CLOSE one-name study

Just recently, whilst researching the descendants of Goodman John CLOSE (c1600-1653) of Fairfield, Connecticut, in connection with the Guild of One-Name Studies' March theme of 'New Beginnings', I came across evidence which sheds a fascinating light on the involvement of  some of John's descendants in  the American War of Independence (1775-1783).  This was not only a new beginning in terms of American history, but also resulted in an enforced new beginning for some of John CLOSE's descendants. Revolutionary Soldiers Descendants of Goodman John CLOSE were involved in bringing about a major new beginning in American history: these included John's great-great grandson Odel CLOSE (1738-1812) of Horseneck (Greenwich, Connecticut) who served as a Lieutenant in the 9th Regiment, 4th Brigade of the Connecticut  Militia, serving in support of General Washington against the British in from 1776 onwards.  By 1779 he had been promoted to Captain in the Militia Regiment. He...

Having taken a year out from this blog, I'm making a fresh start as part of the Guild of One-Name Studies 2021 challenge - to write at least one item a month on a given topic - and appropriately enough for me, the topic for March is "New Beginnings".  A fresh start There are many families in my CLOSE/CLOSS one-name study who chose to emigrate and make a fresh start in life in many miles from their original home.  The family I'm focusing on here is that of John CLOSE, who is believed to have emigrated from Swaledale, North Yorkshire, along with his wife Elizabeth and four children, to Greenwich in what would later become the county of Fairfield, Connecticut, USA.  The children were born in Yorkshire between about 1630 and 1637, and since, according to the  History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield  (ed. Donald Lines Jacobus), "Goodman John CLOSE" was mentioned in the will of another early Fairfield settler, William Frost, in 1645, the implication...