Family-histories and genealogies : containing a series of ...

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It is probable that his highly educated mother's influence had at last
made itself felt, for family-tradition says that he was educated by her.
From about his fifteenth year till the time of his marriage, December 3,
I 702, to Sarah Drake, his cousin's daughter by descent from Mary Wolcott
who married Job Drake (see above)," he was in business as apprentice and
principal. Then, beginning a very happy married life, he settled himself
on " ' [his] own land,' " on the eastern side of Connecticut River. In 1707
he took " ' [his] first step in preferment,' " as Selectman for the town of
Windsor. The year 1 709 found him representing his tov^rn in the General
Assembly, and in 1710 he was raised to the Bench of Justices. In 171
he "went in the expedition against Canada, Commissary of the Connecti-
cut Stores." His promotion to higher and higher stations was constant:
a Member of the Council in 1714, a Judge of the County Court in 1721,
and of the Superior Court in 1732, Deputy-Governor and Chief Justice of
the Superior Court in 1741, the year 1745 called him to another sphere of
activity, in which he won new distinction. He was commissioned by
Governor Shirley of Massachusetts to take the second command, as Major-
General, under Pepperell, in the all-important expedition, then being fitted
out, for the capture of Louisburg." The Governor wrote thus to him :
" ' And
from my personal Knowledge of you, and the general Character you bear
of those Qualities which make you at least equal to this Trust, I do with the utmost
Chearfulness commit it to you. .
. .'
"
This trust was not misplaced, for history testifies to the great part he
bore in securing the happy results of the expedition. Not a little did he
contribute, it would appear, to inspiring and keepmg alive that religious
" The mother of Sarah Drake was Mrs. Elizabeth (Clark) Cook, a daughter of Hon. Daniel Clark
of Windsor— so tliat all descendants of Gov. Roger Wolcott are also descendants of that distinguished
Magistrate and Colonial Secretary. See Stiles's Anc. Windsor, ut supra, pp. 583-84.
" Hildreth says that Roger Wolcott was " appointed /y stipulation of the Connecticut Assembly!' in
connection with their vote of five hundred men, " second in command of the expedition"—The History
of the United States. ... By Richard Hildreth. New York, 1856, ii. 396.
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