William Hickox: The 1600’s Settler of Farmington, Connecticut

Is That Year Correct? The 1600s? You Betcha! Meet My 10th Great-Grandfather
Have you ever wondered what life was like for our ancestors in the 1600s? My 10th great-grandfather, William Hickok—whose last name can be found spelled as Hicox, Hikox, Hickox, Heacock, or even Hickcock—arrived in America in 1635 aboard the ship Plain Joan¹. At about 36 years old, he stepped onto Virginia soil, ready to start a new chapter in his life.²

The Pioneer of Farmington, Connecticut
Not long after arriving, William became one of the original settlers of Farmington, Connecticut. This small settlement, primarily established by families from Hartford, began with a land purchase from the local Native Americans in 1640. The early days were challenging, with most landowners still living in Hartford and traveling back and forth to Farmington. William’s home lot, purchased in 1645, marked the start of his family’s roots in the New World.³

William’s wife, Elizabeth, is somewhat of a mystery—historians have yet to agree on her maiden name.⁴ Together, they had two sons, Samuel and Joseph, the latter of whom is our ancestor. Tragically, shortly after acquiring his Farmington land, William passed away while farming.

A Family Torn Apart
Elizabeth remarried and had two more children, but in 1655, heartbreak struck again. Her second husband died, and mere weeks later, Elizabeth also passed away—likely victims of the smallpox and fever epidemic that swept through New England. This left four young children, ranging in age from 3 to 12, without parents:

Benjamin-6 years, Elizabeth-3 years, Samuel Heacock-12 years, Joseph Heacock-10 years

What became of Samuel and Joseph’s upbringing remains unclear. However, Joseph later married Mary Carpenter and fathered five children before his own untimely death in 1687. Their eldest son, also named Joseph, ensured the Hickok line endured—and from this lineage came one of the most legendary figures in American history.

Wild Bill Hickok: Family Ties to a Legend
Yes, that Wild Bill Hickok, the gunslinging icon of the Wild West, is my 4th cousin, five times removed! James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok is the 5th great-grandson of our William Hickok. His lineage follows this path:

~William Hickoks
~Joseph
~Joseph
~Stephen
~Aaron
~Oliver Otis
~William Alonzo
~James Butler Hickok

But wait—there’s more! Did Wild Bill know that his 4th great-grandmother, was accused of being a Salem witch? That story is here, and it’s a tantalizing footnote in our family history.

Was William Hickok a Neighbor of Shakespeare?

Here’s another twist: William may have been born in London or Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, England—Shakespeare’s stomping grounds! According to records, Shakespeare’s birthplace in Henley Street was later leased to a Lewis Hiccox, who converted it into an inn. Could William have been connected to this family? It’s fun to imagine our ancestor rubbing elbows with the Bard himself!⁵

 1863 Picture below

2017 Picture Below

From Connecticut to My Own Roots

The Hickok family’s journey to Connecticut ultimately brought together other branches of my family tree. John Logan, one of my immigrant ancestors, married Dorcas Root, Joseph Hickok’s granddaughter, and she became my 6th great-grandmother. What a fascinating tapestry of connections!

1. Wikitree.com Plain Joan ↩︎
2. Passengers of the Plain Joan to Virginia, May 1635, NEHGS April 1848 Passengers for Virginia www.rays-place.com ↩︎
3. Bickford, Christopher.  Farmington in Connecticut. Canaan NH: Phoenix Publishing, 1982. At Salt Lake City, Utah: FHL 974.62/F1 H2b.  ↩︎
4. See Biography https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Hickox-39 ↩︎
5. The House After Shakespeare https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/shakespedia/shakespeares-birthplace/house-after-shakespeare/ ↩︎