Person Page - 3667

       Richard/1 Sikes was born before May 1619 in Staffordshire, England.¹ He joined the church at Dorchester, MA, 4 Nov 1639.² Admitted a freeman of Dorchester 13 May 1640.² He married, in the first half of 1640, probably at Dorchester (Sikes) or Roxbury (Warren), Phebe (–?–).^3,4,5 She joined the church at Dorchester 9 Jun 1640.² Richard and Phebe Sykes settled first at Roxbury, then removed to Springfield, MA by 1642.⁶
     26 Sep 1644, Richard Sykes (as it was spelled) was chosen to Springfield's first board of selectmen, which held office until 2 Nov 1646.⁷ Juror in the paternity trial of Sgt. Samuel/2 Wright Jr., 24 Mar 1654.⁸ 13 Mar 1660, he and three other men were granted land on the west bank of Connecticut River, opposite Springfield, in the long meadow below George Colton's, they four sharing thereof equally in three-score acres of land, if there be so much there.⁹ Richard Sikes ("Sicks") was one of 16 petitioners for the establishment of a plantation at Stony River, now Suffield, CT, presented to the General Court of Massachusetts Bay, May 1670, and granted the following year. "Not one of the petitioners became a settler, but many of them labored faithfully for more than ten years to fill the complement of settlers, as required by the Grant."¹⁰ He died at Springfield 16 Mar 1676.^11,2 His widow died there 2 Jan 1687.^4,2

       Increase/2 Sikes was born 6 Aug 1644 at Springfield, MA.^3,1 23 Nov 1670, he agreed to carry down the Great River to Hartford for John Pynchon, his corn & barrels next spring.⁴ He married, 22 Mar 1670/71 at Springfield, Abigail Fowler of Windsor, CT, daughter of Ambrose Fowler and Joan Alvord.^5,6,7
     With his brother Victory he contracted to build a barn at Springfield, 52 x 24 feet, for Major John Pynchon.⁸ He was an original purchaser at Suffield from Pynchon, who bought the tract which became Suffield from the Indians for £30, then had it surveyed and subdivided for sale to settlers. Pynchon's account reconciliation, dated Feb 1681, notes that Increase Sikes had paid 16s. 8d. for an unspecified amount of land.⁹
     Increase Sikes was a freeman of Springfield, 7 May 1684. "He was a carpenter, farmer, logger, and laborer, regularly in the Pynchons' employ."⁴ He died 24 Mar 1712, the same day as his brother James, at age 67.^10,4

       Sgt. Miles/1 Morgan married (1), at Salem, MA, Prudence Gilbert.¹ They settled at Springfield, MA. He was a juror in the Springfield paternity trial of Sgt. Samuel/2 Wright Jr., 24 Mar 1654.² His 1st wife died at Springfield 14 Jan 1660/61.^1,3 He was second sergeant of the trainband, 1662.⁴ There he married (2), 15 [Pynchon; 18, Warren] Feb 1669/70, Elizabeth/2 Bliss, daughter of Thomas/1 Bliss and Margaret/1 Hulins.^5,6,7,3 One of 16 petitioners for the establishment of a plantation at Stony River, now Suffield, CT, presented to the General Court of Massachusetts Bay, May 1670, and granted the following year. "Not one of the petitioners became a settler, but many of them labored faithfully for more than ten years to fill the complement of settlers, as required by the Grant."⁸
     Sgt. Miles Morgan died at Springfield 28 May 1699.³

       Jonathan/2 Ball was born about midnight, 6/7 Oct 1645, at Springfield, MA.^2,1 There he married (1), 13 Mar 1672/73, Sarah/2 Miller of Springfield, daughter of Thomas/1 Miller and Sarah/2 Marshfield.^3,4 She died at Springfield 29 Aug 1683.⁵ There he married (2), 1683, Mrs. Susanna Worthington.⁶