Foote Family Association of America Inc

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Page 1 Who Are We? The Foote Family Association of America was organized during October of 1984 in step with the 350th anniversary of the settlement of Wethersfield by ten adventurers in 1634.

(FFAA) is the reorganization of the original Association of Foote descendants who trace their roots back to the early 1500's in England.

1 Page 1 Who Are We? The Foote Family Association of America was organized during October of 1984 in step with the 350th anniversary of the settlement of Wethersfield by ten adventurers in Our ancestor Nathaniel Foote was one of those Ten Adventurers. The Foote Family Association of America, Inc. (FFAA) is the reorganization of the original Association of Foote descendants who trace their roots back to the early 1500's in England. Redediction of the Monument during the Foote Family Conference in 1999 The Original Association The original Foote Family Association of America was organized in Wethersfield, Connectcut in This chapter was active until about On September 17th,1908 the original association placed the "Nathaniel Foote Memorial Monument" on the village green, which is the site of the Nathaniel Foote's homestead. This monument was restored and rededicated during the 1984 Education Conference, and again rededicated in August 2009 during the 2009 Foote Family Education Conference. Original Monument Dedication 1907 Reunion The current chapter has been together more than 34 years and has more than 400 members. Most members are the descendants of Nathaniel Foote of Wethersfield, CT; Pasco Foote of Salem, MA; Richard Foote of Virginia. Some members may find that they are descendants of other "Footes". Our Coat-of-Arms Page 1

2 Page 2 What Can We Offer? As a result of many years of researching family histories, we have amassed a great deal of information about our ancestors and their movements from Colchester, England to Wethersfield, CT. We offer Information about our early ancestors and how they come to be in america.. We feature information on the footsteps of Nathaniel Foote & Elizabeth Deming From Colchester, England to Wethersfield, CT, with information on Pasco Foote the brother of Nathaniel. Who are our Ancestors? As far as can be determined from available publications and sources the majority of the Foote families of America are all descended with few exceptions from either Nathaniel Foote of Colchester England, who initially settled Watertown, Mass, or Pasco Foote who settled in Salem Mass. Source: (Article in Footeprints - Summer 1999 Issue - The Foote Family Association Of America) The period of time encompasses some 488 years from the birth of our oldest ancestor in 1530 to the present. elder) and William Foote descended out of Cornwall, England who were dispatched by their father Nicholas (who was a London merchant) to Stafford, King George County, Virginia. Richard and William are not thought to be related to Nathaniel or Pasco.? Their Arrival In America Accepted data from the period indicates that only a few colonists arrived in New England in the years immediately following the arrival of the Mayflower. As an example, It is known that in the spring of 1630, about 1500 people crossed the Atlantic in one expedition organized and led by John Winthrop, first Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. See more information about our family on the Foote Family History Page at Soon after Governor Winthrop's 1630 expedition Nathaniel Foote, his family, and Pasco Foote decided to seek their fortunes in the New World. According to tradition, they left their homes in Colchester and sailed to Plymouth Massachusetts on the brig, Fortune. Source: "Foote History and Genealogy - Book 1, By Abram Foote, Published 1907 " There were two brothers, Richard (the Page 2

3 Page 3 Membership in the FFAA The Foote Family Association of America (FFAA) is intended to be the reorganization of the original Foote Family Association of America formed June 5, 1907, at Wethersfield, Connecticut. It is an organization, which formed to preserve the records of the family posterity and to provide the means for reviving, forming, and perpetuating Foote Family friendships and associations. We trace our roots back to the early 1500's in England. As a result of many years of researching family histories, we have amassed a great deal of information about our ancestors and their movements from Colchester England to this country. The period of time involved encompasses some 488 years from the birth of our oldest ancestor born in the year 1530 to the present. We are in no way related to the Foote Family Association of North America, although. Of course their members are welcome in this association. Cultivation of friendship between all Foote Family Associations, either formal or informal, is a purpose of this organization. Who Can Join the FFAA Membership in this Association is open to all descendants of the Foote name, along with their husbands, wives, children, and widows or widowers. Membership is a family Membership which includes husband, wife, and their children under 18 years of age. The Benefits of Membership A Biennial Foote Family Education Conference - The Foote Family Association of America, Inc. holds a Foote Family Education Conference every two years The conference is hosted by the president of the Foote Family Association of America. Each conference is held in a different location in our country. The next conference will be held in A Quarterly Newsletter - A quarterly Newsletter of family activities, history and genealogical events. Aquire Historical and Collectible Items - An opportunity to acquire historical and collectible items, with the family crest applied from The Foote Shoppe, which will fund the Association and several foundation-type activities. Contributing Member - The opportunity to become a contributing member that develops, preserves and perpetuates the Association for our heritage through building family values and associations. Genealogical Assistance - Assistance from the Association in developing your own genealogy from our extensive Foote history files. Page 3

4 Page 4 How to join the FFAA All of the above for the modest sum of $15.00 for a one-year membership or $28.00 for two years, renewable at the end of each calendar year. Just complete one of the membersip applications listed below. Membership Applications: If you would like to become a member, you can obtain an application form in one of two different ways. Microsoft Word Format Microsoft word If you have Microsoft Word installed on your computer you can download a Microsoft Word document with the application form at Once opened print out the page to fill out the form. Adobe PDF Format In Adobe pdf Format If you do not have Microsoft Word you can print the application in Adobe Acrobat format at Once opened print out the page to fill out the form. Mail Membership Applications to: Robert Foote, 7781 N Avenida de Carlotta Tucson, AZ, Page 4

5 Page 5 Our Coat of Arms The Coat of Arms displayed on this page has been held by the family since the first generation in America. Our ancestors have endorsed and handed down this arms for the last 424 years. The colors Are: Silver - The shield is silver in color. Black - The Chevron is sable or black which is the emblem of firmness or fidelity. In the Dexter quarter the symbol of the black clover leaf represents the clover field in which the oak tree stood Natural - - On the crest an oak tree (natural color) in which King Charles II was hidden. The oak leaves around the shield are also in natural color. How was the Arms bestowed? In the old days Coats of Arms were often ordered struck and given to individuals by their king for acts of fortitude and fidelity. It was for such an act that James Foote was given the above "Arms." There are two basic versions or stories that tell how and why the "Arms" was bestowed to our ancestor. In order to provide you with an accurate account of the two versions, we have copied the following excerpts from Vol I, of "Foote Genealogy and History", by Abram W. Foote. Version I ( Extracted from pages 7 and 9 of the above volume I) From a letter from Jirah Isham Foote, Esq (Belvidere, III, Dec 11, 1894) Dear Sir "In regard to the Foote Coat of Arms, I have in my possession what is said to be the original, and of which the one owned by the late Rev. Henery Ward Beecher is a copy. I also have a paper in the handwriting of my Great-grand father, Isaac Foote (No Which stated "The following is the King James tradition of the Foote Family Coat of Arms. The Coat of Arms, which I have heard from my early youth, and has been generally believed by my relations and ancestors, so far as I am informed. It was copied by my mother from a writing of the Hon; Isaac Foote (No 247), and was found with the Coat of Arms among his effects: Page 5

6 Page 6 A Coat of Arms was bestowed on the family of Footes' for the following reasons: In a war between the English and the Scots, King James was in imminent danger of being killed or taken Worcester was fought Sept. 3, Cromwell, with 30,000 men fell upon Worcester and attacked it, meeting with little resistance. The entire Scottish army was either killed or captured. prisoner, and James Foote, a trusty officer, escorted him to a certain wood, where was a large oak tree, the trunk whereof was hollow, he concealed the king, unknown to anyone, until he obtained a safer retreat. And for the act of fortitude and fidelity the king ordered the Coat of Arms to be struck and given The king, Charles the Second, was obliged to fly. He fled some twenty six miles with fifty of his friends, when it was deemed wise for him to separate from his companions. The Earl of Derby advised him to go to Boscobel. At Boscobel lived one Penderell, a farmer, to whom the king entrusted himself. to the said James Foote. The chevron in the center of the card is an emblem of firmness and fidelity." We trace our ancestor from this same James Foote." In Hume's History of England, Vol V, page , is a similar incident related of Kings Charles I, so much resembling the tradition in regard to James, his immediate predecessor, as to give rise to the query whether the tradition had not changed the name of the King in passing from memory of one to another so many times. Version II (Extract copied in part from page 9 and 10, Vol I) Extract from a letter written by Lewis Ray Foote on Aug , from Brooklyn, New York. The histories narrate the story somewhat as follows: The battle of Penderel with the assistance of his four brothers, took the king clothed him in garb like their own, led him into a neighboring wood and pretended to employ themselves in cutting fagots (sticks). For better concealment the King climbed an oak tree, where he sheltered himself among the leaves an branches for twenty four hours. This tree was afterwards called the Royal Oak. The story, as it has been handed down by our ancestors, is that one James Foote, an officer of King Charles the second's army, concealed the King in his flight from Cromwell, after the battle of Worcestor, at a place called Boscobel, in an oak tree, which was located in a clover field: for which the act of chivalry Foote was Knighted, the Page 6

7 Page 7 distinct features of the Arms being an oak tree and a clover leaf. The motto of the arms was "Loyalty and Truth." Additional Historical Notes From a letter from Jirah Isham Foote, Esq (Belvidere, III, Dec 11, 1894) The following is the pedigree of the ancient family of Footes, taken from authentic history. It appears that some time between A. D and 1635, three individuals by the names of Nathaniel, Caleb, and Pasco came to this country from Colchester, in England, and settled as follows: Pasco settled at Salem, Mass where there are now some of his descendants. Caleb is supposed to have died in Boston, without issue. Nathaniel, first settled at Watertown, Mass in He, with a number of others removed to Wethersfield, CT and were among the first that settled there. He had two sons named Nathaniel and Robert settled in the town of Branford, in the county of New Haven. Nathaniel the eldest, who settled in Wethersfield, married Margaret Bliss, of Springfield, Mass. He was the principle agent in getting the town of Colchester located and incorporated, and gave it the name Colchester (the name of the town of his nativity). See us on Facebook Just Search for "foote family" then click on "Foote Family Association of America" The Foote Family Association NeedsYou We need to fill two immediate position openings on our Board: They are: Treasurer and 1st Vice President. Although these positions are ideally filled by someone with experience with our Association, we will provide assistance as you learn the ropes. Also, please consider volunteering to become a Trustee, to be voted on at our next meeting, so that we can insure good continuity in our organization. Contact: Cynthia Foote (cynthiafoote@gmail.com) if you are interested FFAA Members Only We need help in our Foote Shoppe. We are looking for someone to manage our Footeshoppe" Store. If you are interested Contact: Cynthia Foote (cynthiafoote@gmail.com) Page 7

Why did people want to leave England and settle in America?

Why did people want to leave England and settle in America? The Protestant Reformation Martin Luther challenged the Roman Catholic Church Said (among other things) that the Bible was the source of God