2664–2665. William Todd was baptized in Pontefract, West Riding, Yorkshire, England, on Friday, June 29, 1593, and died in 1617. He was buried in Pontefract, Yorkshire, England, on May 8, 1617. Katherine Ward was baptized in Pontefract on Monday, November 29, 1596. They were married in Pontefract on Sunday, May 22, 1614. She took the name Katherine Todd. He is the son of William and Isabel (Rogerson) Todd. She is the daughter of John and Isabell (Bruster) Ward. They had two children:
| i. | Mary Todd was baptized in Pontefract, Yorkshire, England, on October 14, 1614. | |
| ii. | Christopher Todd [#1332]: He was baptized in Pontefract on January 11, 1617, and died in New Haven, Connecticut Colony, on April 23, 1686. |
From The Todd Family in America, pages 16–18:
Extracts from the register of the Parish Church, Pontefract, West Riding, Yorkshire, England.
- 1592, Sept., the 24 dai Wyll Todd and Isabell Rogerson were married.
This is apparently the father of the William Todd of the family on this page.- 1593, June the 29 dai Wyll ye sone of Wyll Todd was baptized.
This is the William of the family on this page. Since he is referred to as "Wyll" here then later as "William", it will be presumed that his father was also a "William"- 1594, October the 18 dai John ye sone of Wyll Todd was baptized.
- 1593, Julie the 22 dai John Warde and Isabell Bruster were married.
- 1596, November ye 29 dai, Katherine ye daughter of John Ward was baptized.
- 1614, May the 22 dai Willm Todde and Katherine Ward were married.
- 1614, October the 15 day Mary the daughter of Wm. Todde was baptized.
The five month span betwixt marriage and birth suggest that Katherine probably wore a loose fitting wedding gown.- 1617, January the 12th day Xrofor the sone of Willm Todde was baptized.
It is interesting to see this spelling of Christrofer (Christopher) where the "X" is use as it is in "Xmas", from the Greek letter chi—χ—which was used to signify Christ.- 1617, May the 8th day Willm Todd was buried.
Is this William Jr. or Sr.?EXTRACTS FROM AN OLD FAMILY RECORD
(Superscripts added by this author to facilitate understanding.) Mr. William² Todd was born in Pontefract, in York, in Great Britian, had two children, Christopher and Mary, and was killed in a sort of duel.
Mr. Michael Middlebrook lived at Hold Mills and had five children, Matthew, Michael, Mary, Hester and Grace. Mr. Edward Wigglesworth married Hester, and the above named Christopher Todd married Grace.
From these documents it appears that William¹ Todd and Isabel Rogerson married Sept. 24, 1592, had two sons, William², who was baptized June 29, 1593, and John, who was baptized October 18, 1594.
William Todd², married Katherine Ward May 22, 1614, and had two children, Mary, baptized Oct. 14, 1614, and Christopher, baptized Jan. 12, 1617; he was killed in York, England, in a duel less than four months after the birth of his son Christopher, he was buried May 8, 1617.
John Todd, who was baptized Oct. 18, 1594, was born at Pontefract, York County, England, and married in 1620, Alice Clayton of Bradford, York County, England, where their son John was born and who married in 1643, Susanna Hunt who was born at Bradford, County of York, in 1621. He emigrated to America, settling first in Charlestown, Mass. and shortly afterwards went to Rowley, Mass. where he became a prominent citizen. He was elected as a representative from that town to the General Court. They had the following children, viz.:
- John, b. 1655; left descendants.
- Catharine, b. 1658.
- Thomas, b. 1665.
- Timothy, b. 1668.
- Samuel, b. 1670.
- James, b. 1672.
It is thought probable that William¹ Todd who married Isabel Rogerson was a son of Reginald Todd, freeman of York, 1605, and a collateral descendant of Sir William Todd, Lord Mayor of York, 1487. Christopher married Grace Middlebrook, daughter of Michael Middlebrook of Hold Mills, Yorkshire—her sister Hester being married to Mr. Edward Wigglesworth. As the record was taken down from the lips of an old woman, a long time ago, it is possible that "Hold Mills" was "Old Mills." The title "Mr." indicates superior position, as also does the story of a duel.
Christopher Todd and Edward Wigglesworth and their wives came to this country together and settled in New Haven Colony. They were not among the first settlers, 1638, but were among the first additions. Their names appear several times in the records of the Colony. Edward Wigglesworth was a cripple and a shoemaker. The somewhat famous poet was one of his descendants and the family have been somewhat distinguished. Christopher Todd became a planter, miller and baker. He owned several tracts of ground. His mill was where the gun factory now [1920] stands at Whitneyville. In 1650 he bought the house built by Jasper Crane, where St. Thomas' Church now stands on Elm Street, and the place remained in the family for a hundred years. He seems to have been a bright, level headed business man, but without much education. His will, signed with his mark, is still to be seen among the New Haven County records.