Theophilus Whaley AND Other Whaley Info

TO THE DESCENDANTS
 OF
 THOMAS DICKINSON,
 SON OF
 NATHANIEL AND ANNA GULL DICKINSON,
 OF
 WETHERSFIELD, CONNECTICUT,
 AND
 HADLEY, MASSACHUSETTS
 1897.

TO ANY one who has made study of American genealogy, the name of Nathaniel Dickinson is a household word. Settling with his gentle wife, Anna Gull, in Wethersfield, in A. D. 1636, he took front rank. He was one of the first Board of Selectmen, Representative to the General Assembly, from 1645 to 1656, Recorder for twenty years at Wethersfield, Deacon in the church throughout his life. In 1659, he removed with his family to Hadley, Massachusetts, where he was no less a leader. As shown above he was one of the original Committee sent to lay out the town; first Recorder there, Assessor, Town Magistrate, member of the Hampshire Troop, one of the members of the first Board of Trustees of the Hopkins' Academy. "An intelligent an influential man, and one qualified to do public business, as well as a man of substance, rating with the highest in the division of lands." He owned east of the "Great River," at Hartford, one hundred acres in the tract called "Naubuc Farms." This was sold on or before the removal to Hadley. With him from Wethersfield to Hadley, removed his Minister, Mr. Russell, who gave permanent concealment to Generals Whalley and Goffe, two members of the High Court of Justice that condemned Charles I. With the restoration of the Stuarts, a reward was offered for the heads of these Generals, but they could not be found. One Sunday, in September, 1675, the little town of Hadley was panic-stricken by an attack of Indians. The surprise was so great, and the numbers so unequal, that the Indians were fast gaining the advantage. Suddenly there appeared among the settlers a man of towering height, and long streaming hair and beard, dressed in fantastic fashion. Wherever he went the Indians fell, and the courage of the English rose. They thought God had sent an angel to lead them out of their sore strait. When the fight was over, the stranger disappeared as suddenly as he came. Many believed to their dying day that he was not mortal. He was General Goffe, the Regicide. Without doubt, our ancestor, being an intimate friend of Mr. Russell, was entrusted with the secret of the concealment of the Regicides, and witnessed this exploit of General Goffe.