded south on John Coales own houselot, north on Thomas Buttes, east on John Hart, west on the Highway. Item. Psell more bought of John Scovell also as abovesaid, being a devetion of land granted said Scovell by the town, Lying on ye east side of ye mountayne ye south or south corner of our bounds, 24 1/2 acres."
  Farmington Records of Deeds, vol. 2, page 105. "William and Benjamin Scovil of Haddam to Benjamin Judd of Farmington two-thirds of all those out divisions of lands in the bounds of Farmington which our honored father John Scovel stood possessed of when he dyed except two divisions which are already disposed of: to wit a southerly dividion to Ebenezer Barns and a division near Weathersfield bounds. Dated March 22, 1709."
  Farmington Records, vol. 1, page 109. "Benjamin Judd's land. One parcell bought of William Scoffill by deed of May 15, 1720, 12 acres. Recorded March 15, 1702-3"
  Ensign Samuel Woodruff in will of Feb. 8, 1730-1, gives to his daughter Mary "my lott against Hartford bounds, that lot that was firstly John Scovell's."
  On May 30, 1674, articles were signed by men chiefly of Farmington for the planting of a settlement at Mattatuck, now Waterbury. Actual occupation and building were delayed by the Indian War prevailing in 1675-6, and by the consequent danger of so exposed a location, Mattatuck being about twenty miles distant from any other settlement. After these dangers were past, renewed effords were made to bring in settlers. At a meeting of the Committee for Mattatuck, Jan. 15, 1677-8, it was agreeed and concluded "That wee do accept of Johne Roote Senr subscribing to the Artcles for settling Mattatuck in the behalfe of one of his sonnes, and we accept of John Scovel on Acct of Abraham Bronson." ('Records of the Proprietors of Waterbury', page 2.) Grants of land in Waterbury were made to John Scovell on March 11, 1678-9, and again later in 1679. The settlers were very sloww in arriving and building. At a meeting of Feb. 6, 1682-3, ten of the subscribers "for their not building and some of the fore syd not cohabiting according to the Articles" had their allotments declared frofeited, "yet notwithstanding upon their submission and reformation with their cohabitation upon the place one compleat year, as addissionall to the four years injoined in that Article made to that purpose in May 30th 1674, (the allotments were to remin theirs) otherwise this present condemnation to stand in full force." At this time John Scovell complained of for "noe chimney." As a house without a chimney would hardly have been inhabitable, we may conclude that Scovell had not on Feb. 6, 1682-3, brought his family to Waterbury, and that they were still in Farmington. This proves also that all the children were born at Farmington and not at Watebury as has been supposed. That the men complained of, including Scovell, "submitted and reformed," and soon took up their residence in Waterbury is clear from the records there. John Scovell certainly retained liberal allotments of land in Waterbury, as the deed of gift to his son John Scovell, Jr., clearly shows.
  However the total length of residence of John Scovell, Senior, at Waterbury was short. For some reason he was not satisfied or contented. In 1686 he acquired the rights of proprietor in the town of Haddam, purchasing the rights there of John Hannison, the home lot being situated in the locality known as Shailorville, about two miles south from the Court House. The deed is recoreded in vol. 3, page 80, of Haddam Land Records, and an abstract is here given: "April 30, 1686. this writing between John Hanneson of Hartford and John Scovil of Mattetuck. In consideration of 90 (pounds) to me in hand well and truly grant to the said John Scovil my now dwelling house and homelot in Haddam, eleven acres mor or less, partly on the east and partly on the west side of the highway leading through the town of Haddam abutting on the Great River east, on land of Mr. Bates north, on land of Gooman Parents south, common lands west, eight acres on the east and three acres on the west side of the highway. Also a parcel in the Cove meadow, six acres, and another of one and one half acres in the same meadow." This deed was executed at Hartford, March 3, 1686-7, but not recorded at Haddam until Feb. 19, 1733-4.
  There can be no doubt that John Scovell was a farmer. He held no public offices, and as far as records show was never a member of the churches in the towns where he lived. Mrs. Scovell was in "full communion" with the church in Farmington on March 1, 1679-80, and may have remained on its rolls until her death.
  An autograph signature, "John Scovell," well formed and very legible, may be seen upon the original inventory of the estate of Nicholas Ackley of Haddam who died April 29, 1695. This shows that John Scovell was fairly well educated for the times.
  No will or other settlement of the estate of John Scovll ahs been preserved and no record of the births or baptisms of his children is known to exist. For this reason the following documentation is very important, for it gives the only known list of his heirs.
  A Release.
  "November 18th, anno Domini 1700. Know all persons by these presents That we who shall hereunto subscribe being the relikt or widow & Children of John Scovell of hadam sometime deceased. Do for and in Consideration of a Certain Sum of six pounds in Current pay allredy payd to ye abovesd Parent and husband which was due by Bill from Samuel Orvis of Farmington for a certain percell of Land now Joyning to his house which or honoured Husband and father gave him ye aforesaid Orvis an assurance of ye Bill which was given for ye aforesd mony being lost we ye above mentioned widow & children of ye abovesd deceased Living in ye County of Hartford & Colony of Conecticott in New England Do for the promoting of peace and honesty & for ye above sd Consideration for our deceased Husband and father aforsd and for orselves & heirs forever acquit and releas ye before mentioned Small Orvis of & from ye sd Bill of six pounds due for ye Land before exprest & by these presents we ye beforesd widow and children of ye beforementioned deceased do for our honoured father & for orselves & or heirs forever acquit release clear and sett free ye beforesd Samuel Orvis from any trouble concerning ye Bill aforesd under any Culler or pretense whatsoever and allso by these presents we do for orselves and or heirs Covenant and promis that we will not disturb or molest him ye beforementioned Orvis nor his heirs forever In ye possession of ye sd Land either by wills, Dowries or in any Law suits upon any Culler or pretence whatsoever, and for ye Due Performance of ye above sd premises we do sett or hands."
  Sarah Scovel her-----a-----mark
  William Scovel Benjmn Scovel
  Edward Scovel his-----V-----mark
  John Scovel
  "Witness: ----A true Coppy of a writing I recd to be recorded May 8th, 1731. John Hooker Registr." 'Farmington Records', vol. 5, page 204."
  JOHN SCOVELL'S DEED OF GIFT TO HIS SON JOHN SCOVELL, JR.
  "This wrighting made ye eighteenth day of July in the year one thousand six hundred ninety and six witnesseth yt I John Scovell son of haddam in ye county of Hartford and colonie of Conecticut in New England for divers valuable good and lawful cuaes and considerations me ye said John Scovell hereunto especially moving have given, granted, bequeathed, alienated, enfeofed, assigned, set over and confirmed and to by these presents fully, clearly and absolutely give, grant, bequeath, alinate, enfeof, assign, set over and confirm to my well beloved soon John Scovell and unto his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns forever all ye estate, right, title, use, possession, property, claim and demand whatsoever yt I, ye sd John Scovell Sen, have, had, or in time to come might, ought or should have by alotment or purchas in ye township of Waterbury in ye County of Hartford and colonie fore mentioned, yt is, ---all my housing and lands already laid out or not layd out, belonging to me by propriety, the particular parsells are, viz: my hous and hom lot containing too acres more or less as it lys buted and bounded, buting east on ye highway, north and west on Deak iudds land & south on highway; viz: one peic at iuds meadows on ye west side ye river containing four acres buting east on ye river, south on land belonging to ye heirs of edman Scott deceased, north on ioseph gaylord's land, west on ye hill; viz: on peic on ye west sid ye river against bever meadows by estimation too acres, buted north on thomas iudd's land, south on land belonging to ye heirs of iohn Nuell deceased, east on ye river, west on ye hill; viz: one peic in Manhan neck by estimation three roods, buting east on a cove, west on a pasage, north on land belonging to ye heirs of philip judd dec'd, south on land belonging to ye heirs of iohn carrinton; viz: one peic in manhan meadow of too acres & a half as it lys buted and bounded, buting north on beni barns land, south on land beling to ye heirs of iohn Newell deceased, east on a hill, west on ye river; viz: on peic of Steels meadow of three acres and a half as it lys, buted north on Joseph hikcox land, south part on Tho Richason, part on Tho warner's land, east on John Newell's land, west on ye hill; viz: on peic in hancox meadow by estimation too acres and a half as it lys buted and bounded, buting north on iohn Welton's land, south on iohn brunsons land, east on Daniell porter, west on ye river; viz: on peic on ye west sd ye river against hancox meadow, containing one acre and three roods, buting north on edman Scott's land, east on ye river, west on ye hill; viz: one peic containing by estimation eight acres as it lys buted and bounded south on Joseph Gaylord's land, north on ye road that leads to Woodbury, east & west on ye commons; this with all my right divided or undivided, al ye above mentioned lands iwth their natural or artificial bounds and butsments, with all ye profits, privileges and apurtenances to ye same belonging, and ye said John Scovell Sr for him self, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns covenanteth as follows: that he hath good right and lawful authority to give, grant, bequeath, alinate, assign, set over and confirm al ye abovesd prmises in every part thereof unto his well beloved son John Scovell, his heirs and assigns, as by these presents I have done and yt it is free & cleare and fully and clearly acquited from all and all maner of other and former gifts, grants, bargains, dowerys, incumbrances whatsoever and yet my beloved soon John Scovell his heirs executors, adminstrators, and assigns on ye day of ye date hereof and from time to time and forever hereafter shall & may quietly and peaceably have, hold, use, occupy, posess and inioy all ye sd bargained or bequeathed premises in every part thereof, without any suit, trouble, molestation, disturbance or denyall of me ye sd John Scovellsen., my heirs executors, administrators, assings or any other person or persons by my means, default, consent or procurement, without any other condition, limitation, use or other thing to alter, change or make void ye same, forever warrinting and defending ye same, giving to my soon John by these presents full pour to enrole and record all ye said purchases of land to himself, heirs, executors, adminsistrators or assigns in ye public records in Waterbury or any other public notary where the same may & ought to be recorded in, only I ye sd John Scovell Snr do nothwithstanding this deed given to my soon Johnn do reserve the use of ten pounds worth of this liveing for my loveing wef to have y income as in case yt it should please God to take me away before hur, yet is for hur to have during hur natural lif and then to return to my soon John according to this deed. In witness hereof I ye sd John Scovell senr have signed, sealed and delivered this instrument in the presence of
  Witness Thomas Judd sr JOHN SCOVELL, SR
  Thomas Judd iur. hand
  John Scovell sen. personally appeared this twentieth July in ye year on thousand six hundred ninety & six
  Justice of the Peace
  Recorded in vol. I, page 105, of Waterbury records on Feb. 11, 1703.
  Reference: "Thomas Barnes of Hartford, Connecticut & 1,766 Descendants 1615-1994", by Frederic Wayne Barnes and Edna Cleo (Bauer) Barnes, p 13.
  "Sarah & John moved to Waterbury, New Haven, CT in 1678; it is believed they moved to Branford, New Haven, Ct, thence to Haddam, Middlesex, CT."