The Ancestors of My Grandchildren

     John was baptized on 26 Feb 1608 at Badby, Northamptonshire, England.^2,1 He married Mary Kilbourne, daughter of Thomas Kilbourne and Frances Moody, on 10 Jan 1640 at Farmington, Connecticut.^3,1 He died on 16 Aug 1684 in Farmington, Connecticut,¹, and was buried in the North Cemetery at Somers at Tolland County.⁴

Other information: John immigrated b 1640 on the Hercules to Wethersfield, Connecticut, with his brother. The Kilbourne website (which is no longer online) stated that it could have been the 'Increase' or the 'Hercules'. "Planters of the Commonwealth", by C. E. Banks has a Josiah Rootes going to Salem in the spring of 1634 on the Hercules of Sandwich, John Witherley, Master (pg. 114-117) and a Ralph Root going to Boston in fall of 635 on the Abigail of London, Richard Hackwell, Master (pg. 161-167)⁵. The Winthrop Society has no Roote on the 'Increase.⁶' He lived at the time of his marriage at Farmington, Connecticut.⁷

He was one of the first settlers in Hartford, CT, and a freeman in 1657. In 1672, he had an estate valuation of £26 Sterling. He went from England to Hartford to Farmington before his 1640 marriage. Listed as one of the first settlers of Hartford. Was in the Parliament Army under Cromwell in England, to fight against Charles I and the Catholics. He had an aversion to war and so chose to join the company of Puritans who were coming to America. Dorcas Abbot appears many times to be his wife but that cannot be substanciated.^6,8
John Root made a will on 22 Apr 1684. He leaves his wife Mary £20.-, and charges his sons Joseph and Caleb with providing her with comfortable support. He leaves to his married sons 20 shillings, and the grandchildren 5 shillings, to his daughter Mary, wife of Isaac Bronson, £15.-, to his son Stephen 20 acres of land. Joseph receives both the looms with all that belongs to it. Caleb and Joseph receive the remainder of the estate, and are appointed executor.¹
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