| Notes |
- From FindaGrave:
Priscilla, the first wife of Matthew Grant, b. in England and d. at Windsor, Conn. Apr. 27, 1644, "aged" 43 years and 2 months.[*1] The word "aged," one of the variant forms, in English, for the Latin phrase Ætatis suæ, indicates she was 42 years and 2 months old at her death, b. in or about Feb. 1601/2. The place of her birth and identity of her parents remains unknown.
Claims that Priscilla's parents were Anthony Grey and Magdalen Purifoy have been thoroughly disproved and worth explanatory space in this memorial [see NEHGR 102 (1948):153.] But, contrary to the latter article's claim that Matthew, in his Notebook, stated that Priscilla was born on Feb. 27, 1601, no such date exists in his Notebook. The only approximate date of her birth is from Matthew's statement of how old she was when she died - "aged 43 years and 2 months."
Per the parish records of the Church at Burbeck, Leicestershire, England, including a known gravestone monument at the church graveyard:
• Monument and Arms of Anthony Grey, who died Nov. 9, 1643 and of his Wife Magdaleine (Purefoy) who died April 16, 1653, Æ 81.
Anthony and Magdalen had two daughters named Priscilla, the first born [sic, bapt.?] March 14, 1609 [sic 1609/10?] and died young. The second Priscilla was born [sic, bapt.?] May 7, 1615 and married John St. Nicholas. Their own monument reads:
• The noble and virtuous Priscilla Grey, youngest daughter of Rt. Hon. Anthony Grey, Earl of Kent; a singular pattern of purity and virtue in her single and married state; deceased September 16, 1665, in the 51st year of her age, and lyeth here interred, resting in hope." Buried Sept. 20, 1665. "Here lyeth the body of John St. Nicholas, husband of Lady Priscilla, died May 21, 1698."
As inferred earlier, confirmation of the early structure of the Matthew Grant family is contained in Matthew's personal Notebook, and as Windsor town recorder (town clerk) coupled with his separate records of the "Old Church Records" of the early Windsor Congregational Church.[*2] These two records are the early basis of the Barbour published vital records of the Town of Windsor coded from "MG." In Matthew's "Old Church Records," and included in the Barbour published vital records, is:
• "May 29, 164[0 the] Mother Matthew Grant dyed," further transcribed with [of] inserted between Mother and Matthew.
In that era, the term Mother could have referred to the biological mother or stepmother of either Matthew or wife Priscilla. The common assertion has been the entry refers to Matthew's mother, but could have referred to Priscilla's unknown mother or stepmother. If the latter was the actual case, it would further confirm Priscilla was not the daughter of Rev. Anthony Grey and Magdalen Purefoy.
Matthew Grant and 1st wife Priscilla had six known children, but two died in infancy. The four surviving children are outlined in their father's memorial.
[*1] Matthew Grant's Notebook, digitally transcribed as the "Matthew Grant Diary" by the Connecticut State Library, Hartford. Priscilla's death does not otherwise appear in the Barbour published town records.
[*2] Published in 1930 by the Connecticut Historical Society in "Some Early Records and Documents of and Relating to the Town of Windsor, Connecticut, 1639-1703."
Revised 1/13/2016
|
1602 - 1644 (~ 42 years)
