Person Page - 202

     She was baptized on 6 March 1628 at Nayland, Suffolk, England, UK.¹ She was the daughter of Gregory Stone and Lydia (?).¹ She married Anthony Potter.¹

     He was baptized on 12 May 1576 at Great Bromley, County Essex, England, UK.¹ He was the son of David Stone and Elizabeth Hewett.¹

     He was born circa 1460.¹ He was the son of John Stone.¹

     He was baptized on 19 April 1592 at Great Bromley, County Essex, England, UK.¹ He was the son of David Stone and Ursula (?).¹ He married Margaret Garrad, daughter of Thomas Garrad, on 20 July 1617 at Nayland, Suffolk, England, UK.¹ He married Lydia (?) circa 1627 at possibly Dedham, County Essex, England, UK.¹ He died on 30 November 1672 at Cambridge, MA, at age 80.¹ He was buried at Old Cambridge Cemetery, Cambridge, MA. A simple footstone bearing the initials "G. S." was the only mark of his resting place until recent years, when a descendant erected a monument suitably inscribed.¹
     Of the childhood and youth of Gregory Stone, no memorials have been found; but he secured enough education to be able to read and write, accomplishments acquired by only a minority percentage of the yeomen and husbandman of his time; and presumably he passed his early years in his native parish, learning the arts of husbandry as practiced by his ancestors for many generations. But after his baptism at Great Bromley in 1592, no record has been found of him until twenty-five years later, when he married in 1617, at Nayland, county Suffolk, (a parish about eight miles northwest of Great Bromley), where he afterwards resided until his emigration to New England in 1635, the registers of Nayland containing the baptisms of seven of his children between 1618 and 1655.

During the early manhood of Gregory Stone, Puritanism became paramount in Essex and Suffolk, and persecution of its adherents resulted in great Puritan emigration to New England, started in 1630 under the leadership of Gov. John Winthrop of Groton, Co. Suffolk, a parish only five miles north of Nayland. That Gregory Stone was acquainted in England with Gov. Winthrop is apparent from a letter written by the latter at Charlestown, Mass. 23 July 1630, to his son John Winthrop, junior, at Groton, England, in which the Governor directs,, "Demand of Stone and Bragg of Nayland 15 pounds. You have bond for it."

During the reigns of James I and Charles I, the annual church wardens' presentments to the archdeacons or bishops contain in all thousands of entries against the Puritans who refused to conform by kneeling to receive communion. In the Diocesan Registry at Norwich is still preserved the visitation of the Archdeaconry of Sudbury (western Suffolk) for 1629; and the following parishioners of Nayland were then presented for refusing to kneel to receive communion: John Warren, John Firmyn, Christopher Scarlett, John Kent and Gregory Stone; a few years later all of these nonconformists (except Scarlett) are found in New England.¹ While records have been preserved showing that Dea. Simon Stone, brother of Gregory., brought his family to New England in the ship "Increase" in the spring of 1635, the name and date of the sailing of the vessel which brought Dea. Gregory Stone and his family hither remain unknown* But he came sometime in 1635, bringing his second wife Lydia,, six children' John, Daniel, David, Elizabeth, Samuel and Sarah Stone,, and two step-children, John and Lydia Cooper.

At first he located with his brother in Watertown, Mass., where the records show that he received grants of land at various times, In June 1637, he drew a lot of ten acres, lot 78, this being the latest date at which he is mentioned as "inhabiting" in Watertown and later in that year he removed to Cambridge (then called Newtowne). In 1639 he sold his Watertown lands to Nathaniel Sparhawk. He soon received grants of land in Cambridge and also by purchase he acquired large tracts of land there, over four hundred acres, particularly in Cambridge Farms (now Lexington and Lincoln).

Deacon Gregory Stone must have joined the Watertown church soon after his arrival there, as on 21 May 1636 he was admitted a Freeman of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and at that time church membership was a requisite to become a freeman. Only freemen could vote and hold office; so it was carefully arranged that only "orthodox" persons should have any part in the government. The earliest church records of Cambridge were compiled in January 1658-9 by the third pastor, Rev. Jonothan Mitchell who gives the following account of Gregory Stone and his family:

"Gregory Stone, Deacon of this Ch: & Lydia his wife, in f. C. (full communion) Whose children, John, Daniel, David.. Elizabeth,, Samuel,, Sarah., Also John Cooper Son of the foresaid Lydia and Lydia Fiske her daughter; being all of them through the Rich Grace of Christ come into full Communion with his people; they will be mentioned afterwards in their places, all save, John Stone now joyned member of the Church of Xt at Sudbury, Lydia Fisk now deceased, Elizabeth Stone now Potter living at Ipswich, Sarah Stone now Miriam Joyned to ye Ch. at Concord."

At just what time Gregory Stone became a deacon is not known; but he is mentioned as deacon as early as 1643 and held the office at least thirty years,, until his death on 30 Nov. 1672.

On 6 Sept. 1638 he appears as one of the three deputies for Cambridge to the General Court, this seems to have been the only regular civil town or colony office ever held by him, but from the first settlement of Cambridge to almost the very close of his life, a period of thirty-five years, he was continually elected and served on numerous committees appointed to manage special town affairs., such as on 16 Jan. 1670-1 he and Edward Oakes were assigned" for the Cattichising of the youth at the farmes".¹
Gregory Stone made a will in which he mentioned daughter Elizabeth Potter; grandchild Lydia Fiske; grand child "Jno Stone sonne of David Stone", wife Lidia Stone; sons Jno, Daniel, David and Samuel Stone; son Joseph Meriam husband of his daughter Sarah; also he gave ten pounds to "Jn Cooper" and the same to Lidea Fiske. His inventory included house and lands, clothing, household furniture and farming utensils.¹

     She was born on 6 June 1640 at Middlesex Co., MA.¹ She was the daughter of John Stone and Anne (?). She married John Bent.¹

     He was baptized on 31 July 1618 at Nayland, Suffolk, England, UK.¹ He was the son of Gregory Stone and Margaret Garrad. He married Anne (?) circa 1639.¹ He died on 5 May 1683 at Cambridge, Middlesex Co., MA, at age 64.¹ He was buried at Old Cambridge Cemetery, Cambridge, Middlesex Co., MA.¹
     John Stone resided for a time in Sudbury, later in Framingham and in 1672 he removed to Cambridge where he had inherited the homestead of his father. He made a will 16 April 1683 in which he mentioned wife Anne, sons Daniel, David, Nathaniel and daughters Hannah Bent, Mary Fox, Elizabeth Stowe, Margaret Brown, Tabitha Rice, and Sarah Hill, made wife Anne, executrix, and Brethren John Cooper, Sen. and Daniel Stone, Sen. overseers; it was proved 12 June 1683.¹ John Stone is an eligible ancestor for the Society of Colonial Dames on account of being a Ruling Elder, and for the Society of Colonial Wars on account of serving as Deputy to the General Court.¹

     He was born circa 1642 at Middlesex Co., MA.¹ He was the son of John Stone and Anne (?).

     He was born circa 1430 at Ardleigh Parish, County Essex, England, UK.¹ He was the son of Walter Atte Stone.¹ He died in 1487 at Ardleigh Parish, County Essex, England, UK.¹
     John Stone was the first member of the Stone family who occupied a small estate in Ardleigh, which for over four hundred centuries was called "Barons". During the life of John Stone the prefix "Atte" before the family surname went out of general use. He died in 1487, as at a court of the Manor of Boville, held the day of Mars next after the Feast of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin, 3 Henry Vii (Tuesday 11 Dec. 1487) Walter Stone appeared at the court and made fealty to the lord for two crofts and a garden adjacent called Baron held by copy of court roll which late was held by his father.¹

     He was born circa 1455.¹ He was the son of John Stone.¹

     He was born circa 1505.¹ He was the son of David Stone.¹

     He was born circa 1535.¹ He was the son of Simon Stone and Agnes (?).¹

     He was baptized on 6 December 1573 at Great Bromley, County Essex, England, UK.¹ He was the son of David Stone and Elizabeth Hewett.¹

     She was born on 22 October 1653 at Middlesex Co., MA.¹ She was the daughter of John Stone and Anne (?). She married William Brown.¹ She married Joseph Foster.¹

     She was baptized on 10 March 1569 at Great Bromley, County Essex, England, UK.¹ She was the daughter of David Stone and Elizabeth Hewett.¹

     She was born circa 1649 at Middlesex Co., MA.¹ She was the daughter of John Stone and Anne (?). She married Issac Hunt.¹ She married Eliphalet Fox.¹

     She was baptized on 11 October 1590 at Great Bromley, County Essex, England, UK.¹ She was the daughter of David Stone and Ursula (?).¹

     He was born circa 1515.¹ He was the son of David Stone.¹

     He was baptized on 28 September 1578 at Great Bromley, County Essex, England, UK.¹ He was the son of David Stone and Elizabeth Hewett.¹

     He was born circa 1486.¹ He was the son of Simon Stone.¹

     He was born on 11 May 1660 at Middlesex Co., MA.¹ He was the son of John Stone and Anne (?). He married Sarah Waite.¹

     He was born circa 1545.¹ He was the son of Simon Stone and Agnes (?).¹

     He was baptized on 4 February 1630 at Nayland, Suffolk, England, UK.¹ He was the son of Gregory Stone and Lydia (?).¹ He married Sarah Stearns.¹ He married Abigail (?).¹

     She was born on 22 September 1657 at Middlesex Co., MA.¹ She was the daughter of John Stone and Anne (?). She married Jacob Hill.¹ She married Samuel Jones.¹

     She was baptized on 8 February 1632 at Nayland, Suffolk, England, UK.¹ She was the daughter of Gregory Stone and Lydia (?).¹ She married Joseph Merriam.¹

     He was born circa 1507 at Great Bromley, County Essex, England, UK.¹ He was the son of David Stone.¹ He married Agnes (?) circa 1533.¹ He died in 1557 at Great Bromley, County Essex, England, UK.¹
     Simon evidently accompanied his father from Great Bromley to Kirby-le-Soken, as after the death of David Stone, about 1543, "Symonde Stone" succeeded him in the subsidy list there, being assessed 16 d. on property there. But the next year he disappeared from Kirby-le-Soken and appeared again in Great Bromley where he resided until his death. He was one of the executors of the will of "Edmund Lodbrakell in 1554; a church warden in Great Bromley in 1552, a mark of distinction to which only the wealthier minority of householders were liable. His will indicates that he was a yeoman of substantial estate and esteemed position in his community. He married about 1533, Agnes -?- who survived him. The will of "Symond Ston of Moch Bromley in the Countie of Essex" was dated 28 July 1557, was not probated but it was filed in a bundle marked "1558". He left to wife Agnes a life interest in the property called "Hunts"; mentioned sons John, Davy, and Richard; and also left the property called the "Leez" to his wife.¹

     He was born circa 1450 at Ardleigh Parish, County Essex, England, UK.¹ He was the son of John Stone. He died between 1506 and 1510 at Great Bromley, County Essex, England, UK.¹
     The registers of baptisms and marriages in the church of St. George begin in 1559, but those of burials are lost prior to 1725. Within the walls of this venerable shrine, Dea. Gregory and Dea. Simon Stone, the colonists of New England were baptized; and four generations of their ancestors were christened there and had sepulcure in the church yard. On 29 Apr. 1904, a beautiful stained glass window in memory of Simon and Gregory Stone was unveiled and dedicated in the church erected by the American descendants. The old farmhouses there have generally white plaster walls and thatched roofs.¹ The earliest mention found of Simon Stone is in the fragmentary remains of the court rolls of the manor of Boville which record his name in a list of the homage at the court held 7 Henry VII (1491-2). At a court held in 16 Henry VII (1500-1) Simon Stone sent his essoirr (excuse) for non-attendance by William Moyes. He had an estate of the Manor of Boville in Ardleigh, called "Walles" and an estate in the adjoining parish of Great Bromley,, called "Goodenes", where he settled and resided. Henceforth for five generations and during nearly a hundred and fifty years the ancestors of the Stones of America lived in Great Bromley. Great Bromley) also anciently called Much Bromley or Bromley Magna, is a parish in Tendring Hundred, Co.Essex and adjoining Ardleigh on the southeast.¹ Simon Stone lived to an age of about 55 years, dying between 13 May 1506, the date of his will, and 15 Feb. 1510/1, the date of probating it. This will is in the Stone collections in the Manuscript Department of the British Museum in London. He said.."I, Symond Stone of moche Brymley of the diocs of London beying in hole mynde make my testamet and last wyll in this forms followyng"... he mentioned wife Elizabeth, sons Walter, Davy, William and Michael, left money to St. Pauls, London, etc., and requested that his body be buried in the church.¹

     He was baptized on 9 February 1585 at Great Bromley, County Essex, England, UK.¹ He was the son of David Stone and Ursula (?).¹

     She was born on 29 May 1655 at Sudbury or Framingham, Middlesex Co., MA.¹ She was the daughter of John Stone and Anne (?). She married John Rice, son of Deacon Edward Rice and Anna (?), on 27 November 1674 at Sudbury, Middlesex Co., MA.¹

     He was born circa 1510.¹ He was the son of David Stone.¹

     She was baptized on 15 June 1588 at Great Bromley, County Essex, England, UK.¹ She was the daughter of David Stone and Ursula (?).¹