Devotion Genealogy

Deacon Edward Devotion joined the church in Boston in 1645, was a freeman the same year, then a single man. He married Mary ---------. The people in the locality called Muddy River sharing in the privileges of the first church of Roxbury, and worshiping there, we find the children of Edward and Mary were baptized there, but born, as the town records seem to have it, somewhat alternately in Boston and Roxbury. The Roxbury church records say "1685-7m 23d Father Devotion buried." He was aged 64. He left a will; widow Mary and son John were executors. In a codicil he gives five pounds to each of his grand-children, which, at this time meant the children of four of his sons and daughters, among the others, those of Martha and John Ruggles.

Elizabeth Devotion, the second child, born in Boston April 20, 1651, married Joseph Weld. Martha the third, born in Roxbury, March 13, 1653, married John⁶ Ruggles (Thomas⁴). Hannah the fourth, born Dec. 13, 1654, married John⁶ Ruggles (John⁴ and Barbara); Sarah the seventh, born at Roxbury, June 19,1662 married Joseph Griffin. She being the only daughter named in the will of Edward "It is my will that my daughter Sarah Griffin shall have twenty pounds."

Joseph Griffin was the son of Richard and Mary Griffin of Roxbury, who were among the early settlers of Roxbury. Joseph Was one of seven children, and one of the first three who were baptized 17th May, 1657. Joseph and Sarah Griffin had eight children recorded to them from 1686 to 1708; seven are named in his will of Feb., 1714. "Mr. Griffin of Roxbury died 17 Feb. 1714," says Samuel Sewall in his diary. Elizabeth Griffin, the fifth child, horn Feb. 2, 1699, married Samuel Sumner of Pomfret, Conn.; married in Roxbury, Nov. 20, 1723. Their daughter Ann, married in Pomfret, Edward⁸ Ruggles, a grand-son of Martha.

Samuel⁴ Sumner was son of George³ and Ann (Tucker) Sumner of Roxbury, the grand-son of George² and Mary (Baker) Sumner of Milton, and great-grand-son of William¹ and Mary (West) Sumner, the emigrant settler to Dorchester, 1636, from Bichester, Oxfordshire, Eng.

Ebenezer Griffin, seventh child of Joseph and Sarah, born Aug. 8, 1705, was a yeoman at Cambridge or Newtown at first, then he removed to Windham, Conn. 2d parish. He married Hannah, daughter of Philamon Chandler of Pomfret. He joined the 2d parish church, 1733, and for many years was one of the deacons of the church, and Well known in Windham, Conn., and was an active and apparently a prosperous man.

John Devotion, the sixth child of Edward and Mary, born 26 June, 1659, married Hannah , and had:

1. JOHN DEVOTION, b. 1682.
2. Rev. EBENEZER DEVOTION, b. 1684.
3. EDWARD DEVOTION, b. --, was a yeoman, and resided at Muddy River.

Edward³ Devotion probably died childless, in 1744 in Brookline, and in his will, 14 June, 1743, gave to his wife, "Mary" 500 pounds. To the grand-children of my brother, John³ Devotion, deceased, 250 pounds, out of which sum my will is that Rev. Ebenezer³ shall have 75 pounds . . . if they quit claim all the rights they have in the estate of my honored father, John² Devotion." " I give to Deacon Edward Ruggles (his cousin) 75 pounds " to "Samuel Griffin (his cousin), a like sum." Among other bequests was a residue sum given "to the town of Brookline towards building and maintaining a school near the centre of the town." On account of this gift this will is recorded in the town's proceedings, and has resulted in the recent completion of a new school building, soon to be extended by previous design.

Johns Devotion, brother of Martha and Hannah Ruggles, and Sarah Griffin,-the father of Edward³, the testator, removed at an early date to Suffield, Conn. Rev. Ebenezer³ after graduation at Harvard College, 1707, was ordained over the church at Suffield, June 28, 1710; died 1741. He was preceded in the ministry at this place by Rev. Benjamin Ruggles, the brother of John c Ruggles, Hannah (Devotion's) husband. These two, Benjamin and John, were descended from John⁴ and Barbara,- Martha's husband from Thomas⁴ and Mary (Curtis) Ruggles.