James Cornet SAWYER

Born: 22 Mar 1657 at Lancaster, Worcester, MA
Died: 1753

Father: Thomas SAWYER (1616-1706)
Mother: Mary PRESCOTT (1630-1716)

Spouse1: Mary Marble STOW? (165?-1708)
Spouse2: Mary PRESCOTT (165?-17??)

Children:

  • 4 w/Mary Marble
  • 7 w/Mary Prescott
  • James of Pomfret, lived in the East Purchase in 1731
  • Benjamin, called a "1st settler" in early Pomfret records
  • Ephraim, had a grant in adjacent town of Scotland
  • Captain Joseph
  • John, one of the 1st grantees of Reading, VT in 1761, then residing at Pomfret, CT

    The GFHCNY source (p. 1545-6) says:
    James was born in Lancaster, MA and moved to Pomfret, CT among the first settlers, where in 1709 he bought a mill privilege on a small brook running into the Quinebaug, known as Bark Meadow brook, and built thereon the first grist mill in the settlement of Pomfret. In 1710 the military corps was organized, and though he was about 53 years old he was elected cornet (Lt.) of the company, a distinction implying previous service. After that he was called Cornet in the public records. The company consisted of 50 men of all ages from 16 to 60, under Captain John SABIN. Cornet SAWYER was a selectman in 1714, and was elected 16 Feb 1714 onto an important committee to locate the meeting house at White's Plain, in Pomfret. He is given as a resident of Pomfret in 1731. He married (1st) 4 Feb 1678 Mary MARBLE, probably of the STOW family. She died at Pomfret in 1708, leaving 4 children. He married (2nd) Mary PRESCOTT, of Pomfret, and had 7 children.

    Note: The term 'pomfret' refers to a type of fish, so probably this town is near the ocean and maritime-based (cf Gavin MENZIES' 2011 'The Lost Empire of Atlantis' p150).

    Sources:

  • gedcom file downloaded from www.ancestry.com
  • miscellaneous papers from Orange County Genealogical Society. In particular, a sheet submitted by Lola B. WHITE citing "The American Genealogist" Vol. 30, pages 74-78, Donald Lines JACOBUS, editor.
  • This James is also documented at Dean SAWYER's website.
  • Genealogical and Family History of Central NY (GFHCNY), ed. William Richard CUTTER, Vol III, 1912