In early New England towns policy was set by a board of 3 to 5 selectmen. They oversaw public responsibilities such as the policing, roads, and fences.
Connecticut's first European settlers were Dutch.
Abigail Fiske Mixer was born on February 18, 1675/76 in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of Lieutenant Nathan Fiske and Elizabeth Fry.
Their children included:
Abigail Mixer (June 26, 1696),
John Mixer (January 22, 1698/99, married Abigail Woodbridge),
Elizabeth Mixer (December 30, 1702), and
George Mixer (December 27, 1704).
They moved to Connecticut and were the first settlers of Ashford in 1710. In Ashford John was the first Town Clerk, and Treasurer, Tavern Keeper, Selectman, and Deacon.
In 1721-22 John and two daughters, Abigail and Elizabeth, moved to Suffield, Hartford County, Connecticut. They settled on the 50 acre homestead grant of Isaac Cakebread, near Rawlins Brook. He was a selectman in 1724, and 1730. After 1730 there is no record of the Mixers in Suffield.
Deacons played a respected and important role in early New England churches. They sat in a raised pew near the pulpit and had special duties during communion.
A tanner treats animal skins to produce leather. After the tanning process, the currier dresses, finishes and colors the tanned hide.
Old Style Calendar
Before 1752 the year began on Lady Day, March 25th,. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year. Old Style (O.S.) and New Style (N.S.) are used to indicate whether the year has been adjusted. Often both dates are used.
An early American tavern (or ordinary) was an important meeting place and they were strictly supervised. Innkeepers were respectable members of the community. Taverns offered food and drink. An inn also offered accommodation.
Middlesex County, Massachusetts was created on May 10, 1643. The county originally included Charlestown, Cambridge, Watertown, Sudbury, Concord, Woburn, Medford, Wayland, and Reading.
A Trainband (or training band) was the basic tactical unit of the colonial militia. Men were required to join the local trainband. In wartime, military units were formed by selecting men from the trainband.
History of the Town of Rindge, New Hampshire by Ezra S. Stearns
Isaac Mixer [Sr.], aged 81, wife Sarah, aged 38, and son Isaac, aged 4 years, embarked at Ipswich, England, for New England, April 10, 1634, and in 1637 his name is found upon the records of Watertown, Mass. He was admitted freeman, May 2, 1638, and d. 1655; his widow d. Nov. 24, 1681. He was clerk of the train band 1654, and in his will he bequeathed to his dau. "one half my vessel Diligent." He left one son and one dau.
Isaac Mixer [Jr.], the son, was b. in England 1630.
He md. Sept. 19, 1655, Mary Coolidge, dau. of John and Mary Coolidge, of Watertown; she d. March 2, 1659-60;
he md. (2d) Jan. 10, 1660/1, Rebecca Garfield, dau. of Edward, Jr., and Rebecca Garfield, of Watertown; she d. March 16, 1682-3; and ,
he md. (3d) 1687 Mary (Lothrop) French, widow of Capt. William French, of Billerica, and dau. of Thomas and Mary Lothrop.
He d. Nov. 22, 1716, leaving fifteen children.
Any man entering a colony or becoming a a member the church, was not free. He was not forced to work, but his movements were carefully observed to see if they followed the Puritanical ideal. After this probationary period, he became a "freeman." Men then took the Oath of a Freeman where they vowed to defend the Commonwealth and not to overthrow the government.
The town clerk was one of the first offices in colonial America. The clerk recorded births, marriages, and deaths.
In 1721, Boston had a terrible smallpox epidemic. Citizens fled the city and spread the disease to the other colonies. Inoculation was introduced during this epidemic by Zabdiel Boylston and Cotton Mather.
Documentary History of Suffield by Hezekiah Spencer Sheldon
Deacon John Mixer was the son of Isaac of Watertown, Mass., b. March 5, 1668/69. Mar. Abigail Fiske, Aug. 15, 1695. He was a "Tanner" at Watertown. (See Hist. of Watertown) He removed to Connecticut, and was the first settler and planter of Ashford, Ct., in 1710. He was also its first Town Clerk, and Treasurer, Tavern Keeper, Select Man, and Deacon.
In 1721-2 the community there were greatly disturbed by his removal to Suffield, at which date himself and two daughters were dismissed to the church here. (Hist. of Windham Co.) Whether he followed his trade here is unknown. Relocated on the 50 acre homestead grant of Isaac Cakebread, near "Rawlins Brook." He was a Select Man here in 1724, and 1730. His son John mar. Abigail the dau. of the Rev. John Woodbridge of W. Springfield, Oct. 30. 1734. All trace of Dea. John Mixer after 1730 in the Suffield Records disappears.
Planter is an archaic term for a settler. Plantation was a method of colonization where settlers were "planted" abroad. A plantation is also the kind of large farm that was the economical basis of many American Colonies and owners of these farms were also called planters.
In early New England towns policy was set by a board of 3 to 5 selectmen. They oversaw public responsibilities such as the policing, roads, and fences.
