Martha Pitkin

Other Events and Attributes:

• General Information: Pitkin (1880) wrote of her thusly: She was a lady endowed with more than ordinary talent, improved by an excellent education. The reception she met with in the colony, was most flattering; her comely form and accomplished manner making the colonists anxious to retain her in their country. In the words of the Rev. Thomas Robbins. for many years the pastor of the church she attended, "this girl put the colony in commotion. If possible she must be detained. The stock was too valuable to be parted with. It became a matter of general consultation what young man was good enough for Miss Pitkin." Tradition says that so many young men wished to marry the accomplished beauty, that they cast lots for her hand, but fails to say what part Miss Pitkin was to take in the affair. The facts are, that the sons of Henry Wolcott, one of the first settlers of East Windsor, were well pleased with Miss Pitkin, and to avoid all question of strife or jealousy, it is believed it was decided by lot among themselves which one should sue for her hand. The lot fell to Simon Wolcott, the youngest son; at all events, he pressed his suit, and was successful. Her brother favored the match, and she became the wife of Simon Wolcott, and subsequently the mother of Governor Roger Wolcott, grandmother of Governor Oliver Wolcott, and great-grandmother of the second Governor Oliver Wolcott and of Governor Roger Griswold. Governor Ellsworth was also a lineal descendant. Her granddaughter married Governor Matthew Griswold.
• Parents: Father: Roger Pitkin Mother: Hannah Stanley
• Education: say 1655, London, England; She had a good education in the city of London.
• Immigration: 1661; She followed her brother to America in 1661 to return with him to England, "not once supposing he intended to remain in the wilderness," as she expressed it. Her first greeting on meeting her brother, whom she found feeding his swine, was, "I left a brother in England serving his king, and find another in America serving his swine."
• Obituary: 27 Jul 1767; In the obituary notice of one of her sons, published in the "Connecticut Courant," July 27, 1767, the following mention is made of the mother: "Her maiden name was Martha Pitkin, a woman of eminent good sense, virtue and piety; she was sister to Mr. William Pitkin, who was likewise an Assistant before the Charter, famous in his time for distinguished good sense and eminent piety, and founder of the honorable family of Pitkin in Hartford."
• Last Full Review: 6 Aug 2020

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Martha married Simon Wolcott on 17 Oct 1661 in Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut. Simon (son of Henry Wolcott, Esq and Elizabeth Saunders) was born on 11 Sep 1624/25 in Gaulden Manor, Tolland, Somersetshire, England; died on 11 Sep 1687 in Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut; was buried in Palisado Cemetery, Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut, U.S.A.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Martha married Daniel Clark, Esq. on 13 Oct 1719 in Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut. Daniel was christened on 8 Jul 1623 in Tarvin, Cheshire, England; died on 12 Aug 1710 in Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut; was buried in Palisado Cemetery, Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut, U.S.A.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]