Every village has a founding couple. Ours has a legend — and a record. Today I’m giving you both, honestly, because that’s the pledge I made yesterday.
Watch the Ancestor of the Day short film:
The legend goes like this. Around 1740, Molly Barber of Wethersfield was forbidden by her parents from marrying the man of her choice. She declared she would marry the first man who offered himself. That man was James Chaugham, a Narragansett man from Block Island. They married — some versions say in secret — and left Wethersfield for the wilderness of Barkhamsted, where they raised a family and founded a community. The poet Lewis Sprague Mills put it in verse in 1932, and a thousand retellings followed.
That’s the story. Here is what I can tell you with a document in my hand.
I cannot find Molly’s birth record. I cannot find her marriage record. No one can — the historical sources say so plainly. What I CAN show you is the end of her life, itemized in a clerk’s handwriting.
In January 1821, the estate of “Mary Chogum, late of Barkhamsted” was inventoried: one iron kettle, $1.25. One small kettle, fifty cents. One old chest of drawers, fifty cents. Fourteen acres of land at ten dollars an acre. Total: $142.25. That was her whole world, appraised.
Her estate couldn’t cover her debts — the town of Barkhamsted itself held a claim of about $272 for the support she had needed in her old age. Her 14 acres were sold to her son-in-law, William Wilson, for $100, and the town took the loss. I’ve transcribed the whole probate packet on this blog — the administrator’s bond, the inventory, the final settlement of January 1822 — and you can read it here: https://conidubois.com/2026/07/23/unlocking-history-the-1821-estate-of-mary-chogum/
So the legend gives me a defiant young woman of Wethersfield, and the record gives me an old woman whose kettles and chest of drawers were worth two dollars and twenty-five cents. Both of them are Molly. Both of them are mine. She was one of the two people who founded the Barkhamsted Lighthouse community — the white wife and the Narragansett husband, about 1740 — and her descendants, in the hundreds, are still here. I’m one of them.
That’s the thing about ancestors. The story tells you who they were to the world. The record tells you what they had when they left it. I want both.
Your turn: What legend lives in YOUR family tree — and what record backs it up, or breaks it? Tell me in the comments. I want to hear it.
Tomorrow afternoon: another ancestor, another record. And remember — once a week, one of YOUR ancestors takes this spotlight. Got a brick wall? Send it through my contact form at https://conidubois.fyi/contact.
3/30/1818 – CT Mirror Newspaper – Donated by Ken Feder
“…in February last, Mrs. Mary Chogum, aged 100.”
When we dive into old court archives, we often expect to find a grand last will and testament detailing exactly who got the family heirlooms. But sometimes, what a person doesn’t leave behind tells an even more compelling story.
The Context: A Legend of the Barkhamsted Lighthouse
For local history and genealogy buffs, the name Mary Chogum (other spellings as Choggum, Chagum, Chaugham or Chaugum) is legendary.
Mary—famously known as Molly Barber—was the matriarch of the Barkhamsted Lighthouse Village.
Around 1740, tradition holds that Molly, a white woman from Wethersfield, defied social boundaries to marry James Chagum, a Narragansett Indian from Block Island. To escape her family’s disapproval, they fled into the rugged hills of northwestern Connecticut, establishing a pioneering, multiracial settlement that endured for generations.
Molly outlived her husband by decades, surviving to 100 years. When she passed away in 1818, she left behind a profound cultural legacy—but almost no physical wealth.
While this historical probate packet from the Simsbury Probate District in Connecticut is filed under estate records, it actually reveals that Mary Chogum died intestate—meaning she left no will at all. Thanks to the digitized collection Connecticut, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999, these surviving documents give us a rare, bittersweet glimpse into the humble life and financial struggles of an early New England icon.
The Details at a Glance * Who: Mary Chogum (Molly Barber) * What: Intestate Probate Packet (Administration Bond, Inventory, and Final Financial Settlement) * When: January 1821 – January 1822 * Where: Town of Barkhamsted, Litchfield County, Connecticut (Simsbury Probate District) * Case Number: 715 * Key Individuals: Drayton Jones (Administrator), Zophar Case (Surety Bondholder), Solomon Everest (Probate Judge), Judah Roberts & Jesse Ives (Appraisers)
Why Records Like This Matter Mary Chogum didn’t leave behind gold or silver, but her court packet is a treasure trove for social historians and genealogists alike. It paints a vivid picture of early American life, showing how communities managed debt, valued everyday household items, and took care of their aging residents.
Mary was a survivor who lived to see a century of change on this earth, anchoring her family through sheer strength of will. Her 14 acres may have been sold to the town to settle a debt, but the bloodline she created could never be bought or sold. I carry her story in my veins, and by bringing these documents to light, we make sure that the world never forgets the name of the woman who started it all at the Barkhamsted Lighthouse.
Molly Barber and James Chagum/Chogum/Chaugham didn’t leave behind a grand mansion, silver spoons, or gold coins. What they left behind was far more enduring: a legacy of fierce independence, boundary-breaking love, and a resilient, beautiful lineage that survived against all odds.
They built a sanctuary in the hills of Barkhamsted when the rest of the world told them they didn’t belong.
Document Transcriptions Below are the transcriptions of the key documents found within Mary’s 9-page probate packet, preserving the unique legal terminology and spelling of the era.
1. The Administration Bond (January 2, 1821) Know all Men by these Presents, That we Drayton Jones & Zophar Case both of Barkhamsted in Litchfield County are holden and stand firmly bound and obliged unto Solomon Everest Esq. Judge of the Court of Probate for the district of Simsbury in the penal sum of Five hundred dollars…
THE condition of this obligation is such, That if the above bounden Drayton Jones administrator of all, and singular the goods, chattels, credits and estate of Mary Chaugum late of Barkhamsted deceased, do make or cause to be made, a true and perfect inventory, of all and singular the goods, chattels, credits, and estate of the said deceased… at or before the 2 day of March next ensuing…
Dated at Canton the 2nd day of January Anno Domini 1821. Drayton Jones Zophar Case
2. The Estate Inventory (January 29, 1821) This short list represents the entirety of Molly Barber’s physical world at the time of her death—a stark reflection of the poverty experienced by the Lighthouse community in its later years.
An Inventory of the Estate of Mary Chogum late of Barkhamsted in the District of Simsbury Deceased appraised by the Subscribers on the 29th day of January 1821
One Iron Kettle ————————- $1.25 One Small do. ————————— 0.50 One Old Chest of drawers —————- 0.50 Fourteen acres of land a $10 ———— 140.00 ——- 142.25
We Certify the above to be a true appraisal of all the Estate Exhibited to us Judah Roberts } Appraisers Jesse Ives } on oath
(Note: Court clerk William Stone officially accepted and filed this inventory on February 10, 1821.)
3. The Final Settlement & Land Payout (January 1822) Because Mary died with significant debts, her estate was declared insolvent. The Town of Barkhamsted itself held a massive claim against her for financial assistance provided during her old age.
The Financial Accounting:
Dr. Adm. of Mary Chogum Estate To personal Estate ———————- 2.25 Sales of real Estate —————– 140.00 ——- 142.25
Cr. By your Administration account —— 14.72 paying Barkhamsted on their debt of 272.50 against the Estate an average of 46 cents 8 mills —— 127.53 ——- 142.25
The Land Order Return: Barkhamsted 1821 Then by Virtue of an order from the Court of Probate for Simsbury District me Directing to Sell the real Estate of Mary Chaughum Decasd I sold to the Town of Barkhamsted 14 Acres of Land it being all the real Estate she owned at her Decease for the sum of 140.00.
Drayton Jones Administration on sd Estate Approved Jan. 16 1822 — E. Phelps Judge
Timeline Gap: The documents reveal a clear three-year delay between Mary Chogum’s death in 1818 and the official resolution of her land and estate records, which did not formally commence until 1821.
Death Record (1818)
Based on the records provided, here is the historical summary concerning Mary Chogum:
Probate and Land Proceedings (1821): Despite her passing in early 1818, her estate was not officially entered into probate until 1821. Her file (Case No. 715) was processed through the Simsbury Probate District, spanning 9 distinct document images that detail the administration, inventory, and accounting of her estate.
In genealogical research, a multi-year gap between a person’s death and the probate of their estate—especially regarding land—is actually quite common. Given that Mary Chogum passed away in 1818 at the age of 100 and her estate wasn’t probated until 1821, a few classic historical factors are likely at play:
No Immediate Need to Sell or Transfer: If family members or occupants were already living on the land and using it, there was often no urgent pressure to clear the title. Legal action was frequently delayed until the family decided to sell the property to an outsider, divide it among heirs, or until the occupant also passed away.
Settling Debts First: Sometimes, family members spent a few years informally settling outstanding debts, tracking down heirs who had moved away, or gathering the funds required to pay for court and administrative fees before bringing it to the Simsbury Probate District.
Lack of a Will (Intestacy): Because the jacket shows “Administration Papers” rather than an active executor named by a will, she would have died intestate. Without a clear will, it often took much longer for the family to agree on who would step up as the administrator to handle the estate assets.
The “Age 100” Factor: Reaching 100 years old in 1818 was extraordinary. It’s highly possible she had outlived some of her own children, meaning the land rights had to be traced down to grandchildren or more distant relatives, adding a layer of logistical delay to getting everyone’s paperwork together.
💐 A Note from me as her 10th Great-Granddaughter: Holding these digitized pages in my hands today feels less like a routine genealogy search and more like stepping onto sacred ground. As Mary’s 10th great-granddaughter, looking at the transcription of two simple iron kettles and an old chest of drawers breaks my heart—but it also fills me with immense pride.
Are you also a descendant of the Chaugham/Barber line, or are you currently researching the Barkhamsted Lighthouse community?
PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME AND LET’S CONNECT.
Ancestry shows that several of us are actively piecing this tree together right now! If you are tracing our family lines or have stories passed down through your branch, please leave a comment below. Let’s connect, collaborate, and keep our grandmothers’ and grandfathers’ legacies alive for the next ten generations.
❤️ Coni Dubois
Documents:
Death Notice – context from the surrounding entry: The record appears under the DIED section and is nestled between an entry for a death in Barkhamsted on the 16th inst. and a death in Washington on the 14th instant. Because it lists “in February last,” it indicates she passed away in the February preceding the publication of this notice at the remarkable age of 100
Record 1: FamilySearch Catalog Entry (3198.jpg) * Title: Land records, 1732-1913; general index, 1732-1907 * Authors: Barkhamsted (Connecticut). Town Clerk (Author) * Format: Microfilm 35mm * Language: English * Publication Date: 1948, 1986 * Publisher: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah * Place of Publication: Salt Lake City, Utah * Physical Description: 14 microfilm reels ; 35 mm. * Notes: * Microfilm of original records in the Town Hall, Barkhamsted, Connecticut. * Additional indexes within most volumes.
Record 2: Ancestry Probate Record – Mary Chogum (3196.jpg & 3194.jpg)
Source Collection: Connecticut, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999 * Name: Mary Chogum * Probate Date: 1821 * Probate Place: Simsbury, Connecticut, USA * Inferred Death Date: 1821 * Inferred Death Place: Connecticut, USA * Case Number: 715 * Item Description: Probate Packets, Case, Wealthy-Cossit, Roger, 1769-1880
Document Image Preview Details (from the file jacket visible in 3196.jpg): * Heading: Estate of Chogum, Mary * Town of: Barkhamsted * Date: 1821 * No.: 715 * District: Simsbury Probate District * Document Checklist Marked on Jacket: * Inventories (1) * Accounts of Administration (1) * Total Documents: 4 Note on jacket: “DEPOSITED IN CONNECTICUT STATE LIBRARY UNDER PROVISIONS PUBLIC ACTS 1909 CHAP. 175 December 5, 1913”
Death Record (1818): A contemporary death index confirms that Mrs. Mary Chogum died in February 1818 in Barkhamsted at the advanced age of 100 years.
Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of People’s State Forest in Barkhamsted, Connecticut is home to three of the state’s designated State Archaeological Preserves. Ken Feder directed the excavation of two: the metaphorically named Lighthouse community and the 2,850-year-old Walter Landgraf Soapstone Quarry.
On Sunday, October 6th, at Matthies Grove in Peoples State Forest, East River Road, Barkhamsted, FALPS and the State of Connecticut celebrated the true essence of the “Peoples” State Forest. Attendees delved into its founding, participated in forest-related activities, watched oxen pull logs to a portable sawmill and observed the loggers milling the wood. They enjoyed a chain carving contest and witnessed dignitaries plant a ceremonial tree, among many other engaging events.
Both Robert Starr and Ken Feder remarked that it was a splendid day filled with beauty and history.
FALPS : FALPS is a group that works diligently and tirelessly to improve our forests, keep the trails clear, build bog bridges and boardwalks and fun year-round hikes and events to benefit those who visit the area.
Note: I’ll add any newspaper article links or photos of the event as they come in. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it to the event, but I can’t wait to see all the photos taken.
L2R: Sites Archeologist Ken Feder & Light House Descendant Robert StarrPhoto credit: Ken Feder L2R: Ken Feder & Ginny AppleL2R: Ginny Apple & Robert Starr – Photo credit: Robert StarrKen Feder Photo credit: Robert StarrDisplay by: Ginny Apple (based off archeological places of site) Photo credit: Robert Starr
Hello everyone! I am pleased to announce that I am back to conducting research after a long hiatus. Due to a year of illness, I took a break from the internet and my research. My main focus has been on recovering, and I am happy to report that I am finally feeling like myself again and in good health.
With that being said, it’s time to start planning our 2025 Barkhamsted Lighthouse Village Gathering! I hope to see many of you there, and now is the time to request your time off from work. The gathering will take place on the weekend of July 4th, 2025 at the Barkhamsted Lighthouse Archaeological Preserve in Barkhamsted, Connecticut. The event is set on Facebook (make sure to let us know if planning on attending via event page in link)
If you are not on the descendant list, please contact me to be included. I will be confirming all descendants and issuing descendant cards at a cost of $30 each. This fee covers the production costs, and the remaining funds will be used for the gathering in 2025.
I am in need of a team in Connecticut to assist with organizing and setting up the event, as I currently reside in Louisiana. Additionally, my cousin Veronica Lee Hawkins and I are looking for an Airbnb to rent for the weekend in 2025. If anyone knows of one that will be available, please let me know so we can secure it.
Furthermore, I will be creating a Barkhamsted Lighthouse Newsletter to keep everyone informed of all the events and activities planned for the gathering. For now, you can find info on BLVD Association & download the descendant’s packet at: https://conidubois.com/111-2/association/
In Barkhamsted Lighthouse House Village, nestled in the picturesque countryside of Connecticut in the 1800s, lived a remarkable couple named Molly Barbour and James Chagum. Molly, a spirited white woman, defied societal norms of the time and married James, a proud Indian man. Together, they embarked on a journey that would shape their lives and touch the hearts of the entire village.
Molly and James were blessed with seven children, each embodying the unique blend of cultures that their parents represented. The family’s home, a symbol of their love and unity, stood tall amidst the rolling hills, its light shining brightly as a beacon of acceptance and understanding.
Despite the challenges they faced, Molly and James persevered, teaching their children the values of compassion, tolerance, and the importance of embracing one’s heritage. The village, initially skeptical of this unconventional union, gradually came to admire the couple’s unwavering love and the beautiful family they had created.
Molly, with her gentle nature and nurturing spirit, became an advocate for harmony between different communities. She organized cultural exchanges, inviting people from all walks of life to the village to share stories, traditions, and experiences. Through these gatherings, prejudices were shattered, and friendships were forged, fostering a sense of unity and respect among the villagers.
James, on the other hand, shared his deep connection to nature and taught his children the wisdom of the land. They would spend hours exploring the nearby forests, learning about medicinal herbs, and understanding the delicate balance of the ecosystem. The family’s bond with nature became a source of inspiration for the entire village, instilling a profound appreciation for the environment.
As the years passed, the Barkhamsted Lighthouse House Village flourished, becoming a symbol of hope and harmony in a world often divided by ignorance and fear. Molly and James’s children grew into compassionate individuals, each contributing to their community in their unique ways.
Their eldest son, Solomon, became a respected storyteller, preserving the rich history and traditions of both cultures. Their daughter, Hannah, followed in Molly’s footsteps, working tirelessly to promote education and equality for all. The other children, too, found their callings, from art to agriculture, each leaving a lasting impact on the village and all who knew them.
Molly and James lived their lives with grace and dignity, their love for each other and their children serving as a testament to the power of acceptance and understanding. Their legacy echoed through the generations, reminding the villagers of the transformative power of unity and the beauty that lies in embracing diversity.
In the embrace of Barkhamsted Lighthouse House Village, the barriers of race and culture were transcended, allowing the human spirit to thrive. Molly and James, forever remembered as pioneers of love and acceptance, left an indelible mark on the hearts of all who knew them, forever illuminating the path towards a more inclusive and compassionate world.
Click one of these links below to see if you are in my research and a descendant?
I got curious about the extent of my research as a whole and decided to create a book with all the direct descendants of James & Molly Chagum of the Barkhamsted Lighthouse Village. Every living & deceased person in this bloodline.
It is HUGE! Honestly didn’t believe my software could handle it, BUT it did! 😌
Ended up with 2354 families and a 3,321-page research book! All generations/descendants I have added/found on offspring of Chief James & Molly Chagum of Barkhamsted Lighthouse Village.
I am sharing 2 parts (Index of Names and Index of Places) of this research book for everyone – It is free to view and you will be able to see if you are actually a descendant, this also includes all that were married into the lines and the whole of my work~
Page numbers = pages you are in for my research book on this line. (3,321 pages total) KEEP in mind some of you come into these lines twice… So mentioned in both areas in book on different ancestors. Red & pink dots show a true descendant.
Search here to find your name – females are listed as maiden names.
Index of Individuals in the whole file of descendants
