THE EATON FAMILIES ASSOCIATION

FAMILY REUNION

September 14-17, 2006


The Eaton Families Association sponsored its first family reunion in Sudbury, Massachusetts on September 14th through 17th, 2006. In attendance were EFA members and non-members alike who came from various geographic regions of the US from coast to coast and many areas in between.

A welcome celebration was held on Thursday evening at the Clarion Carriage House Inn as participants mixed and mingled, discussing their own personal ancestral histories and relishing in the historic atmosphere of one of the oldest communities in the United States.

The original Town of Sudbury was incorporated over 360 years ago in 1639, however, the first permanent Colonial settlements in Sudbury took place in 1638. The original Town of Sudbury was the nineteenth colonial, permanent "Town" within the boundaries of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, but was considered its third "inland" town. The first, in 1635, was the original town of Concord, then and now, the immediate northern neighbor of Sudbury, and the second, in 1636, the original town of Dedham.

The first settlements were in the eastern part of the original Town of Sudbury, where a substantial river (now called the Sudbury River) flowed from south to north through the original Town and gave some protection to those settlers living east of it. The central feature of this typical "Puritan Village" was the church/meeting house in the eastern part of the original town at the site of the old North Cemetery where graves of Eaton ancestors abound.

Interestingly enough, it is said that the town of Sudbury drew its name from settlers who originated in the region of that same name in England, and we find that there was a small settlement called Sudbury based around the manor owned by the de Sudbury family (now Crosshall, part of Eaton Ford).

Eaton Ford was in Anglo Saxon times known as Sudbury, but became known as Eaton Ford as it was next to the village of Eatun, now Eaton Socon. Eaton Ford is part of the town of St Neots in Cambridgeshire, England. Until 1965 it was a separate village in the county of Bedfordshire, when it was absorbed by its larger neighbour. Eaton Ford lies on the west bank of the River Great Ouse, on the western side of St Neots. The old village centre is still identifiable with a triangular village green and several old farmhouses remaining amongst the newer houses.

A castle was built on the riverbank at Eaton (modern Eaton Socon) around 1140AD, apparently without permission of the monarch. It was probably of timber construction and may never have been completed, but the earth mound still exists and can be seen from the path along the opposite bank. The castle was demolished about 15 years later by order of Henry II. The Sudbury manor fell into disrepair in the early 1300s, but traces of the old fields still remain.
Our main Eaton line in Sudbury begins when Samuel3 Eaton (Jonathan2, Jonas1) brought his wife Ruth (Russell) and four eldest children from Woburn after 1729 to Sudbury, where Elizabeth was born in 1730/1, and then moved his family to Worcester by 1733, where their other children were born. The older brother, Samuel4 (Samuel3, Jonathan2, Jonas1) moved back to Sudbury later and married the lovely Millicent Wheeler in 1748, leaving many descendants.
Surrounded by living history, the festivities continued late into the evening as dinner and conversation were enjoyed by nearly 50 participants in the dining room of the Clarion Inn. After dinner, Don Eaton made his opening remarks, followed by Lee Swanson, Curator of the Sudbury Historical Society. Last, but certainly not least was Philip Converse, who reported on our EFA DNA study.

Friday was dedicated to family tours, and in rented vans and carpools, participants, including local attendees and members of the Dedham Historical Society, with tour guide, Bob Hanson, in tow, proceeded in search of their Dedham ancestors. Another group chose the Salisbury tour; and the third group travelled to Reading and the home of their ancestors. Friday night dinner was held at the historic Wayside Inn in Sudbury where one of our Eaton ancestors worked to the age of 70. Discussions of the days events followed a fabulous dinner, and plans for Saturday's night barbeque were met with great enthusiasm.

Saturday was spent in various personal pursuits and local sightseeing to the old North Cemetery in Waylon, visits to Concord and nearby historical sights. Everyone was saving their energy for the final event Saturday evening at the First Parish of Sudbury where we were again met by members of the historical society and local Eaton descendants. Doug and Janet MacMillan, along with their immediate family members, outdid themselves with a fabulous barbeque which was preceeded by discussions in the main church hall of local Sudbury history and a show and tell, once again, by Lee Swanson. Many finally returned to the hospitality suite at the Inn to discuss the reunion events and share their final thoughts and stories.

Sunday morning breakfast became a sure sign of the camaraderie felt by previously unknown "cousins" who now shared more than just history. This weekend became a study in the true meaning of family, and the close bonds that continue to be part of our Eaton legacy were obvious. We met as strangers and left as friends, once again proving the motto of The Eaton Famlies Association, "Family Matters!"

Sources: Excerpts from A Brief History of the Town of Sudbury, MA, U. S. A. and William W. Eaton, descendant.
 
EFA Reunion Photographs

 


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