The Life of Daniel Markham

As we research further back, about 300 years ago, in history it becomes harder and harder to know for certain if we are recording the correct events for our ancestors at times. While I am piecing together Daniel’s life I have to use the pieces of recorded events I am able to find. I carefully review the information to see what makes sense. How much of the data matches? Does the information make sense? Sometimes it doesn’t and it’s back to square one. Other times all the information gathered seems to make sense in telling the life story. 

As I have gathered information for Daniel Markham, my maternal 7^th great grandfather there is also the added question of several generations of ‘Daniel’ Markham.  Hopefully, I have the right information for my 7th great grandfather:

Daniel was born 13 Nov 1704 in Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut to parents Daniel C. and Deborah Meacham Markham.

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  Middletown is located along the western bank of the Connecticut River about 16 miles south of Hartford. It was incorporated by English settlers in 1650 under the original Native American name Mattabeseck. The native Mattabesett people were part of the Algongquian speaking tribes of the Connecticut Valley. The colonist renamed the settlement in November 1653 as Middletown because the settlement was about half-way between Windsor and Saybrook on the 'Great River'. The settlement of colonial Puritans had a hard life spent clearing the rocky soil of New England in order to build homes and tend farms. By 1676 the Puritans owned all but 300 acres of the Mattabesett territory. A mere twenty eight years later Daniel was born in this area.

Daniel was baptized in the Middletown First Congregational Church on 19 November 1704:

On 2 April 1729 Daniel, 25 years old, married 22 year old Patience Miller in Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut, USA.  

(click on images to enlarge)

The children of Daniel and Patience that I have been able to identify are Daniel and Deborah.

There is a record of Daniel and Patience being confirmed on 29 June 1729 according to Connecticut Church Records for the First Congregational Church in Middletown, CT.

Patience died on 19 March 1732/3 in Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut.

There is no record as to why or when Daniel would leave Middletown and move to Strafford where he would meet and again marry.

On 14 November 1745 Daniel, 41 years old, married 28 year old Thankful Heath  in Strafford, Tolland County, Connecticut.

Their children: Daniel Jr, Lucy (my 6^th great grandmother), Samuel, Benjamin, and Stephen.

There is no record of why or when Daniel and Thankful decided to leave Stafford and move to Tryingham, Massachusetts.

Daniel's second wife Thankful died reportedly in the mid-1750s.

On 14 June 1768 Daniel sold 41 acres of land he owned in Tyringham, Massachusetts to his son-in-law Israel Alden, husband of daughter Lucy and my 6^th great grandparents. (See post The Life of Israel Alden)

Daniel died 16 March 1786 at the age of 81 in Tyringham, Berkshire, Massachusetts.

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.

Enjoy the journey,
Debby