| Notes |
- According to http://www.spoonergen.com/trees/US-William/notes.html#NI15593:
The De Wolfs belong to the oldest aristocracy of Flanders, Saxony and Livonia (the Baltic Provinces of Russia). According to legend, the origin of the name de Wolf is practically the same in every country. According to family tradition in Belgium, Frederick de Wolf's first known ancestor, Louis de Saint-Etienne, of the French noble family of that name, was one of King Charles the Fifth's attendants on a hunting expedition. During the chase, a wolf cub crossed the King's path; Charles threw his lance at the cub, mortally wounding it, and breaking the weapon against a tree. An enormous she-wolf, seeing her offspring wounded, rushed from the forest upon the King, who had nothing but a hunting knife to defend himself with. Louis de Saint-Etienne rushed between the wolf and the King and dispatched it with his sword, thus saving the King's life. As a reward, the King Knighted Louis, who from this time was called de Loup, and was ancestor of the noble French family of that name. His grandson, Emile de Loup, accompanied the Princess Matilda to Germany at the time of her marriage. Emile de Loup became a great favorite at the Saxon Court and had the title of Baron conferred on him in 1427. He then changed his name from French to German and was known afterwards as de Wolf. It was his direct descendant, Maximillian de Wolf who founded the Belgian branch of the family.
"About the middle of the seventeenth century a younger son of Baron de Wolf of Livonia emigrated, presumably to America, and was never heard from again by his family. The name 'Baltazer de Woolfe', however, shows up in the court records of Hartford, Connecticut, on March 5, 1656. The spelling of the name is similar to that which a court clerk might assume phonetically from a foreign accent, and Balthazar was very impatient with the puritanical restrictions of the town. Having been hauled into court with others 'presented for smoking in the streets contra to the law', it is said that he paid his fine, lit his pipe, and walked out.
Whether or not he was the youngest son of Baron de Wolf of Livonia is still open to conjecture. In the interest of truth it must be said that he has also been made a French Huguenot fleeing persecution; a Russian; a Jew; a Protestant refugee from Holland. One source says that Balthazar was indubitably English, witness his handwriting and the names of his children. No one has suggested he was an American aborigine, even though he smoked a pipe. In 1668 Ba[l]thazar de Wolf's name appears in the Lyme, Connecticut, records, and in 1677 he was chosen 'Committee of the Town'. He is last mentioned in 1695. He and his wife Alice had six children, the eldest of whom was Edward.
Balthazar De Wolf's exact origins are uncertain, but he was educated and industrious. He settled in Lyme, Conn., in 1660, coming from Hartford, and became well-established in the community. He had numerous offspring, some of which resettled Acadia after the French were expelled. "Balthazar de Wolf of 1656 Connecticut is our first American de Wolf ancestor of whom we have a record. This much is indisputable.
The first record of Balthazar is at Wethersfield, Connecticut in 1656-64. In 1668 he and his three sons, Edward, Simon and Stephen are recorded as members of the training band at Lyme. There is also a record that one Nicholas Jennings was indicted for witchcraft in "causing the death of the wife of Regnold Marvin and a child of Balthazar de Wolf." (Ascendents and Descendants of Joseph De Wolf of Granby, Connecticut"; compiled by Oratia J. De Wolf; Coraopolis, Pennsylvania; 1902)
In "Records of the Particular Court of Connecticut" (Jan 1650-June 1663) it has several notations about Balthazar. On 5 Mar 1656: included among "those presented for smoaking in the street contra to law...Baltazar de Woolfe, presented by Will Marcum, constable for Mattabesick." 5 Sep 1661: the indictment of Nicholas and Margaret Jennings for witchcraft in the loss of several lives (chief was Marie Marvin, included also "ye child of Baalshar de Wolf". The child is spoken of as "bewitched to death". Note: Balthazar was also later noted as being a "witch hunter". abt 1645 when Balthazar was 25, he married Alice, in Westfield, Middlesex, Connecticut. Born abt 1624 in Westfield, Middlesex, Connecticut.
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1621 - 1696 (75 years)
