THE PROBABLE ENGLISH ANCESTRY OF THE CURTISS 

 FAMILY OF STRATFORD, CONN. 



There came to New England in the ship " Lyon," which sailed 

 from London, June 22, 1632, William Curtiss and Thomas UfFord, 

 both natives of Nazing, Essex County, England. Landing at Boston, 

 N.E., on Sunday, Sept. 16, 1632, they proceeded to Roxbury, 

 where John Eliot, the " Apostle to the Indians," who yvas the 

 brother-in-law of William Curtiss, had settled the previous year. In 

 the ship " Lyon," ' so Mr. Winthrop tells us, there came one hundred 

 and twenty-three passengers, of whom fifty were children. These 

 persons were all of the better class, were well educated and possessed 

 a certain degree of wealth that enabled them to live in the enjoyment 

 of comforts. 



On the records of Nazing, England,^ we find that William Curtiss 

 was baptized Nov. 12, 1592, and married Sarah, daughter of Bennett 

 Eliot, of Nazing, Aug. 6, 16 18. The baptisms of his several children 

 also appear on these records. William Curtiss died in Roxbury, N. E., 

 Dec. 8, 1672, aged 81 years, and Sarah his widow, March 20, 1673, 

 aged 73 years.' Most of the historians have supposed this William 

 Curtiss to have been the husband of widow Elizabeth Curtiss, of Strat- 

 ford, Conn., but my researches have led me to believe he was brother 

 of her husband, who was John Curtiss. The Nazing records also show 

 the following entries : 



John Curtis, baptized Sept. 15, 1577. 



John Curtyce married Elizabeth Hutchins, April 19, i6io;and 

 the following baptisms, supposedly those of their children : 



John Curtis, Feb. 26, 1614-15; William Curtis, June 21, 1618 ; 

 and Thomas Curtis, March 12, 1619-20. 



John Curtis, aged 21, sailed with Thomas Heath, aged 23, in the 

 ship "Safety," Aug. 10, 1635. This may have been the above son, 

 as the name of Heath is found both in Nazing and in Roxbury. 



* " The Curtiss Family," by Stiles H. Curtiss, A. M. N. E. Genealogical and Historical Register, 

 July, 1889. 



' " Memorials of the Pilgrim Fathers of Nazing," by W. Winter. Waltham Abbey, 1882. 

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