Grumbachs who immigrated in 1749 from Boebingen, Germany to Philadelphia aboard the ship Dragon. Conrad Grumbach (1710-1781) brought his family and three Grumbach boys aged 18, 15 and 12, none of whom were siblings. They all were probably his nephews. Only Conrad and Jacob (1731-1781), the oldest boy and third child of Bartholomaus Grumbach and Anna Maria Haenichin, signed the oath of allegiance since traditionally only males older than 16 did so.

The descendants of Conrad and the younger boys have all come to use Crumbaugh as their family name. However, the descendants of Jacobs children use a variety of spellings. All the GRUBAUGHs in the USA are descended from Jacobs oldest son Michael (1752-1844). All the Crobaughs are descended from his second and third sons, George (1754-ca 1820) and Jacob (1767-1841). Likewise, all the Crubaughs are descended from his last two sons, Frederick (ca 1774-1820/30) and John (1782-1850/60). There was also a daughter, Mary Crubaugh (1775-1852), who married Joseph Frederick in 1796, and two other children, of whom nothing is known after 1820.

One relatively unknown forefather, progenitor of the Friend family in America, is Nils Larsson, who arrived in New Sweden on the Swan in 1648 and served as a warden for Governor Rising 1654. Two years later, he married Anna Andersdotter (possibly the daughter of Anders Andersson the Finn) and settled at Upland (now Chester), where they raised a family of ten children. His house was also the location of the Swedes' quarterly court sessions after Armegot Printz sold the Printz family's Tinicum Island estate. Nils Larsson played a very prominent role in the Swedish community until his death at Upland in the winter of 1686-87. He became known as Nils Larsson Frände, meaning "kinsman" or "blood relative" in Swedish, possibly because of his influence among the Indians who considered him a "blood brother." Under English rule, his adopted surname became anglicized to "Friend." In 1668, Nils and two other Swedes, secured a permit from the govemor of the new province of New Jersey to buy lands from the Indians in present Gloucester County. The resulting acquisition led to a large Swedish settlement centering around Raccoon Creek (present Swedesboro). Nils Larsson Frände also acquired lands in present Bucks County, which he traded to William Penn in return for 800 acres east of Red Clay Creek in New Castle County. Penn built his Pennsbury estate on Frände's former land. At the time of his death, Nils Larsson was serving as constable for Chester township. His wife Anna survived him by about 40 years and was said to be over 106 when she died. Their children, with approximate birth years, were: 1. Brigitta, born 1657, who married John Cock (son of Peter Larsson Cock) and had nine children. 2. Anders (Andrew), born 1659, whose first wife was probably a daughter of Israel Helm. Andrew Friend died in Maryland after 1740, and had at least four children, including Israel Friend, a well-known Indian trader and interpreter. 3. Catharine, born 1661, who married Olof (William) Dalbo, and died at Raccoon Creek in 1721, the mother of nine children. 4. Maria, born 1663, who married Gabriel Cock (son of Peter Larsson Cock) and had eight children. 5. John, born 1666, who married Anna (daughter of Hendrick Coleman), and died in Penn's Neck, Salem County, NJ in the winter of 1737-38; nine children. 6. Susannah, born 1670, who married Enoch Enochson and moved to Gloucester County, NJ; four surviving sons. 7. Sarah, born 1672, who married Amos Nicholas of Chester County; at least four children. 8. Gabriel, born 1674, who married Maria Van Culin of Chester County; at least five children. 9. Lawrence, born 1676, who married Sarah Jaquet in Penn's Neck; at least four children. 10. Barbara, born 1678, who married Peter Longacre (son of Anders Petersson Longacre); at least three children. Descendants of Nils Larsson Friend have an active Friend Family Association which owns and operates a Friend Family Library in Friendsville, Maryland, where many records of descendants have been collected.

 

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of NICHOLAS KNAPP (ca1606-1670)

 

Fairfield Probate Records

Vol 1665-1675, page 55 & 56

Fairfield, Fairfield Co, Connecticut

 

In Stamford ye 15th 2mo Anno 1670 [15 Apr 1670]:

 

The Last Will and Testament of Nicholas Knap of Stamford concerning the disposal of his worldly estate:

 

1. I give to my sonn Moses Knap my house and land in Stamford with all the meadow and upland belonging to me. Also I give to my said sonn Moses my cart and plowe or plowes--with all the furniture of Irons, yokes, and chaynes belonging and a small gun in the house and a sword.

2. I give unto my sonn Timothy Knap the monies remayning due to me upon the bil for the house of John Bats [John Bates] lives in.

3.I give to my sonn Calep [Caleb] the loom and halfe the geers and the other halfe of the geers I give to my sonn Joshua Knap.

4. I give to my daughter Sarah Disbrowe the monies due to me from her husband about 37s - concerning the horss.

5. I give to my daughter Hannah one mare.

6. I give to my daughter Lidea [Lydia] the mare that was Mr Bishop's with the increase she hath.

7. I give to my daughter Ruth twenty shillings.

8. I give to my two daughters-in-law [step daughters], viz: Sarah and Uneca Buxton, all their mother's clothes as a free gift, except one hat and one new pettecote, which my will is they should have onward of their portion. Also I will and bequeath unto Uneca Buxton the new Bible as a free gift.

9. My will is that portions due my daughters-in-law [step daughters], viz: Sarah and Uneca Buston, out of the estate of their father Clement Buxton: I say that their part and portions be currently payd according to their portion of the inventorie.

10. Lastly my will is that my sonn Joshua Knap be sole executor of this my last will to receive all and pay all dues according to this my will as also debts to or for me.

If in the case that mare be not found that I have given to Lidea [Lydia] that then shee to have another mare in lue of that.

This being my last will and renouncing all other former wills made by me witness my hand.

 

WITNESS:

(signed) John Weed Nicholas y Knap

Eleazur Slawson (his mark)

 

 

-No marriage date has ever been found for Nicholas and Elinor, however based on the birth of their first child, Jonathan, their estimated date of marriage was probably 1629/30, in England and is quoted as such in many current writings, though some seem to believe they married at Watertown, MA. Since the first 2 pages of the Watertown Books are forever lost, there is no way that an investigation can be made to ascertain the fact one way or the other. In these cases one must take an estimated view of when the action may have occurred, but bear in mind that the actual date may be anywhere from 3-5 years earlier, than the estimated date reflected. That is the best any of us can do in the absence of an official record.

6-There are two questionable entries that remain to be solved in the make-up of the family of Nicholas and Elinor. The first is the marriage of their daughter, Hannah, who is presently stated to have married Zerubabel Hoyt in 1673. No record has been found to document this claim, though it is found in abundance and being quoted in many charts. In 1995, it was simply found that Hannah was born 3-6-1643, Watertown, Middlesex Co, MA, and no further information known about her after her father's Will of 15 Apr 1670, at which time she was a single women. The second entry is the date and place of birth cited for their son, Moses Knapp. Currently he is reflected as the youngest son and the 8th child born to Nicholas and Elinor, and born probably at Wethersfield, Hartford Co, CT. Again no documentation appears that will support the conclusion. Considering the English tradition of willing or passing their lands, fathers generally willed their home lot and other belongings to the eldest son living. This being the case where Moses Knapp is concerned, it would appear that Moses was the eldest son and was probably born ca1630 or before at Watertown, MA or possibly even in England. There are many dates ranging from 1630 to 1645 cited as birthdates for Moses, and the oft quoted is the spurious LDS-IGI, where it is stated he was born 5 Aug 1645. The point is stated only that there is still another avenue to explore as relates to these two children of Nicholas and Elinor. 

7-Early writings reflect that Nicholas Knapp is a descendant of "Sir Roger de Knapp", supposedly Knighted by King Henry VIII at a Tournament in 1530. All such statements are fictional at best and are the product of an unscrupulous English genealogist, attempting to satisfy the ambitions of some American client. There are no official documents to be found to prove such claims, as there was NO tournament held at Suffolk or Essex Counties in England during the period so claimed. Further there are no records that reflect the name of Roger Knapp, in either of those counties at any time.

8-The Knapp Family Crest - The current Family Crest is an emblem that may be used by current day Knapp's if they so desire, but must do so with the knowledge that it bears no entitlement to heraldry, and may display it as they wish with this thought in mind. All grantees of this Crest are deceased with no known descendant living, who would be entitled to its use.

 

Witch One - Elizabeth Knapp - Granddaughter of William Knapp. Daughter of James Knapp and Elizabeth Warren. b. 4/21/1655, accused of being a witch while she was "possessed", never tried. She was 16yrs old at the time (1671). May have been choreic. Eventually married and had 10 children. Location was Groton, MA.

Witch Two - "Good Wife" "Goody" Knapp (Also listed at Mrs. Roger Knapp) - No first name available (Any ideas?). She hanged in 1653 in Fairfield CT. May have been tried in Hartford. Possible first name - Elizabeth. According to one source may have also been Nicholas Knapp's wife, Elinor (although date of dead does not line up).

Witch Three - Mercy Disbrow/Disborough - Potentially the granddaughter of Nicholas Knapp. Potentially the daughter of Sarah Knapp and Peter Disbrow/Disborough. Was tried twice but never convicted.

HUSTED NAME VARIATIONS;

Hewstes, Ewstead, Huste, Hustice, Hustis, Heusted, Husted, Hustead.

These variations of our family name have been found by numerous researchers, and are the basis for our present day surnames. They appear to date from the 1500's in England, to the time of our immigrant ancestor Robert Husted, along with his sons Angell [ Heusted ], and Robert [ Hustis ]. It seems the Angell Heusted line of our family came to be Husted at some point and time and descendants of Angell Husted, later living in Virginia, [ West Virginia ] changed to Hustead.

Some Husted researchers include a John Husted b.1510 in Newport, Isle Of Wight, as being a chaplain to the " then Queen Elizabeth " and his son Lawrence Husted b.1545, in Dorsetshire, as the father of our ancestor Robert Husted. The COUNTY RECORD OFFICE in Newport does list a John Eustice who was baptised in 1544, the son of John Eustice, but neither were in the service of the Queen. A Chaplain to the Queen, Richard Eades, of Newport, was born in 1544, died in 1604, and is buried in Worchester Cathederal.


Richard Ewstead, who is documented, sailed with a Reverend Francis Higginson party to Massachusetts in 1629, and he was in the area of Salem Massachusetts. It is unknown if Richard Ewstead is any possible relative to our immigrant ancestor Robert Husted.

First Families of Ashland County

·        
VANZILE, Jesse 1836 Green (61-103-105)

·         VANZILE, Mary Wissmore 1848 Green (61-103-105)

 

The Scandalous Pregnancy of Martha MeadIn 1653 she married John Richardson, about whom there is practically nothing in the records. He knew that she was pregnant before their marriage, and when the time came for her to give birth, he took her away to Roxbury, Massachusetts, to avoid scandal. The baby died a month thereafter. Who was the sneaky one who found out and leaked the news in Stamford?  This wrong doing was considered serious enough for New Haven to handle. Joseph Mead explained about her fits, and Martha herself said that when she was at her master's house, she happened to have a fit and came to find only Joseph Garnsey in the room. There was also a John Ross in the house.  Martha claimed that she was taken advantage of while unconscious and therefore did not know the father's name. Several goodwives-- Knapp, Stuckey, Buxton, Webb, and Emory--testified about her fits. They also admitted that she lied about ever having had the baby.
          The court didn't buy Martha's story. They considered it nonsense. The men concurred that a sexual act involved some reaction, particularly a reaction of pleasure. Punishment should have been a severe whipping, but since Martha was pregnant yet again, she was fined ten pounds, which, of course, her brother and husband were responsible for. The death of the baby in Roxbury aroused suspicion, but Joseph said he would present proper documents to prove that the death was a natural one. Though this case is handled or at least written about, in a very cut-and-dried fashion, one can draw inferences from it. Martha was evidently a servant as she refers to being in her masters house. Were many girls so employed? Both her family and her husband wholeheartedly supported her. Was it to protect themselves also from being charged with murder? Did they know the true facts or did they honestly believe her? The full weight of the Puritan Law stands on this case, but the court members seem ready to be lenient. The case also provides a glimpse of Martha's lady supporters, how they defended her, and how they may have enjoyed their moment in an almost gossipy way.

 

Martha was my husband's 1C10R.

 

Early History Rye Town

The Town of Rye had its inception in the year 1660 when the first settlers arrived and established themselves on Manursing Island, then called Manursing Island. Baird's History of the Town of Rye fixes the date when Peter Disbrow, John Coe and Thomas Studwell concluded their treaty with the Indians for the purchase of this Island as the 29^th of June 1660.

Peter Disbrow, John Coe, Thomas Studwell and later John Budd were the active leaders in the first settlement, at Manursing Island also called Hastings. This settlement soon ceased to be the principal habitation as most of the settlers moved to Poningo Neck now the site of the City of Rye and to the site on the banks of the Byram occupied by the first settlers of "Saw Pit" now known as Port Chester.

Early life in the settlement was strenuous. Attacks by Indians and severe winters were a deterrent to these early settlers. Farming, fishing, logging and trading were the principal occupations. At Saw Pit logs were cut for use in shipbuilding operations. Rye town had no improvements in those days and homes were simple and crude.

Peter Disbrow was my husband's 9great grandfather.

PETER DISBROW was one of the principal founders of the town of Rye, New York. His marriage to Sarah Knapp, which occurred in Stamford, Connecticut, in 1657, is the earliest record of him in New England (unless he was that same Peter recorded in Roxbury, MA, in 1647, above). Peter, with several other men, made large purchases of land from the Mohegan tribe, the first of which was dated 3 Jan. 1660 and comprised what is now the lower part of Rye. At least two of the deeds appear to be in Peter's handwriting and bear his signature. He helped to establish the town and served as a Deputy to the General Court in New Haven at various times from 1665 to 1681. In 1681 he was called "about 50" years of age. He is supposed to have died in Rye on 2 May 1688. It appears he had two sons, Peter, Jr. and John, and probably several daughters, but his sons' lines "daughtered out" after a couple of generations and so the surname was not carried on. [Ref: Bolton, Robert, The History of the County of Westchester [NY], Vol. I, pp. 498-9, and Vol. II, pp. 129-39 - but note that the pedigree charts contained in this work are mistaken in that they show Peter to have been the grandfather of Henry Disbrow of Mamaroneck, which chronologically was not possible. - msd]

Are/were there any "famous" Disbrows?
A. Depends on how you define "famous." There have been a few Disbrows who have become somewhat well-known within certain groups, but none to my knowledge have gained any wide notariety. Here are a few of the more prominent individuals that come to mind. I'd be glad to add others if they're brought to my attention:

• MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN DESBOROUGH / DISBROWE (1608-1680), best known for his support of Oliver Cromwell during the English Revolution, for which Cromwell awarded him a Major-Generalship. John was married to Cromwell's sister Jane. His name can be found in any number of English histories of the period, including the 1973 book, Cromwell, The Lord Protector, by Antonia Fraser.

• MERCY (HOLBRIDGE) (NICHOLS) DISBROW (abt. 1637-abt. 1713-18), the wife of Thomas Disbrow of Fairfield, Connecticut, gained a certain amount of notariety when records of her 1692 witchcraft trial in Fairfield came to light in 1820, and were published in two New York newspapers. Wild accusations made by her neighbors and relatives caused her to be imprisoned and eventually tried for purportedly having "familiarity with Satan," and by "his instigation ... afflicted and don Harm to the bodys & estates of sundry of their Ma[jes]ties subjects ..." The verdict was guilty and Mercy was sentenced to be put to death, but the execution was never carried out. A full account of Mercy's ordeal can be found in my book, Descendants of Thomas & Mercy (Holbridge) Disbrow, Part 1 (click here for description). I have been told that Mercy's story was made into a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation which aired live back in the early 1950's, starring Sarah Churchill (daughter of Winston).

• NICHOLAS DISBROWE (1613-1683) Early American furniture maker/joiner, famous for his "tulip chests." One of his chests is the earliest "signed", and thus authenticated, piece of furniture in America. He was a resident of Hartford, Connecticut, and a veteran of the Pequot Wars.

• PROF. DONALD W. DISBROW (b. 1917) Professor of history at Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, 1956-79. Author of Vett Noble of Ypsilanti: A Clerk For General Sherman; and Schools for An Urban Society (pub. 1968), and contributor to Michigan History magazine. Don is presently retired and residing in Rochester, New York.

• HAROLD BOYNE DISBROWE (1901-1988) Writer, educator, lecturer, historian. Author of Down On the Farm (1981); and A Schoolman's Odyssey (c1983), both autobigraphical. A direct descendant of Major-General John Disbrowe (see above), Harold was a resident of London, Ontario, and attended one of our early Disbrow Family Workshops in Paw Paw, Michigan, where he informed us he was working on a biographical novel of his illustrious ancestor. I never heard whether he was able to complete the novel before his death.

• WARREN F. DISBROW - producer of science fiction movies. His credits include: A Taste For Flesh & Blood (1991), and Invasion For Flesh & Blood (1996).

• LOUIS DISBROW - a race car driver of the early 1900's.

• STAN DISBROW - another, more recent, race car driver.

• NATALIE J. DISBROW - historian, author of "Thomas Walker of Albemarle" in Papers Albemarle County [VA] Historical Society, Vol. I (Charlottesville, 1941), cited as a reference in Dumas Malone's Jefferson The Virginian.

• DAVID DISBROW - Stage actor, musician, of Philadelphia. He signed our guest book on 12/26/97. I'm sorry that he left no address for contacting him. Mentions that his sister Debra is also an actor.

• CATHY DISBROW - a talented graphic designer and illustrator who lives in the Baltimore area. Check out her web site here.

• JAMES DISBROW - a very well-known American figure skater.

• JAY or JAYSON DISBROW - illustrator; many of his various works are collectibles and are often featured in eBay auctions.

• HELEN DISBROW - illustrator; works include drawings for The Family Book of Home Entertaining by Florence Brobeck, among others.

• EDWARD DELAVAN DISBROW (c1865-????) - minister and author/historian; his only known book was The Man Without a Gun printed in 1936 by Mt. Vernon Press, Boston, a personal memoir of his early years in South Dakota.

• And I'm sure there must be others who deserve to be listed here. How about other famous or well-known Disbrow descendants of other surnames? I'll be glad to add them if you tell me about them.

 

 

The history of the Knapp House begins with the history of Rye itself. In 1660, John Coe, Peter Disbrow and Thomas Studwell purchased land on Manursing Island from the Siwanoy Indians, for 8 coats, 7 shirts and 15 fathom of wampum. In 1663, the first group of settlers began to move onto the mainland, including Thomas Studwell, who purchased land near "the road to the beach", later called Rye Beach Avenue. On this land, Studwell built a small house, which is now what we know as The Timothy Knapp House.

In 1667, Thomas Studwell traded this property with Timothy Knapp of Stamford. It is between 1667 and 1670 that the first portion of the current house was built. The house at that time consisted of only 2 rooms, the keeping room and the keeping room chamber or bedroom.

Timothy Knapp was a well respected member of the Rye community. He was chosen First Deputy to the General Court of Hartford (Rye was then a part of Connecticut) and re-elected four times. In 1700 he made the first set of additions to the house, on the right side of the current front door. The first addition consisted of a parlor and a parlor bedroom.

In 1749 the house was sold to Ezekiel Halstead, a wealthy land owner, who also owned slaves. The family immediately added a dining room and kitchen to the back of the house. This lean-to addition, gives the house it's saltbox shape. The Halsteds also added the fishscale or rounded butt shingles, which are found only in this area of the northeast.

Although Ezekiel Halstead died in 1756 (you can see his grave at Milton Cemetery across the street), the family owned the house until 1906. At that time the Ford family purchased the house. Simeon Ford was the owner of the Grand Union Hotel in New York City. In the 1920's, the Fords added a studio to the house, as well as an aviary and a greenhouse.

http://www.ryehistoricalsociety.org/knapp_house.htm

Timothy Knapp was my husband's 10 great uncle.Knapp, Elizabeth A sixteen year old who lived with a clergyman in Groton,
Massachusetts,
Samuel Willard.  Knapp was prone to weeping fits and later feeling
involuntary pain throughout her body.  She accused a local woman of
bewitching her, thus the reason for the symptoms.  Knapp later stated
Satan had deluded her and recanted her accusations.  (1671)
Knight, Joseph Testified he saw Susannah Martin walking with a dog, that she
picked up.

(I don't know if this is a family member but it might be as we did have some Witches in the family.)