Mills-Martin Family Records - Person Sheet
Mills-Martin Family Records - Person Sheet
NameAnna FENTON 3606, p 253,3609
Birthabt 1602, England3318, p 2
Memo“I was fifty-six when Mr. Bingham and I left England”
FatherRobert FENTON (1583-~1623)
MotherAlice HANCOCK
Individual Notes
• In “Origins of William Backus of Sheffield, England, and Norwich, Connecticut,” it was stated that William’s second wife was Anne (Stenton) Bingham, widow of Thomas Bingham. In a subsequent correction, it was established that Anne’s maiden name was Fenton, the original error having clearly been a mistranscription of the double ‘ff’ in ‘ffenton’ in the Sheffield parish register.
Further proof of Anne’s identity was recently submitted by Richard C. Bingham of Centerville, Utah, who has found the will of Anne’s mother, Alice Fenton of Sheffield.3610
Spouses
1Thomas BINGHAM
Deathabt Apr 16593318, p 1
Memoat sea
Individual Notes
• Late in March of 1659, Thomas Bingham, his wife Ann, and their 17 year old son Thomas, left England for the new world. From the cold and exposure the elder Thomas was taken ill, died, and was buried at sea. On his death bed he exerted a promise from Ann to find a good man in America and marry him. Widow Ann was comely but no longer young and did not want for suitors among the eligible men of Saybrook. William Backus was a widower and the choice of Widow Ann, which shows the respect with which William Backus was held within the community.3318, pp 1-2
Marriage5 Jul 1631, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England2101, p 29,3609
ChildrenThomas (~1642-)
Birthabt 1606, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England3606, p 254
Removal1639, Saybrook, Middlesex, Connecticut3318, p 1 Age: 33
Removal1659, Norwich, New London, Connecticut3607, p 7,3230, p 2 Age: 53
Deathbef 7 Jun 1664, Norwich, New London, Connecticut3606, p 254,3608, p 175 Age: 58
Probate7 Jun 16643608, p 175 Age: 58
Memodate inventory taken
FlagsEarliest Immigrant
Individual Notes
• William Backus, of Saybrook, 1638, was the common ancestor of the Norwich and Windham Backus families. He removed to Norwich, 1660, was one of the original proprietors of that town, freeman there, 1663, and d. June, 1664, leaving a 2d wife, Ann, who the Norwich records call the mother of Thomas Bingham, sen., (she was probably his step-mother) who d. May, 1670.1842, p 58

• Although William Backus of Saybrook and Norwich, Connecticut, has been said to have been in New England as early as 1637, no actual record of him prior to 1659 has been found.3606, p 253

• About 1659, he moved to Norwich being one of the first settlers under the leadership of Rev. James Fitch and John Mason. He brought with him three daughters, two sons, and his stepson, Thomas Bingham.3607, p 7
Marriage1659, Saybrook, Middlesex, Connecticut2101, p 29; marriage only,3606, p 254
Last Modified 1 Aug 2002Created 21 Aug 2026 using Reunion 14 for Macintosh
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