Isaac OVERTON

Notes:

Avin R. L. Smith comments: 'The earliest records of the Overton family in Southold are very incomplete and confusing, especially as to the connecting family links and the dates of births and deaths. As found in Mather's 'Refugees from Long Island,' it had been conjectured that Isaac the Giant was probably the son of either John or Thomas, the prevailing opinion as the son of John. It has been known down through the generations that David, born about 1712, was the son of Isaac II the Giant. If Isaac I was married about 1670 as stated by Mather and stretching time to its limits, it would be impossible within reason to reach a fourth generation by presuming David as a great-grandson of Isaac I. Therefore, David would be the grandson of Isaac I, and as David's father was known to be Isaac the Giant, this would eliminate both John and Thomas as the father of Isaac II the Giant.''According to Moore's Index, he died 4 or 7 Nov 1723, age 40-1/2 years. Salmon's Records say Isaac Overton died 4 Mar 1740, and, in Griffin's Journal, it is stated that he died in 1744, aged 60. This is no doubt an error, although it would verify the date of his birth as being about 1683. According to Epher Whittaker in his history of Southold, Griffin had not been too accurate and was a little imaginative when he wrote his journal in his older years, being in his 90's. Moore and Salmon had done considerable research from original records where Grifin wrote mostly from heresay. The date of death as 1723, 1740 or 1744 is still a question as to which one could be right.'Account in 'Griffin's Journal' by Augustus Griffin, 1857:'Isaac Overton was distinguished for his great physical strength. He was much known in this country, and through this then colony, from 1725 to 1744 at which last date his great-grandson, Mr. Jonathan Overton was quoted as saying he died, aged near sixty. As a man, he was mild, well disposed, and respected. Very many amusing stories of his feats of strength are told of him. The following was told by Jaded Griffin, had from his father, Samuel Griffin, who was a neighbor of Mr. Overton and an eye witness to the fact.The incident took place, at the house of Mr. Robert Griffin, who at the time (1725) kept an inn at Southold. At or near the date noticed, an athletic bull or boxer, as he styled himself, came to Boston, from England. He gave out that he had never met his equal for strength or one that he could not easily whip. Hearing of Overton's powers, he immediately repaired to Southold, to show Overton a 'thing or two,' as he said on arriving at Mr. Griffin's. After partaking of refreshments, he requested Mr. Griffin to send his boy after Mr. Overton. Mr. Griffin did so, but told the stranger that Overton was of retiring habits and rather bashful and would not notice nor pay any attention to testing his strength in wrestling or other sports, which he viewed degrading. Not knowing for what intent he was sent, Mr. Overton came with the boy. On being introduced to the stranger and learning of his errand, he utterly refused to have anything to do with him. Mr. Overton, the stranger soon learned, was fond of flip, a beverage in those days made of beer, spirits, and sugar. He was liberally supplied with this stimulus, yet not till a blow with the flat of the hand from the stranger could he be aroused to defend himself. Then with the quickness of thought, he seized the bully by the seat of the trousers, and the collar of his coat, with his arms at full length, he held him as high as his chin, then walking around the room, crying at the top of his voice, 'Mr. Griffin, what shall I do with him? Mr. Griffin, what shall I do with him?' And amidst the contortions, and writhings of the stranger, who was held as in a vise, and the roars of laughter of those present, let him fall heavily upon the floor. The stranger did not trouble Mr. Overton again. On another occasion, he lifted and put on a wheel of a loaded cart, which wheel had come off by reason of a loss of a linch pin. He also shouldered a cannon in New York, which four men ordinarily could not easily handle. There is not any doubt, but Isaac Overton was one of the most powerful men, as to the bodily strength, this country has ever known.Many tales are told of the 'Giant's' strength. At a town meeting, he offered to lie on his back and allow any six men to hold him down by his hands and feet. When all were ready, the Giant gave one spring and brushed them off like so many flies. He was of so great stature that a large iron bed had been provided for him. Shortly before his death, he was involved in a discussion with a man of ordinary size. It was at meal time. The man spat upon the Giant's plate. He was enraged at the insult and, reaching across the table, picked up his opponent and threw him out of the window with such force that the frame was broken. A short time after this, the Giant suddenly died. It was supposed that he had been poisoned by the man whom he threw out of the window. In his death struggle, he grasped the top posts of his iron bed and crushed or broke them in pieces, saying 'I've been a strong man, but death is stronger than I.''
Died 4 or 7 Nov 1723, age 40 1/2 years

Isaac married Abigail MOORE. Abigail (daughter of Nathaniel MOORE and Sarah VAIL) was born 1676; died 4 Nov 1723. [Group Sheet]

1. Nathaniel OVERTON was born Abt 1708, Southold, Suffolk, New York, United States; died 29 Oct 1779, Southold, Suffolk, New York, United States.
2. Isaac OVERTON was born Abt 1712, Southold, Suffolk, New York, United States; died 4 Mar 1740, Southold, Suffolk, New York, United States.
3. James OVERTON was born Abt 1715, Southold, Suffolk, New York, United States.
4. Mary OVERTON was born Abt 1715, Southold, Suffolk, New York, United States.
5. Elton OVERTON was born Abt 1716, Southold, Suffolk, New York, United States; died 17 Jul 1769, Southold, Suffolk, New York, United States.
6. Abigail OVERTON was born Abt 1723, Southold, Suffolk, New York, United States; died Abt 1790, , Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk, New York, United States.
7. David OVERTON was born 1712, Southold, Suffolk, New York, United States; died 1792, Coram, Suffolk, New York, United States; was buried , Baptist Cemetery, Coram, Suffolk, New York, United States.
8. John OVERTON was born Abt 1706, Southold, Suffolk, New York, United States; died 25 Oct 1783, Southold, Suffolk, New York, United States.

Notes:

JOHN ELTON, Southold. "Being very weake." Leaves one half of movable estate to wife, the other half to Isaac Overton. Leaves to wife one half of lands and houses during life. After her decease the whole to go to Isaac Overton, "my sister's son." To daughter in law, Anna Nicolls, ?10, in cattle. Makes his "trusty and well beloved friends," Mr. Joshua Hobert and Mr. Thomas Hutchinson executors, and they are "to use all decent means to promote the welfare of my estate, and to counsel and direct my dear wife and kinsman, as may be most to God's glory, and their own good." Dated April 19, 1675. Witnesses, Mary Wells, Elizabeth Clarke. Proved at Court of Sessions, held at Southold, June 3, 1675. Inventory taken amounting to ?123.

Immigrated to America from England prior to 1652, with his widowed mother, Hannah Elton Overton, whose brother, John Elton, already lived in Southold ("Refugees of 1776", Frederic G. Mather, 1913). According to long-standing family tradition his father was believed to be General Robert Overton.

middle initial "I"?

Isaac married Sarah TERRY. Sarah (daughter of Richard TERRY and Abigail LINES) was born Aug 1658, Southold, Suffolk, New York, United States; died 20 Dec 1706, Southold, Suffolk, New York, United States; was buried , Cemetery of First Church of Southold, Southold, Suffolk, New York, United States. [Group Sheet]

Robert married Hannah ELTON. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

"a Founding Father of Southold"

Richard married Abigail LINES. Abigail was born 1614, of New Haven, New Haven, Connecticut, United States; died Aft 1686, Southold, Suffolk, New York, United States; was buried , Old Burying Ground of First Presbyterian Church, Southold, Suffolk, New York, United States. [Group Sheet]