Colonel Stephen and Abigail (WILLIAMS) MALTBY
His Parents - Capt. Benjamin and Sarah (HARRINGTON) MALTBY
Spouse's Parents -
Kids - Augustus , Beliza , Stephen and Julia
CFH-H. Colonel Stephen MALTBY, b. July, 1769; bp. at Northford, Conn. Aug. 20, 1769 (Benj. 3, Dan. 2, Wm. 1). He m. Sept. 29, 1788, Abigail WILLIAMS. (Branford Rec.) He was 19, and Abigail, born in 1772, but sixteen. She was a daughter of Rev. Warham and Anna (Hall) Williams. This marriage brought many distinguished lines of ancestry into this branch of the family, some being:--besides Williams and Hall, Governor Jonathan Law, Conn. Governor William Brenton of Rhode Island, Davenport, Rev. John Eliot, "the apostle to the Indians," Major Nathan Gold, Lyman, Rev. Richard Mather, Rev. Abraham Pierson and many others.
Col. Stephen Maltby had much military spirit, but it was his misfortune to have been too young for service in the Rev. War, and he died at the beginning of the War of 1812, in which his brother, General Isaac Maltby, distinguished himself.
_The old Rev. Warham Williams parsonage at Northford still_ stands. The house is said to have been built by him soon after 1750. A delightful old residence. The hall is in the centre, with a fas- cinating stairway leading to the upper floor. The house is built "round the chimney." Downstairs at the right of the front door, the room contains a large open fireplace with old blue and white tile- ing. The room at the left of the hall has a quaint built-in corner cupboard. All rooms have heavy beams across the ceilings.
In the kichen there is an open fireplace large enough to stand in, and the old oven, built in at the side of the fireplace, is still to be seen.
The downstairs room at the right has a side door which opens in halves, giving a charming view of the hills. The situation is de- lightful and one wishes one could stay months in old Northford.
The Colonial front door has been featured in advertising Colon- ial Silver, and is, I believe, used as a pattern on the handles of spoons.
"In 1794 Stephen Maltby was one of the grand Jurors for Branford, or Northford."
(Northford Church Record)
"May 24, 1795. Church Member, Stephen Maltby."
"May 31, 1804. Stephen Maltby was chosen Deacon, and accepted."
"Members reccomended to other churches."
"May 6, 1811. Col. Stephen Maltby and wife Abigail to First
Church in New Haven."
"Colonel Stephen Maltby died June 22, 1812."
In the old Grove Street Cemetery, New Haven, there is a hand- some white marble, tall shaft--apparently belonging to a well-known New Haven family. On the back of the shaft is the death inscription of Col. Stephen Maltby. Abigail, his wife, died at Northford. (Record) "1836, Dec. 31, Abigail Maltby, 4th daughter of Rev. War- ham Williams. Her death was occasioned by a fall upon the ice, breaking her hip bone. Aged 68."
_The compiler, who is a great, great granddaughter of Col._
Stephen, owns the following paper:
"Eagle Bank of New Haven.
2 Shares. Sept. 22, 1813
Stephen Maltby has at this Date, standing to his credit on the books of this Bank--Two Shares of the Capital Stock thereof, amount- ing to Two Hundred Dollars.
$200 Dollars Geo. Hoadly, Cashier
N. B. Transfers of Stock must be made at the Bank in Person
or by Attorney."
I have no date for the following deed, from Gen. Isaac Maltby to his brother, Colonel Stephen.
"Isaac Maltby of Hatfield, Co. of Hampshire, State of Mass.
To Stephen Maltby of Branford.
12 acres of land in the Society of Northford, bounded: East. By Josiah Linsley's heirs North. By Grantee West. By Benjamin Maltby South. By Benjamin Maltby.
We append a letter from Rev. Jonathan Maltby, dated "June 26, 1812" to his brother, General Isaac, announcing thedeathof their brother, Col. Stephen. This letter gives the date of his death as "June 22nd," therefore I believe "January 22nd" is a misreading for June. (January 22, 1812, was given by Deacon Charles Foote in his Maltby Genealogy).
(Letter from Rev. Jonathan Maltby to his brother "General Isaac
Maltby.)
"New Haven, June 26th, 1812
"Dear Brother,
You will remember that on the 12th July, 1796, I announced to you the affecting death of our much hond. Father. You are now daily expecting to hear of the death of his aged consort our dear Mother. But Sir, the ways of unerring God, are not the ways of erring man-- He has infinite knowledge of infinite good & will ever do what is best--It is not the hoary headed mother, but her youngest child--our dear Brother Stephen!--- ---
On Monday evening, 22nd Inst. at 12 o'clock the lamp of life was extinguished--After a weeks illness, the spirit of our friend, which we would long have cherished, left its tabernacle of flesh & ascended on high--A Mother--a Wife & her fatherless children--three Brothers and an only Sister mourn, with heartfelt sorrow the sudden death--When the Father calleth who can--who would believe! His time is the last time--Let us kiss the rod & Him who hath appointed it-- Hath He not said: "Be still & Know that I am God."
Alas, my Brother! the cup of sorrow is a bitter cup! But that our heavenly Father prepared it, & shall we not drink it, in calm serenity!--Think of the sorrows and dying agonies of our ascended
Lord & Redeemer!---!
For whom were they! Were they for friends! No! They were for rebelious enemies! Why suffer thus! That these bitter enemies might have life--might have it abundantly--might inherit eternal life-- crowns & kingdoms in the paradise of God!
But to return--"The Lord gave & the Lord hath taken away" & blessed (shall we!)--can we not say! I think we can) blessed be the name of the Lord!
As David said of his friend Jonathan "he was lovely & pleasant in his life." In his death, he was not divided (I humbly hope & trust) from the divine Savior!--I hope he is united to him in eter- nal union!--In his death, joy & sorrow are mingled!
Eminent christian neighbors speak highly of him, as a Brother in Christ--One who was with me in his last moments said "I doubt not but he is going home to his Father's house", and when a corpse he said: "This departed friend and I have often taken swift counsel together." He expressed a strong belief in his happy exchange of
worlds.---His close asjoining neighbor, the pious Deacon Betts (?) said (?) "I have as much charity for him as for any"--I asked him: "Are you willing to commit your self into the hands ofGod and have him dispose of you just as he pleaseth?" He answered, "O, yes! yes!" Rev. S. M. Pastor of the other Church said at the grave: "He was be- loved by all--and they who knew him best, loved him most."
I am distressed for our much afflicted Sister! If he was esteemed by all how much must he be loved by her! The more lovely his presence the more painful his absence! The bosom companion--his dearest friend--her other self is put out of her sight! Lover and friend are removed! From early life she has been connected with him in conjugal union--He participated in her joys and supported her in her sorrows--But he is gone to return no more!--God hath changed his counternance and sent him away! If he practised the religion of Christ, O, may she strive to imitate the blessed Redeemer!
She says she has leaned too much upon him--May she now repose safely on Christ, the never failing Friend!
But about you! do not I place too much affection & depend too much upon a dear wife! Search and see--Alas who is exempt from human fraility & sin! Dear Lord! pardon and save from further sin!
There are moments when she is overwhelmed with sorrow--afliction gains the ascendency & she is drowned in tears! In the main she con- ducts well & endures her loss with more fortitude than I could have expected.
God is always better to us than our deserts, if not better to us than our fears. Sister is under singular obligations of grave sorrow under this weight of affliction. For God hath provided a husband in a Son! Both sons behave well! Augustus, though young in years is old (I hope) in Christian experiences!! While he watched the agonies of his dying Father I could but marvel and rejoice at this serene composure!
He is not without sensibility & at times it gets the mastery (but blessed be God!) grace soon triumphs!--The Christian strength- ened by Christ can and will perform wonders! Let each soldier of Jesus be weak in himself, but strong in the almighty Capt. of Sal- vation! Let him be humble & dependent, persevering & prayerful-- watchful & faithful even to the death.
Man in his best estate is altogether vanity! In his sinful state--he is never without a forlorn hope & without God in the world! How awful! How hopeless!--!--! But the lamb of God hath come to seek & to save that which was lost! now abideth hope! A hope that maketh not ashamed & abideth forever! Shout your hosannahs ye angels that excell in strength. And ye Saints wake up your powers--swell every heart, tune every string, to the glory of God!
Says the Apostle to the Christian, "All are yours, more than eye hath ever seen! more than ear hath ever heard! more than tongue can describe of name--even Christ, is young and ye are Christ's. Christ is God's! O, the height--the depth--the length and breadth, the love of God! How past finding out!---!---!
The recent parting with our friend may remind us of a citing (?) To meet pious friends after long absence in this our...an coublem (?) of meeting in the peaceful shores of blest (----) day in heaven, must it have been when Abel, that dear son of redeeming love was conveyed by shining Angels & welcomed by the pure brothren to the heavenly
hosts into the eternal presence of the Father & Redeemer! what must have been their joys since, at the welcomed millions of over---(?) ...who have ascended from this world of sin and death!---!---!
Ah, my brother! if these be the joys of the Ohh. triumphant in those days of small ---- how will the heavenly arches ring with their hossannahs!
Methinks Brother, I long to join the glorious throng--that with powers and more...strains I might shout & sing surprisingly. If we come to mount Zion we shall there behold--Abel..Moses and David. Samuel, Daniel, Paul & his brother apostles, the beloved John--yea, his dearer Lord and Redeemer! Then shall I be satisfied & not till then, when I shall appear in his likeness! Holy Father cause us to die in peace and to sleep in Jesus! Then! O then! shall we burst the bonds of death with sweet surprise & in our Saviors image rise! I am and remain your affectionate brother (as I hope) in Christ.
U. B. Accept the salutations of my family for yours, are well.
Jont. Maltby." (Note. It is impossible to read many of the words. D.M.V.)
Williams Ancestry
*1. Robert Williams, Church Warden, West Somerton, Norfolk. Will 1607.
2. Stephen Williams, m. Margaret Cooke, dau. of Nicholas and
Winifred Webster.
*3. Robert Williams, New England m. Elizabeth Stalham, dau. of John
Stalham and Alice Gibson, he son of Christopher Stalham,
of Norfolk, "armigerous" and Joan Drake.
4. Samuel Williams m. Theoda Parke.
5. Rev. John Williams m. Eunice Mather. (Tomyhawked by Indians in
the Deerfield Massacre).
6. Rev. Stephen Williams, of Longmeadow, Mass. m. Abigail "The
Redeemed Captive" Davenport, of Stamford, Conn.
7. Rev. Warham Williams mar. Anne Hall.
8. Abigail Williams m. Col. Stephen Maltby.
George Williams Maltby, my grandfather, was seventeen years of age when his grandmother Abigail (Williams) Maltby died. He told me that "she was a very beautiful woman, with large brown eyes and soft hair that had been brown."--When she married Col. Stephen Maltby" the folks all said "they were the handsomest couple ever stood up in Northford." (This seems to prove the marriage took place in Northford and not in Branford).
Col. Stephen was but forty three years of age when he died. Rev. Jonathan, his brother, wrote of him: "He was an eminent teacher of Church Music both at home and abroad."
We have already printed a copy of a Bond, dated Northford, 1797, between the four brothers, Benjamin, Jonathan, Isaac and Stephen Maltby--where they jointly agree to pay their mother, Elizabeth Maltby, "twenty pounds lawful money," etc.
Hall Ancestry 1. John Hall, emigrant, m. Jeane Wollen. 2. Samuel Hall m. Hannah Walker, dau. of John and Grace. 3. Hon. John Hall m. Mary Lyman, dau. of John and Dorcas Plumb. 4. Rev. Samuel Hall m. Anne Law, dau. of Gov. Jonathan & Anne Eliot. 5. Anne Hall m. Rev. Warham Williams.
*It is interesting to note that West Somerton, Norfolk, occurs in the "Paston Letters," many of them written by Margaret Mawtly (Malt- by) Paston, while the Stalhams are mentioned as early as "A.D. 1216- 1272." William, son of William de Stalham. Deed witnessed by Walter de Maltebi."
"In 1288, Robert de Mauteby was witness to a deed of Sir William de Stalham."
The Cookes who married with Williams, were of North Repps, Nor- folk. The Arms of Mautby are in this Church.
In my earliest record of Maltby of Norfolk, Circa 1140-1150 A.D. the name is recorded as "Walter son of Robert de Maltebi." "Curia Regis, Vol. II, p. 7. Norf" A.D. 1207, "Walter de Malteby and other knights," etc. In 1253, the name occurs as Malleby.
Children of Col. Stephen Maltby and Abigail Williams.
CFH-HA. Augustus Williams Maltby, b. Oct. 22, 1789, Branford
CFH-HB. Beliza " b. May 1, 1791, Northford.
Ref. Jonathan Maltby wrote of him, "He was in the
'Epirer' despatched ship. U.S. from the Mediteranian."
I believe this ship blew up. He d. unmar.
CFH-HC. Stephen Elutheros Maltby, bp. July 17, 1796, Northford.
CFH-Hd. Julia Ann " bp. Dec. 23, 1810, Northford.
These "Branford" and "Northford" records are most annoying. Stephen Maltby was born at Northford and undoubtedly was married to Abigail Williams, by her father, the Rev. Warham Williams, at North- ford. So far as one can learn they lived at Northford in 1795, where Stephen was a Church warden there. We find this confusion of Branford and Northford over and over again in these records, and also "Northford in Branford." I doubt exceedingly that Augustus Williams Maltby was born at Branford, although his birth is in a "Stray Volume" without number," at Branford.
CFH-H
Parents
Augustus