On 28 February 1642/3, Robert Driver was a witness in the case of William Witter, who questioned infant baptism. We may assume that his testimony was not too adversarial, since Witter called him to witness his will of 5 August 1659

Robert Driver witnessed the will of William Witter of Lynn by signing his name on 5 August 1659

WILLIAM WITTER. Occupation: farmer. William was the first known of his family appearing in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts court in April 1657 stating as a farmer in Swampscot he was having problems with an Indian named Duke William. Duke William claimed William's house had been erected on the land where his wigwam had been. The case was settled amicably with a compromise satisfactory to both parties.(Larry Chesebro) Feb 28 1643. He was presented at the Court at Salem, for his conduct regarding infant baptism, he regarding it as a sinful rite. Aug 5 1659. Will. Ex., wife Annis. Witnesses, Robert Driver and Wm. Hacker. He mentions his son Josiah and daughter Hannah Burdett, wife of Robert Burdett. (His son, Josiah, went to Stonington, CT.) Inventory, 132 pounds, 11 s. 6 May 1659 Lynn, Essex County, MA wherein he gave one-half his estate to his wife and son Josiah. He only bequeathed an ewe and a lamb to Hannah, in one year after his death. Other sources say Will August 6, 1657, ½ est. to wife Annis, ½ to son Josiah m. April 16, 1639, Sussex, England. (Larry Chesebro) Title: History of Stonington, Connecticut, 1649 - 1900 Author: Richard Anson Wheeler Publication: New London, CT, Press of The Day Publishing Company, 1900 Media: WITTER GENEALOGY Georgia Cooper Washburn 1929, Pg. 13-15 Book Page: page 686 m. April 16, 1639, Sussex, England. (Larry Chesebro); Larry Bentley. Winget: Lists birth as December 17, 1587, Burial Lynn, MA Ancestral File BMFT-8S

William Witter, the first American ancestor of the Witter family of the United States and Canada, was born in England about the year 1584, as he was seventy-five when he died in 1659. His surname is one of the earliest found in New England and appears in various forms in the old records of this country and of England, -- as Witter, Whitter, Witton, and Whitton. One branch of the Whitter or Witter, family was of Broomehall, in Sussex, England, in the reign of Edward IV. A descendant of this family was Thomas Whitter of Exeter, Devonshire, who was an officer in Cromwell's army. This affiliation with he Parliamentary Party, and hence with the Puritan movement, which contributed largely to the settlement of New England, may indicate a probable connection between the Devonshire family and the Witters of Early Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island, of which William Witter was the first American Ancestor.

William was living in Massachusetts as early as 1639, at which date he was probably of Swampscott, near Lynn. At a later period he was a resident of Swampscott, although his i mention in some of the records of Lynn. THe record of this arrival in New England is preserved in an old manuscript, written by his descendant, Samuel Witter, of the sixth generation, entitled: "The Genaligy of the Witters from their first arival fromm England to America, drawn from the Original, March the 20th AD 1773 by Samuel Witter", and the first entry is as follows:
"William Witter in his voiage from old England to America with his wife his son Josiah & daughter Hannah, arrived at Lynn in the Massachusetts Bay, where Josiah married Elisabeth Wheeler and Hannah married Thomas Barden. Said William Witter died at Lynn, his Widows Name was Hannah. She came with her Son Josiah to Stonington and Lived to a Great Age."

1. 2. Hannah WITTER   b. 1635/1642, Swampscott, Essex County, Massachusetts; d. 1696, Woodstock, Windham County, Connecticut.
2. 3. Josiah WITTER   b. 1638/1840, England or Swampscott/Lynn, , Massachusetts; d. 1685/1691, Stonington, New London County, Connecticut.

Title: History of Stonington, Connecticut, 1649 - 1900 Author: Richard Anson Wheeler Publication: New London, CT, Press of The Day Publishing Company, 1900 Media: Book Page: page 686 m. April 16, 1639, Sussex, England. (Larry Chesebro). Winget: Birth 1640. Ancestral File #: GBFS-KQ. Ellen Marie Ashton shows birth 1640, death Woodstock VT

JOSIAH WITTER 160 Allied Families, page 75. Son of William and Annie Witter.
Swamp Yankee, by James Allyn, page 36. Soon after his marriage in 1662, he bought a large tract of land in the center of Stonington; now the south part of North Stonington, where he lived for the rest of his life.
One Hundred & Sixty Allied Families, page 276. Married 2nd Sarah Crandall daughter of John.
Genealogical and Family History of CT: "He settled at Stonington, CT, soon after his marriage. He bought large tracts of land and built a house near Thomas Wheeler's, where all his children were born. His house was at what is now North Stonington near the place lately owned (1911) by James T. Brown." Lists his second marriage and children.
Daughters of Am. Colonists Lineage Books, Vol. 10: Josiah Witter (1638-90).Deputy to the General Court from Stonington, 1667-71. Married 1662. Vol.15 reports most of the above and adds he was an original landowner in Stonington,1667.
Gen. Dictionary of 1st Settlers of N.E., Vol. 4: Josiah Witter, married Feb. 25, 1662.
N.E. Marriages Prior to 1700: Lived 1638-1690; married (1) Feb. 25, 1661/62 Elizabeth Wheeler; (2) Sarah Crandall, after Aug. 5, 1672, implying Elizabeth died that date, since it lists a 1672 death date for her. Josiah and Elizabeth resided in Lynn after marriage.
Boston Evening Transcript: Married 25 Feb, 1662, Lynn, Mass.; died before the end of 1689.
History of Stonington indicates he was born in Lynn area of Essex County and came to Stonington soon after marriage. He bought land near the residence of Thomas Wheeler, his father-in-law. Lived there the rest of his life, and all his children were born there.
Genealogies of Connecticut Families: "Died at Stonington About Middle aged."
C.M. Babcock: Josiah Witter's name was on a 15 Nov. 1670 register of the inhabitants of Stonington, CT, on the Pawcatuck River.
De Forest: Josiah, probably born in 1640; died perhaps in 1685, but certainly before 1690, at Stonington. Married (1) 25 Feb. 1662, Elizabeth Wheeler; (2) Sarah Crandall.
160 Families: Josiah Witter, died before 1691; married (1) 25 Feb. 1662 Elizabeth Wheeler, (2) Sarah Crandall, daughter of John Crandall.
Virkus: Josiah Witter (probably 1640-1685); married (2) Sarah Crandall.
NEHGR: Josias (sic) Witter married Elizabeth Wheeler 25 Feb. 1662. They had Elizabeth, born 15 March 1663, and Mary, born 20 Feb. 1665 (Lynn, MA, records).
Harold J. Witter: Josiah Witter, born in 1638 in Swampscott, Mass., or in England; died Stonington, Conn., probably in 1685. Married Elizabeth Wheeler 25 Feb. 1662, at Lynn. Josiah, his mother, wife and child moved from Lynn to Stonington between 1662 and 1666. Listed in the 2 Feb. 1666 census of Stonington. He purchased 80 acres in what is now North Stonington and near the residence of his father-in-law, Thomas Wheeler. On 12 April 1670 he bought 100 acres from Thomas Park (Parke) of New London, land Park(e) had been granted by the town of Stonington. He also owned large tracts of land on which the town of Hopkinton, R.I., was founded. [This may be land that came to him through his second wife, Sarah Crandall, whose father was among the original purchasers of land comprising Westerly, from which Hopkinton was formed.
Witter Family: Josiah Witter, 1638-1685.
From Lawrence Bentley: (Source: WITTER GENEALOGY Georgia Cooper Washburn 1929, Pg. 15 & 19, #2 Josiah Witter, b 1638, Probably Swampscott, died 1690; Married Elizabeth Wheeler, Feb. 25, 1662.) was born 1638 in Swampscott, Essex, Massachusetts, and died 1690 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut. He married (1) ELIZABETH WHEELER (Source: WHEELER FAMILY IN AMERICA, -Descendants of Thomas Wheeler--Stonington, CT Inez E. Coolby-Brayton, 1934, Pg. 290, #3902 Elizabeth Wheeler, b. 1648, d. Aug. 5, 1672; married Josiah Witter, Dec. 25, 1661.) February 25, 1661/62 in Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts (Source: HISTORY OF STONINGTON, CONNECTICUT Richard Anson Wheeler 1900, Pg. 686, "Josiah Witter (No. 2) m. 1st, Elizabeth (No. 3), daughter of Thomas & Mary Wheeler, in Lynn, MA, Feb. 25, 1662."), daughter of THOMAS WHEELER and MARY BECKLEY. She was born 1648 in Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts, and died August 05, 1672 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut. He married (2) SARAH CRANDALL (Source: WITTER GENEALOGY Georgia Cooper Washburn 1929, Pg. 20, "second wife , Sarah, daughter of Rev. John Crandall.) Aft. 1672, daughter of JOHN CRANDALL. Notes for JOSIAH WITTER: From Pg. 19 WITTER GENEALOGY On April 12, 1670, Thomas Park of New London, sold to "Josiah Witter of Stonington" one hundred acres of land which had been granted to the said Park by the town of Stonington. It is said that Josiah Witter's first house in Stonington was a little north of the modern residence of Colonel James Brown. (This would be in North Stonington) More About JOSIAH WITTER: Note 1: 1638, Birth is recorded in 1638 at Swampscott, near Lynn. However, old record by Samuel Witter states that Josiah came on the ship with his father. Note 2: Witter Genealogy, Pg. 19 confirms marriage information given in HISTORY OF STONINGTON Note 3: February 26, 1665/66, Mentioned as being in Stonington in Thomas Minor Diary Will: November 24, 1685, Will indexed in Salem, MA on this date Marriage: February 25, 1661/62, Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts (Source: HISTORY OF STONINGTON, CONNECTICUT Richard Anson Wheeler 1900, Pg. 686, "Josiah Witter (No. 2) m. 1st, Elizabeth (No. 3), daughter of Thomas & Mary Wheeler, in Lynn, MA, Feb. 25, 1662.")
More About JOSIAH WITTER and SARAH CRANDALL: Marriage: Aft. 1672
Winget: Shows 1638 Swampscott-1690 Stonington, Ancestral File #: 25JR-MH

1. 4. Elizabeth WITTER   b. 15 Mar 1661/1663; d. 1733.
2. 5. Mary WITTER   b. 20 Feb 1664/1665.
3. 6. Ebenezer WITTER   b. 25 Mar 1668, Stonington, New London County, Connecticut; d. 12 Jan 1712, Preston, New London County, Connecticut; bur. Preston Plains, New London County, Connecticut.

1. 7. John WITTER   b. 11 Mar 1676/1678, Stonington, Conneticut/Swampscott, Massachusetts; d. 1726/1727, Essex County, Mass/Stonington, Conneticut.
2. 8. Sarah WITTER   b. From 7 Feb 1678 to 9 Feb 1680, Stonington, , Conneticut/Preston, , Conneticut.
3. 9. Hanna-Hannah WITTER   b. 17 Mar 1681; d. Connecticut.
4. 10. Abigail WITTER   b. 14 Aug 1684, Stonington, New London County, Connecticut.

History of Stonington, Connecticut, 1649 - 1900Author: Richard Anson Wheeler Publication: New London, CT, Press of The Day Publishing Company, 1900 Media: Book Page: 638. Winget: March 15, 1662, Stonington, CT-1733Ancestral File #: GBFS-CP

History of Stonington, Connecticut, 1649 - 1900 Author: Richard Anson Wheeler Publication: New London, CT, Press of The Day Publishing Company, 1900 Media: Book Page: pages 526 and 638.
IGI, North America Author: LDS Publication: Family Search(r), v3.06 - 4.01 Media: Church Record Text: Film Numbers: 1760806 and 1760835.
Ancestral File (See "Facts" for AFN) Author: LDS Publication: Family Search(r) Ancestral File v4.19 Media: Church Record. From Larry Bentley: Source: WITTER GENEALOGY Georgia Cooper Washburn 1929, Pg. 20, Elizabeth Witter, child of Josiah and Elizabeth Witter; born Feb. 20, 1665.) was born February 20, 1664/65 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut. She married JOHN PARKE (Source: PARKE FAMILIES OF CONNECTICUT Frank Sylvester Parks, 1906, Pg. 32 & 38, #14 More About JOHN PARKE and MARY WITTER: Marriage: February 09, 1684/85, Stonington, New London, Connecticut
Winget: 1665 birth Ancestral File #: CRB7-5S

EBENEZER WITTER. Ebenezer and his half brother John relinquished all their right, title, and interest in and to their late father's estate, by giving to the administrator thereof a receipt in full discharge in the year 1689. John, also by his receipt, relinquished all right, title, and claim against his mother, Sarah Crandall Witter Button. Ebenezer removed to Preston, New London County, Connecticut where he became a prominent and useful citizen.
Source: Title: History of Stonington, Connecticut, 1649 - 1900 Author: Richard Anson Wheeler Publication: New London, CT, Press of The Day Publishing Company, 1900 Media: Book Page: pages 250 and 638.
Winget and Dale and Ruth Robinson shows birth as May 28,
Christening: 28 May 1668 Stonington, New London, Connecticut,
Burial: Preston Plains, New London, Ct
Ancestral File #: 8R4P-FD. Winget shows a marriage in 1690 to Sarah Tefft - other records show her marrying John Witter

"To the memory of Deacon Ebenezer Witter who departed this life Jan. the 12th, 1712, in the 44th year of his age. Seake for the kingdom of Heaven Deal justly Love mercy Walk humbly."

1. 11. Elizabeth WITTER   b. 3 Mar 1694, Preston, New London County, Connecticut; d. 21 Feb 1739/1741, Preston Plains, New London County, Connecticut.
2. 12. Mary WITTER   b. 2 Mar 1696, Preston, New London County, Connecticut; d. 21 Feb 1740.
3. 13. Josiah WITTER   b. 12 Jun 1698, Preston, New London County, Connecticut; d. 20 Sep 1698, Preston, New London County, Connecticut.
4. 14. Joseph WITTER   b. 12 Jun 1698, Preston, New London County, Connecticut; d. 1791, Preston Plains, New London County, Connecticut.
5. 15. Ebenezer WITTER, Jr.   b. 30 Nov 1699, Preston, New London County, Connecticut; d. 19 Sep 1789, Canterbury, Windham County, Connecticut.
6. 16. Dorothy WITTER   b. 11 Dec 1702; d. 30 Apr 1779.
7. 17. Hannah WITTER   b. 26 Feb 1705, Stonington, New London County, Connecticut; d. 30 Apr 1753, Stonington, New London County, Connecticut.
8. 18. William WITTER   b. 24 May 1707, Preston, New London County, Connecticut; d. 8 Sep 1798, Preston, New London County, Connecticut.
9. 19. Abigail WITTER   b. 24 Jan 1711, Preston, New London County, Connecticut; d. 31 Jan 1712, Preston, New London County, Connecticut.
10. 20. Josiah WITTER   b. 24 Jan 1711, Preston, New London County, Connecticut.

JOHN WITTER: John was admitted freeman in Westerly, Washington County, Rhode Island in 1702 where he became prominent and a large landholder which possessed by his descendants many years later. John and his half brother Ebenezer relinquished all their right, title and interest in and to their late father's estate, by giving to the administrator thereof a receipt in full discharge in the year 1689. John, also by his receipt, relinquished all right, title, and claim against his mother, Sarah Crandall Witter Button. Genealogies of Connecticut Families; Westerly and Its Witnesses; Virkus; Harold John Witter.
Gen of Conn Fams: "January 1755 John Witter Now Liveing In Westerly aged near 78 years hath had two Wives & a Great Number of Children. And to his two Sons Joseph and John are Children also Born."
Westerly: John Witter named a freeman in Westerly in 1727.
Virkus: John Witter, Hopkinton, R.I., born 1677; married (1) Sarah Tefft. Witter: John Witter, born Stonington, Conn., 11 March 1677-8.
Virkus; Babcock and Allied Families by Louis E. De Forest.
De Forest: Sarah Tefft, daughter of Samuel, died before 16 March 1725; married John Witter, born 11 March 1677; died Westerly, RI, in August 1757.
Georgia C. Washburn: "Witter Genealogy"; Nat'l. Historical Co.; New York; 1929; pp 24-25. Ebenezer and his half brother John relinquished all their right, title, and interest in and to their late father's estate, by giving to the administrator thereof a receipt in full discharge in the year 1689. John, also by his receipt, relinquished all right, title, and claim against his mother, Sarah Crandall Witter Button.

The ancient genealogy of the family, of which Smuel Witter made a copy in 1773, gives the following record of John Witter of Westerly:
"January 1755 John Witter now liveing in westerly aged Near 78 years hath had two wives and a great number of children and to his two Sons Joseph and John are children born. farewell westerly. August 1757 John Witter died aged 80 years."

Genealogies of Connecticut Families, Vol. 2; Harold John Witter. Families: (Records copied verbatim from entries found in an old account book belonging to the Witter family of Ontario Co., N.Y.). Sarah and Peter had children. Not named.
Witter: Sarah Witter, born Stonington, Conn., 7 Feb. 1679/80. Genealogies of Connecticut Families, Vol. 2. (Records copied verbatim from entries found in an old account book belonging to the Witter family of Ontario Co., N.Y.);
Harold John Witter. Families: Calls him Peter Tift of Westerly. Witter: Peter Tefft, died 1725. Son of Samuel Tefft and Elizabeth Jenckes.
Virkus says Peter Tefft, married Mary Witter. History of Stonington, Connecticut, 1649 - 1900 Author: Richard Anson Wheeler Publication: New London, CT, Press of The Day Publishing Company, 1900 Media: Book Page: page 687

Harold John Witter; Genealogies of Connecticut Families. Families: Hannah Witter. Had children by Thomas Parke.
Witter: Hannah Witter, born 17 March 1680/81, Stonington, Conn. Genealogies of Connecticut Families, Vol. 2. (Records copied verbatim from entries found in an old account book belonging to the Witter family of Ontario Co., N.Y).
History of Stonington, Connecticut, 1649 - 1900 Author: Richard Anson Wheeler Publication: New London, CT, Press of The Day Publishing Company, 1900 Media: Book Page: page 687.
Rogers Family Records Author: Janet Marie Rogers Publication: 1998 Media: Letter. Everett Family Records Author: Oliver Everett Publication: 1998 Media: Letter.

Harold John Witter; Genealogies of Connecticut Families. Families:
Abigail Witter, born 14 Aug. 1684. Had children by John Freeman
Witter: Abigail Witter, born 14 Aug. 1684, Stonington, Conn.

Ancestral File (See "Facts" for AFN) Author: LDS Publication: FamilySearch(r) Ancestral File v4.19 Media: Church Record.
Winget shows 1694 birth and 1740 death. Ancestral file: 8R4P-GK

Winget: Ancestral File #: GBFR-V5

Winget: Christening: 14 Aug 1698 Stonington, New London, Ct Ancestral File #: GBFR-WB

OSEPH WITTER. Baptism: 14 Aug 1698 Stonington, New London County, CT. Everett Family Records Author: Oliver Everett Publication: 1998 Media: Letter.
Ancestral File (See "Facts" for AFN) Author: LDS Publication: Family Search(r) Ancestral File v4.19 Media: Church Record.
Winget shows June 12 birth. Ancestral file: GBFR-XH

Winget: Burial Hanover CT; Ancestral File GBFR-ZN

History of Stonington, Connecticut, 1649 - 1900 Author: Richard Anson Wheeler Publication: New London, CT, Press of The Day Publishing Company, 1900 Media: Book Page: page 250.
Winget Ancestral File 8R4P-HQ Shows 1723 marriage date. Also shows another Brewster husband, file # 8R4P-Z5

Winget GBFQ-5D. also lists Ephriam Smith as husband, # 1KKJ-D07

1. 21. Jerusha SMITH   b. 20 Apr 1728, Stonington, New London County, Connecticut; d. 9 May 1751, Stonington, New London County, Connecticut.
2. 22. Grace SMITH   b. 8 May 1730, Stonington, New London County, Connecticut.
3. 23. Seth SMITH   b. 6 May 1733, Stonington, New London County, Connecticut; d. 16 Mar 1804, Stonington, New London County, Connecticut.

WILLIAM WITTER: Winget Ancestral File: GBFS-0S

Winget: Christening: 14 Feb 1711 Preston, New London, Ct
Ancestral File: GBFS-10

Winget Ancestral File GBFS-25