Son of Beatrice and Thomas Winchell

Robert Winchell was in Dorchester, Massachusetts as early as 1634. He received land at
Dorchester in January 1635 and was made a freeman at the General Court of the Colony of
Massachusetts Bay, May 6, 1635. He moved to Windsor, Connecticut about 1635. Robert
Winchell and William Smarley bought land in Isle of Wight County, Virginia in 1639. He was on
the jury lists in Connecticut in 1644 and 1646. There were several land transactions involving
Robert Winchell in and around Windsor, Connecticut after 1640.

Robert Winchell left no written will, but on the night before he died Abraham Randall, Mary
Randall, and Walter Ffyler were instructed by him as to how the estate should be administered.
His will divided his estate between his three sons: Jonathan, Nathaniel, and David, and his
daughter, Mary. The inventory showed a value of nearly £62/0/0. David and Jonathan were to
divide whatever was left of the estate. Mary was already taken care of and Nathaniel was in his
debt. He instructed that Nathaniel's debt be canceled.

In the History of the First Baptist Church in Boston from 1665 to 1818, by Rev. James M.
Winchell, Boston, 1819, is an extract from Dorchester Town Records, Jan 4th, 1635: It is ordered
that the p'types here underwritten shall have lotts at the bounds betwixt Roxbury and Dorchester,
at the great hill betwixt the said bounds, and above the marsh as fol. not to inclose medowe.

In the list of twenty persons receiving from 16 to 30 acres is the name of Robert Winchill (from
publication of Dorchester Town Records, New England Historical & Genealogical Society, vol.
XXI, pp.41 and 335)

As Robert probably migrated to Windsor in 1635, he probably made no permanent settlement on
this land, and with his wife and two boys, he may have lived at Dorchester. Opposed to this is the
consideration that had he lived there his oldest two children would have been born there, of which
there is no known record.

Robert Wincall was made a freeman at the General Court of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay,
May 6, 1635.

It is surprising to find that Robert Winchell (with William Smarlley) bought land in Isle of Wight
Co. Virginia, from Anthony Jones, March 25th, 1639. There is, however, no evidence that he went
to Virginia, and it may be surmised that Smarley acted for both purchases. No Winchells are known
to have been in Virginia till about 200 years later.

Robert Wynchell was on the Jury in Conn., 1 Aug., 1644, and 30 June, 1646. (Records of the
General Court, Connecticut).

From the Town Records of old Windsor it appears that certain lands were assigned to Robert on
the first division of the public domain among the original immigrants. The following is a copy of
some of the original records entered by Matthew Grant, Dec 25th, 1640:

Robert Winchel hath granted from the plantation an home lot, with the additions to it, nine
acres, more or less, the breadth twelve rod, the length.....

.....from the meadow bounds to George Philips his land, bounded by Joshes Carter, north,
and Joseph Clark, south. Also in the meadow adjoining five acres and a half, more or less,
in breadth nine rods, the length from the upland down to the Great River, (the Connecticut)
bounded by Thomas Dibble, north, Joseph Clark, south.

.....toward Pine meadow fourteen acres and quarter, in breadth fourteen rods and quarter,
the length from the great river back to the east one hundred and sixty rod.

.....Robert Winchel hath exchanged with Thomas Dibble the lying of his meadow and now
stands bounded north by Samuel Gaylord, south by Anthony Hawking.

.....Thomas Dewey, legal attorney to Nicholas Canope and his wife Eady, formerly Eady
Filley.

.....Robert Winchel hath purchased of Thomas Dewey the house and land on which it
stands, which was formerly belonging to Eady Filley, being in quantity three quarter of an
acre, more or less, as it lies bounded by the land of Samuel Gaylord, north, of William
Hannum, south, Thomas Buckland, his meadow, eat and the highway, west.

.....Also in the great meadow, two acres, more or less, being in length from the home lots
down to the Great River.

.....Also hath purchases, the half of Thomas Buckland's meadow, five acres and a half, more
or less, in breadth ten rod, in length from the home lots to the great river. Bounded north
by Peter Tilton, south by a highway.

.....Also by exchange with William Hannum, his home lot, three quarters of an acre, more or
less in breadth five rod and six foot, in length from the highway down to the meadow
bounds, bounded by the land of said Robert which he purchased of Eady Filley, north and
the land of Joshua Carter, dec'd, south.

The home lot of Robert Winchell was located toward the north end of Windsor Main Street, north
of the Farmington River, on the south east corner of Main Street and the Bissell's Ferry Road
which leads to the ferry over the Connecticut River. (Stiles' History of Ancient Windsor.) A neat
wooden framed dwelling occupied the site of the ancient homestead, owned by Mr. Cushing in
1867.

Under date of Feb 29th, 1659, Matthew Frant records another transaction in real estate by which
Robert acquired 3 1/2 acres. He made still another acquisition of 8 acres, 25 Oct, 1660. On the 30
Nov., 1663, Robert entered into an agreement to maintain a fence between his land and that of
Joseph Clarke.

The whole amount of land acquired by Robert was at least 48 or 50 acres. He seems to have
borrowed money of one Abigail Alcott, of Hartford, to the amount of forty-two pounds, three
shillings and one penny. for the payment of the said sum, says the record of the mortgage, I am to
have three years time, beginning on the second day of April, 1667, and end the second of April,
1670, which said three years I am to pay yearly rent after eight pounds pr. 100 in wheat and peas,
at the price current; and for her more certain security he mortgaged two parcels of land. But he
died in 1668.

Jan. 18th, 1660, Robert was enumerated among the householders of Windsor, and was rated 6s for
a seat in the church for himself and wife.

Robert's will is dated 1668, and bequeathed his estate to his three sons, Nathanael, Jonathan and
David, and his daughter Mary. The inventory showed an estate valued at nearly 62 pounds, or
$310, no small sum for early colonial days. His will was not written, but the following certificate,
dated 20 Jan., 1668, was probated three days later.

Winchell, Robert. Invt. J61-17-01. Taken 23 January, 1667-8, by Deacon Moore, Capt. Newbery,
John Loomis & Matthew Grant. Will Nuncupative, dated 20 January, 1667/8.

We the Underwritten doe witness that, being with Robert Winchell that night in which he
died, desired us to take notice that if he lived not till the next morning, and so could not have it
written, that this was his Will: That before anything was meddled with all his Debts should be payd,
and that his two sons Jonathan and David should have ye Lands that is on the North west of the
Highway, this being all the Lands he had left, only Jonathan should have the North side and David
the South Side. Sister Randall says, What shall yr daughter have? He answered, I have done for
her already. And for my eldest son, he is in my Debt; I acquitt him that, yet let them have
something. And sayd also, I desire yt you two and Brother Phelps would be my Overseers. To this
we set our Hands.

Memorandum: He expressed yt wt was left of his Estate besides his Debts his 2 sons
Jonathan and David should have.
Signed: Abraham Randall,
Mary X Randall, Walter ffyler.

Court Record, Page 74-5 March, 1667-8: Invt. Exhibited. Adms. to Jonathan & David
Winchell. He had an older son & a daughter.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Winchell, Newton H. and Alexander N., The Winchell Genealogy, 2nd Edition, Minneapolis: Horace
V. Winchell, 1917.

Bio wrote by
Richard Welch
----
Robert Winchell had no middle name of "Rowan." Although in some vital records the clerk wrote "Robard" by phonics his name was Robert. His probate record Windsor Probate File #6140 gives Robert Winchell. Great Migration Vol VII p. 454ff gives his name as only Robert.

Contributor: Scott Gitchell (47836412)