McElroy Genealogies

08/21/2023

Of all the traditional family get togethers around the holidays in the Merrimack Valley, few if any will be as unlikely as the one on the Sunday before Christmas in

07/26/2023

Simon Hoyt – 1596 – 1657 – (aka Hyatt, Hoyte, Hoit, Haight, Haite) landed in Salem, Massachusetts Colonial Bay Colony in 1628, and up until his death in 1657, everything he touched turned to gold.

A literal pioneer who delighted in hiking and roaming, as his appetite for travelling was insatiable. Simon wanted a new and better life in the Americas. He rode the high seas and mingled with savages who ran rampantly. Simon’s willingness to break from tradition proved that he had a “severe case” of Wonder lust.

He sought out opportunities to innovate, grow and improve. He bought about change with his fresh & original thought processes, his implementation of methods and was incredibly technical in his development.


There are cavalcades of evidentiary proof documenting his Moxy and gritty determination. His journey through life is what legends are made of and he left a brilliant, awe-inspiring one, to say the least.

Ovando, Montana--a town of 50 in the beautiful Blackfoot Valley--takes its name from its early settler, Ovando Hoyt. Part 1 follows Ovando's 16th century anc...

07/12/2023

We have a very strong and lengthy lineage up and down the East Coast of the US. It would take volumes to show you everything (and everyone) that I have researched in this part of our country. I mentioned previously that I would elaborate on the New England States and our history there. We have very strong ties to many period conflicts that have taken place in our country just prior to, including, and after The American Revolution of 1776.

This is some background on my 9th Great-Grand Father Sgt. Samuel Boltwood, his family and “The Meadow Fight” which took place during the “Deerfield, Massachusetts Massacre of January 29, 1704”. There are plenty detailed accounts of that war, should you want to read on further.

Samuel Boltwood was born on April 16th 1648 or 1649, in Hadley, Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America. His father, Richard Boltwood, was 27 and his mother, Mary Gernor Rice, was 21, when Samuel was born over 375 years ago. Sam married Sarah Lewis who was the daughter of Captain William Lewis of Farmington) and only son of Robert Boltwood and Mary, in Hadley, Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America there on January 1, 1672 and together they had at least 6 sons and 5 daughters.

They were the parents of at least 6 sons and 5 daughters; they are as follows:

Sarah Boltwood Kellogg (1672-1761); Mary Boltwood (1675- ?); Samuel Boltwood, Jr. (1679-1738); Elizabeth Boltwood Mattoon (1681-1738); Robert Boltwood (1683-1704); William Boltwood (1687-1714); Ebenezer Boltwood (1685-1741); Rebecca Boltwood Shattuck (1691-1757); Solomon Boltwood (1694-1762); Lydia Sarah Boltwood Ingram (1696-1773) and Lt. Solomon Boltwood (1727-1773).

Below is a witness account with detailed information on Sgt. Samuel Boltwood’s fate and that of his sons, William & Solomon, and their extended family.


The Raid on Deerfield, also known as the Deerfield Massacre, occurred during Queen Anne's War on February 29, 1704, when French and Indian raiders under the command of Jean-Baptiste Hertel de Rouville attacked the English colonial settlement of Deerfield, Massachusetts, just before dawn. Hundred’s of French and Native allies raided the English settlement of Deerfield, Massachusetts, capturing men, women, and children and forcing them to march 300 miles to Canada. The raid was a clear victory for the French coalition that aimed to take captives and unsettle English colonial frontier society. More than 100 captives were taken, and about 40 percent of the village houses were destroyed.

Samuel was a soldier stationed at Deerfield when attacked by Indians Feb 29, 1704. When knowledge of the attack reached Hadley his three sons Samuel Jr, Robert and Ebenezer joined the troop. He was killed by Indians along with his son Robert in the Deerfield Massacre in 1704. Dead at the age of 55 Samuel was buried in Old Deerfield Burying Ground, Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, United States.

07/12/2023

The New England States are riddled with my Patriot Ancestors and the selection I get to choose from is ripe for the pickings. I must revisit Deerfield as so much of our history started and LITERALLY ended there.

Take Ruth Esther Strong’s lineage for example. Specifically, The Strongs, Sweets and the Woods. Such an interestingly diverse genealogy, as well as the time in our nation’s history, along with situations that most of these people were thrown into, and how they recovered from it or not.


Most of these people, led by example, kept their promises, loved (and, unfortunately, in some instances), literally hated their families. But what I admire the most about our ancestors is the level of patriotic s**t they all participated in.

I am a direct descendant of Philip Mattoon, Sr., as he was my 9th Great Grand Father (GFF). I was surprised to find out that Philip’s parents and my 10th Great Grand Parents (GGP) - (*Hubertus Mattoon and Margaret Washington) were married in Scotland in 1648.

*A little back history on the Mattoon surname. It was reportedly bought to the Americas, via England, by Hubartus himself!

Huh? Hold-up? What!?

The actual spelling is believed to be (Huybrecht or Huijbrecht) Mattoon. It’s even speculated that he was probably born somewhere in the Netherlands (which might account for that 9% German/Dutch ethnicity of mine) and is recorded as being in Portsmouth, NH sometime in either 1648 or 1649.

I had to laugh when I read somewhere that it was even reported that he was regarded as being of “French Huguenot Stock”. Apparently, he’s listed as a qualified Hugenot ancestor in the (US) National Huguenot Society register of Hugenot ancestors with that rare variant of Matoon (of the surname Mattoon) and is mentioned, again, with another French Hugenot (see Mouton).

Who knew? I haven’t even gotten started with these “Mattoon’s/Matoon’s/Mouton’s” yet and I am already so impressed with them all.

Philip was one of eight children. When Philip was born, on August 9, 1665 in Springfield, Mass, British Colonial America (BCA for short), his father was 26 and his mother was 31. Philip met Sarah Hawkes/Hawks (daughter of John & Elizabeth Hawks - born on September 29, 1657 at Windsor, Ct.) and they married on September 10, 1677 and had 10 children.

They were:

Margaret Mattoon 1678-1766
Philip Mattoon, Jr. 1680-1704 died at Deerfield, Mass.
John Mattoon 1682-1754
Isaac Mattoon 1684-1767
Sarah Mattoon 1687-1752



** (Direct Ancester) Eleazer Mattoon – (my 8th Great Grand Father) 1689-1767 was married to (my 9th GGF Samuel Boltwood’s daughter, (who happens to be my 8th Great Grand Mother) Elizabeth Boltwood Mattoon (1681-1738).

Eleazer Mattoon and Elizabeth Boltwood were married on 7/20/1715. Elizabeth was 34 when she married Eleazer and was 57 when she died. Eleazer Mattoon was a Deacon in Northfield, Mass around 1717. Eleazer was a soldier in 1724 (in Captain Williams Company) from March through October 1748, and a farmer in Amherst, Mass sometime in 1750. Eleazer was 77 when he died.

Gershom Mattoon 1690-1755
Nathaniel Mattoon 1693-1770
Ebenezer Mattoon 1695-1716
Mary Mattoon 1697-1782

After Philip died Sarah Hawks Mattoon married Daniel Belding (1648-1732) of Deerfield, Mass, in 1705, at Deerfield. Of note: David’s first two wives were killed.

Wife #1 was Elizabeth Foote 1654-1696. David and Elizabeth were married on 11/10/1670 in Wethersford, Hartford, Ct. (BCA). David and Elizabeth had 14 children together. The following is a brief history of their life together.

“Elizabeth Foote, daughter of Nathaniel Foote, of Wethersfield, (Conn.,) son of Nathaniel Foote, the settler, was married to Daniel Belden [Belding], of Hatfield, (Mass.,) Nov. 10 1670. They had fourteen children. “Elizabeth, wife to Daniel Belden ye head of the family, together with Daniel Belden, John Belden and Thankful Belden, their children, were all of them slaine by the enemie, September 16, 1696.” Pg. xxix (The Foote Family by Nathaniel Goodwin) “Sept. 16, 1696, The Indians came along from up Green-River to the town, and assaulted Mr. Daniel Belden’s house, - took Mr. Belden his son Nathaniel and daughter Esther captive, killed his wife and three children, and wounded Samuel and Abigail, but they recovered, - altho’ Samuel had a hatchet stuck in his head, and some of his brains came out at the wound.” “The Indians making an Assault upon Deerfield, in this Present War, they struck a Hatchet some Inches into the Skull of a Boy there, - even so deep, that the Boy felt the force of the Wrench used by ‘em to get it out. There he lay a long while Weltering in his Blood; they found him, they Dress’d him; considerable Quantities of his Brain came out form time to time when they opened the Wound; yet the Lad recovered, and is now a Living Monument of the Power and Goodness of God.” [Mother Elizabeth Foote Belding, granddaughter of Nathaniel Foote the Settler - 16 Sep 1696 Slain by the enemy [Indians]. Her children: 16 Sep 1696 Taken captive daughter 23yrs - Elizabeth - 16 Sep 1696 Taken captive daughter 12 yrs old - Esther - 16 Sep 1696 Severely Wounded 11 yrs old son Samuel - left for dead 16 Sep 1696 Wounded 6 yrs old daughter Abigail 16 Sep 1696 Slain by Indians son 15 yrs - Daniel 16 Sep 1696 Slain by Indians son 3yrs - John 16 Sep 1696 Slain by Indians daughter 8 months old - Thankful Taken captive at a latter date - Father Daniel Belding - with his second wife Hephzibah - Hephzibah was killed.]”

Wife #2 was Hepzibah Buell (1649-1704) married Daniel on 2/17/1699 at Windsor, Ct. Hepzibah was scalped by the Indians, after February 29, 1704 (because she was unable to make that 300-mile trek from Deerfield, Mass to Canada).

Hopefully, for Daniel, the “3rd time was the charm”. It definitely was for Sarah as she died on September 15, 1751 having lived a long life of 94 years.

Attached is a copy of Daniel’s Last Will And Testament wherein he left it all to Sarah.

07/11/2023

My 5th GGF (Direct Ancestor) Lieutenant Chauncey Sweet was one of 14 children. Chauncey was born on 12/22/1779 in Connecticut to Palmer Sweet & Lucy Bidwell.


Just like his father, and my 4th GFF, (Direct Ancestor) Palmer Sweet, Chauncey was, by trade, a painter and paper hanger. Chauncey Sweet was a Lieutenant in the 1st Regiment of Brainerd’s Connecticut Militia in the “War of 1812”. He registered for service in 1812 and stayed for the duration.


Fun fact:
Connecticut disapproved of the war of 1812 and the Militia was forbidden to leave the State.

Not-so-fun-fact:
On 8/14/1814 - After partying inside the White House for several days, the British deceided to burn the “Executive Mansion” (and most of Washington to the ground).

I don’t know much about The Sweets, but its blatantly obvious that they a bunch of bad asses. I read somewhere that Chauncey contracted lead poisoning and that’s ultimately what killed him, as he was 43 when he died passed away.

Lieutenant Chauncey Sweet died on 7/17/1822, and he and most of his immediate family, are buried at Memento Mori Burying Ground (Latin, literally for “Remember you must die”), the oldest burying ground in the Farmington community of Connecticut.


Four months before Chauncey died his father Palmer was literally consumed by “Consumption” secondary to Tuberculous, he left this earth aged 79 years. Lucy Bidwell Sweet (1750-1829) survived Palmer by several years and ended up being buried in Trenton, New Jersey in June of 1829.

I cannot wait to tell you what I know about the Bidwell's.