When I think of love, I think of hearts, so I thought for this week I would highlight my 9x great-grandfather and one of the founders of Hartford, Connecticut, William Wadsworth.

William Wadsworth was born in 1594 in Long Buckby, Northamptonshire, England to William and Elizabeth Wadsworth.

William married Sarah Talcott in England in 1625. Three of their children were born in England: Sarah (b. 1626), William (b. 1628), and John (b. 1630). The family immigrated to the now United States in 1632 on the ship “Lyon,” arriving in Boston Harbor.

Their daughter (and my 8x great-grandmother) Mary was born soon after their arrival. The family lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts until 1636.

William moved his family to Hartford in 1636, where he held several positions in the city. He was Collector for Hartford and 1638; Deputy to the General Court from 1652 to 1675; was on the Committee on Stonington and Indian Bounds in 1666; Indian Commissioner in 1666, and on the Militia Committee also in 1666. He was on the War Committee 1673 and the Committee on Indian Complaints in 1674, during King Philip’s War. (from the founders website, found HERE).

Sarah’s brother John Talcott was also a founder of Hartford.

Sarah died in 1643, and William married Elizabeth Stone the following year. They had six children of their own. The Stones listed on the monument are Elizabeth’s father (John) and brother (Samuel).

William died in 1675 in Hartford.

This is one of those family stories that turned out to be true! My mom believed she had an ancestor who was a founder, and it turns out we have two (the other being Thomas Olcott). I am researching a name on my dad’s side of the tree that might be another Hartford founder as well.