Martha PITKIN

Marth a Pitkin, sister of Mr. William Pitkin, the progenitor of the Simon Wolcott m. (1) Mar. 19, 1657, Joanna Cook, b. Aug. 5, 1638, d. Apr. 27, 1657, about six weeks after her marriage, when she was only eighteen years old; he was (2) the successful suitor for the hand of Martha Pitkin, after she arrived in Windsor in 1661, and on Oct. 17, 1661, they were married. After the death of Simon Wolcott, Martha m. Daniel Clark, Esq. She died Oct. 13, 1719, aged 80 Pitkins in Ameri ca, and of Roger Pitkin of London, was born in England in 1638. She followed h er brother to America in 1661, to retu rn with him to England, "not once suppo sing he intended to remain in the wild erness,' as she expressed it. Her first greeting on meeting her brother, whom she found feeding his swine, was, "I le ft a brother in England serving his king, and find another in America serving his swine." She was a lady endowed with more than ordinary talent, improved by an excellent education. The rece ption she met with in the colony, was most flattering; her comely form and ac complished manner making the colonists anxi ous to retain her in their country . In the words of the Rev. Thomas Robbins, for many years the pastor of the c hurch she attended, "this girl put the colo ny in commotion. If possible she m ust be detained. The stock was too valuable to be parted with. It became a ma tter of general consultation what young man was good enough for Miss Pitkin." Tradition says that so many young men wishe d to marry the accomplished beaut y, that they cast lots for her hand, but fai ls to say what part Miss Pitkin w as to take in the affair. The facts are, tha t the sons of Henry Wolcott, on e of the first settlers of East Windsor, were well pleased with Miss Pitkin, and to avoid all question of strife or jealousy , it is believed it was decide d by lot among themselves which one should sue for her hand. The lot fell to Simon Wolcott, the youngest son; at all events, he pressed his suit, and was successful. Her brother favored the match, and s he became the wife of Simon W olcott, and subsequently the mother of Governor Roger Wolcott, grandmother of Governor Oliver Wolcott, and great-grandmother o f the second Governor Oliver Wolcott and of Governor Roger Griswold. Governor Ellsworth was also a lineal descendant. Her granddaughter married Governor Mat thew Griswold. It was sta ted in the funeral sermon of Governor Roger Wolcott, her ninth child, "That h e never went to school, but was educated by his moth er in her own dwelling." After the death of her husband Martha Wolcott became , in 1693, the second wi fe of Mr. Daniel Clark, one of the first settlers of Windsor. He was the secr etary of the colony before the charter, and was one o f the magistrates named in that instrument. A man of influence in the colony, an assistant from 1662 to 1664, he was appointed by the town of Windsor to si t "in the great pew whi ch was wainscoted for the magistrate. He died Aug 12, 1710, aged 88. In the will of William Pitkin she is mentioned as "his sister C lark". She is buried in East Windsor, Connecticut, the resting place of several of h er children. For a m ore complete history of her descendants, see the "Wolcot t Memorial". From Ra lph Turner's research: Martha Pitkin was born on 12 Dec 1 639 Berkhamsted, Buc ks, England. She was christened on 12 Dec 1639 in Berkha mstead, Hertfordshire , England. She was buried in 1719. "Also Martha Pitkin w ife of Simon Wolcott born 1639 dyed 15 Oct 1719." on the tombstone. She died o n Octo 13, 1719 in W indsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut. A headstone marked her grave in the old So ugh Windsor churchyard but her name was later inscribed o n the monument of he r first husband in the cemetery at Windsor. According to tradition and though t to be true, while on a visit to her brother, Martha acc epted a proposal o f marrieage from Simon Wolcott made at the suggestion of le ading men of the c olony. She became the ancestor of 7 New England governors. Father: William Pitkin III* b: 1608 in Berkhamsted, Bucks, England

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