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He died on the 11th of December, 1681, aged 66 years, and a copy of his will may be found in the Probate Court's office in the city of Hartford, Conn.
Izrahiah Whitmore was the tenth child of Thomas Whitmore, and was born in Middletown, March 8th, 1656–7 (March 9, 1656?) On the 13th of May, 1692, Rachel, daughter of Rev. Samuel and Hope (Fletcher) Stow, of Middletown, by whom he had seven children, all sons. He was a magistrate of the town, and a deputy to the General Court from 1721 to 1728 inclusive. Tradition states that he was a man of tine abilities, and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the people of his time. His father-in-law, who was himself rather a remarkable man, speaks of him in the highest terms, and made him the executor of his will. He died at the age of 86 years.
The Rev. James Wetmore, A. M., was the third son of Izrahiah Whitmore, and was born in Middletown, December 31st, 1695 (O. S.) The reader will here observe the change in the spelling of the name from Whitmore to Wetmore, which had been previously alluded to. He was a man of much talent, and very marked religious principles. From him has sprung the most numerous branch of the Wetmore family, including all the Wetmores of New Brunswick. About 140 pages of the Wetmore book are devoted to this man and his descendants. He was a graduate of Yale College, where he took the degree of A. B. in September, 1714, and that of Master of Arts in September, 1717. At an early age James Wetmore studied for the ministry, and, as there were no theological seminaries in those days, students of divinity were obliged to pursue their studies with the various clergymen of the country.
In 1718 he was called to North Haven, Conn., and in the fall of that year he was ordained the first Congregational minister of that place. About four years after his ordination he became involved, in common with several