The family originated from a Knight named Gilbert de Collevile of Colleville Sur Mer, Bessin, Normandy, France.
The Domesday Book of 1086 records Gilbert's descendants as holding lands directly from the Crown in Yorkshire, specifically Arncliffe where the family would remain prominent for many centuries.
[3] From the 17th century onwards, some members of the family switched to the use of Colvin, situated in Kent, Sussex, and later, London and the surrounding counties, notably at Monkhams Hall near Waltham Abbey, Essex.
It is said in 1670 at the age of 16, John ran away from his uncle's home and made his way to the docks in Bristol, England where he stowed away on a ship bound for the Plymouth Bay Colony.
Anna 3/26/1679, John Jr., 4/19/1681, Stephen 9/24/1683, Abigail 7/28/1686, Samuel 12/10/1688, Anne 10/31/1690, Deborah 5/28/1693, James 11/24/1695 ( a Baptist Minister), and Josiah 6/6/ 1700.
In 1704, John Colvin and his family moved to Coventry, RI, in the Red Oak section near the present village of Hope at about the time the town was founded.
After a few years it had grown to over 4,000 acres of land and he was considered a man of great wealth.