Matthias Sention Sr. facts for kids

Matthias Sention Sr. (born August 9, 1601 – died October 19, 1669) was an important early settler in America. His name was spelled in different ways, like Sangins, Sension, and Senchion. Later, his family's name became St. John.

Matthias helped found several towns in the American colonies. These included Dorchester, Massachusetts, and Windsor, Wethersfield, and Norwalk in Connecticut Colony.

Matthias was the son of Christopher St. John and Joane St. John. His family came from a small, old village in Wales called Uchel-olau. This name means "High-light" in English. His grandfather, Thomas St. John, moved to London to study law.

Matthias's great-uncle, Sir William St. John, was a knight and a Vice Admiral in the English Royal Navy. Sir William was involved with the Virginia Company of London, which helped set up colonies in America. Matthias worked as a ship chandler, which means he supplied ships with goods. He likely helped his great-uncle's ships.

Settling in the Massachusetts Bay Colony

Matthias Sention Sr. arrived in Dorchester, part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, in 1632. He was given the title of a freeman on September 3, 1634. Being a freeman meant he had the right to vote and take part in town decisions.

On January 14, 1635, he received a grant of twenty acres of land in Dorchester. Later, in 1638, he sold his house to a Mr. Withington. The next year, in 1639, he also sold his land to Mr. Withington.

Moving to Connecticut Colony

"Matthias Senchion's" property can be seen on this map of the settlement of Windsor

In 1640, Matthias moved to Windsor, which was then part of the Connecticut Colony. There, he was given a piece of land near the settlement's protective fence. This land was ten rods wide and eighteen rods deep.

Matthias served on a Grand jury in Windsor in both 1643 and 1644. A grand jury would decide if there was enough evidence for a case to go to trial.

Life in Wethersfield

Matthias Sention Sr. is also listed as a settler in Wethersfield as early as 1648. He had bought land there from Jonas Weede in 1640.

He often served on juries in Wethersfield. He was also involved in some court cases himself, usually about money owed to or by him. On one occasion, he won a case against Stephen Beckwith for saying untrue things about him. In February 1658, Matthias sold his land in Wethersfield to Thomas Wickham.

Settling in Norwalk

Matthias moved to Norwalk in 1654. In 1657, records show he worked with Isacke More and Edward Nash to build a "wolf-pit." This was a trap used to catch wolves, which were a threat to livestock.

In 1660, Matthias was chosen as a "townsman" for Norwalk. This meant he was elected to manage the town's affairs for the year.

Matthias Sention Sr. is honored on the Founders Stone in the East Norwalk Historical Cemetery. This stone lists the names of the people who first settled Norwalk.

Notable Family Members

Matthias Sention is an ancestor to many people in America who now have the last name St. John. The family name officially changed in the early 1700s.

• John St. John: He became the Governor of Kansas.
• Matthias Sention Jr.: He was also a founding settler of Norwalk, just like his father.
• Mark Sension: He served as a deputy in the Connecticut General Assembly from Norwalk several times between 1672 and 1684.
• Stephen St. John: He was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from Norwalk from 1778 to 1785.
• Stephen St. John: He also served in the Connecticut House of Representatives from Norwalk in 1805 and 1806.
• Frederick St. John Lockwood: He was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from Norwalk in 1865, 1866, and 1872.

Images for kids

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  "Matthias Senchion's" property can be seen on this map of the settlement of Windsor