Samuel Partridge, Sr., was born in Preston, Connecticut, in 1721. He married Ruth Woodward, and with her and seven of their children (one son remaining in Connecticut to care for the “old folks”) came to Norwich for a permanent settlement about 1765, and settled on a hill farm about one mile west from Norwich village, which farm remained in the possession of the Partridge family for three generations, until sold by the representatives of the estate of Abel Partridge, of the third generation, to the late Deacon John Dutton, who demolished the old mansion. The farm is now owned by the widow of the late Ambrose Currier.
By a commission issued by his ”Excellency, Henry Moore, Baronet, Captain General and Governor-in-Chief in and over the Province of New York,” etc., bearing date, the 30th September, 1776, Mr. Partridge was made a lieutenant in the “Regiment of Militia Foot, to consist of the Inhabitants of Norwich in the County of Cumberland, in the Province of New York.”
Mr. Partridge died in Norwich Aug. 24, 1826, aged eighty-five years, and his wife passed away April 29, 1786, in the sixty-seventh year of her age. To them were born:
- Elisha Partridge, who married Margaret, a daughter of Mr. Thomas Murdock, Nov. 14, 1765.
- Samuel Partridge, Jr., married Elizabeth Wright, daughter of Aaron and Elizabeth (Bliss) Wright, Dec. 6, 1770.
- Isaac Partridge, who married Lois Newton, Nov. 3, 1785.
- Elias Partridge, who married Sarah Brown, Dec. 31, 1788.
- Reuben Partridge, who remained in Connecticut to care for the “old folks.”
- Ephraim Partridge, who never married; was made a prisoner by the enemy during the Revolutionary war and died in captivity in Canada.
- Olive Partridge, who married John Wright, son of Aaron and Elizabeth (Bliss) Wright, Sept. 27, 1768.
- Ruth Partridge, who married Peter Branch.
Elisha, Isaac, Samuel, Jr., and Ephraim were soldiers in the Revolutionary war.