Curtis · ◉ direct ancestor

♂John Curtis

Born 1748, Torrington, Hartford, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America. Died before 1790, Worthington, Hampshire, Massachusetts, United States.

John Curtis (10 March 1748 – before 4 September 1790) was born in Torrington, Connecticut, and died in Worthington, in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, where he had settled his family by the early 1780s. He was the fourth great-grandfather of Frederic Roger Curtis (1928–2007), through his son Jeremiah Curtis (1770–1810).

Early life

John Curtis was the son of Zebulon Curtis (1710–1798) and Lydia Cole (1709–1776) of Torrington, then in Hartford County, Connecticut Colony. The Torrington town book records his birth on 10 March 1748 as a son of Zebulun and Lydia Curtis, and his christening followed on 17 April 1748, as the abstract of the Torrington Congregational church records also shows. An earlier version of this page gave his birth as 1746, a year taken from one index; the town book itself says 1748. Which belongs to him has not been settled; a son who died in infancy would not necessarily leave a trace distinguishing him from a second, surviving child of the same name in a record of this kind.

Marriage and family

He married Mary Filley (1752–1815) on 4 June 1769 in Torrington. Six of their children were recorded in the town’s vital records between 1770 and 1779: Jeremiah, Huldah, Junia (registered there as “Jonny”), Lorrain, Thomas and Mary. A seventh, Remembrance, born in 1781, does not appear in the Torrington book, consistent with the family having already removed to Worthington, Massachusetts, by then.

Land and his father’s will

In his own will, dated 30 June 1790, Zebulon Curtis left his son “John Curtis of Worthington in Massachusetts Bay” a hundred acres of land at Wells, in the state of Vermont — land that, the will notes, John had himself deeded to his father shortly before. Zebulon named John and his brother Job as his sole executors. John did not live to serve: he died between 26 June and 4 September 1790, and it was not proved until 1798, after his own death.

Death

In June 1790 he was still conveying land. On 21 June, at Torrington, he and his father Zebulon acknowledged a joint deed selling Worthington land to James Blackman. On 26 June, in Hampshire County, he acknowledged a deed of his own to James Blackmarr, which his wife Mary also signed. Both deeds were recorded at Northampton on 29 June 1790.

John Curtis died in Worthington between 26 June and 4 September 1790. On 4 September his widow Mary, signing by mark, declined to take administration of his estate and asked the probate judge to appoint Ezra Starkweather; their son Jeremiah Curtis was one of the witnesses. In May 1791 the estate’s claims were listed, and the estate was found insufficient to pay its debts.

Sources disagree on the year of his death: one compiled index gives 1792. The 1790 federal census for Worthington, taken that August, enumerates his widow, Mary, heading her own household, with an eldest son keeping a household next to hers — evidence that John was already dead by the time of the count, which favors 1790 over the later date. A town genealogy of the family’s next home records that all of his children eventually removed from Massachusetts to North Norwich, in Chenango County, New York.

Family time line

◉ John Curtis 1748–bef 1790

◉ Mary Filley 1752–aft 1790 ⧉

Married 4 Jun 1769, Torrington, Litchfield, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America, Torrington, Connecticut Colony

◉ Jeremiah Curtis 1770–aft 1810

○ Huldah T. Curtis 1772–1872

○ Junia Curtis 1774–1831

○ Lorrain Curtis 1775–1850

○ Thomas Curtis 1778–abt 1848

○ Mary Mercy Curtis 1779–

○ Remembrance Curtis Sr. 1781–1840

Recorded events

Event	When	Where	Evidence ?on record - the record itself, its image, or a transcript or printed copy of it has been read from a compiled source - an index, a printed genealogy or a memorial page says so not yet documented - in the family record, no source attached yet
Birth	10 Mar 1748	Torrington, Hartford, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America	on record
Christening	17 Apr 1748	Torrington, Hartford, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America	on record
Living at of Worthington; sold land to James Blackmarr (with wife Mary) and, with his father Zebulon, to James Blackman	Jun 1790	Worthington, Hampshire, Massachusetts, United States	on record
Death after 26 Jun 1790 (acknowledged a deed in person, Hampshire Co.); widow's petition for administration 4 Sep 1790	bef 4 Sep 1790	Worthington, Hampshire, Massachusetts, United States	on record

17481790 176017701780

Sources

Barbour Collection, Torrington, Connecticut Vital Records p.17 - birth of Jeremiah Curtis 1770 and marriage of John Curtis & Mary Filley 1769 — Birth, Marriage (Mary Filley)
Torrington, Connecticut. Births, marriages and deaths 1741-1849, page 13 - Curtis entries — Birth, about this person
Torrington, Connecticut Congregational church records p.17 - baptism of Jeremiah Curtis, 19 Aug 1770 — Christening
Hampshire County, Massachusetts, deeds - John Curtis of Worthington to James Blackmarr, and Zebulon Curtis of Torrington and John Curtis of Worthington to James Blackman, acknowledged 21 and 26 Jun 1790, recorded Northampton 29 Jun 1790 — Living at, about this person
Hampshire County, Massachusetts, probate - estate of John Curtis of Worthington, 1790-1791: Mary Curtis's petition of 4 Sep 1790 — Death
John Curtis in entry for Huldah Curtis, "Connecticut, Births and Christenings, 1649-1906" — about this person
John Curtis in entry for Jeremiah Curtis, "Connecticut, Births and Christenings, 1649-1906" — about this person
John Curtis in entry for Jonny Curtis, "Connecticut, Births and Christenings, 1649-1906" — about this person
John Curtis in entry for Lorrain Curtis, "Connecticut, Births and Christenings, 1649-1906" — about this person
John Curtis, "Find a Grave Index" — about this person
John Curtis, "Connecticut, Births and Christenings, 1649-1906" — about this person
John Curtis in entry for Thomas Curtis, "Connecticut, Births and Christenings, 1649-1906" — about this person
John Curtis in entry for Mary Curtis, "Connecticut, Births and Christenings, 1649-1906" — about this person
Connecticut, Litchfield District, Probate Records vol. 5-7 (1788-1805) - will of Zebulon Curtis of Torrington, 1790 — about this person

Borders as they stood about 1763 (they follow the event under the mouse), from the historical-basemaps project, the Newberry Library's Atlas of Historical County Boundaries (states and territories, 1783 on) and Natural Earth; the colonies and provinces are drawn along today's lines.

Line of descent

Zebulon Curtis 1710/1711–1798 ⚔
1. Thomas Curtis 1680–1752 ⚔⚖
  1. Joseph Curtis Sr 1644–1683
    1. Thomas Curtis Jr 1598–1681
    2. Elizabeth Salmon 1612–1681
      1. Christopher Salmon 1586–1625
        Peter Salmon 1560–1600
        Alice (surname unknown) 1564–1610
      2. Sarah Curtis 1581–1630
  2. Mercy Deming 1651–1714
    1. John Deming abt 1615–bef 1705 ⚖
      1. Unknown Deming 1570–
      2. not yet known
    2. Honor Treat 1616–bef 1690
      1. Richard Treat 1584–1669/1670 ⚖
        Robert Trott –1599
        Richard Trott –1570
        Joanna (surname unknown)
        Honora (surname unknown) –1627
      2. Alice Gaylard 1594–1669 ⚓
        Hugh Gaylard –1614
        Nicholas Gaylord 1500–1546
        Joan Sevenoak 1500–1572
        Alice (surname unknown) 1555–1594
2. Mary Goodrich 1682–
  1. John Goodrich 1653–1730
    1. William Goodrich 1622–bef 1676 ⚔⚓
      1. John Goodrich –bef 1632
        William Goodrich –1631
        Robert Goodrich 1515–1570
        Elizabeth (surname unknown) –1579
        Margaret (surname unknown) –1630
        Alexander Richardson 1515–1558
        Isabel (surname unknown) 1510–1559
      2. Margery How –1632
        John Howe 1554–1609
        Margery Lonsdale 1562–1639
        John Lonsdale 1530–
        not yet known
    2. Sarah Marvin 1631–bef 1702 ⚭⚓
      1. Matthew Marvin 1600–bef 1680 ⚓⚭
        Edward Marvin abt 1552–1615/1616
        Reinold Marvin abt 1513–1554/1561
        Johan (surname unknown)
        Margaret (surname unknown) –1633
      2. Elizabeth (surname unknown) –bef 1647
  2. Rebecca Allen bef 1657–
    1. John Allen –1675 ⚖⚔
    2. Sarah (surname unknown)
Lydia Cole 1709–1776
1. Nathaniel Cole abt 1678–1743
2. Elizabeth Woodford 1682–bef 1739
  1. Joseph Woodford –bef 1710
  2. Rebecca Newell abt 1643–
    1. Thomas Newell –bef 1689
      1. Thomas Newell 1585–1672
        Richard Newell 1565–
        Frances (surname unknown) 1565–
      2. Francis (surname unknown) 1590–1683
    2. Rebecca (surname unknown)
      1. Richard Olmstead 1579–1641
        James Olmstead 1550–1595
        Jane Bristow 1554–1595
      2. Frances Slany 1586–1630
        Richard Slaney 1550–1599
        Margaret Adams 1550–1597

Descendants

Jeremiah Curtis 1770–aft 1810
1. John Curtis 1792–1792 ✧
2. Waterman Curtis 1793–1859
  1. Thomas Day Curtis 1824–1896 ☘⚭
    1. Alphonse Curtis 1849–1851 ✧
    2. Alfred Curtis 1849–1850 ✧
    3. Mary Ada Curtis abt 1850–1934
    4. George Day Curtis 1852–1922
    5. Frank Lionel Curtis abt 1855–1934 ⚭
    6. Salenia Curtis 1858–1862 ✧
    7. Cristabel Curtis 1859–1862 ✧
    8. Albert Waterman Curtis 1860–1930
    9. Florabel Curtis abt 1863–1885
    10. Bertha E. Curtis 1863–1917
    11. Orcus Allen Curtis 1865– ⚭
    12. Arthur Lee Curtis 1867–1955
    13. Hubert Orestes Curtis 1868–1922 ⚔
    14. Thomas Curtis 1872–1872 ✧
  2. Almira Curtis abt 1826–
  3. Jerusha Curtis 1828–1900
    1. Silas Harvey Chapman 1846–1864 ⚔
    2. Adis E. Young abt 1854–
    3. Alonzo Young 1857–
    4. Frank D. Young
  4. Maria Curtis abt 1831–
    1. Lewis Nash abt 1862–
  5. Jeremiah Curtis 1833–1856
  6. Lauren Curtis 1835–1865
  7. Alfred Curtis 1839–
  8. Junia Curtis abt 1841–1912 ☘
3. Junia Curtis 1795–1809 ✧
4. Truman Curtis 1804–1885 ⚭
  1. Sylvia Ann Curtis abt 1826–1893
    1. Wallace Truman Smith 1841–1881
    2. Edwin Rathbone Smith 1844–1862
    3. Curtis S. Smith 1845–1895
    4. Rubie A. Smith 1848–1914
  2. Lawren T. Curtis 1832–1905
  3. Sophia Curtis 1840–1918
    1. Orson N. Kent 1860–1867 ✧
    2. Ole G. Kent 1864–1867 ✧
    3. Otis Kent 1867–1867 ✧
    4. Fred Kent 1869–1934 ⚭
    5. Bert Kent 1871–1942
    6. Emelia Kent 1877–1921
    7. Mary Alice Kent 1882–1938
  4. Melissa A. Curtis 1845–1911
  5. George L. Curtis 1852–1935
    1. Floyd J. Curtis 1887–1927
  6. Charles Curtis abt 1857–
    1. Victor Marr Curtis 1888–1946
    2. Harmon Zabriskie Curtis 1895–1972
  7. Albert Curtis abt 1859–
  8. Ella M. Curtis 1861–1902
  9. John L. Curtis 1867–1953
5. Electa Curtis 1811–1888
  1. Leander Berry 1832–1919
  2. Justus Berry 1833–1914
  3. Truman C. Berry 1835–1914
    1. Amy Emma Berry 1858–1927
    2. Clarissa Belle Berry 1863–
    3. Ruth E Berry 1871–1964 ⚭
    4. Orpha Berry 1873–1932
    5. Bertha Hope Berry 1875–1916
    6. Oral M Berry 1878–1940
  4. Mary E. Berry abt 1838–
  5. Lester A. Berry 1840–1913
  6. Olive Berry abt 1842–
  7. Edgar Leroy Berry 1843–1929
  8. Arthur Berry 1846–1918
    1. Herbert L. Berry 1872–1947
  9. Dalesky Berry 1848–1907
  10. Herbert W. Berry 1856–1883
Huldah T. Curtis 1772–1872
Junia Curtis 1774–1831
1. Jacob L. Curtis 1794–1889
  1. Minerva Victoria Curtis 1821–1908 ⚭
    1. Francis M Woodbury 1865–1966
  2. Matilda Curtis 1825–1870
2. Harriet Curtis 1799–1890
3. Alonzo Curtis 1810–1860
4. Lewis Leroy Curtis 1813–1904
Lorrain Curtis 1775–1850
Thomas Curtis 1778–abt 1848
Mary Mercy Curtis 1779–
Remembrance Curtis Sr. 1781–1840
1. Susan Curtis 1805–1831
  1. Rachel Susan Milliman 1826–1851
  2. Edward Arnold Milliman 1831–1911 ⚭
    1. Mary Emeline Milliman 1857–1928
    2. George Henry Milliman 1859–1932
    3. Matilda Ann Milliman 1860–1931
    4. William S Milliman 1863–1937
    5. Francis Eugene Milliman 1865–1943
    6. John H. Milliman 1868–1870 ✧
    7. Ellen G Milliman 1871–
    8. Carrie May Milliman 1875–
    9. Virginia Beatrice Milliman 1884–1928
2. Lorena Curtis 1808–1879
  1. Infant Son Milliman 1829–1829 ✧
  2. Lorena Angeline Milliman 1830–1910
    1. Eva Jane Mason 1856–1934
    2. Gardner B Mason 1858–1936
  3. Eliza A. Milliman 1832–1836 ✧
  4. William B. Milliman 1833–1917
  5. Norman Madison Milliman 1835–1916 ⚭
    1. Jennie Milliman 1869–1960
    2. Roy Harrow Milliman 1875–1950
  6. Myron C. Milliman 1837–1848 ✧
  7. Catherine E. Milliman 1842–1926
    1. George Roe 1867–1942
    2. Frank S Roe 1872–1944
  8. Sarah J. Milliman 1844–1848 ✧
  9. Almina Chrysilda Milliman 1845–1886
    1. Effie A. Kimbark 1869–1869 ✧
    2. Lillie May Kimbark 1870–1974
    3. Albert H Kimbark 1872–1898
    4. Claremont D. Kimbark 1874–1899
  10. Euphemia Milliman 1848–
  11. Eveline A Milliman 1850–1852 ✧
  12. Danford Adelbert Milliman 1851–1928
    1. Lorena I Milliman 1898–1988
  13. Henry M. Milliman 1854–1854 ✧
3. Remembrance Curtis 1818–1890
  1. Melvina L Curtis 1853–1945
  2. Sarah L Curtis 1855–1939
  3. Charles James Curtis 1857–1937
  4. Henry B. Curtis 1861–1946