Caroline Starr Wolcott Balestier was my 3rd great-grandmother. She was born in Middletown, CT in 1818 to Dr Henry and Mary Almira Starr Wolcott.

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Caroline came from a very prestigious family. Which included two Governors of Connecticut-as well as Judges, Cabinet officer and other distinguished men and women. She was a direct descendant of Roger Wolcott

, colonial governor of Connecticut from 1751 to 1754, who was her 3rd-great-grandfather. Her 2nd great Uncle was Oliver Wolcott Sr.

one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

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Caroline's blood line has been traced all the way back to Sir John Walcott/Wolcott who was married to Matilda de Cornwall, daughter of Richard de Cornwall 5th Baron of Burford, Shropshire, England. And continues back to John I

King of England and King Henry II

of England, as far back to William the Conqueror

and Charlamagne. She was also the grandmother of Caroline Starr "Carrie" Balestier Kipling

who was married to Rudyard Kipling

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She met her husband Joseph Neree Balestier in 1836 while visiting her parents in Chicago, Illinois, they were married in 1837. After a while she moved back to New York City with her husband and two small sons, so that her husband could start his law firm in New York City. There she remained with her husband until he retired in 1868 and after his retirement they moved to Brattleboro, Vermont and spent her remaining days until her death in 1901.

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Caroline was considered as one newspaper said: "Exceptional intellectual and gracious true lady of the old school, was worthy of her ancestry and station. Rarely well informed and wide in her range of sympathies and interest in human activities, she was a most interesting woman to meet. Generous in church and out, ever doing charities in a quiet way, and with sound business judgement, kind hearted and true hearted, she was as a friend well says, 'a queenly woman of her time.'"

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**NOTE** Most of the information was supplied from our family tree done on the Balestier's. According to the book Caroline's death is stated June 4th, 1901, according to the Battleboro Vital Statistic her death is May 4th, 1901. The obituary that was posted, is completed wrong in parts, Oliver Wolcott Sr. who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, was her "2nd great- uncle" ("NOT" her 2nd great-grandfather) . His brother, Dr Alexander Doc Wolcott Sr.

(1712-1795) was her 2nd great grandfather. Oliver and Alexander's father was Roger Wolcott (1679 - 1767) Colonial Gov. of Connecticut (1751 to 1754) Caroline's 3rd great grandfather.

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You may find information about Caroline Balestier

on my family tree named Kaulfuss/Kane/Balestier/Wolcott/McMahon which is located on www.ancestry.com.

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Caroline's siblings:

Alexander Wolcott 1814-unknown

Henry Huntington Wolcott 1816-1890

Edward Wolcott 1821- unknown

Francis Burbank Wolcott 1823-unknown

Ellen Almira Wolcott 1828-1829

Juliette Wolcott 1835-1836

Caroline had 5 children:

Robert Starr Balestier 1838-1903

Henry Wolcott Balestier 1840-1870

John Augustus Balestier 1842-1912

Joseph Neree Balestier Jr. 1845-1909

Caroline Wolcott Balestier 1852-1855