THE FIRST SETTLERS

Thomas TAYLOR
Francis BUSHNELL
Thomas BARNUM
John HOYT
James BENEDICT
Samuel BENEDICT
James BEEBE
Judah GREGORY

                 "The settlers came ... and begun some improvements in buildings, sowing grain, and other things necessary. Some of the families moved here that summer, and continued through the winter; others did not move till the spring following it may therefore be said that the first permanent was made in the year 1685, by eight families. The names of the men were, Thomas Taylor, Francis Bushnell, Thomas Barnum, John Hoyt, James Benedict, Samuel Benedict, James Beebe, and Judah Gregory. They lived near together, at the south end of Town Street. Beginning at the south end,Taylor, Bushnell, Barnum and Hoyt lived on the west side; the two Benedicts, Beebe, and Gregory on the east. All except James Beebe came from Norwalk; he was from Stratford. They purchased their lands from the Indian Proprietors. Mr. Taylor had seven sons, from whom all of that name now in town descended. .... Mr. Barnum had five sons, from whom are the families of that name. Mr. Hoyt left six sons, who are the ancestors of the families of that name now living. Mr. James Benedict left three sons, from whom are a apart of the Benedict families which survive, particularly those in which the Christian name James frequently occurs. His eldest son James was the first English male child born in the town. The sons of Samuel Benedict were four. From them are those families of Benedicts in which the Christian name Samuel is often found. ... Mr. Gregory had two sons, from whom are the numerous families of that name."

 THE FIRST PATENTEES

James BEEBE
Thomas TAYLOR
Samuel BENEDICT
James BENEDICT
John HOYT
Josiah STARR

                 "The first settlers, having purchased their lands of the Indian owners, became proprietors of the town. The town was surveyed in February, 1693, by john Platt and Samuel Hayes, of Norwalk. The survey bill declares the length to be eight miles from north to south, and the breadth six miles from east to west. At the session of the General Assembly in May 1702, a patent was granted, giving town-privilages to the inhabitants and proprietors of Danbury. The patentees named are James Beebe, Thomas Taylor, Samuel Benedict, James Benedict, John Hoyt, and Josiah Starr. In this act, the boundaries were fixed according to the former survey."
 Source: Rev. Thomas ROBBINS, A.M. A portion of a sermon delivered while a temporary pastor at the Congregational Church, January 1, 1801. [1]

                 Over the next 90 years, Danbury flourished as numerous mills were built along its rivers. The Continental Army established a major storage area in Danbury in 1775, which led to the raid by the British in 1777, which resulted in the burning of many buildings in the town center.
(The above information from the Danbury, Ct. Genweb site.)

 
The following are ancestors of Ralph Alexander Twitchel through his grandmother Anna Marie Davis Twitchel.

                 THOMAS TAYLOR  was also an founder of Norwalk, Ct.  The General Assembly of May 1684 "appoynted. .a committee for to order the planting of a Towne above Norwalke or Fayrefeild". In the same year eight families "trekked through Sugar Hollow and over Pandanarum" to settle there.  Thomas Taylor’s family was one of those families.  He married Rebecca Ketchum, daughter of Edward.  He survived all the original settlers, and died in January, 1735, aged 92 yrs.  He had 10 children and their average life span was 85 years. Only 3 lived to be less than 80.  He was the first representative to the General Assembly from Danbury.  His son Nathan was the grandfather of P.T. Barnum.

                 THOMAS BARNUM  settled first in Fairfield, Ct. He next was in Norwalk, Ct. where “on 8 Nov 1681 at a town meeting in Norwalk, was appointed to 'oversee and keep good Decorum amongst the youth in times of exercise on the Sabbath and other Publique meetings; and the town doe impower him if he see any disorderly, for the keep of a small stick to correct such with ; onely he is desired to doe it with clemency; and if any are incoridgable in such disorder, he is to present them either to their parents or masters; and if they doe not reclaime them, then to present such to authority.”   He was one of the first eight settlers of the town of Danbury, Connecticut,  & was charged by his fellow settlers with the formulation of the articles of agreement establishing the form of civil government which they were to have in their new town.  Those eight individuals purchased from the local Indians a large tract of land which now includes the towns of Danbury, Bethel, New Fairfield, Redding, Ridgefield, and a portion of Derby, and established there the settlement of Danbury. Thomas located his homestead in a portion of the new settlement which in 1855 became a part of the town of Bethel, and is known today as the Old Homestead at Grassy Plain.  Thomas Barnum (1625-1695) was the 15th child of Sir Francis Barnham and his wife Lady Elizabeth Lennard, Baroness Dacre, according to the statement of Noah G. Barnum, in 'The Barnum Family, 1517-1904.   He was the ancestor of P.T. Barnum of circus fame.

                 JOHN HOYT was born at Windsor, Ct.  Five of his children were born in Norwalk, Ct.  He lived to a very ripe old age.  He owned land in Fairfield and Norwalk, Ct. Before helping to establish Danbury.   He and the other founders of Danbury purchased their land directly from the Indian proprietors. 

                 JAMES BENEDICT and SAMUEL BENEDICT were brothers who came from Norwalk, Ct.   Their Father, Thomas, was appointed to make a new settlement in 1684 at Paquiage, later named Danbury. His sons, James and Samuel settled the new village. At the session of the General Assembly in May 1702, a patent was granted, giving town-privilages to the inhabitants and proprietors of Danbury.  James and his brother John married two Gregory sisters.  Ralph Alexander Twitchel descends from James.

                 JOSIAH STARR Mr. Josiah Starr came to this town from Long Island soon after its first settlement. He had six sons, from whom the many families of that name have descended. He was elected the first town clerk, the second Justice of the Peace, afterward surveyor, etc.  In 1710 he was commissioned Lieut. And in 1713 Captain of the first company or “train band”.  For 3 years he was Justice of Fairfield County.  In 1702 he was elected Deputy to the General Court, a position of great honor and distinction, to which he was annually chosen as long as he lived.

                 JUDAH GREGORY is not a direct ancestor of Ralph Alexander Twitchel, but is the brother of  Sarah Gregory, wife of James Benedict.

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