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     Thomas Stiles was baptized on 7 February 1612 at St. Michael's Church in Milbroke, Bedfordshire, England.³ He died between 1673 and 1685.⁴
     He lived in Milbroke, Bedfordshire, England, until 1635, where he was a farmer.⁵ He emigrated to America in 1635, when his brother Francis Stiles came to Connecticut as steward of the Saltonstall party. On 6 March 1635, ten days before leaving, he indentured himself as an apprentice carpenter to his older brother Henry. This was probably done to secure a free exit from England, because of the government's restrictions on emigration at that time. The group sailed from London, 16 March 1634/35, on the ship Christian, John White, Master. They arrived at Boston on 16 June 1635, stayed about ten days, then sailed to the location of what was to be the Saltonstall settlement, near what is now Windsor, Connecticut. They arrived there about 1 July 1635.⁶
     He took part in the Pequot expedition in 1637, and was in the "bloody fight" at Fort Mystic. According to the expedition's leader Capt. John Mason, during that fight "Two men ... namely, John Dyer and Thomas Stiles, were both of them shot in the knots of their handkerchiefs, being about their necks, and received no hurt."⁵
     He probably moved to Flushing, New York, when the town was first settled about 1643, as he is listed among the 21 original settlers.¹
     He, along with several other Englishmen in the Dutch-governed colony in New Netherlands, resisted paying taxes to support the newly-appointed minister of the Reformed Dutch Church, and protested the nomination of only one candidate for sheriff for election on 17 January 1648. For these offenses they were summoned to court on 23 January 1648. On 1 February 1648, the newly-elected sheriff and the opposing group appeared before the Council and asked for the appointment of a "pious, learned and Reformed minister of the Gospel" who would make regulations to ensure "an end to their present contentions, which would promote the peace, concord and harmony of said village." Their request was granted. However, on 8 April 1648 Thomas Stiles confessed "that he threw Sheriff Harek to the ground." After promising to "conduct himself better in the future," he was "graciously pardoned," provided he pay a fine of 50 stivers (£8 6s 8d) and beg God's forgiveness.⁷
     From 1662 to 1664 he lived in Flushing with Ann Wood, the wife of John Wood of Rhode Island. They had two daughters during this time, one of whom may have been named Margaret. On 6 December 1664, a warrant was issued by Richard Nicholls, Governor, to the Magistrates of Flushing, ordering them to return Ann Wood to her husband to prevent further scandal, along with any of John Wood's property in Thomas Stiles' possession.⁸

More Information / Background

• Puritan migration to New England (1620–1640)
  
• New England's Great Migration
  
• Richard Saltonstall
  
• Pequot War
  
• Mystic massacre.
  

     Henry Stiles was baptized on 27 November 1593 at St. Michael's Church in Milbroke, Bedfordshire, England.³ He was killed on 3 October 1651 in Hartford, Connecticut, at age 57 by "the accidental discharge of a gun in the hands of Thomas (son of Matthew) Allyn, of Windsor ... on a 'training-day.⁴'"
     He was a master carpenter and builder in London, England.⁵ He emigrated to America in 1635, when his brother Francis Stiles came to Connecticut as steward of the Saltonstall party. The group sailed from London, 16 March 1634/35, on the ship Christian, John White, Master. They arrived at Boston on 16 June 1635, stayed about ten days, then sailed to the location of what was to be the Saltonstall settlement, near what is now Windsor, Connecticut. They arrived there about 1 July 1635.⁶
     On 26 April 1636 he was tried in court in Hartford, Connecticut, for trading a gun to Indians for some corn. He was ordered to retrieve the gun "in a fair and legal way," and an order was issued that no one shall trade any guns with the Indians.⁷
     Thomas Allyn was indicted for the shooting of Henry Stiles, and confessed in court at Hartford on the first Thursday of December 1651. He was ordered to pay a fine of £20, be on good behavior, and not to bear arms for 12 months. Later, Lydia Gilburt was accused of causing the incident through witchcraft, for which the penalty was death. She was indicted on 24 March 1653/54, in court at Pequott, and found guilty. No records are known of her ultimate fate. The list of debtors at the time of Henry Stiles' death shows that he boarded with Thomas Gilburt. From other entries, it's clear that Henry Stiles and Thomas Gilburt were closely associated in their day-to-day work. It's possible that Lydia Gilburt and Henry Stiles did not get along, and that this was known to their neighbors, which in those days was enough to suspect her of witchcraft. The relationship between Thomas Gilburt and Lydia Gilburt is unknown. After the trial of Lydia Gilburt, Thomas Gilburt sold his property in Windsor to Thomas Bissell and moved to Hartford, where he had brothers. He died there in 1659. His children are listed in the probate records for the distribution of his estate, and Lydia's name is not there.⁴
     Henry Stiles never married.⁷

More Information / Background

• Puritan migration to New England (1620–1640)
  
• New England's Great Migration
  
• Richard Saltonstall
  
• Lydia Gilbert.
  

     Francis Stiles was baptized on 1 August 1602 at St. Michael's Church in Milbroke, Bedfordshire, England.^4,2 He married Joan (?) before 1635 in England.⁵ He died before 1654, according to Savage's New England Genealogical Dictionary. Other evidence, however, indicates he was still living as late as 1660.⁶
     He was sometimes referred to with the title "Mr.," an indicator of social position. He was the only one of the four Stiles brothers it was applied to.¹ He is described by Henry Reed Stiles as being "by far the most enterprising and energetic in character" of the four Stiles brothers, and "a man of quick, passionate nature."⁷
     He was a master carpenter and builder.⁸ He was apprenticed as a carpenter to Hugh Standish on 11 December 1623, and finished his apprenticeship on 11 May 1631.²
     On 30 May 1632 he was fined for "evill speaches against his mr," according to an entry in the Wardens' Accounts of the Worshipful Company of Carpenters. However, since he had finished his apprenticeship, he should not have had a "master." It's possible that the entry was meant to be "against his mjtie," like those of several other entries.²
     He emigrated from England to Connecticut in 1635, when he served as steward of the Saltonstall party. His brothers Henry, John, and Thomas were with him, as were John's wife Rachel and their children Henry and John. His wife Joan probably came with him (although it's possible that this Joan Stiles was the sister of the four Stiles brothers, not Francis' wife). The entire group was made up of twenty-two men, three women, and two children. Most of the men were apprenticed to either Henry or Francis Stiles. The group sailed from London, 16 March 1634/35, on the ship Christian, John White, Master. They arrived at Boston on 16 June 1635, stayed about ten days, then sailed to the location of what was to be the Saltonstall settlement, near what is now Windsor, Connecticut. They arrived there about 1 July 1635.⁹
     Sir Richard Saltonstall was part of a group of English noblemen who were unhappy with conditions in England under King Charles I. Others in the group were the Viscount Say and Seal, Lord Brook, Lord Rich, Charles Fiennes, Sir Nathaniel Rich, Richard Knightly, John Pym, John Hampden, John Humphrey, and Henry Pelham. They had been granted a patent by the Earl of Warwick in 1631 for a large tract of land in America for establishing a new commonwealth. This land included most of the present state of Connecticut, and extended westward to the Pacific. Saltonstall chose Francis Stiles as steward for the group. He was to precede them to America, build houses, and clear the land for their arrival. Upon their arrival in America, they began their work on the west bank of the Connecticut River, near what is now Windsor. However, a group from the Massachusetts Bay Colony appeared, claiming the land for Massachusetts, and stopped them. People quickly started moving from Dorchester in the Massachusetts Colony to Windsor. Stiles sent the ship back to England, and waited for instructions from Saltonstall. After a long and angry dispute, the larger Massachusetts group won out, and Saltonstall's party never did settle in America. Eventually a compromise was reached, and the Stiles family, along with many others in the party, became part of the Windsor settlement.⁹
     After the Saltonstall enterprise failed, he bought 1000 acres of land in Windsor from Saltonstall, which gave him a total of 1100-1500 acres, a large amount for that time. However, his debts forced him to sell at least some of it back to Saltonstall (or his son Robert) on 12 September 1647.¹⁰
     Before coming to America, he had agreed to build a house and enclose 400 acres of land for William Woodcocke, one of Saltonstall's partners, who remained in England. After building a house for himself, Stiles returned to England, probably in the winter of 1636/37. Since he had not fulfilled his agreement, he sold Woodcocke his own house, and promised that the town would give him the 400 acres. Stiles returned to Connecticut, probably in the spring of 1637, followed by Barnabas Davis, who was looking out for Woodcocke's interests. Stiles had the 400 acres ready in 1637, but it was "over the Great River," a considerable distance from the house. In September 1639 Stiles was sued for £500 for breach of contract, ordered to take back the house, and to pay damages of £300.¹¹
     In the autumn of 1639 the town of Guilford, Connecticut, was settled, and Francis Stiles was among those called upon from neighboring towns to help in quickly preparing houses for the coming winter.⁸
     He was involved in several lawsuits, both as plaintiff and defendent, between 1641 and 1647 in Windsor, Connecticut.¹²
     He and his son-in-law Edward Hinman were the principal purchasers of the southern part of Pomperang (Woodbury). Some of Hinman's children and some of the Stiles family later moved there.¹³
     The deed dated 12 September 1647, for the sale of his property back to Saltonstall or his son Robert, names him as "Francis Stiles, late of Windsor, but now of Saybrook." However, Matthew Grant's "Old Church Record," dated 17 August 1677, says Francis Stiles had four children born in Windsor. The probable birth date of his fourth child, Benjamin, is 1651, indicating that he still was living in Windsor at that time.¹⁴
     On 2 March 1653/54 a complaint was filed in court in Stratford, Connecticut, by Naanepaquowwe, an Indian, accusing Francis Stiles of shooting him "in his body with swan shott upon a Sabbath day." Stiles was ordered to appear in court the following May to answer the charges, unless he settled the matter with the Indian before then. No further mention is in the records.¹⁵
     He may have lived in Stratford, Connecticut, near the end of his life. Although Cothren wrote that he probably never lived there, the court record of 2 March 1654 involving the Indian Naanepaquowwe lists him as being "of Stratford." Orcutt suggests that he moved to Stratford about 1660, based on the purchase of a lot from a Mr. Stills. Also, Robert Clark, who married Francis Stiles' widow, gave about 50 acres of land in Stratford to her three sons by Stiles, and there's no record of Clark buying the land. This indicates that he got the land from Stiles' widow.¹⁶

More Information / Background

• Puritan migration to New England (1620–1640)
  
• New England's Great Migration
  
• Richard Saltonstall.
  

     Henry Stiles was born about 1629 in England.¹ He married first (?) Ketch about 1658.² He married second Elizabeth Wilcoxson on 16 April 1663.² He died on 22 August 1724.¹
     Henry Stiles came to America from England with his parents in 1635.³
     On 1 December 1664 in Hartford, Connecticut, he was the defendent in an action brought by Hanna Bancroft for defamation, for which she requested £25 in damages. Hanna Bancroft did not appear in court.⁴
     He was a carpenter and builder. In September 1696 he and John Hosford were the master workmen in building a residence for Rev. Timothy Edwards at "Windsor Farmes" (now East Windsor). Henry's son Joseph assisted him.⁵

     Isaac Stiles was born between 1630 and 1634 in Windsor, Connecticut.² He married Hannah (?).³ He died on 5 January 1714/15 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut.¹
     He lived in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, from 1665 to 1671.³ He moved to Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, in 1671.³ In April 1707 he was one of the petitioners to the Bishop of London for the establishment of a Christ Church in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut.⁴

     Sarah Stiles was born in Windsor, Connecticut.¹

     Hannah (?) married Isaac Stiles, son of John Stiles and Rachel (?).² She died after 5 January 1714/15.²

     Jonathan Stiles was born on 10 March 1688/89 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut.¹ He married first Rebecca Canfield.² He married second Elizabeth Taylor between 1731 and 1733.²
     He and his first wife Rebecca had the following known children: Joseph (b 7 October 1706, d 2 December 1776), John (b 8 May 1709, d 17 May 1777), Thomas (b 13 December 1711, d September 1728), Hannah, Phebe (b abt 1715, d 25 October 1743), Rebecca (b 14 September 1719), Jonathan (b 1721, d 6 October 1806), Thankful (b 1722, d August 1728), Ephraim (b 12 February 1723/24, d 4 August 1768).³ He and his second wife Elizabeth had the following known children: Thomas, Ebenezer (b 1726, d 22 November 1814), Stephen, Isaac (b abt April 1736, d 4 June 1746).⁴

     Rebecca Canfield married Jonathan Stiles, son of Isaac Stiles and Hannah (?).²
     She and Jonathan had the following known children: Joseph (b 7 October 1706, d 2 December 1776), John (b 8 May 1709, d 17 May 1777), Thomas (b 13 December 1711, d September 1728), Hannah, Phebe (b abt 1715, d 25 October 1743), Rebecca (b 14 September 1719), Jonathan (b 1721, d 6 October 1806), Thankful (b 1722, d August 1728), Ephraim (b 12 February 1723/24, d 4 August 1768).³

     Elizabeth Taylor married first John Stiles, son of Henry Stiles and Elizabeth Wilcoxson, on 19 May 1724 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut.² She married second Jonathan Stiles, son of Isaac Stiles and Hannah (?), between 1731 and 1733.¹
     She and her first husband John had one known child, John (b 6 May 1729, d 1756).² She and her second husband Jonathan had the following known children: Thomas, Ebenezer (b 1726, d 22 November 1814), Stephen, Isaac (b abt April 1736, d 4 June 1746).³

     Susanah Smith was born on 9 March 1845 in Ohio.^3,4 She was married by Thomas Washburn, J.P., to Joseph Lawrence Williamson, son of Joshua W. Williamson and Elizabeth Tharp, on 17 December 1864 in Whitley Co., Indiana.^5,1,2 She died on 28 December 1900 at age 55.^3,2 She was buried at South Whitley Cemetery (Section W, Site 9-10-2) in Whitley Co., Indiana.^6,3
     She also went by the name Susan.³ After their marriage she and her husband Joseph lived in Cleveland Twp., Whitley Co., Indiana.^4,7,8

     Clara M. Hughes was born in May 1870 in Indiana.² She married Ottis Oscar Williamson, son of Beniah Thorp Williamson and Jane Hamilton, on 25 January 1888 in Allegan, Allegan Co., Michigan.¹ She died on 31 May 1954, after a long illness, at her home in South Haven, Van Buren Co., Michigan.³ She was buried on 2 June 1954 at Lakeview Cemetery in South Haven, Van Buren Co., Michigan.^3,4
     In 1900 she and her husband Ottis and their two children were living in Ganges Twp., Allegan Co., Michigan.² They moved to Denver, Colorado, sometime before 1907⁵, then to Amarillo, Potter Co., Texas, for a time, then back to Denver by 1909.⁶
     Their daughter Winifred had a son, Clifford A. Kriegmus, born in Denver on 5 October 1915, no doubt named after Winifred's brother Clifford who had died by suicide five years earlier.^7,6 The family moved back to Michigan sometime between then and November 1917, when Winifred filed for divorce in Van Buren Co.⁸ In February 1919 Clara and Ottis legally adopted Winifred's son Clifford, and his name was changed to Clifford Kenneth Williamson.⁹
     Clara and Ottis are listed in South Haven, Van Buren Co., in the 1930 census¹⁰, and in Ganges Twp., Allegan Co., in 1940.¹¹ In 1930 their grandson Clifford was living with them, listed as their son¹⁰, and Clara was working as a laborer in a canning factory.¹⁰

     Julia S. Tourtellotte was born on 12 April 1867 in Glenn, Allegan Co., Michigan.³ She married Willis Stanton Williamson, son of Beniah Thorp Williamson and Jane Hamilton, on 13 December 1888 in Glenn, Allegan Co., Michigan. They were married by Chas. Johnson, Minister, and the witnesses were Geo. B. Tourtellott and the groom's sister Alice Williamson.² She died on 1 March 1946 (her obituary says 28 February 1946) at the Allegan Health Center in Allegan, Allegan Co., Michigan, at age 78.^3,4 She was buried on 5 March 1946 at Plummerville Cemetery in Allegan Co., Michigan.^5,3
     She and her husband Stanton were living in Ganges Twp., Allegan Co., Michigan, in 1900 and 1910.^6,7 Sometime between 1910 and 1920 they moved to Albion, Calhoun Co., Michigan,^7,8 where they lived until at least 1930.⁹ After her husband's death in 1939, she lived with her daughter Gladys and her husband Elmer Ormiston in Benton Harbor, Berrien Co., Michigan.¹⁰
     She was appointed administrator of her husband's estate, and posted a bond of $100 on 23 Jun 1939. She was left all of the estate.¹¹
     She suffered a light stroke in early February 1946 ("a month ago," according to her obituary).⁴
     On 19 February 1946 her brother Mack D. Tourtellotte petitioned the court to have her admitted to the Kalamazoo State Hospital as a full-pay patient, and asked that he be appointed guardian of her and her estate. In the petition for admission he stated that she "was at the Douglas Hospital and upon physician's advice removed to Allegan Health Center to a private ward. Her mind has deteriorated, resulting in her becoming active and hard to care for. She is confused as to where she is; doesn't recognize people who have been caring for her; does not remember present events; very talkative; her conversation is confused as to subject matter." Both petitions were dismissed on 11 March due to Julia's death.^1,12
     Her will was dated 22 February 1945, and proved 9 April 1946 in Allegan, Allegan Co., Michigan. She left her entire estate to Harold E. Ormiston of Benton Harbor, Berrien Co., Michigan, the adopted son of her daughter Gladys. If he were to die before she did, her estate was to go to Gladys's husband Elmer H. Ormiston "as an expression of [her] appreciation for the many kindnesses and courtesies" that he had given her, and "as full compensation for such contributions as he has made from time to time for my support, comfort, welfare and happiness." She specifically gave "no part or portion of my estate to any of my legal heirs at law." She named her brother Mack D. Tourtellotte and Elmer H. Ormiston as joint executors. The inventory of her estate was filed 1 June 1946, and showed personal property valued at $3687.66 and about 40 acres of land in Ganges Twp., Allegan Co., Michigan (the "north half of the south half of the northeast quarter of section 31, township 2 north, range 16 west"), valued at $6,000.¹³

     Leonidas E. Plummer was born on 19 November 1869 in California.^2,3 He married Effie Dell Williamson, daughter of Beniah Thorp Williamson and Jane Hamilton, on 1 November 1894 in Ganges, Allegan Co., Michigan. They were married by W. F. Harding, M.E. Minister, and the witnesses were Leo. B. Plummer and Alice I. Williamson.^1,4 He died on 2 September 1946 in Ganges Twp., Allegan Co., Michigan, at age 76.^2,4 He was buried on 4 September 1946 at Plummerville Cemetery in Allegan Co., Michigan.^5,2
     He and his wife Effie lived in Ganges Twp., Allegan Co., Michigan. In 1910 a widower named Jonathan P. Eddy was boarding with them.^3,6,7,8
     He was originally a fruit farmer.^1,3,6 In 1900 he and Effie owned their own farm, with a mortgage. By 1910 the mortgage had been paid off, and Leonidas had employees working for him.^3,6 They may have had a setback, however. In 1920 and 1930 they were living in a rented house, and did not own a radio in 1930.^7,8 He was working a "general farm," and on his own account (i.e., without employees).^7,8
     From 1931 to 1934 he paid rent totaling $550, in six payments of varying amounts, to the estate of his wife's mother Jane Williamson in Allegan Co. He may have been farming some of her land.⁹

     Peter Creager was born on 26 April 1829 in Montgomery Co., Ohio.^2,3 He married first Melissa Jane Williamson, daughter of Joshua W. Williamson and Elizabeth Tharp, on 1 January 1854 in Whitley Co., Indiana.^1,4,2 He married second Margaret Chamberlin on 30 August 1866.^2,3 He died on 6 February 1902 at his home in Washington Twp., Whitley Co., Indiana, at age 72.^2,5 He was buried at Eberhard Cemetery in Whitley Co., Indiana.²
     He moved with his parents to Cleveland Twp. (his obituary says Washington Twp.), Whitley Co., Indiana, in 1836.^3,2
     On 12 November 1852 a marriage license was issued to Peter Creager and Harriet Hamilton in Whitley Co., Indiana, but a "?" is listed for the marriage date, and no certificate was issued.^6,7
     After their marriage he and his first wife Melissa lived on a 160-acre farm in Washington Twp., Whitley Co., Indiana.^3,8
     He and his second wife Margaret also lived in Washington Twp. In 1880 Sarah Gardner, a servant age 19, and Alexander Turney, a farm hand age 21, lived with them, and in 1900 their son Arthur and his family lived with them.^9,10,11
     He served as a County Commissioner and as a township trustee.^2,3 In 1882 he Margaret were listed as members of the Church of the United Brethren in Washington Twp.³

     Edward Ira Woodin was born on 16 July 1878 in Ganges Twp., Allegan Co., Michigan.^5,6,3,7 He married Ruby Nancy Orr, daughter of William Orr and Mary E. Hoyt, on 19 December 1903 in Allegan, Allegan Co., Michigan. They were married by Daniel Ellinger, Clergyman, and the witnesses were William Meldrum and Minnie Woodin.¹ He died at 8:00 PM on 29 November 1963 at the home of his daughter May in Ganges Twp., Allegan Co., Michigan, at age 85 of a pulmonary embolism, caused by thrombo-phlebitis in both legs, with an old fracture of the right hip as a contributing cause.^3,7,2 He was buried on 2 December 1963 at Plummerville Cemetery in Allegan Co., Michigan. Funeral services were at the Chappell Funeral Home with Rev. Orland E. Thompson officiating.^2,7
     He lived in Ganges Twp., Allegan Co., Michigan, all of his life.⁷ He and his wife Ruby are listed there in the 1910 and 1920 censuses. In 1910 they owned their own home, free of mortgage, but in 1920 they were living in a rented home.^8,9 He continued to live there after his wife's death.¹⁰ His occupation was listed as a farm laborer in 1910 and 1920, and as a laborer doing odd jobs in 1930.^8,9,10
     On 3 June 1961 he was a patient at Douglas Hospital, suffering from a broken hip.¹¹

     Ruby Nancy Orr was born on 12 February 1885 in Casco, Allegan Co., Michigan.^5,4,6,1 She married Edward Ira Woodin, son of Frank Henry Woodin and Isabell Delilah Dornan, on 19 December 1903 in Allegan, Allegan Co., Michigan. They were married by Daniel Ellinger, Clergyman, and the witnesses were William Meldrum and Minnie Woodin.¹ She died on 3 May 1925 in Ganges Twp., Allegan Co., Michigan, at age 40.⁴ She was buried on 6 May 1925 at Plummerville Cemetery in Allegan Co., Michigan.^4,5
     She and her husband Edward are listed in the 1910 and 1920 censuses in Ganges Twp., Allegan Co., Michigan. In 1910 they owned their own home, free of mortgage, but in 1920 they were living in a rented home.^2,7