The Hendee family is quite large and I am only highlighting the main lines. I do have more information on the family. Contact me if you have questions. Ideally, you should visit and join the official Hendee family website: Our Family History: Genealogy of the Hendee Family.
The earliest known ancestor is Richard Oglesby Hendee who was born in 1565 in England and was buried in Dyrham, Gloucestershire, England. He married to Mary Charlotte Walker. He was said to have fled to America to escape the Huegenot persecution coming to America about 1637-39. One history says that he migrated from Normandy, France to England and then to Boston. :
He [Richard Hendee, II] was a descendant of a French Protestant family who for religious reasons were expelled from Normandy, and settled in England. Upon coming to America, he located in Boston among the first settlers.
Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Rutland County, Vermont
In addition, a post from: Geneanet.org says:
I am searching for my ancestors in France in or around the 1500s. The name has changed in various spellings. Some in the family feel it was first spelled “Ven Dee” and later in England changed to Hendee. Following is an excerpt from Hendee Family Research:
“From Mrs. F.C. [Frank Clark] Hendee [Jennie Florence Seitz Hendee] 2640 So. 13th St., Lincoln, Nebraska – Dear Cousin, The [Hendee] family lived originally in Normandy, France, the name being Ven Dee (or perhaps La VenDee) pronounced “Vong Day.” The prefix “Ven” being the same as “Van” in Holland and “Von” in German each denoting descent from royalty, the titles going to the eldest son of each family in direct line. When the Catholic persecutions drove the Huguenots or Protestants from France, the Ven Dees took up their abode in Denmark and England. It was during their sojourn in the latter land [England] that “V” was changed to “Haitch” [“H”]. [Letter from Jennie Florence Seitz Hendee to Mrs. Cora Sand of Prophetstown, Illinois – Feb 1930; transcribed by Cynthia Hendee Henry (1997)] “While in this letter, Jennie [Florence Seitz Hendee] correlates the “Ven” as descending from royalty, other notes state that our [Hendee] ancestors migrated from the “Vendee” region of France, changing to “Hendee” along the way.” [Letter from Cynthia Hendee Henry (1997)]
It is very possible that the name was originally Vendée and would explain the difficulty in finding the Hendee family in France. But another option should be considered. If it was originally De or La Vendee that might indicate that this was not their surname at all in France but rather a reference to where they were from. For more information on Vendee, France, check out this Wikipedia post. It shows the conflicts in France during the time of our Richard’s migration.
His son, Richard Hendee, II (Hendy, Hendie, Hendé, Handy) was born about 1611 in England and died on August 4, 1670 at Killingworth, Middlesex, Connecticut. He was one of the original proprietors of Norwich, Connecticut in 1660. He was a ship carpenter by trade and worked on vessels at New London, Connecticut, and Newport, Rhode Island. About 1665 he purchased a mill from John Elderkin on the Menunkatesuck river at Killingworth, Middlesex, Connecticut. More information on the Founder of Norwich Connecticut Memorial. Richard Hendee, II, brought to America a young son of 7-9 years of age, probably born in 1630 in England (Richard III). His other son, Caleb, had no children.
Richard Hendee, III born 1630 in England married in Killingworth, Middlesex, Connecticut to Hannah Elderkin (daughter of John Elderkin mentioned above) born in 1634. Their children:
Ensign Richard Hendee, IV
Richard was born April 1665 in Windham, Windham, Connecticut and died February 6, 1742 in Windham, Windham, Connecticut. He married in 1693 to Sarah Smith born September 6, 1670 in Groton, New London, Connecticut and died April 18, 1694 in Windham, Windham, Connecticut. They had one son:
Jonathan Hendee
Jonathan was born March 17, 1694 in Windham, Connecticut and died 1775 in Ellington, Tolland, Connecticut. He married first on March 20, 1718 in Windham, Connecticut to Rachel Knight. Rachel was born October 14, 1691 in Connecticut and died November 24, 1744. Her parents were David Knight and Sarah Backus. Jonathan and Rachel had the following children:
- Rebecca Hendee was born 1718 married Josiah Heth and second to Daniel Coggeshall.
- Zebulon Hendee was born 1719.
- Sarah Hendee was born 1721 married Phineas Manning.
- David Hendee was born 1723 married Bathsheba.
- Abigail Hendee was born 1725.
- Hannah Hendee was born 1728.
- Rachel Hendee was born 1731.
Jonathan’s second marriage was on February 12, 1740 in Coventry, Tolland, Connecticut to Martha Millington. Martha was born March 7, 1706 (or 1710?) in Coventry, Tolland, Connecticut and died in 1791 in Pittsford, Rutland, Vermont. She was the daughter of John Millington and Martha Reeve. Jonathan and Martha’s children:
- Rachel Hendee was born October 29, 1741 Coventry, Tolland, Connecticut and married July 8, 1764 in Dutchess, New York to Nathan MacWithey/McQuivey. Their children: Jonathan, Solomon, Joshua, Nathaniel, Betsey, Jonathan, Solomon, Nathan and Nathan.
- Jonathan Hendee was born March 27, 1743 in Coventry and died 1763 in Cuba.
- Richard Hendee was born June 14, 1744 in Coventry, Tolland, Connecticut and died April 1, 1794 in Pittsford, Rutland, Vermont. He married April 1, 1773 in Leroy, Genesee, New York to Hannah Pierson. Their children: Richard, Ephraim, Louis, Jesse, Hannah, Anna, David, John and Phebe.
- Deacon Caleb Hendee was born August 30, 1745 in Coventry, Tolland, Connecticut and died October 2, 1823 in Pittsford, Rutland, Vermont and married April 27, 1767 in Hartford, Connecticut to Caroline Ellsworth. See more on the Caleb Hendee family>>>
- Solomon Hendee was born November 14, 1746.
- Martha Hendee was born about 1748 in Connecticut and died 1782. She married 1767 in Pittsford, Rutland, Vermont (or Windsor, Connecticut), to Isaac Matson.
He married second on October 17, 1695 in Windham to Elizabeth Conant. Elizabeth was born to Exercise Conant and Sarah Andrews on June 18, 1677 in Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts and died September 23, 1762 in Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut. Their children:
- Hannah Hendee was born December 25, 1697 in Windham, Connecticut and died 1741 Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut, Connecticut and married November 15, 1722 in Windham, Connecticut to Jabez Carey.
- Sarah Hendee was born April 18, 1700 in Windham, Connecticut and married September 16, 1725 in Windham, Connecticut to John Hurd.
- Josiah Hendee was born March 6, 1702 in Windham, Connecticut and married January 9, 1728 in Ashford, Windham, Connecticut to Bathsheba (Barbara?) Larned was born 1708 in Sherborn, Massachusetts.
- Caleb Hendee was born March 12, 1704 in Windham, Connecticut and died January 19, 1725/26 in Windham, Connecticut.
- Joshua Hendee was born April 25, 1707 in Windham, Connecticut and married December 4, 1728 in Windham, Connecticut to Elizabeth Wheelock.
- Elizabeth Hendee was born April 28, 1710 in Windham, Connecticut and died September 23, 1762 in Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut, Connecticut and married about 1730 in Windham, Connecticut to Mr. Brown.
- Barzillai Hendee was born June 18, 1713 in Windham, Connecticut and married December 18, 1739 in Windham, Connecticut to Thankful Butler and died Woodbury, Litchfield, Connecticut.
- Asa Hendee was born August 25, 1715 in Windham, Connecticut and died April 7, 1788 in Coventry, Tolland, Connecticut, Connecticut and married January 31, 1738/39 in Windham, Connecticut to Mary Flint.
- Nathaniel Hendee was born August 14, 1718 Windham, Connecticut and died November 9, 1763 in Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut.
- Mary Hendee was born July 6, 1720 in Windham, Connecticut and married September 6, 1747 in Woodbury, Litchfield, Connecticut to Daniel Dudley.
Smith and Bliss Families
Elizabeth Bliss was born November 20, 1645 in Saybrook, Connecticut and died July 10, 1689 in New London, Connecticut. They were married June 7, 1663 in New London. Elizabeth Bliss’s parents were Thomas Bliss born 1618 Rodborough, England and died April 15, 1688 in Norwich, Connecticut. He married October 30, 1644 in Lyme, Connecticut to Elizabeth Birchard/Burchard. Elizabeth came with her parents from England arriving September 19, 1635 on the ship Trulove.
Thomas Bliss’s parents were Thomas Bliss, Sr., christened March 20, 1584 in Painswick, Gloucester, England, and Margaret Hulins was born Rodborough, Gloucester, England and died August 28, 1684 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Margaret’s parents were John and Margaret Hulins. John Hulins was born Rodborough, England and died 1639 in Rodborough, England at age 74. John Hulins parents were Henry and Joane Hulings.
Elizabeth Birchard (Burchard) was born November 1, 1621 in Terling, England and died February 28, 1699 in Norwich, Connecticut.
Millington
Also spelled Millenton. I believe the Millington line to start with John Millington, Sr. born in 1635 in Greater London, England and died March 29, 1720 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut. He married Sarah Smith on April 14, 1668 in Windsor, Connecticut. Sarah was born November 1, 1648 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts and died in 1721 in Hartford, Connecticut. Theyhad two sons, John and Henry (1679).
John Millington, Jr. born January 28, 1674 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut and died November 15, 1758 in Stafford, Tolland, Connecticut. He married Martha Reeve who was born March 1683 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut and died 1750 in Stafford, Tolland, Connecticut. Their children:
Martha Millington born March 7, 1706 in Coventry, Tolland, Connecticut and died 1791 in Pittsford, Rutland, Vermont. She married Jonathan Hendee (see above).
Samuel Millington was born in 1713 in Coventry, Tolland, Connecticut and died October 20, 1786 in Lebanon, Grafton, New Hampshire.
David Millington was born 1715 in Coventry, Tolland, Conecticut and died August 30, 1809 in Shaftsbury, Bennington, Vermont. David married in 1740 to Mary Wright (1721-1809).
Sarah Millington was born August 20, 1716 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut and died June 29, 1763 in Preston, New London, Connecticut. She married January 31, 1721/2 in Preston, Connecticut to William Ames.
Solomon Millington was born in 1722 (or April 17, 1718) in Coventry, Tolland, Connecticut and died May 9, 1755 in Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut. His probate was in Bennington, Vermont. He married Mehitable Kimball (1717-1792).
Mary Millington was born in September 24, 1724 in Connecticut and died May 16, 1803. She married December 8, 1747 to Elijah Fuller (1724-1799). Mary’s descendant, Walter W. Fuller joined The Michigan Society of the National Society Sons of the American Revolution through the Elijah Fuller line. National Number 72756, State Number 1984. Elijah was a “Green Mountain Boy”.
Hannah Millington was born June 4, 1724 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut and died August 5, 1791 in Dorset, Bennington, Vermont. She married Abraham Collins (1724-1811).
John Millington born August 1711 in Coventry, Connecticut.
I would appreciate help on this line as there are some inconsistencies.
Sources
Births, marriages, baptisms and deaths, from the records of the town and churches in Coventry, Connecticut, 1711-1844; by Dimock, Susan Whitney. p. 83
Caleb Hendee
Caleb was born about 1667 in Killingsworth, Middlesex, Connecticut and died same place.
Hannah Hendee
Hannah was born in 1668 in Connecticut and died January 20, 1742 in Rocky Hill, Hartford, Connecticut. She married January 14, 1685/6 to Samuel Belden/Belding, Jr. who was born January 3, 1665 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut and died December 27, 1738 same place. Their children:
- Samuel Belden, III. was born July 25, 1689 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut and died July 31, 1771 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut. He married Mary Spencer born June 9, 1692 in Haddam, Hartford, Connecticut and died October 28, 1751 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut. They had 11 children.
- Daniel Belden born February 14, 1691 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut and died March 31, 1774 in Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut. He married Margaret Clark, widow, daughter of Peter Blin on November 23, 1714. They had 5 children.
- Gideon Belden was born March 24, 1693 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut and died in December 7, 1733 on or along the Connecticut river in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut. He married February 7, 1711 to Elizabeth Seymor born 1692. They had 11 children.
- Prudence Belden born February 1, 1694 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut and died about 1733 in Westfield, Middlesex, Connecticut. She married John Crane and they had 8 children.
- Eunice Belden born about 1697 and died the same day.
- Richard Belden born April 18, 1699 and died about 1728.
- Matthew Belden born June 13, 1701.
- Hannah Belden born September 25, 1704.
- Possibly two unknown children.
Family information taken from A catalogue of the names of the first Puritan settlers of the colony of Connecticut, p. 191 and U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700 p. 60]
Cornelius Hendee
Cornelius was born about 1669 in Windham, Windham, Connecticut and died March 1730 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts.
Zacheus Hendee
Zacheus was born about 1671 in Windham, Windham, Connecticut and died about 1759.
Jonathan Hendee
Jonathan was born November 3, 1675 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts. If this is John Hendee, Sr. then he is listed as an ancestor in an SAR memberhsip application for Paul Handy and his father, John Henry, Jr. : National Number 6637, State Number 37 [U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. The Kansas Society]
There was at one time a Hendee Reunion Organization, Genealogy and History Committee based out of Portland, Michigan. The Historian/Secretary, (Lee W. Hendee) wrote a letter in 1959 to Cora Hendee Sand, daughter of Benjamin Glass and Emily Hendee requesting information and asking her if she would like to purchase a book. It is unknown whether Cora replied and no other correspondence has been found. I was able to get a copy of the book but it doesn’t answer the mystery of our own Hendee connection. However, DNA tests have proven that we are definitely descended from the Hendee family. The Hendee Reunion Organization hosted reunions almost every year for some time. Grace, Edna, and Cora Glass attended two of the reunions between 1948 and 1950 in Michigan. Their mother was Emily Morgan Hendee, daughter of Samuel Charles Hendee and Mary Eliza Mathews.
Our branch of the family thought there was money or land to be inherited in France as supposedly the Hendee family was nobility. There was a coat of arms that was lost during WWI. I have never found mention of Hendee or Hendee Hall anywhere in France. (There is a Hendecourt-lès-Cagnicourt) I have a letter from Laura Edith Holliday (Sister Edith Constance), Convent of the Transfiguration, Glendale, Ohio and these are her notes:
Laura Edith’s great-nephew was Frederic Holliday Mott and her grandmother was Laura Hendee (Elizabeth Laura Hendee). Hugh Keating McCorkle, Laura’s sister Josephine’s grandson inherited the family home and contents in Canaseraga, New York and moved them to his home in Portland (Michigan?). Laura had an uncle named Homer Holliday. Hugh was 19 years old and prisoner of war in German camp when his grandmother died. Lawyer handled estate and no knowledge of where family crest went. It was 9″ x 12″ greyish blue and had lions on it she remembered.
As I have mentioned earlier, the Hendee family has been in America for many generations prior to Charles’s birth, so I doubt there were any riches to be inherited in France.
One descendant, Lee Wayland Hendee worked tirelessly to collect Hendee family information and produced a huge family history book. I do have access to the book if you have questions.
Allied Families
Elderkin Family
John Elderkin (alternate spelling: Elderkyn) was a carpenter and miller and the first proprietor of the “Cove,” emigrated to America in 1637, coming first to Lynn and then to Dedham (Massachusetts). Mr. W. W. Chapin of Providence says he was in Providence, Rhode Island about 1650 when his son-in-law Daniel Comstock was there. As Elderkin must have had a family at the time, this would furnish a motive for the migration of Daniel from Providence to New London. On September 16, 1643, John sold a new watermill in Linn [Lynn], Massachusetts to Samuel Bennett. John is considered one of the original founders of Connecticut.
John was born about 1616, baptized December 3, 1616 in Middlesex, England (father may have been John, Sr.) and died June 22, 1687 in in Norwich, New London, Connecticut. He married Abigail Perkin Kingsland/Kingslane in 1641 Lynn, Massachusetts. She was born in 1616 in England and died in 1660 in Massachusetts. John married second on March 1, 1659/60 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut to Elizabeth Drake. She was born in 1626 in West Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut (or 1621 in Devon, England) and died June 8, 1716 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut. She was the widow of William Gaylord (1617-1656). Her parents were John Drake (1585-1659) and Lettice Shakespear (1583-1623).
John and Abigail’s children:
- Paltiah Elderkin born 1630 in England, died February 21, 1713 in New London County, Connecticut. She married Daniel Comstock, Sr. (1630-1683).
- Hannah Elderkin born May 17, 1634 in Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts and died January 23, 1687 in Wethersfield, Connecticut. married Richard Hendee, Sr. (1610-1670).
- Anne Elderkin (possibly)
There is a lot of conflicting information on John’s birth and death locations. Another site dedicated to the Elderkin family can be found here.
Sources:
New England, The Great Migration and The Great Migration Begins, 1620-1635p
A Comstock Genealogy: Descendants of William Comstock of New London, Connecticut who died after 1662. Ten Generations. Edited by Cyrus B. Comstock, The Knickerbocker Press, New York 1907.
Sources
The above information was taken from several sources including genserv.com (now defunct), genforum.com, familysearch.org, WikiTree, and ancestry.com.
UK, Extracted Probate Records, 1269 – 1975
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. Vol. II, page 664. Copied by: Fairon James Smith, husband of Carolyn Geneva Whiting Smith. 1 Nov. 1954; William Whiting (about 1605) Collected Sources – https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/1720234.
Individuals whose information was on this site are:
(Holliday) Tracye Nachelle Brewer
(Hendee) George Walter Gildersleeve
(Ellsworth/Hendee) Paul Ellison
(Hendee) David and Jane Sencer
(Hendee) Robert Reynolds
(Hendee) Janis De Lay
(Elizabeth Wheelock-Joshua Hendee) Rick Sullivan
George Richmond. Book of Biographies: Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Rutland County, Vermont (Buffalo, N.Y.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899), pp. 319-320, 323.
Special thanks to Dave Petrie.
Query 1
I am a descendant of Harriet Hendee. She married my ggggrandfather Ira R. Blackmer. Her parents were Abner Hendee and Polly Atwood. I know she had a brother Frank that married a Elizabeth________?. Harriet was married to Ira for avery short time. He left her and she married Andrew Mead. The location is Newark, Wi. and Beloit Wi. [Melissa’s email is no longer valid]
Query 2
I am also trying to find out more about the Hendee families. My grandmother was a Hendee. She is from Vermont. She was born in 1902. Her name is Laura May Hendee, married a Socia. Her fathers name was John Walter Hendee of Grand Isle, Vermont. Do any of these people sound familar to you?
Thank you
Wanda Menix
Plaistow, NH.
George Hendee and Indian Bicycles and Motorcycles
George Mallory Hendee, son of William Goodell Hendee, was the owner of Hendee Manufacturing and invented the Indian Motocycle.
George was inducted into the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame. He compiled an unbelievable string of undefeated victories in national high wheel bicycle races at the end to the 19th century. Training requirements led him to attach a motor to a bicycle so his coaches could keep up with him and this eventually led to his co-founding the “Indian Motocycle Company.” [correct spelling]
A Tribute to the Life and Careers of George Mallory Hendee, a book by his niece, June Hale Cook begins with family, on to his bicycling career, motorcycle career and the Shriner’s Hospital, with sections about his overseas YMCA work during WWI, marriage, photos of his mansion and farm called Hilltop.
June was very close to George Hendee and spent a lot of time with him at his home and farm as a child. George had no children of his own. June inherited many wonderful old pictures from George’s life as well is interesting information on his Hendee ancestors and relatives.
George’s farm in Suffield, Connecticut has been preserved and is quite active. Visit their site for more information.
Wikipedia.org article on George M. Hendee
George’s line: Richard Hendee, Sr.>Richard Hendee, Jr.>Josiah Hendee>Caleb Hendee>Abel Hendee>William Hendee>George Hendee
Additional Resources
Our Family History, Genealogy of the Hendee Family is an excellent site on Hendees.
U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970
Images of America, Around Pittsford by Peggy Armitage for Pittsford Historical Society, Inc.
History of the Town of Pittsford, Ot. [VT], with Biographical Sketches and Family Records by AM Gaverly.
New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation, Volume 3 pp. 1377-1378
Mayflower
Genealogies of Mayflower Families, Vol. II Richard Handy of Sandwich, Mass. (ca. 1645-1719) The Hendee family were not Mayflower descendants but someone did the research on the family so they included it in the book.
Last Updated on February 11, 2024 by rootie
Wondering about this record, could this be the child of ‘your’ Caleb Hendee who you say didn’t have children??
Mehetable Hendee’s birth was registered in 1764 in (Milford?) Connecticut, United States. She was the daughter of Caleb Hendee Or Hendy Or Hinde & Hannah Hendee Or Hendy Or Hinde.
”’Birth Registration”’:
“United States, Connecticut Town Vitals, The Barbour Collection Indexes”
[https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=US%2FGPC%2FIMAGES%2F9780806314433%2F0133&parentid=US%2FGPC%2F00651428 FindMyPast Image] – [https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=US%2FGPC%2F00651428 FindMyPast Transcription] (accessed 11 February 2024)
Mehetable Hendee Or Hendy Or Hinde birth 1764 in Connecticut, United States, daughter of Caleb Hendee Or Hendy Or Hinde & Hannah Hendee Or Hendy Or Hinde.
I looked at the page you were referring to and I think you are specifically talking about this paragraph:
“His son, Richard Hendee, II (Hendy, Hendie, Hendé, Handy) was born about 1611 in England and died on August 4, 1670 at Killingworth, Middlesex, Connecticut. He was one of the original proprietors of Norwich, Connecticut in 1660. He was a ship carpenter by trade and worked on vessels at New London, Connecticut, and Newport, Rhode Island. About 1665 he purchased a mill from John Elderkin on the Menunkatesuck river at Killingworth, Middlesex, Connecticut. More information on the Founder of Norwich Connecticut Memorial. Richard Hendee, II, brought to America a young son of 7-9 years of age, probably born in 1630 in England (Richard III). His other son, Caleb, had no children.”
Since this Caleb with no children was born about the same time as Richard who was born in 1630, he would been dead long before Mehetable’s birth. I was not able to access “findmypast” without purchasing a membership, but I did find the Connecticut Town Records on Ancestry. The birth record shows Mehetable as being the daughter of Caleb Hendee and Hannah Holmes. So, her line is Richard (1665) and Elizabeth Conant > Josiah Hendee and Bethsheba Larned > Caleb and Hannah Holmes.
Thanks for writing!