John Danielson

Other Events:

• Census: 1790, Brimfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts
• Census: 1800, Butternuts Twp., Otsego, New York
• Residence: 1790, Brimfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts; With two boys under age 16 and two females
• Residence: 1800, Butternuts Twp., Otsego, New York; With a woman over age 45
• _MILT: 1775 - 1783; Private, Capt Amos Walbridge's Co, Col David Brewer's 9th Regt, Continental Army

Notes:

John Danielson served in the American Revolution as did six of his sons and his two brothers. He also served in the earlier French and Indian War, and participated in the important Crown Point expedition in 1755. John was the son of John Danielson and Margaret Mighill (Maghell). Danielson enlisted 12 May 1775 as a private, Capt. Amos Walbridge's company in Brimfield, Col David Brewer's 9th Regt. He served in the battles of Bunker Hill, Long Island and Trenton. He crossed the Delaware with the troops on 25 Dec 1776. For a time he was a member of the bodyguards to General Washington. John Danielson and his wife moved from Brimfield, MA, to Butternuts, Otsego Co, NY, in 1796. After his death nearly all of his children and grandchildren changed the family surname from 'Danielson' to 'Donaldson' by common consent, believing, according to oral family history, that 'Donaldson' was the original family name back in 1600's Scotland. During the past century some researchers have speculated that John Danielson of Brimfield was the grandson of wealthy James Danielson of Killingly, CT, but that is disproven by James' 1728 will, which shows only two sons, Samuel and James, Jr. Much of the best research on the Donaldson/Danielson family was done from 1925-1965 by Harriet H. Donaldson Wilkinson.

Not found in Otsego Co., New York will index (1792 - )
Not found in Otsego Co., New York intestate estate index (1801 - )
Not found in Otsego Co., New York wills and administrations v. E & F (1813 - 1823)
Not found in Cortland Co., New York Index to Probate Wills and Proceedings v. 1 (1808-1937)
Not found in Onondaga Co., New York General Index to Probate Records v. D (1802-1903)

Buried:
Prentiss Cemetery

John married Ruth Blodget 30 Aug 1750, Brimfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. Ruth (daughter of Joseph Blodget and Elizabeth Sawyer) was born 1 Mar 1727/28, Lexington, Middlesex, Massachusetts; was christened 10 Mar 1727/28, Lexington, Middlesex, Massachusetts; died 14 Sep 1807, Butternuts Twp., Otsego, New York; was buried Otsego Co., New York. [Group Sheet]

1. Timothy Danielson was born 14 Jul 1751, Brimfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; died 23 Mar 1843, Otsego Co., New York; was buried Otsego Co., New York.
2. Frederick Danielson was born 25 Aug 1753, Brimfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; died 18 Aug 1776, Brimfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; was buried Brimfield, Hampden, Massachusetts.
3. Calvin Danielson was born 4 Jun 1755, Brimfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; died 24 Oct 1845, New York; was buried Otsego Co., New York.
4. Luther Danielson was born 2 Jan 1757, Brimfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; died 12 Dec 1841, Ohio; was buried Racine, Meigs, Ohio.
5. Callista Danielson was born 28 Feb 1758, Brimfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; died 9 Oct 1843, Brimfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; was buried 11 Oct 1843, Brimfield, Hampden, Massachusetts.
6. Lothario Danielson was born 25 Aug 1760, Brimfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; died 14 Jan 1763, Brimfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; was buried Brimfield, Hampden, Massachusetts.
7. Altamont Danielson was born 13 Nov 1762, Brimfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; died 26 Jan 1847, Michigan; was buried Fenton, Genesee, Michigan.
8. Lothario Danielson was born 2 Mar 1765, Brimfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; died 17 Jun 1841, Michigan; was buried Tecumseh, Lenawee, Michigan.
9. Ruth Danielson was born 17 Jan 1766, Brimfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; died 6 Mar 1855, New York; was buried Watertown, Jefferson, New York.
10. Nathaniel Danielson was born 8 Sep 1768, Brimfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; died 28 Feb 1855, Otsego Co., New York; was buried Otsego Co., New York.

Notes:

Not found in indexes to Hampshire Co., Massachusetts probates (5 Jul 2017)

Not found in indexes to probates of Windsor Co., Vermont
Not found in indexes to probates of Windham Co., Vermont
Not found in indexes to probates of Orange Co., Vermont -- however some earlier volumes of probate records are not indexed (5 Jul 2017)

John married Margaret Mighell 23 Mar 1726/27, Brimfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. Margaret (daughter of Nathaniel Mighell and Sarah Bliss) was born 29 Feb 1707/08, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Birth:
"Margaret Mighall ye daughter of Nathanal Mighall and Sarah Mighall was Borne Feb 29th: 1707/08"

Notes:

Sergeant James Danielson, progenator of the family in America, was a native of Ayrshire, Scotland, whence he emigrated to the new world settling on Block Island which is now the town of New Shoreham, Rhode Island.

Early land records show that Sergeant James Danielson was a man of considerable fortune. He assumed a prominent place in town affairs. Between 1689 and 1705 he purchased large tracts of land on Block Island and was admitted a freeman of Rhode Island at the May session of the General Assembly in 1696.

In September, 1696 he agreed to raise 100 pounds to pay for making a suitable harbor. In that year he served as a soldier in the expedition against the French under General Montcalme and fought in the engagement on the heights of Abraham with General Wolfe. In 1700 he was elected Sergeant of the town of New Shoreham.

In early life he served almost continuously in wars against the Indians. During King Phillip's war he was Captain of a company of troops who passed through the region in which the present town of Danielson is located and was charmed with the beautiful "neck of land" between the Quinebaug and Assawauga Rivers.

As a result of his "heroic services" in the Indian wars he received a grant of land in Voluntown, Conn. His later purchases of land were very extensive. In 1706 he bought 800 acres of land on the Quinebaug River in what is now the town of Pomfret. This included a mansion house and barn. In 1707 he bought 2000 acres of land between the Quinebaug and Assawauga Rivers. He is said to be the first settler south of Lake Mashapaug (now Alexanders Lake) at the southern end of which he built a garrison house. This settlement afterward became the town of Killingly. James Danielson became one of the most prominent and influential men in that part of Connecticut.

He presented the town with a large burial ground located between the two rivers and was the first person to be buried in it. He died January 22, 1728 at the age of 80. His first wife was Abigail ____. His second wife was Mary Rose _____, who died February 23, 1752, aged 86." In 1724, he deeded his homestead in Killingly to his son Samuel, of which action John Danielson (his son) was one of the witnesses.

THE ORIGINS OF THE DANIELSON FAMILY

By Marcella Pasay

Reading early histories of the area one may be led to believe that James Danielson arrived in Connecticut almost directly from Scotland. Some texts refer to his being "of New Shoreham" (now Block Island, RI) at the time he buys land in Pomfret in 1706. Where did he come from? In RI Genealogies, in the chapter entitled "Early Block Island Families, we read:

"Some of the first proprietors in Dorchester and Braintree did not go to Block Island in person but sent agents and factors, among them several of the Scots from the Braintree iron works, who left numerous descendants on the island. Among these may be mentioned William Tosh (McIntosh, Duncan Ross alias Tormut Rose, Alexander Enos (Innis), Duncan McWilliamson, Robert Guttridge, James Danielson, and others."

What was James Danielson's connection with the Braintree iron works? Established in the mid-seventeenth century on the Saugus River, the iron works recruited "skilled and unskilled, free and indentured" workers. Among the indentured were a number of Scots prisoners taken at the Battles of Preston and Dunbar and Worcester. Was James Danielson, namesake of the Borough, a Scots prisoner? No. James was born in 1648/1649. These battles took place within a few years after his birth. Searching the New Shoreham records, however, we read:

"James Danelson Juner his Marke being the marke?."

It was, in fact, his father, James, who first arrived in New England, probably not as a prisoner, but as a skilled worker from Scotland. Prisoners were not allowed to bring their families and were not paid much. According to the New England Genealogical Register (vol. 6, p. 250) and the Essex Quarterly Court Files, a James Danielson resided in Braintree and gave a deposition in 1653. It states he was twenty years old but he was most likely older. (If James, Jr., was born in 1648 his father would only have been fifteen years old in 1653.)

There are no further records of this first James, his wife, or what happened to them. It may be that when his work was completed he returned to Scotland and left his son as an apprentice in Braintree. James, Jr., must have been a trusted employee and exhibited good business sense to be selected as an agent for the New Shoreham enterprise. He must also have had some capital of his own in order to begin his land purchases.

James did very well on the island buying and selling property and building a cattle herd. He married twice and each wife bore him a son. When he arrived in Connecticut James and Samuel accompanied he and his wife, Mary.

At least one historical account mentions a son, William, but there is no record of his birth or death and he is not mentioned in his father's will. There is a William Danielson in the Pomfret land records but the property does not seem to be in any way adjoining or part of the Danielson property. There are no land transactions recorded between the aforementioned William and the other Danielsons. The surname of William may well be a corruption of Dennison as the early text is not clear. Until other records are found, we must exclude this William from the family of James.

Source: http://www.johnhoyt.com/donaldson.html

James Danielson was on the roster of the Saugus Iron Works in 1653. He died in 1728 in Killingly, Ct. The epitaph on his tomb stone says he died in the 80th year of his life so that makes his birth date abt. 1648. The battles that he was supposed to be captured at and sent to this country as a prisoner took place in 1650 and 1653 so there no way he could have been sent as a prisoner. He gave a deposition while at the iron works in 1653 which stated that he was 20 years old. That would have made his birth date 1633 in Scotland. David P. Wilson, researcher of Ct. genealogy found a book of Rhode Island records in the library at ECSU, that listed James Danielson being made a free man May 5, 1696. Since James Jr. was born 5/15/ 1687 he would have been 9 years old, so this was apparently James Sr. The info from my mother's 30 year research into her family reflects the following: James Danielson was resident of Ayrshire, Scotland. He settled at Block Island in May 1683.

The reason for the move to America has been explained by being a prisoner in Scotland of a war with England and being sold or forced to immigrate as an indentured servant for 10 years at an iron works on Block Island. The iron works went out of business and he became a free man. This info came from Helen Winslow Mansfield, historian at Block Island in letters dated in 1952. The other explanation is that he came of his free will to work for the iron works. Which ever was true, he became an important and influential citizen with much land on the island before selling and moving to Killingly, Conn. The records we have shows land purchases of 170 acres on the island between 1686 and 1696. He sold 124 acres of land and a mansion house on the island to Thomas Mitchell for 545 pounds. He already lived in Conn. at that time.
We do not know when he moved to Conn. but they still bought Block Island property in 1704 and started selling it in 1705. If the arrival date is correct, he would have been about 35 years old and two years later he married Hannah George Rose (widow of Tormut Rose) on 3/11/1685. She died abt. 1693 in New Shoreham, RI. He then remarried Mary Tosh (MacIntosh) at New Shoreham, RI (Block Island) 1/22/1700. He had three children: James B. , John B., Samuel B. The Killingly, Conn. Donaldsons (Danielsons) are descended from Samuel. Anita Leon, of NYC, now deceased, was a family historian.

In a letter to my mother, Harriet H. Donaldson, she said that James 1st wife was Abilgail by who he had a son, John. There is no record of a wife Abigail on BI and no record of the date of birth for John on BI. My mother speculated that John was born in Scotland and his mother Abigail died there. This would explain the missing info on BI. There is more info about property purchases, etc. but too much to list here. Send Email for more info if interested. He is buried at the Old Westfield Cemetery which is the cemetery he gave to the community.

James married Mary Tosh 22 Jan 1699/00, New Shoreham, Washington, Rhode Island. Mary was born 6 May 1669, New Shoreham, Washington, Rhode Island; died 23 Feb 1752. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Residence: 13 Aug 1676, Durham, Strafford, New Hampshire; In the settlement then called Oyster River
• Residence: 19 Dec 1701, Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts

Notes:

Not found in index to early Hartford Co., Connecticut probate records (6 Jul 2017)
Not found in indexes to New London Co., Connecticut probate records (6 Jul 2017)
Not found in indexes to Hampshire Co., Massachusetts probate records (6 Jul 2017)

Died:
The town of Plainfield was included in Hartford County at the time

Nathaniel married Sarah Bliss 15 Jan 1701/02, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. Sarah (daughter of Samuel Bliss and Sarah Stebbins) was born Oct 1681, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; died 26 Feb 1751, Brimfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; was buried Brimfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Residence: 19 Dec 1701, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts

Notes:

Buried:
Brimfield Center Cemetery

Other Events:

• Probate: 22 Apr 1701, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts; His widow, named as Sarah, and son Nicholas granted administration of his estate. He is referred to as "of Suffield," which town was part of Hampshire Co., Massachusetts till 1749; since then it lies in Hartford Co., New Hampshire.
• Probate: 19 May 1703, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts; Estate inventory; total not given but is approximately £150
• Residence: Bef 22 Apr 1701, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticutt; Before 1749, the town of Suffield was part of Hampshire Co., Massachusetts

Notes:

Birth:
He was deposed twice, in 1678 and 1679, in Essex Co., Massachusetts courts, stating his age as 44 years in 1679, and as 42 years in 1678; he was probably therefore--if both testimonies were accurate--born in the latter half of 1635 or the first half of 1636 (source does not give dates of the depositions)

Died:
On this date administrators are appointed to his estate

John married Sarah Batt 6 Jun 1659, Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts. Sarah (daughter of Nicholas Batt and Lucy) was born 12 Jun 1640, Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts; died 4 May 1714, Enfield, Hartford, Connecticut. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Difficult to be certain of the order and number of the children; Massachusetts vital records don't mention several of them. In addition, three of the boys were christened on the same day without corresponding birth records.

Notes:

Mr. Bliss lived to the advanced age of 101 and left, at his death, according to the "Boston News Letter:" six children, 38 grandchildren, 114 great-grandchildren, and ten great-great-grandchildren, making a total of 168.

Not found in probate index of Hampshire Co., Massachusetts (13 Jan 2018)

Birth:
"Samuell Blisse ye sone of Nathaniell Blisse was borne 9 mon:7day 1647 a little before day-break & baptized ye same day"

At the time, the new year began in April, making November the 9th month of the year

Samuel married Sarah Stebbins 2 Jan 1671/72, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. Sarah (daughter of Thomas Stebbins and Hannah Wright) was born 18 Aug 1654, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; died 6 Nov 1721, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Birth:
"Sarah Stebbins the daughter of Thomas Stebbins borne the 18 day 6 mon. -- 1654"

Died:
"Sarah Bliss the wife of Samuel Bliss Died Novemb'r the 6 1721"