Peter A. Rhodes of Enfield, Ct.:Information about JOHN MINER

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CAPTAIN JOHN MINER (b. 30 Aug 1635, d. 17 Sep 1719)

JOHN MINER (son of THOMAS MINOR and GRACE PALMER) was born 30 Aug 1635 in CHARLESTOWN, MA, and died 17 Sep 1719 in WOODBURY, CT. He married ELIZABETH BOOTH on 14 Oct 1658 in STRATFORD, CT., daughter of RICHARD BOOTH and ELIZABETH HAWLEY.

Notes for JOHN MINER:
Born in Charlestown, Mass, baptized 30 Aug 1635; son of Thomas and Grace (Palmer) Minor; married Elizabeth Booth 14 Oct 1658. John was in part educated by the Colony as a Missionary and Interpreter for the Indians in the many troubles and treaties with them. In 1658, he moved to Stratford, Conn. where he married and raised a large family. He served ten years as Town Clerk and was a leading figure in the community. A large difference of religious opinions arising in the church of which he was a Deacon, he along with a number of others, requested the General Court to grant them a tract of land where they might locate a new settlement. Gov. Winthrop, affected with the unhappy controversy and animosoties subsisting in the town, advises that Mr. Walker (the clergyman representing the group opposed to Israel Chauncy, the other clergyman involved in this religious controversy) and his church and people should remove, and that a tract of land for the settlement of a new town should be granted for their encouragement and accommodation. Accordingly, we find on record, 9 May 1672, the following grant: "This Court grants Mr. Sam'll Sherman, Lieyt. William Curtiss, Ensins: Joseph Jordan and John Minor, themselves and associates, liberty to erect a plantation at Pomperoage, provided it doeth not prejudice any former grant to any other plantation or perticuler person; provided any other honest inhabitants of Stratford have liberty to joyne with them in settling there, and that they enterteine so many inhabitants as the place will conveniently interteine, and that they settle there within the space of three years." The grant was made in May, too late in the season to move families and settle in for the winter to come so a few men went to the area where they raised corn and secured it in log cribs. When they returned the next spring they found that either animals or Indians had rifled them of their contents. Early the next spring, the group headed out for the wilderness of Pomperaug. They were diredted to follow the Pootatuck, or Great River, till they came to a large river flowing into it from the north. They were to follow up this stream about eight miles, where they would reach a large open plain on the river whichnhad previously been under the rude cultivation of the Indians.
They accordinly commenced their journey and, arriving at the Pomperaug, they thought it too small a stream to answer the description and so continued their journey to the Shepaug River. Though it was scarcely larger than the first, they concluded to ascend it. After they had gone the prescribed distance, they found themselves in rugged, mountainous country, not at all like the description given them. They perceived they had somehow passed their objective and so retraced their steps by another route arriving on Good Hill, they perceived the valley of the Pomperaug lying below in solitude and silence, the spot where Woodbury now stands. The sight so delighted the group after their fatiguing journey that John is said to have knelt down and return thanks to God. John was Town Clerk of Woodbury for about thirty years and its representative in the General Court for about twenty years. John died ay Woodbury 17 Sep 1719. His widow died 24 Oct 1732.

9th Great grandfather too Lee.

More About JOHN MINER:
Burial: Unknown, WOODBURY, CT..

More About JOHN MINER and ELIZABETH BOOTH:
Marriage: 14 Oct 1658, STRATFORD, CT..

Children of JOHN MINER and ELIZABETH BOOTH are:

+ABIGAIL MINOR, b. 06 Feb 1679/80, WOODBURY, CT, d. 1717.