I noted that "Roland" Stebbins (I should have written 'ROWLAND'!!) of the ship FRANCIS passage in 1634, w/ Thomas Sherwood family, etc, Rowland was from Bocking, Essex Co. (per Banks, p123)---Dare I now ask--could his given name of Rowland have anything to do with the ROWLAND surname of Fairfield?? You may just find it amusing to realize that our current CT Governor, John Rowland, is apparently descended from these very same Fairfield Rowlands, who also figured decisively in my ancestor Mercy's witchcraft trial, not very sympathetically! "Bocking" is the same town where my own cloth manufacturing FITCH forebears were from in England as well, via progenitor Thomas Fitch. But I didn't mention that the Eltisley Disbrowes ALSO had family connections to BOCKING, Essex Co. Valentine Disbrowe (b. abt 1643), the son of Maj. Gen. John Disbrowe & Jane (Cromwell), is, himself, "said to have been seated at Bocking, Essex" (p. 25, "The Disbrowes of Canada" by Eddis Johnson & Harold B. Disbrowe, sent to me last week courtesy of Doris Disbrow Lobe, thanks Doris!). A William Walford of Bocking also was "devised" the Disbrowe estate at Eltisley by Mr. John Disbrowe ("a descendant of Maj. General John Disbrowe"), in 1741, via the sons of Mr. Disbrowe's nephew, William Walford of Bocking, Essex (per Henry Waters, NEGHR Oct 1887, p 362). I note with great interest that the will of Thomas Marshall of Hartford, invt. taken 29 December 1692, prominently mentions "another Loom, which he gave to his son Thomas to possess it when he comes of age.." p. 484, vol I, Manwaring, "Digest of Early CT Probate". This, of course, implies clothing manufacture by this same Thomas Marshall as well, who died at Hartford 1692. I must point out that James Savage in his "Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers", apparently shows no particular relation of Rowland Stebbins of the ship FRANCIS, 1634, to the John & Margaret Stebbins who are involved with Thomas Marshall of Hartford, per Barbour. According to Savage, Thomas' son John Marshall (b. 24 Feb 1671/2, he is also named in Thomas' 1692 will & names his f. Thomas in his own 1696/7 will, meanwhile "intending to goe to sea"), is directly named by Stebbins will, apparently, as married to the dau.of this John Stebbins of Watertown, MA. Nevertheless, the matter of who lived where/why, with an acknowledged possible New London connection for this John Stebbins by Savage, and a Northampton connection for Rowland Stebbin's son, also "John" (age 8 on the ship FRANCIS, 1634), puts BOTH these families in proximity to our Disbrowe Network I suppose (so what else is new!). I note also that Walter & Phebe Disbrowe are apocryphaly believed to be at early Springfield too, and the Rowland Stebbins family is also listed by Banks as bound for Springfield in 1634 as well. That for New London we know much regarding our "Network", including that Mason's son, Capt. Samuel I believe it was, also settled at Stonington nearby, producing many Mason's there. But MOST interestingly, Savage himself mentions a "George SHARSWOOD" (he also calls him George SHERWOOD!!) as being of New London by 1666: this George Sharswood/Sherwood "had George and William, perhaps not tw. bapt 2 Apr. 1671; Mary, 1672; and Catherine, 1674. He d. 1 May of that yr. and his wid. m. 1678, George Darrow [noted by Barbour as "Mary" under Thomas Marshall entry & who d. 1698]; and Mary m. Jonathan Hill [don't get me started on "HILL"!]." BTW, I must note here or lose it to you forever that there is ALSO a "Susannah SHEPARD sen." listed on page 583, v I of Manwaring, "Disgest of Early CT Probate Documents." Recall my interest in Elizabeth Shepard Disbrowe and Rev. Samuel Shepard of Cambridge, John of Htfd, etc...She died in Hartford, invt taken 12 April 1698 by John "MARSH" (OK you know this drill by now!) & Samuel Kellogg. She gives household items such as wainscott Chests, one marked W.S.G., "a little Pott, a quart skillet, and a frying pan and table", also "my great Brass Kettle and a bible [notice NO capitalization!] and a bodkin...", these & other precious items she gives to Pratts and Goodwin named, w/ no indicated relation. BUT, her will is witnessed by John Bigelow and one name very interesting to us: Jonathan BUTLER....She is illiterate since she signs her document with an "X" (many/most illiterate Puritans also kept "bibles", perhaps not just serving as a "mystic" amulet, but so that others would read to them from these very precious books or perhaps she was too sick to sign her name!) Can anyone give me more help with this Stebbins connection perhaps??