Robert Day (1604 - 1648)

Robert Day was born in 1604. He immigrated to Boston from England in 1634 at age 30 with his wife Mary, age 28. He sailed on the Elizabeth out of Ipswich, England and first settled in Newtown, now known as Cambridge, MA. He wife died shortly after they arrived. Robert was made a freeman in Cambridge on May 6, 1635. He was granted three acres in Westfield, Cambridge on August 4, 1634 and in the August 20, 1635 division of meadow, he was a proportional share of ½. In the Cambridge land inventory on October 10, 1635, he held two parcels: in Westend one house with backside about two acres and in Westend Field about three acres. In the Feb. 8, 1635/36 list of those “who have houses in town” he was credited with one house in Westend.

By 1639 he had moved to Hartford, CT as one of the first settlers. He may have gone with the original 100 settlers, led by Rev. Hooker into the wilderness in 1636. By 1636 he had married Edith Stebbins, born 1613 in Woodhaven, Essex, England, daughter of Deacon Edward Stebbins. In the Hartford land inventory of February 1639/40, "Rob[ert] Day" held ten parcels: "one parcel on which his dwelling house now standeth with outhouses, yards & gardens ... containing by estimation two acres"; one acre one rood in the Neck of Land; one rood three perches in the Little Meadow; one acre eight perches "on the east side of the Great River"; three roods eighteen perches in the North Meadow, of which two roods twenty-eight perches is meadow and thirty perches is swamp; five acres three roods and eight perches in the North Meadow, of which four acres four perches is meadow and one acre three roods is swamp; three acres three roods and twenty perches in the Cowpasture; seven acres three roods in the Little Oxpasture; one rood thirty-one perches in the Neck of Land; and two acres two roods nineteen perches in the Neck of Land.” Edward Stebbins, Edith’s brother also held land in Hartford. Robert died in 1648, between May 20 and Oct. 14, at age 44, his will, dated, May 20, 1648 is seen on a following page. His estate was valued £142, £71 of this was real estate.

Edith Stebbins Day then married Dr. John Maynard from Hartford and they had no children before he died. In his will of 23 January 1657/8, "John Maynard of Hartford" bequeathed to "my wife Edetha my dwelling house with all my other houses, as also all other land lying and being in Hartford, during her life; and after her decease unto John Day, the youngest son of my wife, unto him and his heirs forever"; "Thomas Day, the eldest son, shall receive £20 sterling out of my estate provided he carry well and dutifully to his mother"; to "Sarah and Mary Day, my wife's daughters, £20 sterling to each of them"; to "the Rev. Mr. Stone, teacher of the Church of Hartford, 40s."; "my wife sole executrix"; "Mr. John Talcott Senior and my brother Mr. Edward Stebbing and Richard Goodman" overseers.”
She then married Elizur Holyoke of Springfield, MA, grandfather of President Edward Holyoke of Harvard University. She moved to Springfield with some of her children. Elizur died there in Feb. 6, 1676. She died in Springfield on Oct. 25, 1688. Her nephews were on the Springfield Board of Selection: Joseph Stebbins (1700, 1705, 1712, 1716, 1717, 1721) and Edward Stebbins (1700, 1703, 1704, 1708, 1710). Robert Day and Edith had four children:

1. Thomas (male ancestor of Springfield branch), born about 1636. He married Sarah Cooper on Oct. 27, 1659. She was the daughter of Thomas Cooper who emigrated in 1635. They had ten children: Thomas (1662- ), Sarah (1664-), Mary (1666), John (1669-1670), Samuel (1671-), John (1673-), Ebenezer (1676), Ebenezer (1677-), Jonathan (1680-), Abigail (1703-1747).

2. Sarah, born about 1638, married Nathaniel Gunn of Hartford on Nov. 17, 1658. After he died, she married Samuel Kellogg of Hartford on Nov. 24, 1664. She was killed along with her son Joseph by the local tribe in Sept. 19, 1677.

3. Mary, born about 1640, married Samuel Ely of Springfield on Oct. 28, 1659. He was the son of Nathaniel Ely of Cambridge and probably neighbor of Robert Day there. Then, she married Thomas Stebbins on April 12, 1694. He was the son of Thomas Stebbins. Next, married Deacon John Coleman of Hatfield on Dec. 11, 1696. She died in Hatfield in 1725.

4. John, born about 1643 (male ancestor of Hartford branch). By 1670 he had married Mary Gaylord. Then by 1690 he married Sarah Butler.

The Day family comes from Wales. George Day writes in 1848:
“In a book of Heraldry, containing the arms of William Day, B.D., Provost of Eton College and dean of Winsor, confirmed by William Flower, Norroy, on the 21st of October, 1582, in the twenty-fourth year of Queen Elizabeth, he is said to be ‘descended from the Dees of Wales, being the younger son of Nicholas Day, the son of John Dee (called by the English Daye) He was son of Morgan Dee, younger brother of Richard Dee, Welshman.’ Dee, signifying, it is said, dark or dingy, is the name of a small river in Wales, and was probably applied to some ancestor of the family, dwelling upon its banks, in order to distinguish him from others… This name still prevails in Wales.”

George adds that there were eight people named Day within the first thirty years of the settlement of New England. Robert 1634, first in Cambridge MA, then Hartford; Robert, Ipswich MA 1635; Nathaniel, Ipswich, MA 1637; Stephen, Cambridge, 1639, first printer in the colonies; Wentworth, Boston, 1640; Ralph, Denham, 1645; Matthew, Cambridge, 1645, Steward of Harvard College; Anthony, Gloucester, 1645.

Comments

[Thomas Cutter]

I am decended from Ebenezer Day, born September 5, 1677 of Thomas Day and Sarah Cooper Day. Ebenezer and his wife (Mercy Hitchcock)evidently had children...one of which, in turn, had a child (my ancester) Thomas Day, born October 27, 1745; probably in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Thomas Day married Joanna Noble.

My hope is to identify the child of Ebenezer and Mercy who was father to Thomas Day....also...to identify Thomas Day's mother.

Can anyone help?

[Marion Newey]

well I have researched the Days of Springfield and have Ebenezer and Mercy with their 11 children born from 1701-1725. There were only four sons...Caleb b 15 sep 1723 in springfield married Mary Jones after 1744; Timothy b 5 sep 1720 married Sarah Munn 1746; Luke b 2 jul 1706 married Jerusha Skinner ca 1734; and finally, Ebenezer b 23 oct 1701 married Mary Smith in 1724. Hope this helps.

[bill Ives]

Marion Thanks for your addition. Bill

[Tom Zeleny]

I have Luke Day, son of Ebenezer and Mercy, b. 1706 d. 1792 m. Jerusha Skinner b. 1714 d. 1775, 7 children including Thomas Day b. 10.27.1745. m. Johanna Noble.

[Mary Lewis Stewart]

My tree show these names and dates: are any familiar?
Robert Day 1604
Thomas Day
John Day Sept 20, 1673
Benjamin Day Oct 29, 1710, died May 10 1808, age 97
Daniel Day born July 8, 1749, died Aug 9, 1826?, age 74
Eraslina? Day born 1774 died 1861, married 1st wife Mahala Clark, one son Harmon?,2nd wife Olive Dewey, their children Erastins? Dewey, Thaddeus Dewey-Daniel Vanhorn-Andrew Jackson-George Washington-Alfred Dewey Vanhorn
Daniel VanHorn Day
Martha Jane Ayers Day
Henry Day Ayres

[Bill Ives]

The first three are my ancestors and then our lines diverge. Thanks for sharing.

[michelle]

my name is Michelle miller [madden 'day' ] born in ark my father was warren lee day,,,from ark his father ways Lloyd day...he played the fiddle around ark.....
there was a sheriff in Tennessee that was a relative... my families from Ireland I was told...does anyone know my family..

[michelle]

ps. it was speed o'dea thanks michelle day miller

[Bill Ives]

Michelle - Thanks for your comment. All that I know is in the blog but readers might know more.