Gabriel WESTOVER

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      Historical detail in NOTES

Jonas Westover, born 4 May 1628 was the emigrant to America that founded the Westover family of New England which spread throughout America. Jonas came from England. The family lived in Taunton, Somerset where he was born. The exact date of his arrival in America was not definitely determined as of a search performed in October 1961 in the New England records.Early genealogical records give Jonas as a boy of 14 years of age arriving in Simsbury, Connecticut in the year 1654. This would give a birth date of the year 1640. Other dates give some substance to this date. He became a freeman in 1658, he received title to a lot in Simsbury and he was married in 1663 -- he became a freeman at the age of 18, a propertty owner at 21 and married at age 23.Other sources state that a Jonas Westover was in Windsor in the year 1649 and assume this Jonas to be the Jonas from England born in the year 1620. These sources give this Jonas as the one who married Hanna Griswold in Simsbury. Further research may be needed to establish the correct birth date of the emigrant.Jonas Westover entered America through Massachusetts Bay, as that was the most commonly used entry at that time to the New England area. He had relatives there when he arrived. One relative was Jane Westover who had married 20 November 1647 William Williams. Jane lived in the Simsbury area of Connecticut at the time of Jonas' arrival in Windsor.In 1663 Jonas married Hannah Griswold, born in Windsor 19 August 1642, daughter of Edward and Margaret Griswold, a prominent family in Windsor, Connecticut. After the birth of their first child they moved southward to a new settlement called Killingworth. The move was made with the father-in-law's family, the father-in-law having helped found the new settlement. There they lived for about eleven years and then moved back to Simsbury. Jonas and his family had been active members of the established First Church of Killingworth.Jonas came to Simsbury, Connecticut, in New England before 1654 and died there in 1708/9.1649 - A Jonas Westover was reported in Windsor, Connecticut. 1654 - Jonas was brought to Simsbury, Connecticut. 1658 - Jonas was a freeman in Windsor, Connecticut. 1661 - A lot was granted to Jonas in Bowfield district of Windsor, (never used). 1663 - Jonas married 19 November 1663 to Hannah/Anna Griswold, daughter of Edward and Margaret Girswold. 1664 - Jonas signed a church petition in Windsor asking for church privileges and baptism for their children. 1664 - Jonah, Hannah and first child removed to Killingworth, Connecticut, with her father's family. Jonah chose his home lot next to Samuel Buel, his brother-in-law and also next to Edward Griswold, his father-in-law. 1664-1680 - Jonas' and Hanna's children were born. 1665 - Jonah became a member of the First Church of Killingworth. 1669 - Jonah's name appears on the list of freeman in Killingworth. 1675 - Jonah and family move back to Simsbury, Connecticut, obtaining land from Capt. Benjamin Newbury. The area became known as "Westover's Plain" and gave its name to a school district there. 1702 - Jonah made a will in Simsbury 20 September 1702 naming sons John and Jonathan and daughters Margaret, Hannah, Jane, Mary, Joanna and son-in-law Samuel Case. 1709 - Jonah died in Simsbury 15 January 1708/9. 1713 - Hanna made a will in Simsbury 1 August naming the two sons and six daughters. 1714 - Hanna died 3 May