The John Gustin Story
1646 – 1719
Isle of Jersey Falmouth, Massachusetts Bay Colony
Dear Children,
Tonight I will tell you the story of an important person in our family who came from a beautiful island known for it's cows and who had a strange thing happen to his name.
John Gustin came to America from the Isle of Jersey about 1675 when he was about 28 years old. The Jeans, for that was his family name, were thought to be Huguenots. These were Protestants that were driven out of Catholic France in the 1500's. This may be true because the first Jean that we know about is Abram Jean who was born in Jersey in about 1571.
Where is Jersey? Jersey is the largest of a group of islands called the Channel Islands. They are southeast of Plymouth, England in the Gulf of St. Malo. Can you find them on a map? They are much closer to France than they are to England, but they have been a part of Britain since 1066. The Channel Islands are beautiful, green, sub-tropical islands known for, among other things, their dairy cows. Have you every heard of a Jersey or a Guernsey cow? They come from the same place as our ancestor, John Gustin. The island of Guernsey is right next door to Jersey.
John was christened on January 9, 1647 at St. Ouens Parish in LeTaq on the Isle of Jersey. But he was not christened "John." He was christened Augustine le Rossignol Jean. He was the third son of Edmund Jean De Le'Taq and Esther LeRossignol. He also had three sisters. When he came to America his French sounding name got changed to Augustine John, because Jean is the French version of the English name 'John.' People didn't know what to make of John being the last name so the two names got transposed into John Augustine. Then 'Augustine' gradually was simplified to Gustin. However, when he signed his will he signed it "John Augustine."
Soon after he arrived in America he served as a sergeant in Captain Turner's Company in King Philip's War in 1675 and 1676. You can read about King Philip's War in John Browne's story. Perhaps this is where he met John Browne, because soon after the war, on Jan 1676/77 John Gustin married John Browne's oldest daughter, Elizabeth.
Both John Browne and John Gustin received grants of land in Falmouth for their service in King Philip's War. In the run up to the War the town of Falmouth had been totally destroyed by Indians. The colonial leaders wanted it resettled so they gave plots of land in Falmouth to soldiers that had fought in the war. Together, John Gustin and his father-in-law, John Browne, moved their families there by 1680. At that time Falmouth was part of Massachusetts Bay Colony. That part of the colony was broken off and became the state of Maine in 1820, so what was once Falmouth, Massachusetts Bay Colony is now Portland, Maine. Just to keep you on your toes, there's now another town called Falmouth, Massachusetts. Can you find them both? Gustin children born in the first Falmouth, Massachusetts include Sarah, Samuel, and Elizabeth.
In Falmouth we know that John Gustin was given permission to operate a brickyard. He was also a part-time mariner and captain of a vessel. Land records show that he bought several pieces of land to add to his original grant. In 1686 he bought land above the falls of the Presumpscot River and lived there until the second destruction of Falmouth by Indians in 1690. He was very lucky to save his family and escape, as did the Browne family. The Gustins escaped and settled in Lynn, Massachusetts. Children born to John and Elizabeth Gustin in Lynn include John Hugh, Abigail, Ebenezer, Thomas and David.
In 1719, almost thirty years after the disaster, the Gustins moved back to Falmouth. But before many months had past, John took ill and died on the 3rd of July 1719. Here are some of the arrangements he made in his will:
Elizabeth (wife) - House and its lot and all household goods and "Moveable Estate" for her use "during her natural life and to be at her disposal to any of her children as she sees meet.
Sam Gustin (son) - five shillings
John Gustin (son) - five shillings
Sarah (daughter) - five shillings
Abigail (daughter) - five shillings
Ebenezer Gustin (son), Thomas Gustin (son), and David Gustin (son) - "all the rest of my lands in Falmouth in Casco Bay lying at Martin's Point and Presumpscot River together with all debts (they having been most helpful to me and their mother in our old age) to be possessed by them, their heirs, or assignees forever, I further will that my stock of cattle and swine together with horses be to the use of my wife in equal proportion with my said three sons ... and after her decease to be equally divided among my sons Ebenezer, Thomas, and David... "
Sources name a number of other children for John and Elizabeth , among them Elizabeth, William, Mary. Elizabeth died before her father and left no known children. I don't know why William and Mary weren't named in their father's will, but I can guess. William died in Boston soon after his father's death. Perhaps he had left home and didn't do a good job of keeping in touch. Or perhaps my information is wrong and he died before his father. Mary supposedly lived in Connecticut her whole life so she is probably a different family's daughter.
So this is what we know about our ancestor, John Gustin. He came from the beautiful isle of Jersey in 1675. Less than two years after he had arrived he was asked to go and fight the Indians in King Philip's War and he did so. He helped to rebuild a town destroyed by Indians. He was a farmer and a brickmaker and a sea captain. He was able to rescue his family when the town was destroyed once again in King William's War (See notes for John Browne.) Then he had to establish himself, make a home and find a way to make a living in a new place. When he was over seventy years old he moved with part of his family back to Falmouth and he died there. He and his wife raised a family of at least eight children. Thousands of Americans alive today can claim this fine American, John Gustin, as their ancestor.
Here's how we are related to John Gustin: John and Elizabeth had Thomas Gustin. Thomas married Sarah Holmes and had Thomas Gustin Jr. Thomas Gustin Jr. married Hannah Griswold and had Elizabeth Gustin. Elizabeth married Ephraim Derrick and had Rodolphus Derrick. Rodolphus Derrick married Lorinda Sheldon and had Franklin H. Derrick. Franklin married Harriet Boslow and had Mary Derrick. (Never forget Mary Derrick!) Mary married John Balis and had Flora Balis. Flora married Edmund Stevens and had Harold Stevens. Harold married Helen White and had Paul Stevens. Paul married Dianne Zimmerman (me!) and had Dawne Stevens. Dawne married Jason Pamplin and had ....Sarah, Hannah, Timmy, and Becky Pamplin!
So Hooray for John Gustin from the Isle of Jersey!
Love,
Granny
Per wayne Olsen:
From History of Montville CT from 1640 to 1896., by Henry A. Baker. Hartford Co. 1896:
The Holmes families of Montville and Colchester appear to be very closely connected with those of Plymouth, MA, and they probably emigrated from the Plymouth Colony to CT. LT John Homes appears in Colchester and was voted an inhabitant there 22 Dec 1718. Chosen Surveyor 27 Dec 1720 and again in 1722. Selectman in 1723 and 1724.
From "The Gustin and Carlisle Genealogy", by Lester C. Gustin, 1954, Modern Press, Newton, MA:
Was born in Dorchester in 1663(?), baptized with his sister Sarah, Nov 5, 1667, and died in Colchester, CT, sometime after 1730, perhaps in 1748. The History of New London Co., p. 387 states that John Holmes and Josiah Gates were living in Colchester in 1730. John went to Dedham in 1682 or a few years previous, probably with his brother Samuel into that part of Dedham, now Readville. We find him taxed in Dedham Town Records for many things, the last entry being Dec 15, 1677. (doesn't make sense... only 10 yrs old?!!). He lived a while in Roxbury. In Jan 1689 he was granted a piece of land in Stow, where he settled and married there, first about 1690, Elizabeth Gates. He married second, in Franklin, CT, Dec 3, 1729 Ann Rockwell, born in Windsor (?) and died in Colchester(?).
March 25, 1697 he sold his grant of land. Identified as a New England carpenter and wife Elizabeth. Lot located on both sides of Heather Meadow Brook.
After his children grew up he removed to Colchester, CT, where he was voted an inhabitant, Dec 22, 1718. The early history of Colchester contains many pioneers named Gates which perhaps may account for John's removal there from Stow. He became prominent in Colchester, serving the town in various offices.
7 children, all born in Stow.From "Chronicles of a CT Farm" compiled by Mary E. Perkins, Boston, 1905:
References to LT Holmes and location of his farm in above pub.
This person is dead.
This person is dead.
This person is dead.
from "The Fey Story" by Dianne Z. Stevens - 2013
Adam Fey (1827 Prussia – 1905 Ableman, Wisconsin) married Johanna Reuter. In 1880 the Wisconsin State Historical Society published A History of Sauk County. This is what they wrote about this Adam Fey:
"Adam Fey, Merchant, Ableman, son of Adam and Anna (Thomas) Fey; born in Holtzhousen, Prussia, Feb. 10, 1827; lived in Prussia till 1854, when he moved to Iowa, where he remained till he came to Wisconsin in 1855, locating in the town of Troy, Sauk County, where he was engaged in farming for four years; in 1869, he moved to Spring Green, and opened a general store, and in 1871, removed to Ableman, where he now resides; he is dealing in general merchandise, and has a large, well-stocked store in company with L. Goedecke. He was married at Madison, Wis., May 5, 1872 to Hannah Rueder, daughter of Adolph Rueder; have had two boys - Adolph and one unnamed.”The boy unnamed would have been Maxemilian. It appears neither he nor five others of their children survived to adulthood. On the 1910 census his mother, Johanna Fey, reports she has given birth to six children and only one survived. That one was Gustave Adolph. He continued his father's business as a merchant in Ableman, Wisconsin and must have done quite well with it. The 1930 census shows him to be the owner of a $15,000 home with two radios! A lot of wealth for that time.
It is probable that August Reuter (husband of Elizabeth Fey b. 1834) and Johanna Reuter (wife of Adam Fey b. 1827) are brother and sister.
Andrae calls this child Ammal J.
1880 census - Saloon Keeper
On both 1900 and 1910 censuses he says he immigrated in 1853.
email from R Fey H - 24 Jul 2013 - "John Fey was the city clerk for Prairie du Sac, bookseller, and had a tavern...As I understand it, John Fey came to the US after his mother died to avoid conscription into the military. He was then followed by his father and siblings."
from "The Fey Story" by Dianne Z. Stevens - 2013
John Fey (1830 Prussia – 1915 Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin) married Lozina Violetta Hornbeck.. John was the son that came from Germany ahead of the rest of his family. Like some of our Wintermantel ancestors he was avoiding conscription into the Hessian army that was rented out to countries all over Europe.. He immigrated in 1853, one year before the rest of his family, arriving from Bremen in New York Harbor on May 2, 1853 on the ship Mathilde. Perhaps he was the one to find a good place for his family to settle in Sauk County, Wisconsin. In 1867 he married married Lozina Violetta Hornbeck.. John and Lozina had six children. The 1880 census shows him living with his family in Prairie du Sac, WI and he is a saloon keeper. By 1910 he and his family are still in Prairie du Sac but his occupation has changed to village clerk. By far the most amazing thing about John Fey is this: his great-granddaughter, A. A. Fey, had seventeen children! This was not back in the 1800's but in the 1950's and 60's. A.A. And her husband live in Monroe, Wisconsin. They are very active octogenarians and have fantastic family reunions.
A A Fey's record shows Lozina was born in Centerberg, Knox, Ohio.
email from R Fey H - 24Jul2013 - Lozina Violetta Hornbeck, whose great-grandfather was a patriot, made me a member of the Daughter of the American Revolution."