SIMON HUNTINGTON (1629-1706)
The fourth child born to Margaret and Simon Huntington, Simon Jr’s baptism was recorded in St. Simon & St. Jude Parish Register, Norwich, Norfolk, England on July 6, 1629. Thus, he was about four years of age when he and his family came to Boston in 1633. Like his siblings Christopher, Thomas, and Ann he spent his youth with his mother and step-father, Thomas Stoughton, in the pioneer settlement of Windsor, CT on the mighty Connecticut River.
Simon seems to have possessed the spirit, smarts, and fortitude like his older brother Christopher. He first appears in the records at Saybrook in October 1653 when he married Sarah Clarke, the daughter of John Clarke, of Saybrook, (and later of Milford). Like many second generation New Englanders, they had a large family of ten children most of whom survived into adulthood. Sarah would live to be eighty-eight proof of her strength and general health. Most people of that time did not make it to seventy.
In 1660 Simon and Christopher were part of a handful of first proprietors of a new proposed settlement of what would be named Norwich–probably a nod to their family origin. Simon’s home lot was in a central and commanding position on the green, and the records show him to have been a large land-holder, and early trader. His probate inventory includes cooper’s tools indicating his need for tight shipping containers.
Soon after the removal to Norwich, he was chosen to be a deacon of Mr. Fitch's church, where he faithfully served in that important role until he was succeeded by his son, Simon III, in 1696.
In 1674 he, and Thomas Leffingwell, represented Norwich in Connecticut's general court, Simon was elected again in 1685.
In 1686 the town granted Simon, and his sons, thirty acres of pasture, “westward of Goodman Sluman.”
In 1690, and again in 1696, Simon was elected “townsman.” In 1694 he was appointed to a committee to treat with Mr. Jabez Fitch, with respect to his helping and succeeding his father in the work of the ministry. In the same year he was also on a committee to “search out and report on the deficiencies in the records.”
In 1697 he was on the committee to seat the meetinghouse. In 1700 he was appointed on a commission to “deed anew, lands about whose titles disputes had arisen, or would be likely to arise.” Thus, he was trusted by his fellow townsmen.
On April 27, 1703 he and his son Simon deeded away thirty acres of pasture land, west of the great plains, to John Gifford.
The following record is copied from the Windham Probate Records.
To all Christian people to whom these presents may come: Know ye that I, Simon Huntington, sen., of Norwich, in the county of New London, in the colony of Connecticut, in New-England, have of my free will, given, granted, unto my son Joseph Huntington, of the same town, county and colony aforesaid, and do by these presents, give, grant, alienate and pass over my whole right, title, interest in and unto our thousand acre interest, or one allotment, in the new plantation, above Norwich, that was willed by Joshua, Sachem, son of Uncas. I, the aforesaid Simon Huntington, have freely and absolutely given, alienated and passed over unto the aforesaid Joseph Huntington, my whole allotment, situated and being in the southeast quarter of the aforesaid plantation above Norwich.
March 2, 1691. Deed acknowledged Jan. 24, 1692.
Before JAMES FITCH, Assistant.
Deacon Simon Huntington died in Norwich, June 28, 1706, aged 87 years; Sarah, his wife, died in Milford, in 1721, aged 88 years. His gravestone is one of the oldest ones in the Norwichtown Ancient Burying Ground.
CHILDREN
FIRST THREE BORN IN SAYBROOK, CT., ALL OF
THE OTHERS IN NORWICH TOWN, CT
SARAH, born in August, 1654.
MARY, born in August, 1657, and married a Forbes of Preston.
SIMON, born February 6, 1659.
JOSEPH, born September, 1661.
ELIZABETH, born February, 1664, and died in infancy.
SAMUEL, born March 1, 1665.
ELIZABETH, born October 6, 1669.
NATHANIEL, born July 10, 1672, and died young.
DANIEL, born March 13, 1675-6.
JAMES, born May 18, 1680.
Last Updated: December 2025
Click images to enlarge
Gravestone of Simon Huntington II (1629-1706). Norwichtown Ancient Burying Ground. One of the oldest stones in the cemetery.
Gravestone of Sarah Clarke Huntington (1633-1721)