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]

Notes:

Based on Mary's approximate date of birth (she was 40 when she was married in 1755), she would have to be a daughter of Isaac Overton and Abigail Moore.According to "Ancestors of James Wickham and his wife, Cora Prudence Billard" (1935, p. 79; Heritage Quest Online) Isaac and Abigail (Moore) Overton had a daughter Mary (as per Terry Mss. in the Long Island Historical Society, p. 3) who married Thomas Goldsmith in Southold 20 Feb 1723 (the Salmon Record), and died there 22 Oct 1773 (New York Record, vol. 48, p. 178; vol. 49, p. 67). This may be true, but if not, it may be possible that the Mary Overton who married Thomas Goldsmith was a daughter of John Overton (d. 1706, son of Isaac Overton and Sarah Terry) and his wife Mary, who later married John Daines, 31 May 1716 (The Salmon Record). If the Mary Overton who married Benjamin Case was not the daughter of Isaac Overton and Abigail Moore, then I am not sure who her father may have been. It may be possible that she was actually a widow when she married Benjamin Case. Isaac and Abigail (Moore) Overton had a son Isaac who died 4 Mar 1740 at age 28 and could possibly have been married.

Notes:

According to the Salmon Record and The Records of the First Church of Southold, an Abigail Overton married James Sweezey, 4 May 1748 (Church Records) or July 1748 (Salmon Record). Isaac Overton is the only Overton of the right age at the time of her birth to be her father.

Notes:

"David Overton was a staunch patriot during the Revolution as were all of his sons. He, with all of his sons except Nehemiah who had just passed his 16th birthday, signed the Association in support of the American cause. They signed in the Fourth Company Limits of Brookhaven Town on June 8, 1775, witnessed by Ebenezer Dayton, Clerk. Through their patriotism it was necessary for most of the sons to take refuge to Connecticut when the British occupied this area after the Battle of Long Island.
David Overton and his family were connected with the Baptist Church of Coram which was the first Baptist Church in the county. The Baptist meeting house was erected in 1743 and stood on the site where the Methodist church now stands, until 1847 when it was sold and moved to Port Jefferson. This church was started by Rev. Noah Hammond who came from New London, Conn. He died of smallpox Nov. 4, 1774, while still the leader of the Baptist flock. He is buried in the adjoining cemetery. The families of David Overton and Rev. Noah Hammond were closely associated and two of David's sons, John and Palmer, married two of Rev. Noah Hammond's daughters, Lois and Lucretia. It was fortunate that members of the family at Coram had passed down the family Bible recording the names and information regarding David's sons, as the records of the old Baptist Church were destroyed when the home of Richard Smith at Coram was burned."
Private
Continental Line
Revolutionary War
(Long Island Surnames; U.S.Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970; Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots; "The Overton Genealogy: The Overton Family of Long Island, New York." 1965, by Alvin R.L Smith, pg 23.)

David married Anna HULSE. Anna was born Abt 1715, , Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk, New York, United States; died 12 Jan 1747, Coram, Suffolk, New York, United States. [Group Sheet]

David married Susanna PALMER. Susanna was born 1714, Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United Staes; died 1794, Coram, Suffolk, New York, United States; was buried , Baptist Cemetery, Coram, Suffolk, New York, United States. [Group Sheet]

John married Jemima HULSE. Jemima was born Abt 1711, , Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk, New York, United States; died 5 Sep 1779, Southold, Suffolk, New York, United States. [Group Sheet]

John married Jemima HULSE. Jemima (daughter of John Thomas HULSE and Deborah CLARK) was born 1748, , Suffolk, New York, United States. [Group Sheet]

John married Lois HAMMOND. Lois (daughter of Reverend Noah HAMMOND and Lucretia CALKINS) was born Abt 1759, Coram, Suffolk, New York, United States; was buried , Coram Cemetery, Coram, Suffolk, New York, United States. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Died at age 50 years

Notes:

"David's son Palmer inherited and lived in the original family homestead at Coram. In the Revolution he signed the Association May 16, 1775 and on June 8, 1775 in Selah Strong's 4th Co. Limits. He married Lucretia Hammond. She was the daughter of the Rev. Noah Hammond of the Baptist church."

(Long Island Surnames; Brookhaven Historian's Alpha List; Longwood Central School District, DAVID OVERTON HOUSE)

Palmer married Lucretia HAMMOND. Lucretia (daughter of Reverend Noah HAMMOND and Lucretia CALKINS) was born 6 Jun 1755, Coram, Suffolk, New York, United States; died 5 Sep 1815, Setauket, Suffolk, New York, United States; was buried , Baptist Cemetery, , Coram, Suffolk, New York, United States. [Group Sheet]

Isaac married Phebe BURNETT. Phebe was born Abt 1738, Southold, Suffolk, New York, United States; died 18 Jun 1783, Southold, Suffolk, New York, United States. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Christened at First Church of Southold; Presbyterian

Joshua married Anne HULSE. Anne (daughter of John Thomas HULSE and Deborah CLARK) was born Abt 1746, Fireplace, Suffolk, New York, United States; died 5 May 1805, Southold, Suffolk, New York, United States. [Group Sheet]

Joshua married Bethia TERRY. Bethia (daughter of Samuel TERRY) was born Abt 1750, Southold, Suffolk, New York, United States; died 25 Sep 1819, Southold, Suffolk, New York, United States. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Born 23 Jun 1776 on Find A Grave?

Died at age 89 years, 7 mos., 28 days

"Elisha was the next to occupy the family homestead at Coram. Elisha married Ruth Roe on Dec. 16, 1798. She was the daughter of Capt. Daniel Roe, who served in the Revolution and French and Indian War."

(Long Island Surnames; Brookhaven Historian's Alpha List; Longwood Central School District, DAVID OVERTON HOUSE)

Elisha married Ruth ROE. Ruth (daughter of Deborah BREWSTER) was born 19 May 1774, Selden, Suffolk, New York, United States; died 12 May 1847, Coram, Suffolk, New York, United States; was buried , Baptist Cemetery, Coram, Suffolk, New York, United States. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

of Jamesport, Suffolk, New York

Jonathan married Elizabeth OSBORN. Elizabeth (daughter of Jacob OSBORN and Bathsheba ARNOLD) was born 18 Apr 1786, Baiting Hollow, Suffolk, New York, United States; was christened 5 Nov 1788, Mattituck-Aquebogue Parish, Mattituck, Suffolk, New York, United States; died 22 Mar 1877, Riverhead, Suffolk, New York, United States; was buried , Riverhead Cemetery, Riverhead, Suffolk, New York, United States. [Group Sheet]

Joseph married Naomi COREY. Naomi was born Abt 1768, Southold, Suffolk, New York, United States. [Group Sheet]

Charity married Oliver SPAULDING. Oliver was born , , , Connecticut, United States. [Group Sheet]

Anna married Patrick CLARK. Patrick was born , Newport, Newport, Rhode Island, United States. [Group Sheet]

Joshua married Phebe ROGERS. Phebe was born Abt 1779, , , New York, United States; died Aft 1860, Southold, Suffolk, New York, United States. [Group Sheet]