John Catlin = Mary Baldwin
John Catlin, the son of John Catlin and Isabel Ward, was born in Wethersfield, Connecticut, on 28 June 1643. He married 23 September 1662 Mary Baldwin, his stepsister, a daughter of Joseph Baldwin and his first wife Hannah Whitlock.
In company with others from Bramford he settled the town of Newark, New Jersey, in 1665. In 1675 he was granted 120.5 acres of upland and meadow. In 1676 he was appointed to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic. In addition to being the first schoolmaster in Newark, he was appointed town attorney to forward the business of the town. In Joseph Baldwin's will, dated 1680, this couple is mentioned as being of "Arthur Kill, New Jersey". In 1681 he was appointed justice of the peace for Newark to assist at the county court.
He apparently sold his property in Newark about 1683 and moved to Hartford, CT, briefly. In 1684 he was one of the settlers of Deerfield, Massachusetts. There he was one of the prominent settlers, took an active part in the affairs of the town, and was dignified with the title of "Mr." His memory is perputated in the following marker tablet erected in 1911 at the corner of Broad and Commerce Streets in Newark.
On this Site
John Catlin
Newark's first schoolmaster
opened his School in 1676, holding
it in his home as was the custom
in those days. By vote of the
town's men he was engaged to
"Do his faithful honest and true endeavour
to teach the children or servants of those
as have subscribed...English and also
arethmetick...as much as they are capable
to learn and he capable to teach them."
He was a man of mark in the
community, serving as town's attorney
and later as town's man.
In 1683 he became one of the early
permanent settlers of Deerfield, Mass.
where his services gained for him
the honorable title of "Mr."
He was killed Feb. 29, 1704, in the
defence of his home against an
attack of French and Indians.
He was a guide of youth
and a leader of men
Erected by the Newark Schoolmen's Club
Newark Day, Nov. 6, 1911
No family suffered more than his in the destruction of the town of Deerfield on 29 February 1704. He was killed trying to defend their house. Their sons Joseph and Jonathan were also killed. Their married daughters Mary French and Elizabeth Corse were killed during the subsequent march to Canada.
Mary (Baldwin) Catlin, "being held with the other prisoners in John Sheldon's house, gave a cup of water to a young French officer who was dying. He was perhaps a brother of Hertel de Rouville. May it not have been gratitude for this act that she was left behind when the order came to march? She died of grief a few weeks later."
John Catlin (born 8 January 1687) and his sister Ruth (born 1684?) survived the rigors of the trip to Canada and back. According to tradition Ruth was a delicate girl, yet equal to the journey. When she was tired of a burden she would throw it back as far as possible. He brother feared that the Indians might kill her, but they laughed and went back for it. They acted as though she were a great lady. When others were hungry she had plenty and gave food to John. The same tradition says that he spent his two years of captivity with a priest, who was unable to convert him, but who supplied him with money and necessary articles when they parted.
John and Ruth Catlin were redeemed in 1706 and 1707. He returned to Deerfield. He married Jemima Allen on 1 March 1715 and fathered a numerous progeny.
John and Mary’s Children:
John
born 21 July 1663 at Wethersfield, died young.
Mary
married 18 October 1683 to Thomas French. She was killed 9 March 1703/4 during the march to Canada. All five of their children were taken to Canada; two returned and three remained there.
Elizabeth
married about 1690 to James Corse.
Hannah
born 24 February 1670, married about 1691 to Thomas Bascom of New Haven
Esther
born about 1675, married about 1694 Ebenezer Smead
Sarah
married Thomas (or Michael?) Mitchell about 1694
Joseph
born about 1677, he married 26 June 1701 to Hannah Sheldon. "He was one of the seven brave men who defended the Benoni Stebbins house in 1704, and one of the nine who fell in the meadow fight."
Jonathan
born about 1680, died with his father defending their house
Ruth
taken to Canada, returned in 1707
John
born 8 January 1687, taken to Canada and returned in 1706. He married Jemima Allen on 1 March 1715.
References: