The Skaggs-Files

(d) Thomas Hungerford, of Hartford and New London, Conn. according to Mr. J.J. Murphy, who in his "Life of Colonel Daniel Elihu Hungerford", written in 1869, says that Thomas, brother of Sir Edward Hungerford, K.B., landed on the shores of New England in 1628. The said Col. Daniel Elihu Hungerford was b. in Herkimer County, N.Y.; d. in Rome, Italy, 1896 and had a dau. who m. Jown W. Mackey, of california, residing in Paris. Both she and her father have spent much time in England and have given especial attention to the genealogy of the Hungerfords. Thomas Hungerford was bapt. probably at Bremhill Parish, England in 1602. {See the book, "Thomas Hungerford of Hartford and New London Conn., and Some of His Descendants with Their English Ancestors", by F. Phelps Leach (1924)]; d at New London, Conn. 1663; who m. name unknown. Service: "History of New London", by Caulkins, 1860 page 68 - Thomas Hungerford and Jonathan Brewster of the cape Ann Party, 1650, on the pen. where the 1st Trading Post Stood.

Families Directly Descended from All the Royal Families in Europe (495 to ..., by Elizabeth M. Leach Rixford, pg 31

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THOMAS HUNGERFORD was undoubtedly a descendant of some branch of the distinguished Hungerford family of England, but of which branch is unknown. He came to New England some time previous to 1639, as the Register of Hartford, Conn., shows him a proprietor there. He had a triangular piece of land, with a house. In Trumbull's "History of Hartford, County," 1633-1884, Vol. 1, there is a map of Hartford as the town was in 1640, on which is shown this property as "Tho Hongerfort to Nich. Ginnings." Also, on page 247, is the following: "Thomas Hungerford (Hungerfoot), a proprietor 'by courtesie of the town'; his home-lot was on the west side of the road to the Cow Pasture; removed to New London ab. 1650,.where he d. 1663. He m. as his 2d wife Hannah, dau. of Isaac Willey, of New London ab. 1658; she survived him and m. (2) Peter Blachford, of New London and Haddam (q.v.); (3) 1673, Samuel Spencer, of Haddam."
The "road to the Cow Pasture" was afterwards called Burr St., but is now North Main St.
I. I. Murphy in his "Life of Col. Daniel Elihu Hungerford," published in 1891, writes "Thomas, brother of Sir Edward Hungerford, K.B., landed on the shores of New England in 1628." He also writes "the Town Register of Norwich, Conn., states that Thomas Hungerford acquired property there in 1630."
These statements I believe are erroneous.
First. The first Sir Edward Hungerford, K.B., born in 1596, was a son of Sir Anthony Hungerford of Black Bourton, by his first wife Lucy, daughter and co-heir of Sir Walter Hungerford of Farleigh, widow of Sir John St. John. Sir Edward Hungerford had no brothers. He had two sisters, Bridget who married Sir A.lexander (John) Cheek or Cheke, and Jane who married Robert Strange.
This Sir Edward married Margaret, daughter and co-heir of William Holliday, alderman and Lord Mayor of London.
Sir Anthony by his second marriage to Sarah, daughter and co-heir of John Crouch of London, widow of Walter Wiseman (or Wildman), had: 1, Anthony of Farleigh Castle; 2, Sir Giles of Coulson; 3, John; 4, Henry of Standen; 5, Mary; 6, Sarah; 7, Cicely.
These sons and daughters were half brothers and sisters of Sir Edward Hungerford, K.B.
The second Sir Edward Hungerford, K.B., son of Anthony Hungerford of Farleigh Castle (half brother of the first Sir Edward Hungerford of the Black Bourton branch) did not have a brother Thomas. He was born 20 Oct. 1632, four years after Mr. Murphy claims Thomas "landed on the shores of New England." He was immensely wealthy, squandered the family fortunes and acquired the title of "spendthrift." He died in 1711 and was about the last of the family in England.
Second. Norwich, Conn., was purchased from the Indians in 1659, and most of the settlements began after this date.
If the Town Register shows that he acquired property there as early as 1630, it is peculiar that neither the Vital Records of Norwich nor Miss Frances M. Caulkins in her "History of Norwich" mentions the fact. She mentions Thomas Hungerford several times in her "History of New London."
Third. Thomas Hungerford may have come to America in 1628, but I doubt if there are any records to prove it. There were very few records kept by the emigrants to New England at that date.
Again, in a booklet, "The Hungerfords in America and the Tyler Abbott Genealogies," published several years ago, Mr. Murphy's "Life of Col. D. E. Hungerford" is quoted from. This booklet reads "Thomas, brother of Sir Edward Hungerford, K.B. (of the Cadenham branch), landed on the shores of New England in 1628"; also, "I-Thomas (1), baptized in Bremhill Parish, England, in 1602, died in or near New London, Conn., 1663."
Mr. Murphy does not write that Thomas1 was of the Cadenham branch nor does he claim that he was baptized in Bremhill Parish in 1602.
The Thomas Hungerford baptized in Bremhill Parish in 1602, was a son of John Hungerford of the Cadenham branch, and is styled in Sir Richard Colt Hoare's "Hungerfordiana," "Thomas of Blacklands." He married, and had two sons and two daughters and did not come to America.
It is quite evident that serious misstatements have been made in some of the earlier writings on the family.
Miss Caulkins in her "History of New London, Conn.," shows him to have been a resident there in 1650, and lands were set off to him in 1651, and he was a constable in 1652. He was awarded "40 acres in the neck of land to the north of John Prentice, his land and Robert Hempstead, his land."
In Dec. 1652 he and Jobn Pickett \vere given the land for fire wood on which Fort Trumbull now stands.
The name of the first wife of Thomas Hungerford is unknown and it is evident that she was not living in Nov. 1657, as under the date of 2 Nov. 1657, he wrote his sister Anne, at Ipswich, Mass., ,vhere she was living with her husband, John Leigh (Lee), thanking her for her offer to take his daughter Sarah.
That the plans suggested in the letter \vere carried out is proven by the will of John Leigh probated 16 Sept. 1671, which contains a provision for "Sarah Hungerfoot." This will is on file in Salem, Mass.
Children of Thomas by his first wife:
i. THOMAS, b. about 1648.
ii. SARAH, b. about 1654. After her mother's death she went to live with Aunt Anne Leigh, at Ipswich, Mass. She later m. Lewis Hugh, of Lyme, Conn.
Thomas married 2nd about 1658, Hannah, daughter of Isaac and Joanna Willey. She was baptized in Boston, Mass.
They had one daughter, Hannah, born 1 May 1659, who married a Mr. Ross or Rose of the Plantation of the Narragansetts in Rhode Island.
Thomas died in 1663 and the inventory of his estate taken 1 May 1663 showed property to 100£, 5s,6d.
His widow married 2nd Peter Blachford of New London. He died 1 Sept. 1671.
Their children were:
JOANNA, b. 1667.
PETER, b. 1669, who settled in Salem, West Jersey.
MARY, b. 1671, at Haddam.
Hannah married 3rd Samuel Spencer of Haddam. She died about 1681. He died 7 Aug. 1705.
Their children were:
GRACE, b. 27 July 1674.
JOHN, b. 17 Sept. 1676.
ISAAC, b. 8 Jan. 1678.
HANNAH, b. -- 1680.

Reference: Thomas Hungerford of Hartford and New London Conn., and Some of His Descendants with Their English Ancestors", by F. Phelps Leach (1924)], pg 1-3

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1. Emigrant Ancestor; Bef 1639; Hartford, Hartford Co., CT.

2. Lawsuit; Sep 1644; Hartford, Hartford Co., CT [3]. Math: Beckwith & Tho: Hungerford pl agt Will Edwards deft in an ac of slaunder. In the ac of math: Beckwith & Tho: Hungerford pl agt Will Edwards deft the Jury find for the pl damages 20s & Costs of Court.

3. Fine; 24 Mar 1653/54; New London, New London Co., CT [4]. Thomas Hungerfoote for being Drunk Contrary to Law is fined accordingly 10ss

4. Lawsuit; 13 Jun 1655; New London, New London Co., CT [5]. Tho: Hungerfoott plt Contra Tho: Rowell defendt in an Action of debt with the dammage to the valve of 37s 10d. In the Action betweene Tho: Hungerfoott plt and Tho: Rowell defendt the Courte adjudges the defendt to pay vnto ye plt det dammage thirty shillings and Costs of Courte.

5. Lands Recorded; 13 Jun 1655; New London, New London Co., CT [6]. As the result of a petition to the court, "It is allso futher ordered with the good liking and to the full Satissfaction of Thomas Hungerfoot that the Towne of Pequott [New London] shall lay out and Record to the said Thomas Hungerfoot 40 acres of land in the neck of land to the Northward of John Prentice his land and Robert Hempsteed his land which doth fully answer all his demaunds against the said Towne of Pequott to this day."

6. Probate; 1 May 1663; New London, New London Co., CT [7]. Name: Thomas Hungerford Location: New London
Invt. œ100-05-06. Taken 1st May, 1663, by Obadiah Breuen, Samuel Smith, Robert Royse. The children: Thomas, age 15 years, Sarah 9, Hannah 4 years.
Court Record, Page 6--9 July, 1663: Invt. Exhibited. Isaac Willey and Peter Blatchford to care for the estate.
Page 15--10 May, 1664: Order to Dist. the whole of the estate to the Relict, she to pay to Thomas Hungerford œ7; to Sarah œ4, to Hannah œ4, at (Legal) age.