HISTORY OF
BANCROFT FAMILY
John Bancroft, with his wife, Jane, came to New England in the ship James in 1632, settled at Lynn, Massachusetts Colony, and died in 1637, leaving children Anne, John Jr., and Thomas. These children were probably all born in England. His widow had a grant of land in Lynn in 1638, and afterward removed to Southampton, Long Islnd, and thence to Connecticut. She died some time beore 19 November 1644.
John's ancestry is traced back to 1557 to John Bancroft and Margaret Hollingsworth of Chellaston, Derbyshire, England. One of their sons, Ralph Bancroft, who died in February 1616, and his wife, Alice, had a son named Thomas Bancroft of Swarkeston, England, a yeoman.
Thomas married a Rebecca and died in October 1627 and is buried in the Church of Swarkeston as requested in his will. Thomas owned considerable land and left an allotment of 4 Pounds from these lands to his widow. Rebecca died in 1639 and is buried with her husband. Their eldest son is John Bancroft, the emmigrant, who came to Massachusetts in 1632 and started the Bancroft line in America.
The emmigrant John's son, John Brancroft Jr., lived in Windsor, Connecticut and there married Hannah Dupper (or Gardner). His occupation was ferryman and he died on August 6, 1662. His widow married a second time to John Lunden. John and Hannah Bancroft had three sons and two daughters.
The second oldest son, Nathaniel, was born November 19, 1653, and married Hannah Williams on December 26, 1677 in Windsor. He purchased a part of the Atherton farm in Ponchassic, Westfield Settlement, in 1687 and moved to a farm living on the north side of Main Street (which is both sides of present Cherry St). In 1696. The family joined the Church 30 July 1699. They had three sons, and in 1685 had a daughter, Elizabeth.
One of their sons, Edward, was mortally wounded by Indians in 1707 and Nathaniel, himself, was also killed by Indians in 1724. His widow lived until 1728.
Daughter Elizabeth Bancroft married Consider Moseley in July 1709.