379 years ago, on 4 October 1640, in Milford, Connecticut, my 9 times great grandparents, Henry Botsford and Elizabeth Woolhead were married.  The actual date is not recorded, but, Elizabeth was admitted to the church in Milford on that date according to church records and would need to have been married.  Henry waited to join the church until 25 July 1644 [see below].  Henry served as a Corporal in the Army against the Dutch 1654.  His will was drawn 1 February 1685/6.  Since the inventory was taken on 15 April of that same year, it is presumed that Henry had died during the intervening period.   Elizabeth died in 1682.

The pair had 6 children: Elnathan (1641) [my 8 times great grandfather], Elizabeth (1643), Mary (1643) [twins], Hannah (1645), Esther (1647), and Ruth (1649).

According to Botsford Genealogy, The Line of Samuel, 1,1,3; Vol 1, The Botsford Family Historical Association, 1977, p 39:

“Henry was undoubtedly an individualist but he believed in conforming to the accepted standards.  He did join the church after a few years because church membership was considered almost essential in the new settlement.

“Although he may have avoided payment of the detested ship’s money as “taxation without representation”, he seems to have been a strict observer of all the self imposed laws and restrictions of the community.  His sound judgement and integrity were quickly recognized by his neighbors as shown by the long list of offices which he filled.  He was called upon to settle boundary disputes and similar problems.  He was a keen student of human nature.  His will, carefully protecting the rights of his faithful wife, Elizabeth, and the claims of his children, is a remarkable document.  [See page 40-41 of the above referenced volume] He distributed his very considerable landed estate with great thoughtfulness and justice.”