1642 On April 6, John Whitmore was admitted as a freeman of New Haven. "A Genrll Court the 6th of the 2d Moneth, 1642. … Mr Mitchell and John Whitmore of Rippowams was allso admitted members of the Cort, and accepted the charge of freemen." [1]
1643 Richard Gildersleeve and John Whitmore, Deputies of Stamford, attended "A Genrll Court held att Newhaven for the Jurisdiction the 27th of October 1643." [2]
1648 John Whitmore was killed by Mohican Indians in October.
1648 The inventory of the estate of John Whitmore was made in Stamford, Connecticut, on December 8 and recorded in New Haven on May 26, 1656. [3]
At a Court of Magistrate held at Newhauen for this Jurisdiction, the 26th of May, 1656. … An inuentorie of ye estate of Jno Whitmore was presented from Stamford, amount. to two hundered & seuenteene pound, foure shilling two penc, made the 8th December, 1648, prised by Robert Hustis & Jeffery Ferris.
1649 On September 13, the general court of Connecticut decided to make war on the Indians who had killed John Whitmore the previous year. [4]
This Courte, taking into serious consideracon what may bee done according to God in way of reuenge of the bloude of John Whittmore, late of Stanford, and well weighing all circumstances, together with the carriages of the Indians (bordering therevppon,) in and about the premisses : doe declare themselues that they doe judge it lawfull and according to God to make warr vppon them.
This Courte desires Mr. Deputy, Mr. Ludlow and Mr. Taylecoate to ride to morrow to New Hauen, and conferr with Mr. Eaton and the rest of the Magistrates there aboute sending out against the Indians, and to make returne of their apprehensions with what convenient speed they may.
1657 In a court case concerning a stolen horse, heard on May 25 in New Haven, a witness for Edward Jessup, plaintiff, identifies Edward Jessup's mother as the widow of John Whitmore. [5]
At a Court of Magistrats held at Newhauen for the Jurisdiction, the 25th 3d Mo: 1657. … But more fully to cleere the buisnes Edward Jessup brought Joseph Mead of Stamford, (who was his agent and imployed by him and did marke this mare for him,) as his witnes, who did now in court affirme vpon oath, that when Edward Jessup and his mother widdow Whitmore went from Stamford to live elswhere, they left two mares at Stamford and desired him to take care of them, and he did vse what care he could in it … and can safely say that this mare, w'hout any question or scruple in his conscienc, is Edward Jessups.
1662 Taphanse, a suspect in the murder of John Whitmore, was tried in the court held at New Haven on October 15. Taphanse maintained his innocence and claimed that the murderer was another Mohican Indian named Taquatoes. Based on Taphance's testimony and on testimony by witnesses that Taphance was at the home of John Whitmore on the day of the murder, Taphance was found to be an accessory to the murder and to be a suspect in the murder. Taphance was ordered to pay ten pounds to the court and to endeavor to bring the suspect Taquatoes to the court. [6]
Research Notes:
From "The Compendium of American Genealogy", Vol 7 1942, Ed by Frederick Adams Birkus.
John Whitmore came from England to America in the 1630s with his wife and 5 children. He appeared at Wethersfield, CT 1638. He was a founder of Stamford in 1641, he was a freeman in 1642. Deputy General of CT 1643. Representative 1647. His murder by the Mohegan Indians in 1648 was the direct cause of the colonial government resolving to declare war upon them.
Other references are:
Moore and Allied Families by Deforest, Page 619.
Families of Ancient New Haven, CT by Jacobus, Page 1008.
Genealogical Dictionary of First Settlers of New England by Savage, Page 526.
Founders of Early American Families by Colket, Page 326.
History of Ancient Wethersfield by Stiles, Vol II page 785.
Wetmore History, Page 7.
Some researchers suggest that the parents of John Whitmore were Thomas Whitmore (1558-1617 or 1648) and Mary Meade (c1558-8 Oct 1604), of Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England.
[1] Charles J. Hoadly, ed., Records of the Colony and plantation of New Haven, From 1638 to 1649 (Hartford: Case, Tiffany and Company, 1857), 69, [HathiTrust], [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[2] Charles J. Hoadly, ed., Records of the Colony and plantation of New Haven, From 1638 to 1649 (Hartford: Case, Tiffany and Company, 1857), 112, [HathiTrust], [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[3] Charles J. Hoadly, ed., Records of the Colony or Jurisdiction of New Haven, From May, 1653 to the Union, Together with the Niew Haven Code of 1656 (Hartford: Case, Lockwood and Company, 1858), 159, [HathiTrust].
[4] J. Hammond Trumbull, The public records of the Colony of Connecticut Prior to the Union with New Haven Colony, May, 1665 (Hartford: Brown & Parsons, 1850), 97, [HathiTrust].
[5] Charles J. Hoadly, ed., Records of the Colony or Jurisdiction of New Haven, From May, 1653 to the Union, Together with the Niew Haven Code of 1656 (Hartford: Case, Lockwood and Company, 1858), 204-206 at 205, [HathiTrust].
[6] Charles J. Hoadly, ed., Records of the Colony or Jurisdiction of New Haven, From May, 1653 to the Union, Together with the Niew Haven Code of 1656 (Hartford: Case, Lockwood and Company, 1858), 458-463, [HathiTrust].