Charles, >Has anyone seen the Matthew Grant diary? I suspect "Matthew Grant diary" and "Matthew Grant record" are one and the same. No, I haven't seen the original but have see a copy of it. >Know the location of the original? Connecticut Historical Society in Hartford, CT: http://www.hartnet.org/~chs/ >Know whether it has ever been published? Yes: 1. NEHGR V (1851) Parsons, Samuel H., Esq., "Records of Windsor, CT; Marriages and Births" in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, V (Boston: NEHGS, 1851). 2. Stiles' History of Ancient Windsor (1892). Stiles used a *copy* of the original and serious flaws have been found in the copy he used - not copied accurately from the original <see below>. 3. The Memphis, TN Public Library: http://vax1.memphis.lib.tn.us/MARION/ABW-6097 has the following: Connecticut Historical Society. Some Early Records and Documents of and Relating to the Town of Windsor Connecticut 1639-1703 (Hartford: Connecticut Historical Society, 1930). Table of Contents: Matthew Grant Record, 1639-1681 1 Town Votes, 1641-1642 103 Freemen, 1669, 1703. 111 Church Controversy, 1669-1679 123 Ratable List, 1686 139 Appendix to Matthew Grant Record 193 Index 201 I only copied a very few pages. I did pick up a page or two with background on the Diary/record: <No page number on this particular page> "The documents here printed are among the earliest records of one of the three towns which united to form the Colony of Connecticut. That the most extended of these documents is a private record and that some of the others can hardly be designated as official records, does not lessen their interest or value. ... "All of these original documents have been in the possession of the Connecticut Historical Society for more than three-quarters of a century. "The data contained in the Matthew Grant record was printed in part in the 'New England Historic Genealogical Register' in 1851 and was incorporated by Henry R. Stiles, M.D., into his "History of Ancient Windsor,' the first edition of which was published in 1859. There is reason for believing that in compiling this work, Dr. Stiles did not compare the copy which he used with the original record, which has been used in the present printing, and the "printer's proof" of which has been twice read with the original manuscript. The whole record is now for the first time printed all together in its original form. ..." The on p. 4 - I don't have page 3: "Ellington, and brought his bride to the Birge Homestead, (then standing on the site of the late Roswell Miller House). After remaining there a short time they removed to Windsor Locks. About the year 1800 the Birge Homestead, then known as the Molly Birge House, was pulled down, and Oliver Ellsworth Jr. in searching among the ruins discovered this manuscript book. How came it in the Birge family? Presumably Peletiah's bridge Mary Grant of Ellington brought it to Windsor and left it at the Birge homestead, when she went to live at Pinemeadow, Windsor Locks. Fortunately the young man who found it was able to appreciate its value, and carried it to his father Chief Justice Ellsworth, who gave it to Pastor Rowland. At his death (1835) it passed into the hands of his son in law Timothy Sill, then to Col Loomis about 1840, where I found it and held it long enough to make a copy for myself, and this copy was made from mine. There is also an earlier copy made by one of the Rev. Mr. Rowlands sons, which has since come to light, and is now in the Town Clerks office in Windsor. The manuscript itself now consists of 48 leaves measuring about 6 X 7 3/4 inches. With the exception of two leaves of records now loose from the others, and some occasional scribbling by later hands it is almost entirely in the handwriting of Matthew Grant. ...." >And has anyone ever seen a copy of the will and inventory of Thomas Deble? I suspect there is a copy of it in: Manwaring, Charles William, comp., A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records, 3 volumes, Hartford District, 1700-1729 (Hartford: n. pub., 1904). The USGenWeb sites for Norwich and New London, CT <addresses listed after my sig.> have a volunteer willing to do limited look-ups in Manwaring. BTW, I happen to have one page of Thomas DEBLE and his descendants from the book with Matthew Grant Record. If you are interested I'll E-mail you a scan of it. I come down from John/1 DIBBLE of Springfield, MA and Stamford, CT. At one time I had hopes he was of Thomas DEBLE/DIBBLE. I haven't been able to connect them yet. --- Susan SGTAYLOR1@att.net My Genealogy Website - sgt http://home.att.net/~SGTAYLOR1/ ----------------------------------------------- USGenWeb Mansfield, CT http://home.att.net/~SGTAYLOR1/mansfield.html USGenWeb New London, CT http://home.att.net/~SGTAYLOR1/newlondon.html USGenWeb Norwich, CT http://home.att.net/~SGTAYLOR1/norwich.html USGenWeb Windham, CT http://home.att.net/~SGTAYLOR1/windham.html USGenWeb Plymouth, MA http://www.rootsweb.com/~macplymo/ -------- New England Genealogy Collections Outside of New England http://home.att.net/~SGTAYLOR1/NECollections.html WWW Genealogy Resource Links http://home.att.net/~SGTAYLOR1/webresources.html *********************************************************