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| Belle Way |
Belle Champlin's ancestors came to the New World in the early 1600's. They emigrated from Massachusetts and Rhode Island to Connecticut and western New York then on to the Michigan Territory.
Descendants of Geoffrey Champlin
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| Bideford, Devon |
Generation 1
Geoffrey Champlin was born abt. 1621 in Bideford, Devonshire, England. He died 1688-1695 at Westerly, Rhode Island. He is believed buried in the Westerly Historical Cemetery #3. He married Eulalia Garde, daughter of John Garde and Rebecca Copp. They had 3 sons. He may also have married second, Charlotte Garde.
Generation 2
Generation 3
John Champlin, son of Christopher Champlin and his first wife, was born at Westerly, Rhode Island in 1686. He died abt. 1746 at Lyme, New London, Connecticut. He married Elizabeth Raymond, daughter of Joshua Raymond and Mercy Sands. She was born 18 November 1687 at Block Island, Rhode Island. She died 1766 at Lyme. They had 8 children.
Generation 4
Edward Champlin, son of John Champlin and Elizabeth Raymond, was born abt. 1720 at Lyme, Connecticut and died there 23 January 1809. He married on 9 December 1742 to Elizabeth Latham, daughter of Joseph Latham and Patience Seabury. She was born 25 November 1726 in Groton, New London, Connecticut and died 17 December 1783 in East Lyme, Connecticut. They had 12 children.
Generation 5
John Champlin, son of Edward Champlin and Elizabeth Latham, was born 28 September 1768 at Lyme, New London, Connecticut. He died aft. 1850. He married Ann Ray. She was born abt. 1768. They had 6 children.
Generation 6
Erastus Champlin, son of John Champlin and Ann Ray, was born October 1803 at Saybrook, Connecticut. He died in Michigan. He married Margaret Keller, daughter of Henry Keller and Elizabeth, last name unknown. She was born abt. 1806 in New York. They had 8 children.
Generation 7
Henry Charles Champlin was born 6 August 1843 at Parma, Jackson, Michigan, son of Erastus Champlin and Margaret Keller. He died 26 October 1883 at Jackson, Michigan. He married on 10 April 1872 to Ida Belle Myers, daughter of Alexander Myers and Hester Ann Bailey. She was born 1 February 1853 in Jackson, Michigan. She died 21 November 1906. They had 2 children.
Generation 8
Birdie Belle Champlin, daughter of Henry Charles Champlin and Ida Belle Myers, was born February 1874 in Michigan. She married John O'Halloran. She married second, Lewis Way, son of Hiram Lewis Way and Mariah Tripp. He was born 9 January 1873 in Jefferson, Hillsdale, Michigan. They had 2 children.
Geoffrey Champlin @ Pocasset
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| Narrangasett Bay, 1777 |
Geoffrey (Jeffrey) Champlin is the 5th great-grandfather of Belle Champlin (Jeffrey Champlin, Christopher Champlin, John Champlin, Edward Champlin, John Champlin, Erastus Champlin, Henry Champlin, Belle Champlin).
The Champlin family in the United States is of Norman-French origin, rather than English, it is supposed.
-Genealogical and family history of
the state of Maine, Vol. 3, Sweetser, Stubbs
Jeffrey Champlin, the immigrant and progenitor of the Champlin name in America Devonshire, England. Westerly
There are reports that Jeffrey may have been in Boston as early as 1627.
In early 1637, he was among Hutchison and Coddington's company of religious dissidents.
Coddington purchased the island of Aquidneck (Rhode Island) from the Indians and the group founded Pocasset (Portsmouth) on the north end of that island in April 1638. The following, taken from the records of that colony, show that Jeffrey was likely there from the very beginning:
"On the 28th of the 2nd month 1639 Upon the complainte of Jeffrey Champlin in the behalfe of a debt due to William Cowly and himselfe from Mr. Aspinwall, warrent was granted forth, for the attachment of his shallopp till both that debt and other actions of the case be satisfied and discharged by him".
Geoffrey Champlin @ Newport
Jeffrey Champlin was registered as an inhabitant of Newport on November 24, 1639, was made a Freeman there on September 14, 1640 and granted 10 acres of land. That same year, the Pocasset and Newport settlements united upon the libertarian rules of Pocasset and William Coddington was made the Colony's first governor. Jeffrey Champlin also appears on the roll of Freemen in 1641 and 1655.
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| Newport, 1777 |
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| Newport, 1878 |
In the "Colonial and Land Records" the following account of Jeffrey's acquisition of land is given:
"Whereas, according to certain orders, made for the Establishing and giving Assurance of the Land, Be it known, Therefore that Geoffrey Champlin and Richard Sarle, having exhibited their acquaintances, under the Treasurer's hand, of Newport, wherein appears fully satisfaction to be given, for the number of twenty Acres of Land, Lying within the precincts of such bounds as the Committee, by Order appointed, did bound it withal, together with ten acres apiece given and granted to them gratis, by the Towne, for and in consideration of Service done by them, which number, together with the former, amounting to Forty acres, is thus laid forth. Four acres apiece for homelots, lying in the Towne, and six acres apiece, lying next to William Cowly's land and adjoined upon Thomas Hazard's land, a highway passing there-through, with half a Cow's hay in harbour Marsh lying at the first Entrance, and three acres of Marsh, lying at Sachnet, next the falls, Mr. Smith's Marsh, lying on the South East side thereof, with, another parcel of Sixteen acres, more less, lying....." (remainder of entry missing - possibly burned).
Soon after the granting of this land in 1640, Jeffrey bought out the portions belonging to Richard Searle and William Cowley and sold both to Henry Bull:
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| Newport today |
"Memorandum that Geoffrey Champlin of Newport, having bought and purchased of Wm Cowley and Richard Sarle their pts and ptions of land in that feeld that lay between ye Land granted to Thomas Hazard and Edward Robinson at ye South end of ye Towne, and ye sdGeoffrey had made over and soald unto Henry Bull of ye saide Towne, for a valowable consideration given and received, whereon ye sd Geoffrey doth disclaime all interest in ye sd Land and doth acknowledge full propriety to belong to Henry Bull, his heires, executors, administrators and assignes to ye world's end". This transfer took place late in 1644.
Jeffrey purchased twenty acres located on the east side of Robert Griffin's property from Adam Mott, Sr. in 1646. He sold ten acres "adjoining his house lot" (Newport) to William Brenton of Boston in 1657.
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| Old Newport
He was a witness to the sale of some property by Roger Williams to Richard Smith:
Newport the 3d of ye 7th month Soe called 1651
This writeing testifieth that I, Rog'r Williams of Providence, for and in Consideration of fifty pounds already received have Sould and Demised unto mr. Rich'd Smith of portsmouth on Road Island, his heires & assignes for ever, my tradeing house at Narragansett, together with two Iron Guns or murderers, there Lyeing as alsoe my fields & fenceing aboute the s'd House, is alsoe the use of the litle Lisland for goates which the old Sachem, deceased, Lent mee for that use, for confirmation of all which I Sett my hand & Seale ye daye and yeare aforesaid.
Signatures: Roger Williams &; a seale, in the presence of Thomas Newton, Jeffere Champlain,John Roome, William Holmes
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| Roger Williams Roger Williams founded the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. He became governor of Rhode Island in 1654. |
Champlin Property @ Newport
Geoffrey Champlin's move from Pocasset to Newport is documented:
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| Colonial Families of the United States of America, Vol. VII |
Geoffrey Champlin was associated with another Governor of Rhode Island, Henry Bull.
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| Henry Bull house, 1880 |
Jeffrey Champlin sold property to Henry Bull who was a Quaker leader and one of the original settlers of Portsmouth and Newport. Bull became governor of Rhode Island in 1685. The original Newport jail may have been part of the house, which was destroyed by fire in 1912.
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| Henry Bull house on former Champlin lot |
Henry Bull was first in Massachusetts Bay Colony in Roxbury. He became a follower of Hutchinson, signing the Portsmouth Compact. He and others settled Newport.
Jeffrey Champlin's home lot in Newport occupied the block along the south side of Mary Street, from Spring Street west to Water Street and the waterfront.
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| Geoffrey Champlin property |
His wharf is adjacent to the wharf of Henry Bull.
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| Geoffrey Champlin's wharf and land |
Today, the Champlin property is bisected by America's Cup Avenue.
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| Champlin property today |
Geoffrey Champlin's first wife may have been Charlotte Garde, the sister of his second wife (Eulalia Garde). Geoffrey's three sons were born in Newport.
Goeffrey Champlin @ Westerly
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| Regional map of Westerly, RI |
In 1661, Geoffrey Champlin removed to the region of Misquamicut along the Pawcatuck River (in the western part of what is modern day Rhode Island) with another group of dissatisfied settlers comprising 24 other families. There, they founded the town of Westerly - Jeffrey signing a document which purchased Misquamicut from Chief Socoa in 1661. About 75 people signed this document but only a few actually removed to what was to become Westerly. He took the oath of allegiance to Rhode island on May 17, 1671 and three days later he was fined 20 shillings for refusing jury duty.
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| Westerly, Rhode Island |
Geoffrey was elected to the Westerly Town Council in 1680 and was Moderator of the Westerly Town Meetings from 1680-1684. He was Deputy in the Rhode Island Assembly from 1681-1686. In 1685, Geoffrey was assigned to survey highways.
By 1669, Geoffrey had sold all of his properties in Newport - the last seeming to be a 40 acre tract (which included his home lot and dwelling) that was purchased by Walter Clarke. In the deed of transfer, Jeffrey was called a shoemaker.
In 1675-76, during King Phillip's War, Geoffrey sought refuge in Newport, returning to Westerly after the defeat of the Pequots in 1677.
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| Pawcatuck River through Westerly to the sea |
Rhode Island Historical Cemetery #3
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| Champlin - Wilcox Lot, RI Historical Cemetery #3, Westerly |
In 1695, his son Geoffrey's son refers to his father in a document confirming a deed:
"Know all men by these presents that I, Geoffrey Champlin of Kingstown do own and acknowledge that my brother William Champlin and Brother Christopher Champlin have full power to dispose of that house and hundred akers of land which was my dissesed father's - - which Lyes in westerle for acknowledgement hereunto I have set my hand in the yeare 1695, December ye 6th".
Christopher Champlin @ Westerly
Christopher Champlin is the 4th great-grandfather of Belle Champlin (Christopher Champlin, John Champlin, Edward Champlin, John Champlin, Erastus Champlin, Henry Charles Champlin, Birdie Belle Champlin).
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| Size of Champlin farm, 2000 ac. |
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| Location of Champlin farm |
On 17 October 1679, Christopher Champlin was admitted a freeman of Westerly. In 1693, he was elected to the Westerly Town Council. In 1698, he was appointed Constable. In 1706, he was elected to the Rhode Island General Assembly. In 1707, he was elected a Deputy representing Westerly.
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| Production of Champlin farm |
On February 11, 1711, he deeded to his son, Christopher, a 150 acre farm which was originally purchased from the sachem Ninecroft. The inventory of his Will included 189.04.10 (pounds. shillings. pence) cash money, a mare, a horse, desperate debt of 106 pounds and an "old negro woman worth nothing". Son Christopher was named Administrator of the estate.
John Alden @ Duxbury
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| Drawing of John Alden |
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| The Mayflower |
John Alden was born abt. 1598. He died 22 September 1687 at Duxbury, Plymouth, Massachusetts. He married about 1623 at Plymouth Colony to Priscilla Mullins, daughter of William Mullins and Alice, last name unknown. They had 10 children.
John Alden appears to have originated from an Alden family residing in Harwich, Essex, England, that was related by marriage to the Mayflower's master Christopher Jones. He was about 21 years old when he was hired to be the cooper, or barrel-maker, for the Mayflower's voyage to America. He was given the option to stay in America, or return to England; he decided to stay.
At Plymouth, he quickly rose up from his common seaman status to a prominent member of the Colony. About 1622 or 1623, he married Priscilla, the orphaned daughter of William and Alice Mullins. They had their first child, Elizabeth, around 1624, and would have nine more children over the next twenty years. John Alden was one of the earliest freemen in the Colony, and was elected an assistant to the governor and Plymouth Court as early as 1631, and was regularly re-elected throughout the 1630s. He also became involved in administering the trading activities of the Colony on the Kennebec River, and in 1634 witnessed a trading dispute escalate into a double-killing, as Moses Talbot of Plymouth Colony was shot at point-blank range by trespasser John Hocking, who was then shot and killed when other Plymouth men returned fire. John Alden was held in custody by the neighboring Massachusetts Bay Colony for a few days while the two colonies debated who had jurisdiction to investigate the murders. Myles Standish eventually came to the Bay Colony to provide Plymouth's answer in the matter.
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| John Alden house |
Alden, and several other families, including the Standish family, founded the town of Duxbury in the 1630s and took up residence there. Alden served as Duxbury's deputy to the Plymouth Court throughout the 1640s, and served on several committees, including the Committee on Kennebec Trade, and sat on several Councils of War. He also served as colony treasurer. In the 1650s, he build this house in Duxbury (shown left; click post title for virtual tour). By the 1660s, Alden's frequent public service, combined with his large family of wife and ten children, began to cause his estate to languish, so the Plymouth Court provided him a number of land grants and cash grants to better provide for his family. Throughout the 1670s, Alden began distributing his land holdings to his surviving sons. He died in 1687 at the age of 89, one of the last surviving Mayflower passengers.
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| Headstone for John Alden |
Priscilla Mullins @ Plymouth
Priscilla Mullins is the 6th great-grandmother of Belle Champlin (Priscilla Mullins, David Alden, Elizabeth Alden, Patience Seabury, Elizabeth Latham, John Champlin, Erastus Champlin, Henry Charles Champlin, Birdie Belle Champlin).
Priscilla Mullins was born abt. 1602 in Dorking, Surrey, England. She died after 1650 at Duxbury, Plymouth, Massachusetts. She married abt. 1623 at Plymouth Colony to John Alden. They had 10 children.
Priscilla Mullins was born abt. 1602 in Dorking, Surrey, England. She died after 1650 at Duxbury, Plymouth, Massachusetts. She married abt. 1623 at Plymouth Colony to John Alden. They had 10 children.
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| The Mayflower Priscilla Mullins was a passenger aboard the Mayflower. THE COURTSHIP OF MYLES STANDISH Into the open air John Alden, perplexed and bewildered, Rushed like a man insane, and wandered alone by the sea-side; Paced up and down the sands, and bared his head to the east-wind, Cooling his heated brow, and the fire and fever within him. Slowly as out of the heavens, with apocalyptical splendors, Sank the City of God, in the vision of John the Apostle, So, with its cloudy walls of chrysolite, jasper, and sapphire, Sank the broad red sun, and over its turrets uplifted Glimmered the golden reed of the angel who measured the city. "Welcome, O wind of the East!" he exclaimed in his wild exultation, "Welcome, O wind of the East, from the caves of the misty Atlantic! Blowing o'er fields of dulse, and measureless meadows of sea-grass, Blowing o'er rocky wastes, and the grottos and gardens of ocean! Lay thy cold, moist hand on my burning forehead, and wrap me Close in thy garments of mist, to allay the fever within me!" Like an awakened conscience, the sea was moaning and tossing, Beating remorseful and loud the mutable sands of the sea-shore. Fierce in his soul was the struggle and tumult of passions contending; Love triumphant and crowned, and friendship wounded and bleeding, Passionate cries of desire, and importunate pleadings of duty! "Is it my fault," he said, "that the maiden has chosen between us? Is it my fault that he failed,--my fault that I am the victor?" Then within him there thundered a voice, like the voice of the Prophet: "It hath displeased the Lord!"--and he thought of David's transgression, Bathsheba's beautiful face, and his friend in the front of the battle! Shame and confusion of guilt, and abasement and self-condemnation, Overwhelmed him at once; and he cried in the deepest contrition: "It hath displeased the Lord! It is the temptation of Satan!" Then, uplifting his head, he looked at the sea, and beheld there Dimly the shadowy form of the Mayflower riding at anchor, Rocked on the rising tide, and ready to sail on the morrow; Heard the voices of men through the mist, the rattle of cordage Thrown on the deck, the shouts of the mate, and the sailors' "Ay, ay, Sir!" Clear and distinct, but not loud, in the dripping air of the twilight. Still for a moment he stood, and listened, and stared at the vessel, Then went hurriedly on, as one who, seeing a phantom, Stops, then quickens his pace, and follows the beckoning shadow. "Yes, it is plain to me now," he murmured; "the hand of the Lord is Leading me out of the land of darkness, the bondage of error, Through the sea, that shall lift the walls of its waters around me, Hiding me, cutting me off, from the cruel thoughts that pursue me. Back will I go o'er the ocean, this dreary land will abandon, Her whom I may not love, and him whom my heart has offended. Better to be in my grave in the green old churchyard in England, Close by my mother's side, and among the dust of my kindred; Better be dead and forgotten, than living in shame and dishonor! Sacred and safe and unseen, in the dark of the narrow chamber With me my secret shall lie, like a buried jewel that glimmers Bright on the hand that is dust, in the chambers of silence and darkness,-- Yes, as the marriage ring of the great espousal hereafter!" Thus as he spake, he turned, in the strength of his strong resolution, Leaving behind him the shore, and hurried along in the twilight, Through the congenial gloom of the forest silent and sombre, Till he beheld the lights in the seven houses of Plymouth, Shining like seven stars in the dusk and mist of the evening. Soon he entered his door, and found the redoubtable Captain Sitting alone, and absorbed in the martial pages of Caesar, Fighting some great campaign in Hainault or Brabant or Flanders. "Long have you been on your errand," he said with a cheery demeanor, Even as one who is waiting an answer, and fears not the issue. "Not far off is the house, although the woods are between us; But you have lingered so long, that while you were going and coming I have fought ten battles and sacked and demolished a city. Come, sit down, and in order relate to me all that has happened." Then John Alden spake, and related the wondrous adventure, From beginning to end, minutely, just as it happened; How he had seen Priscilla, and how he had sped in his courtship, Only smoothing a little, and softening down her refusal. But when he came at length to the words Priscilla had spoken, Words so tender and cruel: "Why don't you speak for yourself, John?" Up leaped the Captain of Plymouth, and stamped on the floor, till his armor Clanged on the wall, where it hung, with a sound of sinister omen. All his pent-up wrath burst forth in a sudden explosion, E?en as a hand-grenade, that scatters destruction around it. Wildly he shouted, and loud: "John Alden! you have betrayed me! Me, Miles Standish, your friend! have supplanted, defrauded, betrayed me! One of my ancestors ran his sword through the heart of Wat Tyler; Who shall prevent me from running my own through the heart of a traitor? Yours is the greater treason, for yours is a treason to friendship! You, who lived under my roof, whom I cherished and loved as a brother; You, who have fed at my board, and drunk at my cup, to whose keeping I have intrusted my honor, my thoughts the most sacred and secret,-- You too, Brutus! ah woe to the name of friendship hereafter! Brutus was Caesar's friend, and you were mine, but henceforward Let there be nothing between us save war, and implacable hatred!" So spake the Captain of Plymouth, and strode about in the chamber, Chafing and choking with rage; like cords were the veins on his temples. But in the midst of his anger a man appeared at the doorway, Bringing in uttermost haste a message of urgent importance, Rumors of danger and war and hostile incursions of Indians Straightway the Captain paused, and, without further question or parley, Took from the nail on the wall his sword with its scabbard of iron, Buckled the belt round his waist, and, frowning fiercely, departed. Alden was left alone. He heard the clank of the scabbard Growing fainter and fainter, and dying away in the distance. Then he arose from his seat, and looked forth into the darkness, Felt the cool air blow on his cheek, that was hot with the insult, Lifted his eyes to the heavens, and, folding his hands as in childhood, Prayed in the silence of night to the Father who seeth in secret. Meanwhile the choleric Captain strode wrathful away to the council, Found it already assembled, impatiently waiting his coming; Men in the middle of life, austere and grave in deportment, Only one of them old, the hill that was nearest to heaven, Covered with snow, but erect, the excellent Elder of Plymouth. God had sifted three kingdoms to find the wheat for this planting, Then had sifted the wheat, as the living seed of a nation; So say the chronicles old, and such is the faith of the people! Near them was standing an Indian, in attitude stern and defiant, Naked down to the waist, and grim and ferocious in aspect; While on the table before them was lying unopened a Bible, Ponderous, bound in leather, brass-studded, printed in Holland, And beside it outstretched the skin of a rattle-snake glittered, Filled, like a quiver, with arrows; a signal and challenge of warfare, Brought by the Indian, and speaking with arrowy tongues of defiance. This Miles Standish beheld, as he entered, and heard them debating What were an answer befitting the hostile message and menace, Talking of this and of that, contriving, suggesting, objecting; One voice only for peace, and that the voice of the Elder, Judging it wise and well that some at least were converted, Rather than any were slain, for this was but Christian behavior! Then out spake Miles Standish, the stalwart Captain of Plymouth, Muttering deep in his throat, for his voice was husky with anger, "What! do you mean to make war with milk and the water of roses? Is it to shoot red squirrels you have your howitzer planted There on the roof of the church, or is it to shoot red devils? Truly the only tongue that is understood by a savage Must be the tongue of fire that speaks from the mouth of the cannon!" Thereupon answered and said the excellent Elder of Plymouth, Somewhat amazed and alarmed at this irreverent language: "Not so thought Saint Paul, nor yet the other Apostles; Not from the cannon's mouth were the tongues of fire they spake with!" But unheeded fell this mild rebuke on the Captain, Who had advanced to the table, and thus continued discoursing: "Leave this matter to me, for to me by right it pertaineth. War is a terrible trade; but in the cause that is righteous, Sweet is the smell of powder; and thus I answer the challenge!" Then from the rattlesnake's skin, with a sudden, contemptuous gesture, Jerking the Indian arrows, he filled it with powder and bullets Full to the very jaws, and handed it back to the savage, Saying, in thundering tones: "Here, take it! this is your answer!" Silently out of the room then glided the glistening savage, Bearing the serpent's skin, and seeming himself like a serpent, Winding his sinuous way in the dark to the depths of the forest. -Longfellow |
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| Priscilla and John Alden |
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