Elizabeth Deming

Notes:

The daughter of John DEMMING and Honor TREAT. (FindAGrave instead lists her mother as Elizabeth GILBERT)

A short time after Nathaniel finished his apprenticeship training, he was married to Elizabeth Deeming (In January of the year 1616) in Colchester, Essex, England. She was the sister of John Deeming, who was one of the first settlers of Wethersfield Conn. in the year of 1615. John Deeming was for many years the one of the magistrates of the "Colony of the Connecticut" and one of the Patenees named in it's charter.

Very little is known of the Deming family before they left England. Since the first Puritans left England to secure a better place to practice their religion. It might be assumed that the Demings left England for similar reasons.

After the birth of their sixth child Nathaniel decided to sell his grocery business in Colchester and immigrate to the New World. By some he is considered to be the first settler of Wethersfield. Whether or not that is true we do not know. We do know he was one of ten men who settled along the bank of the Connecticut River and named their settlement, Wethersfield. They are know as the "Ten Adventurers"

Since Elizabeth Deming married Nathaniel Foote who spent his early life in Shalford, Colchester, England, it can be assumed that

(1.) John and Elizabeth lived in the same area of England.

(2) Elizabeth and Nathaniel were known to have been in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay and residing in Waterton when it is recorded Nathaniel took the oath of a freeman.

(3.) The Foote family must have joined with the Demings in feeling some dissatisfaction with the manner of life in Watertown and joined with others in making the 100 mile trek in 1635 through the forests of the New World until they arrived at Pyquag on the shores western shore of the beautiful Connecticut River.

Nathaniel Foote was one of those named in the charter of patentees of Wethersfield. The Foote family became one of the leading families of the little Connecticut Colony. He became a magistrate, a leading land owner, eventually owning more than 500 acres of land in Wethersfield, some of the great meadow, and his home on the south end of the green, next to the present Broad Street.

The family was saddened by Nathaniel's death at age 61. Elizabeth was so respected that she was allowed to be executor of his estate. Elizabeth was left a wealthy widow, but did not remain in that status for long. In 1646 she married Thomas Wells who was a widower with several children from his first marriage. Thomas Wells served as Governor of Connecticut Colony for two terms, 1655-1658. When he was not serving as governor he was a Deputy Governor. He died during his last years of being deputy governor, 14 January 1659/1660.

Elizabeth was again a widow, having two families instead of one. She was in control of a large estate from both husbands.

Elizabeth Welles was a tenacious and feisty old woman. She had not only survived a perilous voyage from England but while tending to six exuberant children and a husband, she had made a new life for herself and her family in a world they knew nothing about. This world was inhabited by Indians who were not always friendly with those pale face people. The rigors of life and managing a household did not daunt her.

Things went quite well through the intervening years since arriving on shores of the newly discovered continent, until she reached old age. In 1676 as she approched the age of 80 years, she ran into trouble with one of her step-grand children.

This was Robert Welles, a favorite of grandfather, Governor Thomas Welles when the governor was alive. Robert had arrived at the Governor's home, there to be taken care of and educated.

But now his grandfather was dead and Robert and his step-grandmother disagreed. Maybee she did not think him old enough to be married at age 24. Never-the-less it was 1676 when Elizabeth brought Robert Welles to court, because he "...hath dammyfield her Barne by Parting with the other part of the Barne that did adjoin to it."

Exactly what he did to her barn is not clear. The court's decision was clear. He was ordered to repair the barn and also to pay his step-grandmother rent for it. Elizabeth made sure the barn incedent was not here last word.

Two years later, in 1678, she made sure all of the Welles were taken care of when she made her will. She left them nothing. She stated someone outside the family would be executor of her will. Everything she had she left to her own family. That is the family she and Nathaniel has raised and nurtured. The Welles family got nothing.

Elizabeth died in 1683, at the age of 88. The estate was devided among the Footes. One of the documents in the Probates Court was that of the final disposition, that during that same year Robert Welles won a lawsuit against his step-grandmother's will that he would have to be paid by those who had been named in the will. (Source - Article in Footeprints - Spring 1999 Issue - The Foote Family Association)

http://www.footefamily.org/elizno1.htm

Elizabeth married Nathaniel Foote about Jan 1614 in Colchester, Essex, England. Nathaniel (son of Robert Foote and Joan Brooke) was born on 21 Sep 1592 in Shalfrod, Essex, England; died before 20 Nov 1644 in Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut; was buried in Wethersfield Village Cemetery, Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Elizabeth Foote was born about 1616 in Shalfrod, Essex, England; died on 8 Sep 1700 in Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut.
2. Nathaniel Foote was born on 5 Mar 1618 in England, United Kingdom; died about 1655 in Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut.
3. Mary Foote was born about 1623 in Ipswick, Suffolk, England; died about 1687.
4. Robert Foote was born about 1627 in Suffolk, England; died about 1681.
5. Frances Foote was born about 1629 in East Berholst, Suffolk, England; died about 1673 in Hatfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts.
6. Sarah Foote was born about 1632 in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; died about 1672.
7. Rebecca Foote was born on 3 Sep 1634 in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; died on 6 Apr 1701 in Hadley, Hampshire County, Massachusetts; was buried in Old Hadley Cemetery, Hadley, Hampshire County, Massachusetts.

Elizabeth married Thomas (Gov.) Wells about 1646. Thomas was born about 1590; died after 14 Jan 1659. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]