Posted on: Hancock Co. Il Bios Forum Board URL: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Il/HancockBios?read=11 Surname: Beech, Bradley, Cooper, Dickerman, Landon, Langley, Morris, Munson, Stiles, Whittacer ------------------------- My Ancestors Arthur Munson In 1634 the first Munson in America, Thomas Munson born in England in 1612, arrived in this Country on the sailing vessel "Elizabeth". In 1636 he helped lay out the city of Hartford, Connecticut and was the city's first townsman. Being a Carpenter, he helped erect many of Hartford's first buildings. Since he was active in public as well as religious affairs, he was placed in command of a company of soldiers in the Pequot War. He was a member of Mason's regiment of ninety men which surprised the fort of the Pequots near the present site of Stonington, Conn., at daybreak on June 5, 1637. The Pequots were nearly annihilated and the settlers had peace with the remnants of the tribe for nearly forty years. Thomas Munson died May 17, 1685. Samuel Munson, christened in First Church at New Haven, June 7, 1643, was the son of Thomas Munson. He married Alice Bradley on October 20, 1665. He plied his trade of tanning and shoemaking for several years in New Haven. In 1686, the first charter was granted to New Haven by Governor Dougan, governor of the colonies, and under this charter Samuel Munson became the first recorder of the city. He also served as the mayor of Albany from 1696 to 1698. He died in the spring of 1699. John Munson, son of Samuel Munson, was born January 28, 1672. On November 10, 1692, he was united in marriage to Sarah Cooper, daughter of Sergeant John Cooper. John Munson was a miller and was very active in public affairs. Joel, son of John Munson, was born in New Haven, Connecticut, on August 18, 1702. On May 9, 1727, he married Mary Morris, daughter of Joseph Morris. Joel Munson plied his trade of miller at Mt. Carmel, (New Haven) Conn. Basil, son of Joel and Mary Morris Munson, was born in New Haven in 1730. On May 2, 1751, he married Wezia Stiles, daughter of Reverend Isaac Stiles. He operated a saw mill and later exported furs. He shipped as many as five hundred beaver skins in one year. For several years he was active in Indian and public affairs at Albany, New York. He died on November 17, 1803. Job L. Munson, son of Basil and Wezia Stiles Munson, was born in New England on September 26, 1752. He married Lucy Beech of Hamden, Vermont. He was a miller and a Protestant. He was killed by an Indian on June 10, 1828. Ebenezer B. Munson, son of Job and Lucy Beech Munson, was born in Vermont, September 14, 1777. He married Rebecca Dickerman of Hamden, Vt. He was a farmer and was a Protestant. Jerry Munson, son of Ebenezer and Rebecca Munson, and born in Hamden, Vt., on April 18, 1800, was a farmer and a pump maker. He was a Protestant. He married Abigail Whittacer, daughter of Dr. Whittacer. In 1821, he settled in Canada. After making a journey to Hancock county, Ill., in 1832, he and his family settled on a farm near Oak Grove, Hancock county, Illinois in 1848. John Munson, born in Canada in 1832, was the son of Jerry and Abigail Munson. He was a stock raiser and owned a farm near Oak Grove, Ill. He was a Methodist and a Democrat. He married Lucinda Langley, a cousin of John Greenleaf Whittier. Marion A. Munson, seventh son of John and Lucinda Munson, was born near Carthage, Illinois, October 26, 1871. He is a general contractor. He is a Protestant and a Democrat. In December, 1904, he married Bernice Landon, of near Burnside, Ill. To this union were born eight children besides myself, Blanche, Beulah, Francis, Agnes, Marion, Dorothy, Leon and Weldon. Today the Munson family is scattered over the United States and Canada but a majority of them live in the New England states. ----------------------- The Carthage Republican Carthage, Illinois Wednesday March 8, 1933 Page 7 Column 2 ----------------------- Note: I can find no proof that Lucinda Langley is the cousin of John Greenleaf Whittier (the poet). Link: Bryant Genealogy URL: <http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=bryant>