Dr. Nicholas Ayrault, a French Huguenot, died per the Wethersfield, Conn. town records "Mar. 4, 1705/6, age about 50," but the Ayrault tabletop cenotaph originally read, transcribed and published in 1899, clearly says he died "May 6, 1706, aged 37." He d. testate after writing his will on Mar. 2, 1705/6, which was proved by the Hartford Probate District court Mar. 8, 1705/6 four days after his recorded death, and two months prior to the date of death inscribed on the tabletop monument.
On the face of the known facts, combining his recorded date of death with the resulting family's apparent understanding of his age at death (the tabletop cenotaph) indicates Nicholas was b. on or after Mar. 5, 1668/9.
Stiles' "Ancient Wethersfield" (1904, 2:42) published sketch of the Dr. Nicholas Ayrault family was augmented by material provided by a stated descendant. The sketch says, in part, that Nicholas arrived at New England soon after 1687 and married at Rhode Island, Marian Bretoun, who he had met during the voyage to America. Thereafter they settled at Wethersfield. Unfortunately, Stile's outline of the children is confused and/or not well edited with confusing and poorly placed footnotes.
On an unknown date and place, Dr. Nicholas Ayrault m. Marian Bretoun, as her surname is inscribed on the tabletop cenotaph. They first appear in the Springfield, Mass. vital records where is recorded the birth of Mary, "dau. of Nycolas and Mary Anna, b. Sept. 4, 1696." Thereafter they had three children recorded at Wethersfield, Conn.
As currently known, they had the following four children:
• i. Mary, b. per record at Springfield, Mass. Sept. 4, 1696 [Springfield VRs] and d. testate and unmarried at Wethersfield, Conn. per her gravestone, Aug. 13, 1778, Æ 84 (g.s. and Weth. VRs). Her will clearly states her brothers were Peter and Nicholas Ayrault of Wethersfield, to whom she left the major portion of her estate. Conversely, the Wethersfield Church Record says she was buried one week later on Aug. 20, 1778, Æ 85. Her gravestone implies she was b. on or after Aug. 14, 1694 whereas the church record implies she was b. as early as 1693. Based on Marian Bretoun's recorded age at death (i.e., b. on or after Aug. 28, 1681), Mary's gravestone implies that if Marian Bretoun was her mother Marian was only 13 years old at Mary's birth, highly suggestive that "Mary Anna" in the Springfield birth record was Nicholas Ayrault's first wife. The writer is inclined to more readily accept Mary was actually b. on the date stated in the Springfield record and that Mary's inscribed age at death is overstated by two years. This also implies that "Mary Anna" in the birth record was one and the same as Marian Bretoun, and that at dau. Mary's birth Marian was then at least 15 years old, still quite young. It further implies that Marian Bretoun was only 14 years old when she "married" her first husband.
• ii. Esther Ayrault, b. at Wethersfield Mar. 5, 1698/9; no further record is known of her.
• iii. Peter Ayrault, b. Dec. 4, 1702 at Wethersfield, buried Oct. 28, 1779 at Wethersfield (Weth. Ch. Rec.); m. Nov. 12, 1744 at Wethersfield, the wid. Mary (Dodd) Francis, dau. of Edward Dodd, who was buried Aug. 17, 1776 at Wethersfield (ibid.) Six children of the family, including a child b. prior to their marriage, but who died in infancy. Mary had four children by her 1st husband, John Francis 3rd. Stiles' brief sketch of Peter Ayrault is flawed stating Peter was wife Mary's 2nd husband.
• iv. Capt. Nicholas Ayrault, Jr., b. Oct. 2, 1705 at Wethersfield, d. Apr. 29, 1775; m. at Wethersfield Apr. 17, 1730, Jane Stocking, who d. Oct. 26, 1783 at Wethersfield. Eight known children of the family, but only three of the 8 children survived beyond infancy.
Following Dr. Ayrault's death, his widow m. 2) as his 2nd wife, Lieut. William Goodrich, Jr., had four more children and d. at Wethersfield Aug. 27, 1741. See her memorial.
Dr. Ayrault's probate record was abstracted by Manwaring at his Hartford Probate District, v. 2, p. 14:
Probate Vol. VII, Page 146-7.
• Ayrault, Nicholas, Wethersfield, Physician. Will dated 2 March, 1705-6.
• I, Nicholas Ayrault, of Wethersfield, doe make this my last will and testament.
• Imprimis: I give unto my sonn Peeter Ayrault my gold buttons.
• And all the rest of my estate, goods, chattells and debts whatsoever, in France or elsewhere, not hereinbefore bequeathed, after my debts and funeral expenses be discharged, I doe give and bequeath to my dear and loveing wife Marian Ayrault, and make her my sole executrix.
• And all this estate before mentioned to be at the disposal of my wife Marian Ayrault so long as she continues a widow; but if she should marry again, then my will is that 2-3 of my estate shall be distributed among my children.
NICHOLAS AYRAULT, LS.
Witness: Moses Crafts, Stephen Hurlbutt, Philip Alcock.
• Court Record, Page 78--8 March, 1705-6: Will approved.
On the face of the known facts, combining his recorded date of death with the resulting family's apparent understanding of his age at death (the tabletop cenotaph) indicates Nicholas was b. on or after Mar. 5, 1668/9.
Stiles' "Ancient Wethersfield" (1904, 2:42) published sketch of the Dr. Nicholas Ayrault family was augmented by material provided by a stated descendant. The sketch says, in part, that Nicholas arrived at New England soon after 1687 and married at Rhode Island, Marian Bretoun, who he had met during the voyage to America. Thereafter they settled at Wethersfield. Unfortunately, Stile's outline of the children is confused and/or not well edited with confusing and poorly placed footnotes.
On an unknown date and place, Dr. Nicholas Ayrault m. Marian Bretoun, as her surname is inscribed on the tabletop cenotaph. They first appear in the Springfield, Mass. vital records where is recorded the birth of Mary, "dau. of Nycolas and Mary Anna, b. Sept. 4, 1696." Thereafter they had three children recorded at Wethersfield, Conn.
As currently known, they had the following four children:
• i. Mary, b. per record at Springfield, Mass. Sept. 4, 1696 [Springfield VRs] and d. testate and unmarried at Wethersfield, Conn. per her gravestone, Aug. 13, 1778, Æ 84 (g.s. and Weth. VRs). Her will clearly states her brothers were Peter and Nicholas Ayrault of Wethersfield, to whom she left the major portion of her estate. Conversely, the Wethersfield Church Record says she was buried one week later on Aug. 20, 1778, Æ 85. Her gravestone implies she was b. on or after Aug. 14, 1694 whereas the church record implies she was b. as early as 1693. Based on Marian Bretoun's recorded age at death (i.e., b. on or after Aug. 28, 1681), Mary's gravestone implies that if Marian Bretoun was her mother Marian was only 13 years old at Mary's birth, highly suggestive that "Mary Anna" in the Springfield birth record was Nicholas Ayrault's first wife. The writer is inclined to more readily accept Mary was actually b. on the date stated in the Springfield record and that Mary's inscribed age at death is overstated by two years. This also implies that "Mary Anna" in the birth record was one and the same as Marian Bretoun, and that at dau. Mary's birth Marian was then at least 15 years old, still quite young. It further implies that Marian Bretoun was only 14 years old when she "married" her first husband.
• ii. Esther Ayrault, b. at Wethersfield Mar. 5, 1698/9; no further record is known of her.
• iii. Peter Ayrault, b. Dec. 4, 1702 at Wethersfield, buried Oct. 28, 1779 at Wethersfield (Weth. Ch. Rec.); m. Nov. 12, 1744 at Wethersfield, the wid. Mary (Dodd) Francis, dau. of Edward Dodd, who was buried Aug. 17, 1776 at Wethersfield (ibid.) Six children of the family, including a child b. prior to their marriage, but who died in infancy. Mary had four children by her 1st husband, John Francis 3rd. Stiles' brief sketch of Peter Ayrault is flawed stating Peter was wife Mary's 2nd husband.
• iv. Capt. Nicholas Ayrault, Jr., b. Oct. 2, 1705 at Wethersfield, d. Apr. 29, 1775; m. at Wethersfield Apr. 17, 1730, Jane Stocking, who d. Oct. 26, 1783 at Wethersfield. Eight known children of the family, but only three of the 8 children survived beyond infancy.
Following Dr. Ayrault's death, his widow m. 2) as his 2nd wife, Lieut. William Goodrich, Jr., had four more children and d. at Wethersfield Aug. 27, 1741. See her memorial.
Dr. Ayrault's probate record was abstracted by Manwaring at his Hartford Probate District, v. 2, p. 14:
Probate Vol. VII, Page 146-7.
• Ayrault, Nicholas, Wethersfield, Physician. Will dated 2 March, 1705-6.
• I, Nicholas Ayrault, of Wethersfield, doe make this my last will and testament.
• Imprimis: I give unto my sonn Peeter Ayrault my gold buttons.
• And all the rest of my estate, goods, chattells and debts whatsoever, in France or elsewhere, not hereinbefore bequeathed, after my debts and funeral expenses be discharged, I doe give and bequeath to my dear and loveing wife Marian Ayrault, and make her my sole executrix.
• And all this estate before mentioned to be at the disposal of my wife Marian Ayrault so long as she continues a widow; but if she should marry again, then my will is that 2-3 of my estate shall be distributed among my children.
NICHOLAS AYRAULT, LS.
Witness: Moses Crafts, Stephen Hurlbutt, Philip Alcock.
• Court Record, Page 78--8 March, 1705-6: Will approved.
Dr. Nicholas Ayrault, a French Huguenot, died per the Wethersfield, Conn. town records "Mar. 4, 1705/6, age about 50," but the Ayrault tabletop cenotaph originally read, transcribed and published in 1899, clearly says he died "May 6, 1706, aged 37." He d. testate after writing his will on Mar. 2, 1705/6, which was proved by the Hartford Probate District court Mar. 8, 1705/6 four days after his recorded death, and two months prior to the date of death inscribed on the tabletop monument.
On the face of the known facts, combining his recorded date of death with the resulting family's apparent understanding of his age at death (the tabletop cenotaph) indicates Nicholas was b. on or after Mar. 5, 1668/9.
Stiles' "Ancient Wethersfield" (1904, 2:42) published sketch of the Dr. Nicholas Ayrault family was augmented by material provided by a stated descendant. The sketch says, in part, that Nicholas arrived at New England soon after 1687 and married at Rhode Island, Marian Bretoun, who he had met during the voyage to America. Thereafter they settled at Wethersfield. Unfortunately, Stile's outline of the children is confused and/or not well edited with confusing and poorly placed footnotes.
On an unknown date and place, Dr. Nicholas Ayrault m. Marian Bretoun, as her surname is inscribed on the tabletop cenotaph. They first appear in the Springfield, Mass. vital records where is recorded the birth of Mary, "dau. of Nycolas and Mary Anna, b. Sept. 4, 1696." Thereafter they had three children recorded at Wethersfield, Conn.
As currently known, they had the following four children:
• i. Mary, b. per record at Springfield, Mass. Sept. 4, 1696 [Springfield VRs] and d. testate and unmarried at Wethersfield, Conn. per her gravestone, Aug. 13, 1778, Æ 84 (g.s. and Weth. VRs). Her will clearly states her brothers were Peter and Nicholas Ayrault of Wethersfield, to whom she left the major portion of her estate. Conversely, the Wethersfield Church Record says she was buried one week later on Aug. 20, 1778, Æ 85. Her gravestone implies she was b. on or after Aug. 14, 1694 whereas the church record implies she was b. as early as 1693. Based on Marian Bretoun's recorded age at death (i.e., b. on or after Aug. 28, 1681), Mary's gravestone implies that if Marian Bretoun was her mother Marian was only 13 years old at Mary's birth, highly suggestive that "Mary Anna" in the Springfield birth record was Nicholas Ayrault's first wife. The writer is inclined to more readily accept Mary was actually b. on the date stated in the Springfield record and that Mary's inscribed age at death is overstated by two years. This also implies that "Mary Anna" in the birth record was one and the same as Marian Bretoun, and that at dau. Mary's birth Marian was then at least 15 years old, still quite young. It further implies that Marian Bretoun was only 14 years old when she "married" her first husband.
• ii. Esther Ayrault, b. at Wethersfield Mar. 5, 1698/9; no further record is known of her.
• iii. Peter Ayrault, b. Dec. 4, 1702 at Wethersfield, buried Oct. 28, 1779 at Wethersfield (Weth. Ch. Rec.); m. Nov. 12, 1744 at Wethersfield, the wid. Mary (Dodd) Francis, dau. of Edward Dodd, who was buried Aug. 17, 1776 at Wethersfield (ibid.) Six children of the family, including a child b. prior to their marriage, but who died in infancy. Mary had four children by her 1st husband, John Francis 3rd. Stiles' brief sketch of Peter Ayrault is flawed stating Peter was wife Mary's 2nd husband.
• iv. Capt. Nicholas Ayrault, Jr., b. Oct. 2, 1705 at Wethersfield, d. Apr. 29, 1775; m. at Wethersfield Apr. 17, 1730, Jane Stocking, who d. Oct. 26, 1783 at Wethersfield. Eight known children of the family, but only three of the 8 children survived beyond infancy.
Following Dr. Ayrault's death, his widow m. 2) as his 2nd wife, Lieut. William Goodrich, Jr., had four more children and d. at Wethersfield Aug. 27, 1741. See her memorial.
Dr. Ayrault's probate record was abstracted by Manwaring at his Hartford Probate District, v. 2, p. 14:
Probate Vol. VII, Page 146-7.
• Ayrault, Nicholas, Wethersfield, Physician. Will dated 2 March, 1705-6.
• I, Nicholas Ayrault, of Wethersfield, doe make this my last will and testament.
• Imprimis: I give unto my sonn Peeter Ayrault my gold buttons.
• And all the rest of my estate, goods, chattells and debts whatsoever, in France or elsewhere, not hereinbefore bequeathed, after my debts and funeral expenses be discharged, I doe give and bequeath to my dear and loveing wife Marian Ayrault, and make her my sole executrix.
• And all this estate before mentioned to be at the disposal of my wife Marian Ayrault so long as she continues a widow; but if she should marry again, then my will is that 2-3 of my estate shall be distributed among my children.
NICHOLAS AYRAULT, LS.
Witness: Moses Crafts, Stephen Hurlbutt, Philip Alcock.
• Court Record, Page 78--8 March, 1705-6: Will approved.
On the face of the known facts, combining his recorded date of death with the resulting family's apparent understanding of his age at death (the tabletop cenotaph) indicates Nicholas was b. on or after Mar. 5, 1668/9.
Stiles' "Ancient Wethersfield" (1904, 2:42) published sketch of the Dr. Nicholas Ayrault family was augmented by material provided by a stated descendant. The sketch says, in part, that Nicholas arrived at New England soon after 1687 and married at Rhode Island, Marian Bretoun, who he had met during the voyage to America. Thereafter they settled at Wethersfield. Unfortunately, Stile's outline of the children is confused and/or not well edited with confusing and poorly placed footnotes.
On an unknown date and place, Dr. Nicholas Ayrault m. Marian Bretoun, as her surname is inscribed on the tabletop cenotaph. They first appear in the Springfield, Mass. vital records where is recorded the birth of Mary, "dau. of Nycolas and Mary Anna, b. Sept. 4, 1696." Thereafter they had three children recorded at Wethersfield, Conn.
As currently known, they had the following four children:
• i. Mary, b. per record at Springfield, Mass. Sept. 4, 1696 [Springfield VRs] and d. testate and unmarried at Wethersfield, Conn. per her gravestone, Aug. 13, 1778, Æ 84 (g.s. and Weth. VRs). Her will clearly states her brothers were Peter and Nicholas Ayrault of Wethersfield, to whom she left the major portion of her estate. Conversely, the Wethersfield Church Record says she was buried one week later on Aug. 20, 1778, Æ 85. Her gravestone implies she was b. on or after Aug. 14, 1694 whereas the church record implies she was b. as early as 1693. Based on Marian Bretoun's recorded age at death (i.e., b. on or after Aug. 28, 1681), Mary's gravestone implies that if Marian Bretoun was her mother Marian was only 13 years old at Mary's birth, highly suggestive that "Mary Anna" in the Springfield birth record was Nicholas Ayrault's first wife. The writer is inclined to more readily accept Mary was actually b. on the date stated in the Springfield record and that Mary's inscribed age at death is overstated by two years. This also implies that "Mary Anna" in the birth record was one and the same as Marian Bretoun, and that at dau. Mary's birth Marian was then at least 15 years old, still quite young. It further implies that Marian Bretoun was only 14 years old when she "married" her first husband.
• ii. Esther Ayrault, b. at Wethersfield Mar. 5, 1698/9; no further record is known of her.
• iii. Peter Ayrault, b. Dec. 4, 1702 at Wethersfield, buried Oct. 28, 1779 at Wethersfield (Weth. Ch. Rec.); m. Nov. 12, 1744 at Wethersfield, the wid. Mary (Dodd) Francis, dau. of Edward Dodd, who was buried Aug. 17, 1776 at Wethersfield (ibid.) Six children of the family, including a child b. prior to their marriage, but who died in infancy. Mary had four children by her 1st husband, John Francis 3rd. Stiles' brief sketch of Peter Ayrault is flawed stating Peter was wife Mary's 2nd husband.
• iv. Capt. Nicholas Ayrault, Jr., b. Oct. 2, 1705 at Wethersfield, d. Apr. 29, 1775; m. at Wethersfield Apr. 17, 1730, Jane Stocking, who d. Oct. 26, 1783 at Wethersfield. Eight known children of the family, but only three of the 8 children survived beyond infancy.
Following Dr. Ayrault's death, his widow m. 2) as his 2nd wife, Lieut. William Goodrich, Jr., had four more children and d. at Wethersfield Aug. 27, 1741. See her memorial.
Dr. Ayrault's probate record was abstracted by Manwaring at his Hartford Probate District, v. 2, p. 14:
Probate Vol. VII, Page 146-7.
• Ayrault, Nicholas, Wethersfield, Physician. Will dated 2 March, 1705-6.
• I, Nicholas Ayrault, of Wethersfield, doe make this my last will and testament.
• Imprimis: I give unto my sonn Peeter Ayrault my gold buttons.
• And all the rest of my estate, goods, chattells and debts whatsoever, in France or elsewhere, not hereinbefore bequeathed, after my debts and funeral expenses be discharged, I doe give and bequeath to my dear and loveing wife Marian Ayrault, and make her my sole executrix.
• And all this estate before mentioned to be at the disposal of my wife Marian Ayrault so long as she continues a widow; but if she should marry again, then my will is that 2-3 of my estate shall be distributed among my children.
NICHOLAS AYRAULT, LS.
Witness: Moses Crafts, Stephen Hurlbutt, Philip Alcock.
• Court Record, Page 78--8 March, 1705-6: Will approved.
Inscription
The tabletop cenotaph as transcribed in 1899,
photographed and annotated in 2014
Doct. Nicholas Ayrault,
A French Huguenot,
Died May 6, 1706, aged 37.
Marian Bretoun,
his wife, died Aug. 27, 1741, aged 60.
Capt. Nicholas Ayrault [the youngest son]
died April 29, 1775, aged 70.
Jane Stocking,
his wife, died Oct. 26, 1783, aged 70.
Daniel Ayrault, [son of Capt. Nicholas]
died March 8, 1807, aged 71.
Mary Balch,
his [2nd] wife, died Sept. 5, 1852, aged 100.
Daniel Ayrault [son of Daniel],
died Nov. 11, 1868, aged 82.
Hephsibah Kentfield,
his wife, died Aug. 23, 1871, aged 74.
[three of their children]
John Ayrault,
died June 19, 1837, aged 17.
Daniel Ayrault,
died Sept. 5, 1846. aged 7.
Mary M. Ayrault,
died April 29, 1895, aged 69.
Family Members
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