Jasper TAYLOR (1643 – 1719) was Alex’s 9th Great Grandfather; one of 1,024 in this generation of the Shaw line.

Jasper Taylor was born in 1643 in Barnstaple, Barnstable, Mass. His parents were Stephen TAYLOR and Sarah HOSFORD. He married Hannah FITZ RANDOLPH 6 Nov 1668 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass. Jasper died 1719 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.

Hannah Fitz Randolf was born 23 Apr 1648 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass. Her parents were Edward FITZ RANDOLPH and Elizabeth BLOSSOM.Hannah died 13 Apr 1705 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass

Children of  Jasper and Hannah:

.

Children

2. Mercy Taylor (See Jonathan WHELDON‘s page)

3. Hope Taylor

Hope’s husband Joseph Sturgis was born about 1664 in Yarmouth, Plymouth colony
His parents were our ancestors Edward STURGIS and Temperance GORHAM. Joseph died 16 Mar 1747 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

Children of Hope and Joseph

i. Jasper Sturgis b: 1 Apr 1695 in Yarmouth, Mass.

ii. Temperance Sturgis b: 6 Sep 1696 in Yarmouth, Mass.

iii. Thankful Sturgis b: 15 Jul 1698 in Yarmouth, Mass.

iv. Hannah Sturgis b: 30 Jul 1701 in Yarmouth, Mass.

v. Fear Sturgis b: 15 Jan 1705 in Yarmouth, Mass.

4. Seth Taylor

Seth’s wife Susanna Sturgis was born 1683 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass. Her parents were Thomas Sturgis and Abigail Lathrop. Her four grandparents were all our ancestors:  Edward STURGIS & Elizabeth HINCKLEY and  Barnabas LOTHROP & Susanna CLARK.  After Seth died, she married 9 Oct 1732 to John Throop. Examination of the original Bristol Vital records discloses the following wording, “Dea’n John Throop entered his intention of marriage with Susannah Taylor of Yarmouth, October 9th 1732.   She was admitted a member of the Bristol church between January of 1728 and May 13, 1741.  Susanna died 13 Oct 1768 in Bristol, Rhode Island.

Children of Seth and Susanna:

i. Barnabas Taylor b. 28 Jan 1702 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

ii. Abigail Taylor b. 6 Dec 1703 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

iii. Seth Taylor b. 1 Apr 1705  Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

iv. James Taylor M 7 Feb 1707 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

v. Eleanor Taylor b. 8 May 1709 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

vi. Ebenezer Taylor b. 10 Jun 1711  Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

vii. William Taylor b. 23 Feb 1713  Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

viii. John Taylor b. 5 Jul 1715 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

ix. Thankful Taylor b. 8 Mar 1717  Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

x. Thomas Taylor b. 5 Jul 1718 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

xi. Enoch Taylor b.  4 Mar 1720 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

xii. Nathaniel Taylor b.  18 Jun 1723 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

7. Jasher Taylor

Some genealogies Jasher’s parents were Richard Taylor (1652 – 1732) and Hannah Rice (1651 – 1707).

Jasher’s wife Experience Cobb was born 8 Jun 1692 in Barnstable, Mas. Her parents were Samuel Cobb (b. 12 Oct 1654 in Barnstable, Plymouth Colony – 7 Sep 1727 ) and Elizabeth Taylor (b: ~1655 in Barnstable, Plymouth Colony).   Experience died 17 Dec 1764 Burial: Ancient Cemetery, Yarmouth Port, Barnstable, Mass.

Experience Cobb Headstone; Detail — Ancient Cemetery, Yarmouth Port —  Find A Grave Memorial# 43963005

x

Jasher Taylor Gravestone — Ancient Cemetery, Yarmouth Port
Barnstable, Mass — Findagrave #43963059

Here lyes Buried ye Body of Mr JASHER TAYLOR Who Departed this Life Oct’r 31 Anno Dom’ni 1752 In ye 67th Year of his Age

Children of Jasher and Experience

i. Ruth Taylor b: 28 Apr 1715 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass; d. 18 Jun 1737 Yarmouth

ii.  Capt. Isaac Taylor b: 14 Nov 1716 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass; d. 11 Dec 1786 Ashfield Franklin, Mass.; m. Sep 18,1755 in Yarmouth to Mary Joyce (1725 – 1779)

iii. Lydia Taylor?  b. 12 Jan 1717

iv.  Jasher Taylor b: 16 Oct 1719 in Yarmouth, Mass; d. 28 Nov 1795 in Buckland, Franklin, Mass; m. 20 Sep 1744 in Yarmouth to Thankful Sears

v. Betty Taylor? b: 27 Feb 1721

vi. David Taylor b: 24 May 1724; d. 24 Jan 1760; m. 23 Mar 1748 Ashfield, Franklin, Mass. to Thankful Hallet

vii. Jonathan Taylor b: 18 Feb 1726; d. 29 Dec 1794 in Ashfield, Franklin, Mass; m. Thankful Phinney (1733 – 1818)

viii. Stephen Taylor? b: 16 May 1728; d. 20 Dec 1759 in Yarmouth

ix. Thankful Taylor b: 2 Apr 1732; d. 11 Oct 1812 in Yarmouth; m. 27 Nov 1766 to Richard Taylor (1742 – 1838) Richard’s parents were William Taylor (1717 – 1808) and Anne Gorham (1717 – 1791)

x. Keziah Taylor b: 29 Mar 1734; d. 1 Aug 1801 in Yarmouth

Sources:

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=8021662&st=1

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=oldmankew&id=I41284

Edward FITZ RANDOLPH (1607 – 1675) was Alex’s 10th Great Grandfather; one of 2,048 in this generation of the Shaw line.

Fitz Randolph coat of arms

Edward Fitz Randolph was baptized 5 Jul 1607 in Sutton-In-Ashfield, Nottingham, England. His parents were Edward FITZ RANDOLPH Sr. and Frances HOWES.  He came from a titled family, see his father’s page for our Royal ancestors.

In March 1630, he sailed with the great fleet of eleven emigrant ships assembled by John Winthrop from Groton, Suffolk out of London and landed att Naumkeag on the coast of Massachusetts on 13 June at what is now called Salem. Because Edward came from a titled family, perhaps he had passage on the flagship, the “Arbella” with Winthrop himself.

The total count of passengers is believed to be about seven hundred, and presumed to have included the following people. Financing was by the Mass. Bay Company. The ships were the Arbella flagship with Capt Peter Milburne, the Ambrose, the Charles, the Mayflower, the Jewel, the Hopewell, The Success, the Trial, the Whale, the Talbot and the William and Francis.

Edward married Elizabeth BLOSSOM 10 May 1637 in Scituate, Plymouth Colony. He died 1675 in Piscataway, New Jersey. By tradition he is buried in the west corner of Saint James Churchyard in Edison, New Jersey with Elizabeth in northwest corner close to Woodbridge Ave.     His tombstone  is thought to have been destroyed when the British built breastworks for encampment.

By tradition, Edward is buried in St James Churchyard, Edison  New Jersey

St James Church Edison New Jersey. Edward’s tombstone is thought to have been destroyed when the British built breastworks for encampment.

Elizabeth Blossom was born about 1620 in Leyden, Zuid-Holland. Her parents were Thomas BLOSSOM and Ann ELSDON. After Edward died, she married John Pike on 30 June 1685.Elizabeth died in 1703  in Piscataway, New Jersey.   Family tradition has her buried next to Edward, not her second husband.

Children of  Edward and Elizabeth:

Edward Fitz Randolph joined the  Rev. John LATHROP‘s  congregation in Scituate and moved with his flock to Barnstable.

Lothropp gained prominence in 1624, when he was called to replace Reverend Henry Jacob as the pastor of the First Independent Church in London, a congregation of sixty members which met at Southwark. Church historians sometimes call this church the Jacob-Lathrop-Jessey Church, named for its first three pastors, Henry Jacob, John Lothropp and Henry Jessey.

They were forced to meet in private to avoid the scrutiny of Bishop of London William Laud. Following the group’s discovery on April 22, 1632 by officers of the king, forty two of Lothropp’s Independents were arrested. Only eighteen escaped capture. They were prosecuted for failure to take the oath of loyalty to the established church. They were jailed in The Clink prison. All were released on bail by the spring of 1634 except Lothropp, who was deemed too dangerous to be set at liberty. While he was in prison, his wife Hannah House became ill and died. His six surviving children were according to tradition left to fend for themselves begging for bread on the streets of London. Friends being unable to care for his children brought them to the Bishop who had charge of Lothropp. The bishop ultimately released him on bond in May of 1634 with the understanding that he would immediately remove to the New World.

Lothrop was told that he would be pardoned upon acceptance of terms to leave England permanently with his family along with as many of his congregation members as he could take who would not accept the authority of the Church of England.

The State Papers in the new Record Office, Fetter Lane, London, have preserved some of the Star Chamber records of John Lothropp’s imprisoned days. The last record probably was the order of the court which opened the way for his escape to America. The record found on page 71 of Governor Winthrop’s Journal, quotes John Lothropp, a freeman, rejoicing in finding a “church without a bishop,” . . . “and a state without a king.”

Lathrop accepted the terms of the offer and left for Plymouth, Massachusetts. With his group, he sailed on the Griffin and arrived in Boston on Sep 18 1634.

They did not stay in Boston long. Within days, he and his group relocated to Scituate where they “joyned in covenaunt together” along with nine others who preceded them to form the “church of Christ collected att Scituate.”

Rev. LATHROP   wrote:

” The young master Fitzrandolphe ” built in 1636, the 38th house constructed in Scituate.

His house in order, Edward married Elizabeth BLOSSOM 10 May 1637 in Scituate, Plymouth Colony.

He joined Mr. Lathrop’s church in Scituate May 14, 1637 and his wife joined at Barnstable August 27, 1643.

The Congregation at Scituate was not a success. Dissent on the issue of baptism as well as other unspecified grievances and the lack of good grazing land and fodder for their cattle caused the church in Scituate to split in 1638.

Edward sold his house in that town to Deacon Richard Sealis, and removed in the spring of 1639 to Barnstable, and built a house on his lot containing eight acres,bounded east by the road to Hyanis.

Lothrop had petitioned Gov. Thomas PRENCE     (wiki) in Plymouth for a “place for the transplanting of us, to the end that God might have more glory and wee more comfort.” Mr. Lothrop and a large company arrived in Barnstable, October 11, 1639  bringing with them the crops which they had raised in Scituate.  There, within three years they had built homes for all the families.

In 1649 Edward Fitzrandolphe removed to his farm in West Barnstable ,”a double great lot”  , containing 120 acres of upland, bounded north by the meadows, east by the Bursley farm, south by the commons, and west by the lands of Mr. Thomas Dexter.

In 1669 Edward Fitz Randolph, his family and several other families left their Barnstable home, for religious reasons and settled in East Jersey, near the mouth of the Raritan river, where he purchased from the Proprietary a large tract of land. Several of his older sons also taking up lands in their own right at the same time. At the time of Edward’s death in 1675 his land had not been surveyed.

The Stelton Baptist Church in Edison, New Jersey was formed in the spring of 1689. Until 1875, the church was known as the First Baptist Church of Piscataway. In 1870 portions of Piscataway, New Jersey and Woodbridge, New Jersey were used to form Raritan, New Jersey. The site of the church later became Edison, New Jersey.

History of the First Baptist Church of Piscataway, Stelton, NJ 1889 BY Oliver B. Leonard Esq.

The names of the first pioneers to settle on the Raritan were Hugh Dunn, John Martin, Hopewell Hull and Charles Gillman, with their families. On the 21st of May, 1666, they were granted the right as associates of the Woodbridge patentees, and December 18, following, were deeded by these New England neighbors from Newbury, one-third of their purchase obtained the week before. During the next year there came other members of the Gillman and Hull families, also Robert Dennis and John Smith.

So cheerful were the prospects and complete the liberties established; so peaceful the plantation and so generous the inducements offered, that additional emigration soon followed by friends and neighbors of the original pioneers. Before the year 1670 passed, the settlement of Piscataway had been increased by many new arrivals of associate planters from New England. Among them were Francis Drake, Benajah Dunham, Henry Langstaff and John Martin, with their families, from New Hampshire; John Fitz Randolph, with his brothers, Thomas, Joseph and Benjamin, and sisters Elizabeth and Ruth, with their parents; Geoffry Manning, Nicholas Bonham, Samuel Walker and John Smalley, with their wives and children, from other New England districts, where the intolerance of the established Church order had restricted and restrained the exercise of free conscience and subjected them to many indignities and deprivations.

But the required number of actual settlers had not yet purchased land in Piscataway and made such improvements as were contemplated and specified by the Woodbridge grant of 1666, and the previous charter of 1664 to the Elizabethtown colony. Four years had now intervened without realizing the necessary accessions to the population or the required development of the territory. On the 20th of October, 1670, Governor Carteret made a public proclamation waiving all objections that might be made against the Piscataway settlement “on account of their not having come in exactly according to the time limited.” Stimulated by this official concession, renewed efforts were immediately made resulting in the greater improvement of the country and an increase of emigration thither.

By 1675-6 Piscataway had attained a notable prominence in the civil affairs of the province, and that year sent for the first time two deputies to the General Assembly, which had been held but twice before, (during the Spring and Winter of 1668). The few accessions made during the five years succeeding 1676-81 may have been caused by the disputed title of boundaries between Piscataway and Woodbridge, and the division of ownership in the colony and the unsettled condition of proprietorship, which was not definitely determined till 1682.

Up to this period nearly all the planters had come from plantations in New England or Long Island, and been under the influence of instruction tending to Baptist doctrines. Most all of the first original settlers in Piscataway were imbued with religious principles of this denomination, which had been discernible among the earliest adventurers to New England, and been preached by Hauserd Knollys in New Hampshire and taught by Roger Williams in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and advocated by William Wickenden among the towns on Long Island.

.Several of the Fitz Randolph families made East Jersey their home for many generations. But Benjamin in a few years moved to the site of the present town of Princeton. Our knowledge of his family is entirely due to the records left by his son Nathaniel Fitz Randolph of Princeton.

In October 1683 Edward’s widow was living in New Piscataqua ,New Jersey.  He is called in “deedes” a yeoman, or farmer,and does not appear to have been employed in any public office

Edward  was bequeathed 10 pounds sterling by his father if he came to demand it.

Children

2. Nathaniel Fitz Randoph

Nathaniel’s first wife Mary Holloway was born 1643 in Sandwich, Plymouth Colony. Her parents were our ancestors Joseph HOLLOWAY and Rose Holly ALLEN. Mary died 12 Jul 1703 in Woodbridge, New Jersey

Nathaniel’s second wife Jane Curtis was born 11 Apr 1661 in Bugbrooke, Northamptonshire, England. Jane first married 1681 in Burlington, New Jersey to Samuel Ogborne (b. 1657 in Scotland – d. 8 Dec 1694 in Burlington, Burlington, New Jersey), second 1698 in Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey to John Hampton (b. 1640 in Ephingstown, East Lothian, Scotland – d. 23 Jan 1702 in Freehold, New Jersey), third to Nathaniel, and fourth 7 Aug 1719 in Haddonfield, Camden, New Jersey to John Sharp (b. 29 Dec 1661 in Flower, Northamptonshire, England – d. 1729 in Evesham, Burlington, New Jersey) Jane died 13 Dec 1731 in Buckingham, Bucks, Pennsylvania,

Nathaniel became a Quaker, and one of the most influential of the sect. He migrated to Woodbridge township in 1678-9, locating near the Blazing Star ferry. He was the father of eight children, and a man of remarkable usefulness and importance in the commonwealth, filling all the local and county offices and prominent in the colonial government.  His brothers, John, Joseph, Thomas and Benjamin , had moved to Piscataway ten years earlier- in 1668-9 and were all  Baptists except Benjamin. The emigration of this family to New Jersey was prompted by the severe enactments of the court of the old colonies, prohibiting the free exercise of individual consciences, compelling every person to sustain by tax the established Church worship, and imposing banishment upon any who opposed infant baptism.

Nathaniel Fitz Randolph was one of the four who first asked for religious tolerance for the Friends in New England. In 1677, having joined the Quakers years before, and had in consequence suffered much persecution from the Plymouth government, exchanged his house in Barnstable for land in Woodbridge, N.J., and in the year afterwards, 1678-9, moved with his family to New Jersey. He served as associate justice of Middlesex Co., N.J. in 1688, 1692, and 1698; and in 1693-5, he represented Woodbridge in Provisional Assembly. In 1683, on the death of James Bollen, first Secretary of the Province, he was one of the two guardians of his children, and, on the establishment of the Woodbridge Monthly Meeting of Friends in 1706, he became a prominent member of the Society, and for seven years the Meeting was held in his house, until the completion of the Meeting House in 1713, two months before his death.”

Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey

Nathaniel and his immediate descendants were the only members of this prominent family belonging to the Friends. It is thought Nathaniel joined the Society at his marriage in 1662.He suffered persecution from Plymouth government and was fined 10 pounds (1663) & 2 pounds, 2 shillings (1669) by Plymouth court. Before 1677, he received a severe beating from Puritan neighbors after a religious argument and that same year he exchanged house in Barnstable for land in Woodbridge, NJ. He was succesful in New Jersey serving on the Vigilance Committeeman, Assoc Justice & High Sheriff of Middlesex Co, NJ, State Assemblyman, Overseer of Highways, Woodbridge Town Committeeman. Before 1713 he was a patentee of 590 acres of land in Middlesex Co, NJ.

In 1704 his house was opened for weekly meetings of the Friends. He died in 1713. His descendants have married with the Hulls, the Kinseys, the Hartshorns, the Hamptons, the Marshes, the Vails, the Laings, the Websters, the Shotwells and the Smiths.

On the 24th of August, 1704, at a quarterly meeting held in Shrewsbury, it was “agreed” that “for time to come it [the meeting] should be kept at Nathaniel Fitz Randolph’s house, in Woodbridge every first day of the week until Friends se kause to alter it.” “it was then and there proposed by some friends in and about Woodbridge, to wit, John Kensy, Benjamin Griffith, William Sutton and John Laing whether it might not be konvenient to have a Preparative-meeting setled there to be held once a month? the Question was considered by friends and they answered, that it was their sence that it might be Serviceable and agreed to it, and left the appointment of the day when it should be held, to the friends of Woodbridge meeting.”

The Woodbridge meetings, except two, (held at John Kinsey’s in November & December, 1707) continued from this time forward to be held at the house of Fitz Randolph until the Friends had completed their meeting house, in which the first session was held September 19th, 1713. We cannot tell where Fitz Randolph dwelt; hence we cannot designate the locality where the Quakers met, for so many years, in harmonious council. Nor are we wiser in regard to the house of Benjamin Griffith where the first Quaker meeting in the village was convened. In 1707 we find the latter spoken of as an inhabitant of Amboy, from which we infer that he had returned to that place, although he attended the Woodbridge meetings with unabated interest. It may not be out of place to state that some well-informed people believe Nathaniel Fitz Randolph’s residence to have occupied the site of the building which was the property of the late John Barron, near the depot on Green Street.

On the 18th of August the building of a Meeting-house was again discussed, John Kinsy offering a plot of ground for the purpose. Kinsy’s offer was not accepted on account of the inconvenience of the locality in which his land lay. It was resolved, however, to select a suitable place. In September, Nathaniel Fitz Randolph reported that no eligible spot had been heard of; but in October he stated that a man willing to sell a desirable piece of ground had been found. He was authorized to effect the purchase of it.

On the 21st of January, 1706, he informed the Friends that the land, comprising of half an acre, could be obtained for six pounds. The meeting approved the proceedings of Fitz Randolph, and he was directed to make the purchase in his own name. A subscription of eleven shillings and six pence was paid, which was swelled at subsequent meetings to the full amount required. William Sutton, being about to remove from Piscataway to Burlington, on the 15th of June donated a year-old steer ”towards building [the] Meeting-house.” The animal was taken to be “wintered” for 6s. by Thomas Sutton, son of William, by order of the Friends. At this date the land in question had been laid out by Nathaniel Fitz Randolph and John Allen; and a deed was written by the Clerk, Benjamin Griffith, by which the land was held in trust for the Quakers by Fitz Randolph and John Kinsy. John Allen, formerly minister of the Woodbridge Town Church, was the man from whom the plot was bought , the said Allen owning considerable property about where the Methodist Episcopal Church now stands. Many of our Woodbridge readers remember the Friends’ burial place recently occupied by the lecture-room of the Methodists; but few, if any, are aware that a Quaker Meeting House once stood there. Such is the fact, and the history of this ancient building, no trace of which is left, is that which we are now recounting. How soon, alas, perishes all the handiwork of man! This house cost much sacrifice and toil to complete it, as the records show; but what remains, except these yellow leaves, to tell us the struggles of the godly worshipers. May they sleep the sleep of the just in their unknown graves, for the story of their toils is know to One who giveth rest to His beloved.

Children of Nathaniel and Mary:

i. John Fitz Randolph b: 1 Feb 1663 in Barnstable, Plymouth Colony

ii. Isaac Fitz Randolph b: 7 Dec 1664 in Barnstable, Plymouth Colony

iii. Samuel Fitz Randolph b: 1668 in Barnstable, Plymouth Colony

4. Hannah Fitz Randolph (See Jasper TAYLOR‘s page)

5. Mary Fitz Randolph

Mary’s husband Samuel Hinckley was born 24 Jul 1642 in Barnstable, Plymouth Colony. His parents were Samuel Hinckley (b: 25 Jul 1587 in Harrietsham, Kent, England) and Sarah Soule (bapt. 8 Jun 1600 in Hawkhurst, Kent, England. He first married 14 Dec 1664 in Barnstable, Plymouth Colony to Mary Goodspeed (bapt. 2 Sep 1647 in Barnstable – d.  20 Dec 1666 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass)  Samuel died 2 Jan 1727 in Barnstable, Massachusetts.

Samuel was born in England and migrated to Scituate with his parents, Samuel and Sarah Hinckley, in 1635. In 1639, he moved from Scituate to Barnstable

Samuel’s brother Thomas Hinckley (wiki) was the Governor Plymouth from 1680 to its merger with Massachusetts in 1692.

Samuel and Mary Hinkley Memorial — West Barnstable Cemetery — Findagrave # 5762111

Children of Mary and Samuel:

i. Samuel Hinckley b. 6 Feb 1669 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.

ii. Isaac Hinckley b. 20 Aug 1674 Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.

iii. Mary Hinckley b. May 1677 Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.

iv. Mercy Hinckley b. 9 Apr 1679 Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.

v. Ebenezer Hinckley b. 2 Aug 1685 Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.

vi. Ichabod Hinckley b. 1686 Barnstable, Mass.

vii. Thomas Hinckley b. 1 Jan 1689 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA

6. John Fitz Randolph

John’s wife Sarah Bonham was born 16 Feb 1664 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass. Her parents were Nicholas Bonham, (1630 -1684) and Hannah Fuller (1636 -1683) Sarah died 16 Jan 1738 in Belvedere, New Jersey.

John was a constituent member of the First Baptist Church of Piscataway and one of the largest landholders in the township.

Children of John and Sarah:

i. Sarah Fitz Randolph b. 25 Apr 1682 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey

ii. Elizabeth Fitz Randolph b. 18 Feb 1684 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey

iii. Francis Fitz Randolph (twin) b. 15 Jun 1687 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey

iv. Temperance Fitz Randolph (twin) b. 15 Jun 1687 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey

v. John Fitz Randolph b. 2 Nov 1693 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey

vi. Edward Fitz Randolph b. 25 May 1698 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey

7. Joseph Fitz Randolph

Joseph’s wife Joannah “Hannah” Conger was born 1670 in Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey. Her parents were John Conger ( – 1712) and Mary Kelly (1641 -1689). Hannah died 26 Jun 1742 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey

Children of Joseph and Joannah:

i. Hannah Fitz Randolph b. 4 Feb 1688; m. Andrew Drake

ii. Joseph Fitz Randolph b. 11 Feb 1691 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey; m. Rebecca Drake

iii. Mary Fitz Randolph b. 3 Aug 1693 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey

iv. Bethia Fitz Randolph b. 20 Sep 1695 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey

v. Lydia Fitz Randolph b. 4 Jan 1698 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey

vi. Moses Fitz Randolph b. 9 Apr 1700 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey

vii. Jonathan Fitz Randolph b. 15 Jun 1702 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey; m. Margaret Manning

viii. Susannah Fitz Randolph b. 23 Jun 1704 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey

ix. Ruth Fitz Randolph b. 11 Jun 1706 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey

x. Anna Fitz Randolph b. 3 Sep 1708 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey

xi. Prudence Fitz Randolph b. 30 Nov 1712 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey; m. Nathaniel Manning

xii. Isaac Fitz Randolph b. 21 Apr 1716 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey

8. Elizabeth Fitz Randolph

Elizabeth’s husband Andrew Wooden was born 1662 in New Hampshire. His parents were John Wooden (1636 – 1720) and Audrey Medhurst (1638 – 1720). Andrew died 1702 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States

Children of Elizabeth and Andrew:

i. Elizabeth Wooden 1678 – 1682

ii. Hope Wooden 1680 – 1765

iii. Josiah Wooden 1682 – 1720

iv. Deliverence Wooden 1683 – 1719

v. Mercy Wooden 1683 – 1683

vi. Peter Wooden 1685 – 1776

9. Thomas Fitz Randolph

Thomas’ wife Elizabeth Manning was born 1669 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey. Her parents were Jeffrey Manning and Hepzibah Andrews (b.1645 – ) Elizabeth died 1 Mar 1732 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey.    She died from Small Pox, along with her daughter Elizabeth (Mar 19) and a grandson (Mar 21) within weeks of each other. All three are side by side in the Fitzrandolph family plots, and died within three weeks of each other.

Thomas  was Clerk of the township and one of the first group of Selectmen to manage the affairs of Piscataway, and served as deputy in the General Assembly.

Thomas was a weaver.

Elizabeth Manning Fitz Randolph Headstone — Saint James Episcopal Church Cemetery, Edison, Middlesex, New Jersey. A metal marker was placed beside his wife’s gravestone in memory of Thomas. — Findagrave #16012924

Inscription
Here lyes ye body of
Elizabeth ye Wife (of – missing/damaged)
Thomas Fitzrandolph
died With ye small
pox march ye 1, 1732
Age 63 years.

Children of Thomas and Elizabeth:

i. Thomas Fitz Randolph b. 20 Jul 1687 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey

ii. Elizabeth Fitz Randolph b. 1689 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey; d. 19 Mar 1732 Burial: Saint James Episcopal Church Cemetery, Edison, Middlesex, New Jersey

Inscription:
Here Lyes ye body
of Elizabeth Fitz
Randolph died
march ye 19 1732
Aged 43 years
daught. of Thomas
died with small
pox.

iii. David Fitz Randolph b. 1 Jan 1691 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey

iv. Jonathan Fitz Randolph b. 12 Jan 1693 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey

v. Bathsheba Fitz Randolph b. 24 Sep 1695 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey

vi. Dinah Fitz Randolph b. 10 Jul 1700 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey; d. 1775 and may be buried in Bethlehem, Hunterdon County, New Jersey?

vii. Luranah Fitz Randolph b. 19 Feb 1703 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey

10. Hope Fitz Randolph

Hope’s husband Ezekiel Bloomfield was born 1 Nov 1653 Newburyport Essex, Mass. His parents were Thomas Bloomfield (1617 – 1684) and Mary Withers (1620 – 1686). Ezekiel died 15 Feb 1703 Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey;

Ezekiel was called “youngest son” in the will of his father, and he received land and personal property in the will of his brother Thomas.

1 Jan 1687 – Ezekiel Bloomfield was elected a Deputy to the Colonial Assembly January 1, 1687.

- “We presume that Ezekiel Bloomfield was keeper of the pound for many years, for we read of animals being impounded very often; but up to 1700, Ezeskiel, who was elected to that distinguished position in 1692, is the only many whose name is used in connection with the office.”

20 Apr 1694 Recorded May 28, 1694. Deed. Ezekiel Blumfield wheelwright, to John Loofbourrow, miller, both of Woodbridge, for 25 acres of meadow, N. the Great Pond, W. meadow, sold by John Blomfield to John Barclay, S. and E. grantor’s meadow.

27 Nov 1697 – Deed. Ezekiel Blumfield of Woodbridge, carpenter, and with Hope to Richard Powell of the same place, Innholder, for 2 acres of saltmeadow there, S.E. John Blumfield, now George Browne, S. Samuel Moore, W. a small creek, N. Papiack Neck (NJ Arch., 21:276)

12 Jan 1702/03 – Will. Blomfield, Ezekiel, of Woodbridge, will of. Wife Hope; children- Timothy, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Joseph, Benjamin, Mary, brother Thomas Bloomfield mentioned. Land in Langster’s Plain, salt marsh bought of John Lovebury, part of Rarington meadows, personal estate. Executors- wife and son Timothy. Witnesses- Samuel Hale, William Ellison and Joseph Fitz Randolph. Proved February 26, 1702/03

Children of Hope and Ezekiel:

i. Timothy Bloomfield b. 11 Feb. 1681; d. After 20 Sept. 1748 Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey; m. 2 April 1707 in Woodbridge to Rose Higgins.

Timothy married only about three months after the death of his mother. His father was already dead. Did he take in some of his younger siblings to raise? Is this why he married so quickly, or was he already engaged?

ii. Ezekiel Bloomfield b. 26 Nov 1683; d. 14 Jan 1748 Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey; m. 23 Dec 1706 in Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey to Hester Rolfe (b. 1685 Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey – d. 11 Sep 1742 Woodbridge) Hester was previously married to Jonathon Dunham.

iii. Rebeckah Bloomfield: b. 7 Jun 1686 Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey; d. 25 Dec. 1688 at age 2 years, 6 months and 18 days. Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey

iv. Nathaniel Bloomfield: b. 9 Feb 1688 Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey; d. 15 Oct. 1689 at age 1 year, 8 months and six days. Woodbridge, New Jersey. Death occurred only 9 months and 20 days after his sister’s death.

v. Jeremiah Bloomfield b. 28 Jan 1693 Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey; d. 1746 Lycoming County, Pennsylvania; m. 8 Jan 1721/1722 to Katherine Weeks

vi. Joseph Bloomfield b. 21 March 1694/95 Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey; d. 16 May 1782 Woodbridge; m. 5 Sep 1721, probably in Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey Eunice Dunham (b. 12 May 1702 Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey – d. 30 Nov 1760 Woodbridge)

vii. Rebecca Bloomfield: b. 1697 Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey; d. 1757 Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey; m. ~1715 in Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey to Charles Salyer, Jr.

viii. Mary Bloomfield: b. ~ 1697 Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey; d. 30 Jun 1750 Woodbridge; m. Obadiah Ayers (b. 25 Dec 1703 Woodbridge – d. 1760 Woodbridge) Obadiah’s parents were Obadiah Ayers (1670 – 1729) and Joanna F Jones Ayers (1670 – )

ix. Benjamin Bloomfield: b. 1701; d. 26 May 1772 Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey; m. Susannah [__?__]

Were they Quakers? They are listed in an article about early Plainfield Quakers, but it isn’t stated whether they were Quaker, or even lived there. The great grandson was not, so if they were, that ended at least with some lines in a few generations.

11. Benjamin Fitz Randolph

Benjamin’s first wife Sarah Dennis was born 18 Jul 1673 in Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey. Her parents were John Dennis (1640 – 1689) and Sarah Bloomfield (1643 – 1689) Sarah died 22 Nov 1732 in Stoney Brook, New Jersey.

Benjamin’s second wife Margaret Robertson was born 1709 in Princeton, Mercer, New Jersey. Margaret died 1747 in Princeton, New Jersey.

Benjamin was taken in as a townsman of Piscataway in 1684. but moved to Princeton in 1696-9 with a colony of Friends whom William Penn induced to settle on a fertile plantation watered by Stony Brook, a tributary of the Millstone River.

Children of Benjamin and Sarah:

i. Sarah Fitz Randolph b. 14 Apr 1691 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey

ii. Grace Fitz Randolph b. 25 Jan 1693 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey

iii. Ruth Fitz Randolph b. 8 Apr 1695 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey

iv. Hope Fitz Randolph b. 12 Feb 1697 in Princeton, Mercer, New Jersey

v. Benjamin Fitz Randolph b. 24 Apr 1699 in Princeton, Mercer, New Jersey; d. Jan 1758
New Jersey; m. 10 Mar 1728 in Princeton, Mercer, New Jersey to Elizabeth Pridemore (b. 1709 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey – d. 1758 in Princeton, Mercer, New Jersey)

Benjamin FitzRandolph and Elizabeth Pridemore FitzRandoph left NJ and settled in North Carolina for a while. The N. C. Colonial Records show land grants for him in 1735 in Bladen Co., NC . They lived on the Cape Fear River and was referred to as a “Planter”. He is referenced as “Sr.” in the records , although he was the son of Benjamin of New Jersey who never came to North Carolina. This reference was most likely because he had a son Benjamin also. At some point Benjamin FitzRandolph and Elizabeth returned to NJ where they died. He was appointed POA for his brother- in-law, Ephraim Manning who had returned to NJ about 1739.

vi. Isaac FitzRandolph b. 10 Apr 1701 in Princeton, Mercer, New Jersey; d. 13 May 1750 Freehold, Monmouth, New Jersey; m. 28 Nov 1728 in Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey to Rebecca Seabrook (b. 8 Jun 1708 in Middletown, Monmouth, New Jersey – d. 25 Mar 1744 in Princeton, Mercer, New Jersey) Rebecca’s parents were James Seabrook (1685 – 1735)
and Hannah Grover (1687 – )

vii. Nathaniel Fitz Randolph b. 11 Nov 1703 in Princeton, New Jersey; d. 1780 Princeton, Mercer, New Jerseyp; m. 20 Oct 1729 in Mercer, Princeton, New Jersey to Rebekah Mershon (b. 10 Mar 1711 in Hunterdon, New Jersey – d. 12 Mar 1784 in Princeton, Mercer, New Jersey)

Nathaniel Fitz Randolph Memorial

The four and a half acres of ground given by Mr. Fitz Randolph for the site of the College adjoined his own residence on the King’s Highway, now Nassau Street and the Lincoln Highway, behind which was the family burial ground. When Holder Hall was erected on this site in 1909, mo less than thirty-two tombs were discovered, one of them being that of Nathaniel Fitz Randolph.

The contents of the graves were carefully preserved in separate boxes. University President Woodrow Wilson directed the remains to be re-interred in a vault under the eastern arch of Holder Hall. A memorial tablet bears the inscription, “Near this spot lie the remains of Nathaniel FitzRandolph, the generous giver of the land upon which the original buildings of this university were erected. In agro jacet nostro immo suo (In our ground he sleeps, nay, rather in his own).”

Nathaniel Fitz Randolph is interred in a vault under Holder Hall, Princeton University

Ironically, Holder Hall, built over Nathaniel Fitz Randolph’s grave is named for another of our Quaker relatives, Christopher Holder.

On Sep 16, 1658 by the order of Governor Endicott, Christopher Holder, a future son-in-law of Richard SCOTT, had his right ear cut off by the hangman at Boston for the crime of being a Quaker. Richard’s wife, Katherine MARBURY SCOTT  (Anne Hutchinson’s (wiki) sister), was present, and remonstrating against this barbarity, was thrown into prison for two months, and then publicly flogged ten stripes with a three-corded whip.   Mrs. Scott protested

“that it was evident they were going to act the work of darkness or else they would have brought them forth publicly and have declared them offences, that all may hear and fear.”

For this utterance the Puritan Fathers of Boston

“committed her to prison and they gave her ten cruel stripes with a three-fold corded knotted whip” shortly after “though ye confessed when ye had her before you that for ought ye knew she had been of unblamable character and though some of you knew her father and called him Mr. Marbury and that she had been well bred (as among men and had so lived) and that she was the mother of many children. Yet ye whipped her for all that, and moreover told her that ye were likely to have a law to hang her if she came thither again.”

To which she answered:

“If God calls us, woe be unto us if we come not, and I question not but he whom we love will make us not to count our lives dear unto ourselves for the sake of his name.”

To which vow, Governor Endicott, replied:

“And we shall be as ready to take any of your lives as ye shall be to lay them down.”

You can read the full story in my post Puritans v. Quakers – Boston Martyrs

Founding Princeton

Nathaniel FitzRandolph, a Quaker, was primarily responsible for raising the money and securing the land required by the trustees to locate the College in Princeton, which they did in 1756. He was a large land owner in and about Princeton, and one of its prominent citizens. A number of other locations for the college of New Jersey were considered. New Brunswick was more favored than any other site by the Trustees, but Fitz Randolph by his energy fulfilled the monetary requirements for the location of the college, where others failed, and won the prize.

The citizens of Princeton complied with the trustees’ request to raise £1,000 (actually they raised £1,700), provide ten acres of cleared land for the campus and 200 acres of woodland for fuel. FitzRandolph himself donated £20 and 4.5 acres of land.

According to legend, an agreement between Nathaniel FitzRandolph and the College of New Jersey (as Princeton was then known) was made in 1753. In exchange for donating the land on which Nassau Hall now resides, the College agreed to pay tuition for all of his descendants to attend the institution. Unfortunately, this is not true. No such provision was incorporated into the deed of gift.

Nathaniel wrote the following account “Of the College at Princeton, New Jersey:”

“When it was reported that a Charter was granted by Hamilton our Deputy Governor for a college to be erected some where in New Jersey, & twelve trustees appointed, I was the first man that proposed to set subscriptions on foot Sd Tower, also I was the first man that drew a subscription for that purpose, also the first man that rode to obtain subscriptions, also wrote twenty papers for that purpose, and helped to spread them. And did obtain about five hundred Pounds as subscriptions under sd Charter.

Also after a second Charter was granted by Gov. Jonathan Blecher for a College in New Jersey and twenty five trustees were appointed, the old subscription was dropped. And I wrote about fifteen subscription papers more, helping to spread sd subscription papers in which about seventeen hundred Pounds was obtained.

“I also gave four acres and a half of land to set the college on, and twenty Pounds, besides time and expenses for several years together, but whereas, I did sign but three acres in the subscription, so I took a receipt of some of the Trustees only, for the three acres of land to answer the subscription, and also the consideration mentioned in the deed I gave the Trustees for sd College land, is one hundred and fifty Pounds, I never did receive one penny of it, that was only to confirm title.” (signed “Nathaniel Fitz Randolph”

Nathaniel Fitz Randolph was the author of the “Book of Records,” now in the possession of Princeton University, which gives an account of the branch of the Fitz Randolph family to which he belonged.

Fitz Randolph Gates

In 1905 the FitzRandolph Gateway was erected through a bequest from Augustus van Winkle in honor of his ancestor Nathaniel FitzRandolph. This gateway adorns the main entrance of the campus from Nassau Street.

The myth surrounding Fitz Randolph Gate prevents most students from venturing out the main exit.

The FitzRandolph Gate was initially constructed to keep townspeople off the University campus. It was built in 1905 and kept closed and locked, except during the Parade and graduation. The graduation march through the gate, which is still observed, symbolizes the graduates’ transition from the University into the larger world.

The gate was also opened occasionally to honor notable visitors.  For example, President Grover Cleveland passed through the gate during his visit to campus.

In 1970, the gate was permanently cemented open, at the request of the Class of 1970. This gesture was intended to reflect improving relations with the town. The opening also embodied a greater significance.  Given the student uproar over Vietnam and Cambodia, it was an attempt to symbolize that Princeton was open and responsive to the world, and not just a cloistered ivy tower.  Since 1970, the gate has remained open for regular use. However, the superstition that emerged shortly after the opening has caused some students to avoid the gate.

According to the myth, students may imperil their graduation by exiting the gate towards Nassau Street.   While entering the gate is apparently safe, some students still take extra precaution.

“I know people that won’t walk in the gates,” said Emily Moxley ’05. “I always laugh at them when I walk in and they take an extra minute or two to go to one of the side gates.

Some alumni are still quite serious about observing FitzRandolph protocol. Michelle Yun ’06 visited campus as a pre-frosh with Thomas F. Schrader ’72. At the time, she was not aware of the myth and nearly walked out of the gate to take a photograph.  ”Mr. Schrader jumped up . . . and grabbed me with both arms, pulling me back suddenly,” she said.  Since the incident, Yun says she will not enter or exit the gate and will not permit anyone walking with her to do so either.

viii. Grace Fitz Randolph b. 5 Oct 1706 in Princeton, Mercer, New Jersey

ix. Elizabeth Fitz Randolph b. 31 Dec 1708 in Princeton, Mercer, New Jersey

Children of Benjamin and Maragaret:

x. Mary Fitz Randolph b. 4 Apr 1734 in Princeton, Mercer, New Jersey

xi. Margaret Fitz Randolph b. 7 Nov 1736 in Princeton, Mercer, New Jersey

Sources:

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=oldmankew&id=I41286

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=8903381&st=1

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/3045116/person/-168771474/story/ea534d42-0372-4461-9523-576de0362a7f?src=search

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=8856408

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/r/u/s/Carol-A-Rush-NY/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0465.html

http://www.plainfieldquakers.org/history/woodbrig.asp

Edward FITZ RANDOLPH Sr. (1565 – 1614) was Alex’s 11th Great Grandfather; one of 4,096 in this generation of the Shaw line.

Fitz Randolph coat of arms

Edward Fitz Randolph Sr was born about 1565Hucknall-under-Huthwaite in the parish of Sutton In Ashfield, Nottingham, England. His parents were Christopher FITZ RANDOLPH and Ann WOOD He first married Alice Tompson 16 Nov 1589 in Sutton-In-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, England. After Ales died, he married Frances HOWES 17 Dec 1605 in Sutton, Nottingham, England. Edward died about 1614 in Normantown, Derby, England and is buried in Kneesall, Nottingham, England.  Alternatively, he died  between 13 Aug. 1647 (dated of will) and 27 Oct. 1647 (probate).

Alice Tompson was born 16 Nov 1569 in Sutton-In-Ashfield Laterof Kneesall, Nottinghamshire, England. Ales died 27 Dec 1604 in Sutton-In-Ashfield.

Frances Howes (Howls) was born about 1585 in Kneesall, Nottinghamshire, England. Her parents were Edward HOWES and Ann WELLS.  Frances died 7 Jun 1631 in Kneesall, Nottingham, England.

Edward moved after 1621 to Kirsall in the Parish of Kneesall, co. Nottingham, where he died. He was the 3rd son named in his father’s will, and was prob. the nephew Edward named in the will of his uncle Thomas Fitz Randolph, 21 May 1600.\

Original will of Edward Fitz Randolph at York Probate Registry, in which he bequeathed ten pounds sterling to his son Edward “if he cum to demand it.”)

Children of  Edward and Frances:

Fitz Randolph Ancestral Generations

1. Edward Fitz RANDOLPH and Francis HOWES.

Edward  was found and in whom was confirmed by the “Visitation” of 1614, the Fitz Randolph Arms substantially as borne by the Lords of Middleham and by the Spennithorne branch of Fitz Randolph. Died probably about 1635.

Edward was born in Sutton-in-Ashfield is a market town in the Ashfield district of Nottinghamshire, England.  Today, it has a population of around 43,000. It is situated four miles west of Mansfield, close to the Derbyshire border.  The area was first settled in Saxon times and the Saxon suffix “ton” means “an enclosure or fenced in clearing”. The town appears in the Domesday Book as “Sutone”. The  Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Sutton-in-Ashfield dates from the twelfth century The church is medieval but was rebuilt in 1854 and 1867.   It contains a rare 12th century pillar piscina and the remains of the font top from the original Norman church

2. Christopher Fitz RANDOLPH, b. 1530 Normantown, Derby, England; d. 28 Jun 1588 Sutton-In-Ashfield, Nottingham; m. Ann WOOD about 1565 in Normantown, Derby, England

Christopher was his parents’ fourth son, and was named in his mother’s will, dated 30 July 1573. His own will, dated 20 June 1588, was proved 1 Apr. 1589 in the Peculiar Court of the Manor of Mansfield (Notts. County Record Office, D.D.P. 17/69). Christopher’s wife, who predeceased him, was not named in his will. He had four sons, James, Anthony, Edward and Christopher, named in the will.

Ann Wood was born about 1545 in Normantown, Derbyshire, England. Her father was Hugh WOOD (1518 – 1548).  Ann died 1588 in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, England

Children of Christopher and Ann

i. Edward Fitz RANDOLPH b. 1565 in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, England

ii. Christopher Fitz Randolph b. 1569 in Sutton, Nottinghamshire, England

iii. Anthony Fitz Randolph b. 1578 in Sutton, Nottinghamshire, England

3. Christopher Fitz RANDOLPH b. ~ 1495 Langdon, Nottingha, England; d. 28 Jun 1574 Ashfield, Nottingham, England;  Alternatively,  d. bef. 26 Apr. 1570 (adminstration granted on that date to his widow Jane and eldest son Thomas)  m. 1514 to Joan LANGTON (~1499 - d. betw. 30 July 1573 (date of will) and 2 Apr. 1574 (probate), daughter and heiress of Cuthbert LANGTON of Langton Hall who died in 1588.

Of Langston Hall in the Parish of Kirkby in Ashfield in the County of Nottingham. Appointed an executor of the will of Christopher Fitz-Randolph vicar of the said parish of Kirkby in Ashfield June 1, 1516. Administration granted 26 April 1570.

Joan was heiress to Langston Hall.  This home was a large ivy covered mansion for years before it descended to Joan and Christopher. This Langston Hall was still in the Randolph family when Edward Fitz-Randolph ,the pilgrim, sailed for America in 1630.

Christopher doubtless came to Kirkby-in-Ashfield, co Nottingham, because of his uncle Christopher Fitz Randolph, parson of that place, who d. 1516 leaving a will dated 1 Jun 1516 of which the nephew Christopher was named as one of the executors;

Cuthbert Langston  -  Source:  History of Nottinghamshire, Volume 2
By Robert Thoroton — London 1797

6  H 8 is the sixth year of the reign of Henry VII or 1515.

Children of Christopher and Jane:

i. John Fitz Randolph b. 1516 in Birchwood, Derby, England

ii. Thomas Fitz Randolph b. 1518 in Birchwood, Derby

iii. Christopher Fitz RANDOLPH, b. 1530 in Normantown, Derby

iv. Edward Fitz Randolph b. 1532 in Birchwood, Derby

v. Isabel Fitz Randolph b. 1534 in Nottinghamshire

vi. Margaret Fitz Randolph b. 1536 in Nottinghamshire

vii. Margery Fitz Randolph b. 1538 in Nottinghamshire

4. John FITZ RANDOLPH  b. 1455 Spennithorne, Yorkshire, England; d. 1514
Yorkshire, England; m. 1472 in England to Edith [__?__] (b. 1452 in Langton Hall, Nottinghamshire – d. 1524 in England) daughter of the Earl of Sandwich.

John’s eldest brother, Sir Ralph, Lord of Spennithorne received inheritance

5.  John Fitz RANDOLPH (Fitz RANDALL) ( ~ 1420 –   5 Mar  1474/75  Yorkshire) ; m.  Joan CONYERS  (  ~1420  -  aft. 1483)  Joan’s parents were Sir. Christopher  CONYERS Knight of Hornby Castle, and Helen (Eleanor) ROLLESTON  ( ~1400 – 1444)

Lord of  Spennithorne in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire

6.  Sir Ralph Fitz RANDALL ( ~1398 –  ~1458) Lord of Spennithorne;  m.  Elizabeth [__?__]

Lord of Spennithorne He inherited his fathers lands.  under age in 1407, will dated 20 Jan. 1457/58, pr. ult. Jan. 1457/58;   (VCH cit. 1: 259; Sir Ralph’s Will is printed in Surtees Soc. Publ., 26: 4).

7. John Fitz RANDALL ( ~1374 – 1405) Lord of Spennithorne beheaded, 1405 for taking part in the rebellion of Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland, his son of Henry Percy, nicknamed “Harry Hotspur”, Richard Scrope, Archbishop of York, and other northern magnates.

7. Randall (Ranulf) FitzJOHN  ( ~1345 –  aft. 1388) Lord of Spennithorne

8. John FitzRANULPH de LASCELLES  ( ~1325 – by 1369) Lord of Spennithorne; m. Maud de CAMPANIA  After John died, Maude married (2) Robert De Hilton.

Held Spennithorne in 1367 -1368

9. Ranulph FitzRALPH de LASCELLES  ( ~  1300  - aft. 1354) Lord of Spennithorne; m. Isabel [__?__]

10. Ralph FitzRANULF  (1255? – by 1316)  m. Tiffany (Theophania) de LASCELLES ( ~ 1250 in Kirby-under-Knowles-Yorkshire,England.)

11. Ranulf (of Middleham) FitzRANULF ( b. ~  1222   – d. by 1294); m. Bertrama widow of Sir Roger de Ingoldsby

With this generation the Fitz Randolph name became well established. Ranulf bore the arms of Glanville.  Ranulf’s descendants in the male line continued at Spennithorne until the 16th century.

12. Randolph Fitz RANDULPH, Lord of Middleham aka Randolph (Ranulf) FitzRobert ( ~1180 Yorkshire – by 1252 buried in Coverham Abbey)

He married  Mary (le) BIGOD, (1188  - 1237) daughter of Roger BIGOD, (c. 1144/1150 – 1221)  2nd Earl of Norfolk    In most of the years of the reign of King John, the earl was frequently with the king or on royal business. Yet Roger was to be one of the leaders of the baronial party which obtained John‘s assent to Magna Carta, and his name and that of his son and heir Hugh II appear among the twenty-five barons who were to ensure the king’s adherence to the terms of that document. The pair were excommunicated by the pope in December 1215, and did not make peace with the regents of John’s son Henry III until 1217.  Roger Bigod and his wife Ida de Tosny are the main characters in Elizabeth Chadwick‘s The Time of Singing (Sphere, 2008), published in the USA as For the King’s Favor.

Randolph held 6 knights fees in the honor of Richmond. He bore the arms of his Grandfather Glanville.( Ralph ,eldest son b.1218,d. 1270 married Anastacia daughter of William DePercy.  This marriage produced only daughters. The eldest daughter,Mary married Robert DeNeville of Raby and conveyed her fathers lands to the Nevilles therefore the male line of the FitzRandolphs lost inhertance to Middleham

Children of Randolph and Mary:

i. Ralph Fitz Randolph  (1218 – 1270) Lord of Middleham who married  Anastasia (Anastance; de) Percy, daughter of William Percy, 6th Baron Percy (1193–1245) who founded the Gray Friars at Richmond, Yorkshire.

Ralph’s daughter Mary (aka Mary Tailboys) was the heiress of Middleham. When she married   Robert NEVILLE  ( ~1240 – 1271), the castle of Middleham passed to to the Neville family

House of Neville Armorial: Gules, a saltire argent

The House of Neville became one of the two major powers in northern England along with the House of Percy and played a central role in the Wars of the Roses.

See below for Generations of the House of Neville   - From Fitz Randolf to Edward IV and Richard III ,

ii. Ranulf (of Middleham) Fitz RANULF ( b. ~ 1222   – d. by 1294); m. Bertrama

13. Robert FITZ RANULF, aka Robert Fitz Ralph (Talybois) of Middleham ( – ~1185)

Lord of Middleham and builder of the castle of Middleham. He married  Helen (Hawise Helewise) de GLANVILLE, who founded Coverham Abbey.

Middleham Castle is an impressive ruin, and the sense of its original strength and grandeur remains.

Middleham Castle in Wensleydale, in the county of North Yorkshire, was built by Robert Fitzrandolph, 3rd Lord of Middleham and Spennithorne, commencing in 1190. It was built near the site of an earlier motte and bailey castle. In 1270 it came into the hands of the Neville family, the most notable member of which was Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, known to history as the “Kingmaker”, a leading figure in the Wars of the Roses. Following the death of Richard, Duke of York at Wakefield in December 1460, his younger sons, George, Duke of Clarence and Richard, Duke of Gloucester, came into Warwick’s care, and both lived at Middleham with Warwick’s own family. Their brother King Edward IV was imprisoned at Middleham for a short time, having been captured by Warwick in 1469. Following Warwick’s death at Barnet in 1471 and Edward’s restoration to the throne, his brother Richard married Anne Neville, Warwick’s younger daughter, and made Middleham his main home. Their son Edward was also born at Middleham and later also died there.

Richard ascended to the throne as King Richard III, but spent little or no time at Middleham in his two-year reign. After Richard’s death at Bosworth in 1485 the castle remained in royal hands until the reign of James I, when it was sold. It fell into disuse and disrepair during the 17th Century. It was garrisoned during the Civil War, but saw no action.

14. RALPH (FITZ RANDULPH) Taillebois (Talybois) aka Radulphus de Alfreton ; poss. aka Ranulph (Radulf) Fitz Ribald  ( – 1168) m.    Agatha de BRUS  (1100 – )

Agatha was daughter of Robert I de BRUS, 1st Lord of Annandale (c. 1078 – 1141/1142) and father of the distinguished line of eight Bruces ending with Robert the Bruce (1274 – 1329) of Braveheart fame,  first son of Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annandale.

15. RIBALD, Lord of Middleham, d. 1121/1131, spending his days in retirement in St. Mary’s Abbey, York. aka Robert de Penthierve; aka Rybold FitzRANULPH; (Bretagne); Seigneur de Midelham; m. Beatrice de TAILLEBOIS-HEPHALL

16.  ODO, Count of Penthièvre.  ( ~999 – 1079) aka EUDES,(I; Regent) de Brittany; aka Eozen kont Penteur; of Tours; m. Agnes de CORNWALL

Eudes

Following the death of his brother Duke Alan III, Eudes ruled as regent of Brittany in the name of his nephew Conan II, between 1040 and 1062, although some histories show 1057 as the year in which Conan II captures and imprisons him in chains. Eudes married Agnes of Cornouaille, sister of Hoel II of Brittany. At least two of Eudes’ sons (Alan and Brian) participated in the Norman conquest of England.

17. GEOFFREY I   Duke of Brittany (980 – 20  Nov 1008) ;  m. HAWISE of Normandy (c. 977 – 21 Feb 1034) daughter of RICHARD I

Geoffrey was the oldest son of Duke CONAN I and Ermengarde-GERBERGA of Anjou

When Geoffrey succeeded to Brittany he had several problems; Blois was encroaching on his territory, Vikings were threatening his shores and Anjou was offering protection.  He chose to align himself with the Duke of Normandy, marrying Hawise of Normandy, daughter of Richard I of Normandy in 996. 

Geoffrey died en route while on a pilgrimage to Rome 20 November 1008.

19. RICHARD I Duke of Normandy , “The Fearless”, Duke of Normandy,  (933–996),who reigned more than a half century; m. GUNNORA, Duchess of Normandy

Richard I of Normandy

Children of Richard and Gunnora:

i. Richard II Duke of Normandy “The Good”, (978/83 -1026), m.  c.1000, JUDITH (992–1017), daughter of Conan I of Brittany  He was father of Robert, “The Magnificent”, whose son was William the Conqueror .  Havoise who married Geoffry, Duke of Brittany, was hence aunt of William the Conqueror..

ii. Robert II (Archbishop of Rouen)

iii. Mauger

iv. Robert Danus

v. Willam?

vi. Emma of Normandy

vii. Maud of Normandy

viii. HAWISE of Normandy

ix. Geoffrey, Count of Eu (illegitimate)

x. William, Count of Eu (illegitimate)

xi. Beatrice of Normandy (illegitimate)

xii. Robert (illegitimate)

xiii. Papia (illegitimate)

20. WILLIAM of Normandy, “Longsword”, (c. 900 – 942)  m.  SPROTA The title duke (dux) did not come into common usage until the eleventh century and has been anachronistically applied to early Norman rulers.

Statue of William Longsword, part of the “Six Dukes of Normandy” series in Falaise.

21. ROLLO  (c. 846 – c. 931), was a Norse nobleman of Norwegian or Danish descent and founder and first ruler of the Viking principality which soon became known as Normandy. His descendants were the Dukes of Normandy, and by later extension, the King of England.

Rollo on the Six Dukes statue in Falaise town square.

In the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte (911) with King Charles the Simple, Rollo pledged feudal allegiance to the king, changed his name to the Frankish version, and converted to Christianity, probably with the baptismal name Robert.  In return, King Charles granted Rollo land between the Epte and the sea as well as Brittany and according to Dudo of St. Quentin, the hand of the King’s daughter, Gisela, although this marriage and Gisela herself are unknown to Frankish sources.  He was also the titular ruler of Normandy, centered around the city of Rouen.

Generations of House of Neville

From Fitz Randolf to Edward IV and Richard III ,

House of Neville Armorial: Gules, a saltire argent

I. Robert Neville  ( ~1240 – 1271,) married Mary Fitz Randolph  (aka Mary Tailboys) heiress of Middleham who survived him by 49 years dying in 1320. The castle of Middleham passed to Robert Neville when he married Mary Fitz Randolph.

II. Ralph Neville, 1st Baron Neville de Raby, Lord of Middleham, (18 Oct 1262 / 1270 – 18 Apr 1331) An English aristocrat and member of the powerful Neville family. He married first Euphemia de Clavering daughter of Robert de Clavering (5th Baron of Warkworth & Clavering) and Margaret La Zouche, with whom he had fourteen children. His second marriage was to Margery de Thwenge, daughter of John De Thwenge and Joan De Mauley.

III.  Ralph Neville, 2nd Baron Neville de Raby, Lord of Middleham ( ~.1291 – 5 Aug 1367) He married  Alicia, daughter of Hugo de Audley. on 14 Jan 1326 with whom he had thirteen children:

Neville led the English forces to victory against the Scottish king David II of Scotland at the Battle of Neville’s Cross on  Oct 17 1346.

IV.  John Neville,  3rd  Baron Neville de Raby,Lord of Middleham, (btw 1337 – 40 Raby Castle, Durham, – 17 Oct 1388)  He married Matilda Percy, Maud Percy ( – d. bef 18 Feb 1379), daughter of Henry de Percy, 2nd Baron Percy of Alnwick, Northumberland, and Idoine de Clifford, daughter of Robert de Clifford, 1st Baron de Clifford, by whom he had two sons and five daughters.   She was the second of the Noble family of Percy to become allied with the Neville-Fitz Randolph line.

V. Ralph de Nevelle ( ~ 1363 – 1425) Lord of Middleham and first Earl of Westmoreland  4th Baron Neville de Raby.(1397),  who died 1435, Knight of the Garter; Marshall (later co-Regent) of England; Warden of west marches

Westmorland is portrayed in Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2, and Henry V.

In the opening scene of Henry IV, Part 1, Westmorland is presented historically as an ally of King Henry IV against the Percys, and in the final scenes of the play as being dispatched to the north of England by the King after the Battle of Shrewsbury to intercept the Earl of Northumberland.

In Act IV of Henry IV, Part 2, Westmorland is portrayed historically as having been principally responsible for quelling the Percy rebellion in 1405 by Archbishop Scrope almost without bloodshed by successfully parleying with the rebels on 29 May 1405 at Shipton Moor.

However in Henry V Westmorland is unhistorically alleged to have resisted the arguments made in favour of war with France by Archbishop Chichele in the Parliament which began at Leicester on 30 April 1414.

m1.  Margaret Stafford (d. 9 June 1396), the eldest daughter of Hugh Stafford, 2nd Earl of Stafford, and Philippa Beauchamp, the daughter of Thomas Beauchamp, 11th Earl of Warwick, by Katherine Mortimer, the daughter of Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March

m2. bef.  29 Nov 1396, at Château de Beaufort, Maine-et-Loire, Anjou, Joan Beaufort, the widow of Robert Ferrers, 2nd Baron Ferrers,  daughter of John of Gaunt, son of Edward III  thus joining the English Royal line. Randolph and Joan had a daughter, Cicely Nevelle, called “The Rose of Raby”, who married Richard Plantagenent 3rd Duke of York who was killed in the battle of Wakefield in 1460.

The children were Edward IV and Richard III , Kings of the House of York.

Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV and granddaughter of Cicely, combined the Houses of York and Lancaster in the person of her son  Henry VIII, – she having married Henry VII, a Lancastrian  descendant of John of Gaunt—and thus ended definitely “The War of Roses”.

Sources:

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=8903382&st=1

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/26709453/person/12576431982/story/e15f48e9-6a26-4ed8-bc2e-1e1bd0388ea1?src=search

http://josfamilyhistory.com/htm/hopkins/woodruff/wood-drake-fitz-early.htm

History of Nottinghamshire, Volume 2 By Robert Thoroton — London 1797

THOMAS VAIL, SALEM 1640 by Wm. PennVail, M.D. LDS Library Call 929.273

http://www.geni.com/people/John-Fitz-Randolph-Lord-of-Spennithorne/6000000002665734378

Thomas BLOSSOM (1580 – 1633) was Alex’s 11th Great Grandfather; one of 4,096 in this generation of the Shaw line.

Blossom Coat of Arms

Thomas Blossom was born in 1580 Little Shelford, Cambridge, England. His parents were Peter BLOSSOM (1535- 1597) and Annabel [__?__] (1549 – 1617). He married Ann HEILSON 10 Nov 1605 in St Clements Church, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England.  He began the journey in the Speedwell, sister ship of the famous Mayflower, but the Speedwell had to turn back due to being unseaworthy.   Thomas later arrived in Plymouth Colony on the 2nd voyage of the Mayflower in 1629.  Thomas died in 1633 Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Thomas was married in St Clement’s Church, Cambridge, England

Ann Heilson was born 23 Jun 1583 in Cambridge, England. Her parents were Cuthbert HELSDON (b. 1557) and Margaret ELSEDEN (b. 1563). After Thomas died, Ann married at Plymouth, 17 Oct 1633 to Henry Rowley of Plymouth and later of Scituate and Barnstable.   Ann died in 1691 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Mass.

Children of  Thomas and Elizabeth:

The Blossoms lived first at Great Shelford, then possibly Little Shelford, and moved to Stapleford, probably about 1582. He described himself as a”husbandman” [small farmer] in a 1585 deposition, but as a “labourer” in his 1597 will, indicating a lower economic status. After his death, his wife married (2) Richard Bracher at Stapleford on Feb 6, 1597/98, and moved with him to Cambridge.The educated language of Thomas Blossom’s letters to William Bradford have led some to speculate that Blossom attended Cambridge University, but there is no mention of his name in university records.

Thomas Blossom arrived in Leiden before October 27, 1609. His occupation while there was not recorded.

Thomas Blossom, was a prominent member of Rev. John Robinson’s church from the time its members left Scrooby in Nottinghamshire, England. In 1620, the *Mayflower* and the *Speedwell* were to sail as companion ships to America. The Speedwell was a little ship of 60 tons, which had been purchased and fitted out in Holland for the Pilgrim congregation. She sailed July 26, 1620, from the port of Delfthaven, about 24 miles from Leyden, for Southampton, England, where the Mayflower for a week had been waiting with a partial list of passengers from London. It was found that the little Speedwell needed repairs before putting out to sea. Repairs were made at a considerable expense and delay. The two vessels then set sail for their long voyage, but the Speedwell proved leaky and both vessels put into Dartmouth for further repairs. Then, once more, they sailed together and progressed some 300 miles westward from Land’s End, when the captain of the Speedwell complained further of his boat’s unseaworthiness. Again, the two vessels turned back, this time putting into Plymouth Harbor, and here it was decided to dismiss the Speedwell after a redistribution of passengers and cargo.

On Sep 6, 1620, eighteen persons returned in the Speedwell to Leyden by way of London, where the leaky boat was sold. Among those returning was Thomas Blossom with his little family. There, he remained until the congregation of Rev. Robinson was able to send over to America those who were left behind.

Eleven people from the Speedwell boarded the Mayflower, leaving 20 people to return to London(including Robert Cushman) while a combined company of 103 continued the voyage.

A Letter written to William Bradford from  Thomas Blossom in 1625.   Bradford was in America by this time while the Blossoms remained with the rest in Leyden Hooland.

BELOVED SIR,

Kind salutations, &c. I have thought good to write to you, concerning the cause as it standeth both with you and us; we see, alas I what frustrations and disappointments it pleaseth the Lord to send in this our course, good in itself and according to godliness taken in hand and for good and lawful ends, who yet pleaseth not to prosper us we see, for reasons best known to himself: And which also nearly concerns us to consider of, whether we have sought the Lord in it, as we ought’ or not; that the Lord hath singularly preserved life in the business to great admiration, giveth me good hope that he will (if our sins hinder not) in his appointed time, give a happy end unto it. On the contrary when I consider how it pleaseth the Lord to cross those means that should bring us together, being now as far off or farther than ever, in our apprehension; as also to take that means away, which would have been so comfortable unto us in that course, both for wisdom of council as also for our singular help in our course of godliness, whom the Lord (as it were) took away even as fruit falleth before it was ripe, (he means Mr. Robinson) when neither length of days, nor infirmity of body, did seem to call for his end. The Lord even then took him away, as it were in his anger, whom if tears would have held, he had remained to this day. The loss of his ministry was very great unto me, for I ever counted myself happy in the enjoyment of it, notwithstanding all the crosses and losses otherwise I sustained. Yet indeed the manner of his taking away hath more troubled me, as fearing the Lord’s anger in it, that, as I said, in the ordinary course of things might still have remained, as also, the singular service he might have yet done in the church of God. Alas, dear friends, our state and cause in religion I by his death being wholly destitute of any that may defend our cause as it should against our adversaries. That we may take up that doleful complaint in the Psalm, that there is no prophet left among us, nor any that knoweth how long.

Alas I you would fain have had him with you, and he would as fain have come to you; many letters and much speech hath been about his coming to you, but never any solid course propounded for his going; if the course propounded the last year had appeared to have been certain, he would have gone though with two or three families. I know no man amongst us knew his mind better than I did, about those things; he was loath to leave the church, yet I know also, that he would have accepted the worst conditions which in the largest extent of a good conscience could be taken, to have come to you. For myself and all such others as have formerly minded coming, it is much what the same, if the Lord afford means. We only know how things are with you by your letters, but how things stand in England we have received no letters of any thing, and it was November before we received yours. If we come at all unto you, the means to enable us so to do must come from you. For the state of our church, and how it is with us and of our people, it is wrote of by Mr. White. Thus praying you to pardon my boldness with you in writing as I do, I commend you to the keeping of the Lord, desiring, if he see it good, and that I might be serviceable unto the business, that I were with you. God hath taken away my son, that was with me in the ship, when I went back again; I have only two children which were born since I left you: Fare you well.

Yours to his power,

THOMAS BLOSSOM.

Leyden, December 15, Anno 1625.

---

On May 1, 1629, six vessels left the shores of England with a passenger list which included the bulk of the Leyden congregation, all bound for New England.  Thomas Blossom and his family were on the Mayflower, the second Pilgrim ship of that name, with Captain William Peirce in command.   Several weeks earlier some servants had been dispatched on the Talbot.

By and large, it was “but a weak company,” Sherley apologized, “yet herein is a good parte of that end obtained which was aimed at.” As the majority of passengers on both ships were Puritans recruited by the recently organized Massachusetts Bay Company, the vessels did not proceed to Plymouth, but to Naumkeag; here Captain John Endecott had arrived with the Puritan vanguard about a year before, immediately coming into conflict with Conant and Lyford, soon driving both out. After some delay the Saints were fectche to Plymouth by boat. This group of pilgrims included Thomas Blossom,  who arrived with his wife and two young children.

Thomas Blossom because Deacon of the Church at Plymonth and was called “a holy man and experienced Saint”.

In 1633 an “infectious fevoure” had swept the town, raging throughout the summer. More than twenty people died — both of Brewster’s daughters, Fear ALLERTON and Patience PRENCE ; Cuthbert Cuthbertson and his wife Sarah (Allerton); Francis Eaton, the ship’s carpenter of Bristol, who had lost his first wife in the General Sickness and since been married twice; John Adams of the Fortune company; and Peter Browne, “Goodman” John Goodman’s partner when they had gone hunting deer with a sickle and had their dreadful encounter with “lyons”.

The church lost all three of its deacons, “anciente friends” from Leyden days–Thomas Blossom, Richard Masterson and the faithful Samuel Fuller, their doctor, “who had been a great help and comforte unto them,…a man godly and forward to doe good being much missed after his death.”

Children

4. Elizabeth BLOSSOM (See Edward FITZ RANDOLPH‘s page)

5. Thomas Blossom

Thomas’ wife Sarah Ewer was born 10 May 1629 in Ware, Hertfordshire, England.  Her parents were Thomas Ewer (1593 – 1638) and Sarah Learned (1604 – 1652). Sarah died 17 Jun 1645 in Plymouth, Mass.

Children of Thomas and Sarah:

i. Sarah Blossom b. 1647 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.

ii. Peter Blossom b. 1650

6. Peter Blossom

Peter’s wife Sarah Bodfish was born 1638 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass. Sarah’s parents were Robert Bodfish and Bridget [__?__].   Sarah died 3 Oct 1704 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.

Children of Peter and Sarah:

i. Thomas Blossom b. 20 Dec 1667 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.

ii. Samuel Blossom b. 1669 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.

iii. Sarah Blossom b. 1669 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.

iv. Joseph Blossom b. 10 Dec 1673 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.

v. Thankful Blossom b. 1675 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.

vi. Mercy Blossom b. Aug 1678 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass

vii. Jabez Blossom b. 16 Feb 1680 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.

Sources:

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=11294584

Thomas FOLLAND (1600 – 1686) was Alex’s 10th Great Grandfather; one of 2,048 in this generation of the Shaw line.

Immigrant – No Folland, Falland, or Follin Coat of Arms exists

Thomas Folland was born between 1600 and 1611, some say even 1620 in England. His parents were Samuel FOLLAND and Emma [__?__].  He married Elizabeth [__?__] Thomas’ will is dated 1 Oct 1686 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass  and proved 31 May 1687.

Elizabeth [__?__] was born about 1611 in England.

Children of  Thomas and Elizabeth:

Mary’s name is often written Folland, but contemporary Yarmouth records consistently spell her father’s name Falland.

Thomas’ father Samuel Falland was born about 1580 in Exeter, Devon, England

Thomas was permitted to dwell at Yarmouth before  June 1641. He lived at what became the Mayfair area in Dennis, at the head of Kelley’s Bay on Bass River and near Follins Pond. His original neighbors were Francis BAKER, Gabriel WHELDON and William TWINING.  The neighborhood is sometimes called “The Head of the Point”.

A list of Freemen of Yarmouth taken about in 1659 , comprises the following names :

Mr. Anthony Thacher, Samuel Arnold,
James Matthews, Thos. Falland 
Mr. John Crow, Richard Sears,
Mr. Edmund HAWES, Richard Hoar,
Mr. Thos. HOWES, Sr, Mr. Yelverton Crow,
Edward STURGES, Emanuel White,
Mr. John Miller, Joseph Howes.

Cape Code Library of Local History and Genealogy, Vol I

Chatham, Barnstable, Mass

In 1665, to settle the difficulty at Monomoy, now Chatham between William Nickerson and the Colonial government respecting the illegal purchase of land of the Indian sachem there, Nickerson was allowed one hundred acres of the purchased land, and Major John FREEMAN, with Thomas Hinckley, William Sargeant, Anthony Thacher, Nathaniel Bacon, Edmund HAWES,  Thomas HOWES, Sr,  Thomas FOLLAND, Sr and Lt. Joseph Rogers was allowed a grantee of the remaining portion with the privilege with the above named to purchase adjacent land.

In 1672,  Major Freeman disposed of his right to William Nickerson; and in 1674 Major Freeman and  Capt. Jonathan SPARROW were appointed to lay out Nickerson’s land with instructions, but for some cause the work was not accomplished by the committee until 1692.

Native American tribes who lived in the Chatham before European colonization include the Nauset, specifically the Manomoy or Monomoy people. “Manamoyik” was a Nauset village located near present-day Chatham. Explorer Samuel de Champlain landed here in 1606, contacting (and skirmishing with) the Nauset. English settlers first settled in Chatham in 1665, and the town was incorporated in 1712, naming it after Chatham, Kent, England. Located at the “elbow” of Cape Cod, the community became a shipping, fishing, and whaling center. Chatham’s early prosperity would leave it with a considerable number of 18th century buildings, whose charm helped it develop into a popular summer resort.

Follins Pond is named for Thomas Folland.  It is  a brackish lake on Cape Cod, separating the towns of Dennis and Yarmouth, Massachusetts. The lake is connected to Nantucket Sound via the Bass River.

Follins Pond separating Dennis from South Yarmouth is named for Thomas Folland

Follins Pond is noteworthy primarily because there has been an attempt to connect it to the semi-legendary lost Norse colony of Vinland.

In the 1950s, Frederick J. Pohl investigated Follins Pond and claimed that he had located shore rocks along the pond into which were drilled holes that strongly resembled Norse mooring stones (the Norse were known to drill holes into which iron pins were inserted for the purpose of mooring their knarrer).

Additionally, Pohl claimed that he had uncovered the tops of posts about a foot underground, arranged in a pattern that might have been that of either a Norse shipyard or drydock.  Further, at about the same time a claimed “Viking horse bone” may have been unearthed at Follins Pond. Pohl was of the opinion that at least a few horses were brought from Greenland by the Norse on their further voyages of exploration.

Pohl published a book in 1952 entitled The lost discovery: Uncovering the track of the Vikings in America which detailed this claim. It is not taken seriously by professional historians, as the evidence presented is rather scant and no archaeological finds of any significance have been made in the area since.

Some of the road names around Follins Pond seem to reflect this theory. A Norsemans Beach Road can be found on the eastern shore of the lake, a Norse Road on the north shore of the lake, and a Valhalla Drive and Erik’s Path close to the south shore.

Additionally, along the shore of a smaller body of water known as Kelleys Bay joined to Follins Pond by the Bass River can be found Vinland Drive, Skerry Road, Saga Road, Fiord Drive, Freydis Drive, and Lief Ericson Drive (sic).  Further south, along the shores of the Bass River, can be found Lief’s Lane, Legend Drive, Old Saga Drive, Rune Stone Road, Viking Rock Road, Keel Cape Drive, Erickson Way, and Mooring Lane.

Children:

1. Mary Folland (See John WHELDON‘s page)

Last will and testament, dated 1 Oct. 1686, proved 31 May 1687, of Thomas Folland Sr. of Yarmouth, gives… “To my daughter Mary, wife of John Whilding, 5s.”

2. Elizabeth Folland

Elizabeth’s husband Samuel Hall was born about 1636 (called eldest son in father’s will) in Charlestown, Middlesex, Mass. His parents were John Hall (1611 – 1696) and Bethia Farmer (1611 – 1683). Alternatively, his mother was Elizabeth Winnif (1613 – 1683) Samuel died 20 Jan 1694, probably in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

In his will of 1 Oct 1686 Thomas Folland Sr. of Yarmouth included a bequest to his daughter Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Hall [MD 3:176, citing BarnPR 1:5];

Samuel died without surviving issue and in his will of 7 Oct 1693 he made bequests to “wife Elizabeth,” to “my eldest brother John Hall,” to “my second brother Joseph Hall,” to “my third brother Nathaniel Hall,” to “my fourth brother Gershom Hall,” to “my fifth brother William Hall,” to “my sixth brother Benjamin Hall,” to “my seventh brother Elisha Hall,” and made “my brother-in-law Thomas Follin” one of his overseers [MD 22:185-86, citing BarnPR 1:91].

The gap of six years between the first record of Bethia as wife of John Hall (2 November 1632) and the first record of a baptism for a child (13 May 1638) is puzzling. The eldest son, Samuel, was very likely born during this period, say in 1636, but this still leaves a sizable gap; and if John and Bethia Hall were residing in Charlestown throughout this period, why wasn’t a baptism for Samuel recorded? One possible solution derives from the problematic nature of the early Charlestown church records, which were recopied some years after the date of the events recorded.

Savage demonstrated that the Charlestown church records have  Richard Kettle  married to his wife Esther Ward some time before the marriage actually took place. The same may have happened with John and Bethia. If that is true John and Bethia may not have married until about 1636, and if she were from some place other than Charlestown, perhaps Samuel was baptized there, in a church whose records no longer exist. This proposed solution may also explain the gap of four years between John Hall’s admission to Boston church and his admission as a freeman, for he may not yet have been twenty-one in 1630.

On 8 June 1655  concerning a

“complaint made by John Hall, of Yarmouth, against [our ancestor] Francis BAKER, of the same towne, for abusing Samuell Hall, his son, and seruant to the said Baker, by kicking of him and otherwise unreasonably stricking of him, the court haue ordered, that the said Samuell Hall shall bee and continew with his said father untill the next Court of Asistants; and then incase the said Baker shall come and complaine to the said Court, hee is to acquaint the said Hall wherwith, that soe hee may come with him, and they shalbee heard.”  [PCR 3:83];

The controversy was ended when on 7 August 1655 the court ordered John Hall to pay Francis Baker £8 for the remainder of Samuel Hall’s time [PCR 3:88].

The will of Elizabeth (Folland) Hall Jones, dated 20 May 1711, proved 10 July 1714, of “Elizabeth Jones, widder woman” of Yarmouth, gives: “To my cusen Elizabeth Whelden, the daughter of my sister Mary, 40s…” (Barnstable Co. Probates 3:341)

3. Thomas Folland

1693 – Joseph Howes, John Hawes, John Hallet and John Miller were appointed a committee “to agree with some fit person to teach school.” The school was “to be kept in five squadrons” the boundaries of which are thus defined : “

1st, beginning at Jonathan Hallet’s, and round the said town to Hosea JOYCE’s, Joseph Ryder’s, Samuel Hall’s and Joseph Maker’s, from Sept. to Jan. 3 ;

2nd, beginning at John Godfrey’s and all Nobscusset and Zach. Paddock’s, from Jan. 4 to April 1;

3rd, beginning at widow Boardman’s to Sawquetucket Mill or River, from April 11 to June 19;

4th, Bass Pond squadron, from Thomas Folland’s, Benj, Matthews’, and all the east side of Bass River, from June 20 to July 17 ;

5th, South Sea squadron, beginning at Thomas Bill’s, all the west side of Bass River and South Sea, from Thomas Batter’s, from July 15 to last of August.”

10  Feb 1696/97 – Thomas witnessed the will of David O’KELLY and later took the inventory

 “I the Sd David Okillia Senr” signed the will 10 February, 1696/7. The witnesses were Thomas Folland, William Baker, Sr. (by mark), and Isaac Perse, by a mark.
On 19 July, 1697 the three witnesses made oath to the will, “the two former according to the coustom and the latter William Baker as he was in the presence of God”, and the will was probated, and administration granted to Jane Okillia, the widow, on 28 July, 1697.
On 16 July, 1697, the inventory was taken by Thomas Folland and Benjamin Mathews.

Sources:

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=38425905&st=1

http://nefamilies.com/fam/groupsheetI100009435.aspx

Jonathan HALLETT (1647 – 1717) was Alex’s 9th Great Grandfather; one of 1,024 in this generation of the Shaw line.

Jonathan Hallett was born 20 Nov 1647 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Masss. His parents were Andrew HALLETT Jr. and Anne BESSE. He married Abigail DEXTER 30 Jan 1684 in Yarmouth.  Jonathan died 14 Jan 1717 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

Jonathan Hallet Gravestone — Ancient Cemetery Yarmouth Port — Find A Grave Memorial# 57287429

The gravestone is carved in the style of Nathaniel Emmes or William Mumford of Boston.

Inscription:
HERE LYES Ye BODY
OF JONATHAN HALET
AGED 69 YEARS
DIED JANUARY Ye
12th 1717

Abigail Dexter was born 12 Jun 1663 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass, Her parents were Thomas DEXTER and Elizabeth VINCENT. Abigail died 12 Sep 1715 in Yarmouth.

Abigail Dexter Gravestone — West Barnstable Cemetery — Find A Grave Memorial# 50400183

Children of Jonathan and Abigail:

The following biography of Jonathan Hallett is a reprint of the Amos Otis Papers originally published in the Barnstable Patriot in 1861; Revised by Charles  F. Swift Largely made from notes made by the author (1888).   This sketch is the least flattering written about any of our ancestors.   I wonder if there was some personal grudge.

Genealogical notes of Barnstable families (1888) — Of the early life of Jonathan Hallett little is known. He was not taxed in Yarmouth in 1676, and does not appear to have been a resident. Jan. 30, 1683-4, he married Abigail Dexter, daughter of Ensign Thomas Dexter of Sandwich, and grand-daughter of Mr. Thomas Dexter of Lynn, In 1684 he was constable of Sandwich, and an inhabitant of that town. He was thirty-six when married, and his wife twenty-one years of age.

After the death of his father he removed to Yarmouth, and resided in the west room of his father’s house till 1695, the year after the death of his mother, when he built his new house, afterwards known as the Jeremiah Hallett house. As all the houses built about that time were of the same description, some account thereof may not be uninteresting. The lumber for its construction came from Scituate, the Bangor of those times. It was two stories high, and at first contained only two rooms, exclusive of the attic. It stood where Mr. Joseph Hale’s house now stands, fronted due south, and was about twenty-four feet in front, by eighteen in the rear. The timber was large, and the boarding an inch and a quarter in thickness. The chimney was built within, not outside of the frame. On entering the front door you stepped over the sill, the entry floor being a foot lower than the threshold. In the entry a cu-cular stairway led to the chamber and attic.

Passing into the great room or parlor you had to step over a cross timber. That room was seventeen feet square, and no part of it was ever plastered or finished. The chimney projected into the room, with no finishing boards put up around it. The fireplace was seven feet wide, four feet deep, and five and a half high, with an oven at the south end. The hearth was laid with flat stones, picked up in the fields. The sills, which were large sticks of timber, projected into the room and formed low seats on three sides. The windows were of small diamond shaped glass set in lead. No planed boards, no plastering, paper or paint, was used in that house from the day it was built in 1695, till it was taken down in 1819.

Outwardly the house appeared very comfortable. The upper story, on the east, projected over the lower. This projection was adorned with some rude ornamental work, in the form of acorns, hanging beneath. Subsequently two additions were made. A one story leanto on the rear for a kitchen and pantry, and a leanto or “salt-box” on the west side. The inside of these additions were ruder, if possible, than the original structure. The back stairs were made of a pine log, with scores cut therein. There was no railing, and to go up or down them in the dark, was a feat that few would venture to attempt.

The furniture of the house was as mean as the interior finish. His father’s house was elegantly furnished in comparison.

Jonathan Hallett, after the decease of his father, was the most wealthy man in Yarmouth, and his brother John ranked next to him ; yet with all their riches, neither was contented — neither was happy. I have heard the aged remark that the men of the third generation were, as a class, an ignorant and superstitious race. The ardent piety of the first comers had degenerated into lifeless formalities ; their wise economy into a desire to hoard ; and their simple, unaffected manners, into coarseness — often to rudeness and incivility.

The first Jonathan Hallett was a type of that class of men. Hundreds now living can testify that his house was as cold, as cheerless, and as comfortless as I have described. He had money to let to all who could give good security, and were willing to pay a liberal percentage, yet he had no money to expend in finishing or plastering his rooms, none to make his home pleasant and comfortable. His excuse was, “my father’s house was never plastered.” The seams of his father’s house was ”daubed,” and it was warm and comfortable. Jonathan could not afford that small expense, he caulked the seams with “swingling tow” which cost nothing. This was the character of the man, he was greedy of filty lucre ; denied himself the comforts and conveniences of life, lived as meanly and as sparingly as the poorest of the poor, that he might add to his already well filled coffers.

Generally the first settlers had not the means, and those that had were obliged to send out to England for the articles they wanted, and shippers in those days charged enormous profits. Thirty per cent, was a moderate rate. Forty, fifty, and even one hundred per cent, was paid. In Jonathan’s time it was not so. Some manufactures had been established, communication with the mother country as more frequent, there were importers who sold goods at a moderate advance, and the Colonies were well supplied with articles of convenience and comfort. We cannot respect the man who, to save a little more money, will go bare-foot in winter ; who will run the risk of breaking his neck in clambering up a notched log, and who lived all his days in a house that neither the joiner, the plasterer, nor the painter ever entered. There is a golden mean in the path of life which neither the miser nor the spendthrift ever see. The former never perceives the deep gulph that separates prudent management from miserly hoarding and the latter that which divides an honorable, generous hospitality, from wasteful extravagance.

Goodman Andrew Hallett, after providing in his will for the comfortable support of his widow, making liberal bequests to his daughters, and giving to his son Jonathan his little Calves Pasture, as a token of his right of primogeniture, gave all the remainder of his large estate to his two sons, enjoining on them to make a peaceful division thereof by mutual agreement. They quarrelled about the boundaries of the little Calves Pasture, the birthright of Jonathan, and they spent two years and a half in vain attempts to divide peaceably and by mutual concession and agreement, when they put themselves under bonds of £800, each to the other, to abide by the award of Mr. Nathaniel Bacon, of Barnstable, and Col. William Bassett, of Sandwich. Jonathan had the western portion of the farm, John the eastern. The present road to the wharf being the division line on the north side of the County road, That there was some unpleasant feeling between them and their families, is indicated by the fact that Jonathan’s descendants called John’s, “other side Halletts.”

5 Mar 1686/87 – Jonathan, Hallett, for £20 in current money, bought of his brother-in-law, John Dexter, of Sandwich, a negro slave called Harry, aged 29 years. The bill of sale, yet preserved, is drawn up with much formality — signed, sealed and witnessed.

In 1710 he continued to rank as the most wealthy man in Yarmouth, and his brother John next. He was an extensive landholder in Yarmouth and in Barnstable.

28 Mar 1698/99 – He bought of Samuel Bradford, of Duxbury, for twenty pounds in current money, a thousand acre right of land in Windham, Hartford County, Connecticut, “being the fifth lot at the crotch of the river,” and also a houselot of twelve acres abutting on the river, with rights of commonage. It is probable he sold his Windham farm, for none of his family removed to that town.

His will is dated Dec. 5, 1716, and was proved Feb. 14, 1716-17. He names his five sons, Ebenezer, Thomas, Timothy, David and Jonathan, and his daughters Mehitabel Sturgis, Elizabeth Crowell, and Abigail Hallott. His real estate was apprised at £2000, and his personal estate for a large sum.

The men of the third generation had very slender means of acquiring an education, generally their piety had degenerated into lifeless, unmeaning formalities ; they were church members ; but not of the noble, self-sacrificing race by whom the country was settled. Jonathan Hallett loved money better than he loved the church ; he was industrious, and gathered up riches which his children put to a better use than he did. He died Jan. 12, 1716-17, aged 69 years, and his wife died Sept. 2, 1715, aged 52 years. Both are buried in the old burying-ground in Yarmouth, where monuments are erected to their memories.

Children

1. Mehitable HALLETT (See Edward STURGIS III‘s page)

2. Elizabeth Hallett

Elizabeth’s husband Col. Paul Crowell was born 20 Apr 1687 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass. His parents were John Crowell (1662 – 1728) and  Bethiah Sears (1662 - 1724)  After Elizabeth died, he married 15 Feb 1724/25  to Margery Hall, daughter of Deacon Joseph Hall of Yarmouth. Margery died 25 May 1773; m 3rd Mehitable Snow.  Paul died 11 Oct 1765 in Chatham, Barnstable, Mass.

Col Paul Crowell Gravestone Detail Find A Grave Memorial# 40875989

Paul Crowell settled in Chatham in 1717 on the farm at Chathamport purchased by his father from William Covell. It borders on Pleasant Bay. The house was later known as the Osborn Nickerson house. Col. Crowell was town treasurer for 7 years and selectman 6 years. He became a Deacon in the church in 1738. Paul Crowell served as First Lieutenant (1738) then Capt of the town militia by 1744, advanced to Major of the County regiment in 1749 and later Colonel and head of the County Militia. (Smith) He supposedly left a large estate divided among his three sons. The homestead was given to his son David.

Elizabeth Hallett Crowell Gravestone — Chatham Old Burial Ground — Find A Grave Memorial# 57388719

Children of Elizabeth and Paul

i. Abigail Crowell b. 13 Sep 1715 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

ii. Paul Crowell b. 4 Apr 1717 in Chatham, Barnstable, Mass.; d. 10 Nov 1808 Chatham Old Burial Ground

iii. Jonathan Crowell b. 25 Feb 1718 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.; d.  17 Feb 1776 Liverpool, Nova Scotia, Canada

3. Capt. Ebenezer Hallett

Ebenezer’s first wife Rebecca Howes was born 1685 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass. Her parents were Jeremiah HOWES  and Sarah PRENCE. Rebecca died 23 Mar 1724/25

Ebenezer’s second wife Hannah Hallett was born 1700 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass. Hannah died 20 Apr 1729 in Yarmouth.

Ebenezer’s third wife Mercy Gray was born 13 Apr 1696 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass. Her parents were Edward Gray  (1656 – 1726) and  Melatiah Lewis ( – 1729).  Mercy died  25 Mar 1775 in Yarmouth.)

Genealogical notes of Barnstable families (1888) — Ebenezer Hallett, son of Jonathan, was a farmer and resided in Yarmouth. His dwelling-house, which has been owned by four successive generations of Ebenezer Hallett’s yet remains. It was originally of the same description with his father’s, but by several additions of one room at a time, it is now a large two story mansion house. Though originally of the same description with his father’s, it was better finished and furnished. In his family record I find this entry, “Our house was in danger of burning August 9, 1746.” Perhaps there is no house in the County in which so much wood has been consumed as in this. The Ebenezer Halletts, especially the second, were noted for keeping large fires.

He married Aug. 14, 1712, Rebecca Howes. She died March 23, 1724-5. 2d, his cousin Hannah Hallett, June 27, 1728. She died April 20, 1729. 3d, Mercy Gray, May 30, 1737, who survived him.

In his will dated 10th May, 1760, he gives to his wife Mercy one-half of the moveables in the east end of his dwelling-house, two cows, one steer, one-third part of his sheep and hogs, sundry articles of provision, one-third part of his grain in the ground, the improvement of the east end of his dwelling-house, one-quarter of his barn, and a third part of his real estate, as her right of dower or thirds during her natural life ; twelve loads of pine and twelve loads of oak wood annually, cut “convenient for the chimney,” and a horse to ride to meeting and elsewhere by his son Ebenezer. She survived her husband several years ; but her connection with the family was an unhappy one.

He gives legacies to his daughters Ann Crowell, Sarah Gray, and Rebecca Hallett, to his randchildren Ebenezer, Susannah, John, Temperance, Rebecca, Mercy and Jonathan Whelden, and his son-in-law John Whelden. To Ebenezer Whelden he made an additional bequest of “one-third part in acres of the southern end of the woodlot commonly called the “New Society” where once Sinieon Porridge lived. To his grandson Ebenezer Hallett, he gave one pair of gold sleeve buttons, and his coat with silver buttons ; and to his grandson Edward Hallett one Jack-coat with silver buttons on it. He appoints his son Ebenezer executor, makes him his residuary legatee, and charges him with the payment of his debts and legacies.

Ebenezer Hallet Gravestone — Ancient Cemetery Yarmouth Port — Find A Grave Memorial# 50148024

Rebeckah Howes Hallet Headstone Ancient Cemetery Yarmouth Port Barnstable County Mass

Children of Ebenezer and Rebecca:

i.Ann Hallett b. 1 Nov 1714 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.; m. 24 Aug 1738 Yarmouth to Ebenezer Wheldon. (9 Sep 1708 Yarmouth – d. 14 Mar 1743 Yarmouth) Ann’s sister Susannah married Ebenezer’s brother John. Their parents were our ancestors Jonathan WHELDON and Mercy TAYLOR. Ann’s cousin Mary Mayo married Ebenezer’s and John’s brother Seth Wheldon.  Ann and Ebenezer had one child Ebenezer (b. 1739)

After Ebenezer’s death in 1743, Ann remarried 12 Nov 1752 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass to Joseph Crowell (1696 – 1783) and had four more children born between 1753 and 1761 in Yarmouth. Ann died Oct 1795 in Yarmouth.

ii. Howes Hallett b. 18 Dec 1715 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.;

iii. Elizabeth “Betty” Hallet b. 25 Feb 1717 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.;

iv. Sarah Hallett b. 22 Oct 1718 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.;

v. Ebenezer Hallett b. 9 Dec 1719 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.;

vi. Susanna Hallett b. 25 Jan 1722 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.; m.. 20 Dec 1739 Yarmouth to John Wheldon (b. 14 Jan 1711 Yarmouth – d. 30 Jun 1797 Yarmouth) Susannah’s sister Ann married John’s brother Ebenenezer. Their parents were our ancestors Jonathan WHELDON and Mercy TAYLOR. Susanna’s cousin Mary Mayo married John’s and Ebenezer’s brother Seth Wheldon.  Susannah died 12 Nov 1751 in Yarmouth.

John remarried 21 Sep 1752 or 23 Sep 1757 in Yarmouth to Lydia Taylor.

vii. Rebecca Hallett b. 19 Jul 1723 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.;

4. Thomas Hallett

Thomas’ first wife Sarah Hawes was born 1 Apr 1696 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.  Her parents were Joseph HAWES  and Mary HOWES. Sarah died 31 Jan 1720 in Yarmouth.

Thomas’ second wife Mrs. Hannah  Gray was born 1693 in Harwich, Barnstable, Mass.  She first married Andrew Gray of Harwich and North Yarmouth, Maine.  Her parents were [__?__]  and Susanna Clark (1674 – 1731).   Hannah died 6 Feb 1749/50 in Yarmouth.

Thomas’ third wife Desire Gorham was born 26 Aug 1710 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass. Her parents were John Gorham (1680 – 1729) and Anne Brown ( – 1712)  Her grandparents were James GORHAM Sr. and Hannah HUCKINS.  Desire died Dec 1767 in Yarmouth

Thomas’ fourth wife Mary Gorham was born 19 Jul 1719 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass. Her parents were James GORHAM Jr. and Mary JOYCE.  She was born after her father’s death and therefore is not mentioned in his will.  Mary was a “singular woman.”  She was known as “Mrs. Slicker” and her children were known as “Slickers.”  She was no advocate for celibacy and held that it was no breach of etiquette for women to propose marriage/  She first married 25 Jan 1739 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass, to Thomas Hedge (b. 5 May 1719 in Yarmouth – d. 9 Jun 1764) His parents were Thomas Hedge and Hannah Taylor. His grandparents were Elisha HEDGE and Mary STURGIS.  Mary died 2 Jun 1795 in Yarmouth.

Genealogical notes of Barnstable families (1888) –Thomas Hallett, styled gentleman, son of Jonathan, born in Yarmouth in 1691, owned and resided in the large, ancient mansion-house now standing on the corner of Hallett St., and Wharf Lane. It was originally built on the same plan with that of his father’s which has been described, but was better finished at first, and has since been kept in good repair. The Halletts’, as a race, are able-bodied men, and average in stature above the common height. Thomas was an exception. He was a short, thick-set man. During the latter part of his life he was of feeble health. ‘ For many years he was afflicted with a sore leg — a disease which usually set at defiance the curative skill of the physicians of his time.

Thomas Hallett, lived in better style than many of his neighbors, and died April 10, 1772, aged 81, leaving a good estate.

He married April 9 , 1719, for his first wife, Sarah, daughter of Dea. Joseph Hawes. She was born April 1, 1696, and died soon after her marriage, leaving no .issue. He married Feb. 8, 1721-2, Hannah, widow of Andrew Gray of Harwich, and North Yarmouth, Maine. She died Feb. 6, 1749-50, and he married for his third wife, Aug. 19, 1750, Desire Gorham. She died Dec. 1767, aged 57. For his fourth wife he married Mary, widow of Thomas Hedge, and a daughter of James Gorham.

In his will dated 21st Feb. 1770, proved May 4, 1772, he gives to his wife Mary Hallett in lieu of thirds, the improvement of all his real estate during her natural life, one-third of his in-door moveables, and his best cow. To his nephew Thomas Hallett, son of his brother Jonathan, a piece of land on the south side of the road on which Thomas’ house stood, containing two acres. To his nephews Jonathan and Jeremiah, sons of his brother Jonathan, £6 or $20 each. To his nephew Ebenezer Hallett, Jr., £6-. To his nephews Jonathan and Abner, sons of his brother David, £4 each. To his nephews Moses, Joshua, and Isaac, sons of hia brother Timothy, deceased, £6. All the rest of his real and personal estate he gave to his adopted son Joshua Gray, son of his second wife Hannah Gray.

Lieut Thomas Hallet Gravestone — Ancient Cemetery, Yarmouth Port — Find A Grave Memorial# 35038609

Child of Thomas and Sarah

i. Baby Hallett b. 25 Jan 1719 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

5. Jonathan Hallett

Jonathan’s wife Desire Howes 22 May 1696 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass. Her parents were Prince Howes (1669 – 1753) and Dorcas Joyce ( – 1757). All four of her grandparents were our ancestors:  Jeremiah HOWES & Sarah PRENCE  and Hosea JOYCE & Elizabeth CHIPMAN. Desire died 3 Apr 1775 in Yarmouth.

Genealogical notes of Barnstable families (1888) –Deacon Jonathan Hallett, owned and occupied the house which was his father’s residence, and which I have described. Notwithstanding he lived in a house so meanly furnished, he had the means of living better. He was a man of sound judgment, and exercised a wide and deserved influence among his neighbors and acquaintances. There is a common saying, often repeated, and that has some truth in it — “the shoemaker’s wife and the blacksmith’s horse go unshod.” Deacon Jonathan was a carpenter, though agriculture was his principal employment ; and though he had time to finish off, and put some of his neighbor’s houses in good order, he never found time to keep his own in decent repair.

He and his wife united in full communion with the Barnstable Church Sept. 8, 1728, and continued to be a member till July 1, 1744, when he was dismissed to the West Church in Yarmouth of which he was soon after elected one of its deacons, and continued to be till his death. He was many years one of the Selectmen of the town of Yarmouth, and held other municipal offices. His children were all well educated for the times. His son Jonathan was fitted for Cambridge College, and his father desired him to enter ; but the son preferred rather to be a farmer than a clergyman.

He married Feb. 17, 1719-20, Desire Howes, with whom he lived in the marriage state fifty-five years, till April 3, 1775, when she died aged 78 years. He died May 24, 1783, aged 90 years, and is buried in the ancient burying-ground in Yarmouth, where monuments are erected to his and his wife’s memory.

In his will dated July 17, 1779, he names his sons Jonathan, Thomas and Jeremiah, and daughters Desire Bacon and Mehitable Swift, and his four grandchildren, Elkanah, Isaiah, Mehitabel and Desire Crowell. He gave his dwelling-house to Jeremiah, hence the name by which the old house was known in modern times, and the lot of land on the south of the road on which his son Jonathan’s house stood to Jonathan. This lot was bounded easterly by the land of Col. Enoch Hallett. To Thomas and Jeremiah he gave his orchard on the west of Jonathan’s house.

Deacon Jonathan Hallet —  Ancient Cemetery Yarmouth Port – Find A Grave Memorial# 50283030

Children of Jonathan and Desire:

i. Daughter Hallett (twin) b. 7 Nov 1720 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

ii. Daughter (twin) b. 7 Nov 1720 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.; still born.

Twin Hallett Gravestone — Ancient Cemetery Yarmouth Port — Find A Grave Memorial# 50283151

iii. Desire Hallett b. 18 Jan 1721/22 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.; m. 1747 Samuel Bacon

iv. Jonathan Hallett b. 10 Nov 1723 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass; d. 6 Feb 1814, aged 90 years; m. Thankful Crowell. By mistake she took rats-bane instead of salts, and died in six hours.

His son Howes Hallett (1747 – 1789) was the skipper of a new fishing vessel, owned principally by a Mr. Evans of Providence, R. I. She was lost in a gale on Nantucket Shoals, and all on board perished, namely : Howes Hallett, master, Josiah Hallett, Daniel Hallett, Edmond Hallett, Levi Hallett, Joseph Hallett, Josiah Miller and Moody Sears.

v. Prince Hallett b. 12 Sep 1725 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.; d. 3 Jul 1728

vi. Abigail Hallett b. 25 Aug 1727 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass. d. 26 Jun 1728.

vii. Thomas Hallett b. 7 Jul 1729 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.; m. Hannah Hablin

viii. Abigail Hallett (twin) 3 Jun 1731 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.; d. 23 Jun 1731

ix. Prince Hallett (twin) 3 Jun 1731 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.; 23 Jun 1732.

x. Jeremiah Hallett b. 20 Sep 1733 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.; d. 12 Nov 1819 aged 86; m. Hannah
Griffeth.

xi. Joshua Hallett b. 19 Mar 1736 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.; d. 10 May 1736.

xii. Sarah Hallet b. 28 Jun 1737 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

xiii. Mehitabel Hallett b. 7 May 1740 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

6. David Hallett

David’s wife Mary Annable was born Dec 1701 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass. Mary’s parents were John Annable (1755) and Experience Taylor (1672 – 1744)

David removed to Hyannis, and settled on the land which was his father’s. His house was one of the first built in that village.

Children of David and Mary

i. Abigail Hallett b. 22 Jun 1720 Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.; m. 3 Aug 1739 to Prince Howes of Yarmouth

ii. Jonathan Hallett b. 1 Dec 1722 Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.; m. 5 Aug 1744, Mercy, daughter of Deacon Samuel Bacon

iii. David Hallett b. 12 Dec 1724 Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.; d. 1763; m1. 18 Jul 1753 to Sarah Lewis; m2. 12 Feb 1756 to Sarah Butler

iv. Elizabeth Hallett b. 9 Jan 1726 Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.

v. Mehitable Hallett b. 21 Apr 1729 Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.; m. 1746/47 to Shubael Baxter of Yarmouth

vi. Remember Hallett b. 12 May 1731 Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.; m. 4 Jan 1753 to Jabez Marchant of Yarmouth

vii. Sarah Hallett b. 28 May 1733 Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.; m. 1751 to Jabez Parker

viii. Annah Hallett b. 14 May 1737 Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.; m. 1 Nov 1759 to Elisha Kent, of Goodfleld.

ix. Mary Hallett b. 11 May 1739 Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.; m. 22 Nov 1761 to Timothy Hamblin.

x. Abner Hallet b. 19 May 1741 Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.; m. Susan [__?__]

7. Timothy Hallett

Timothy’s first wife Thankful Sturgis was born 2 Sep 1701 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass. Her parents were James Sturgis (1668 – 1718) and Rebecca Thacher (1668 – 1734)  Her grandparents were Edward STURGIS II and Temperance GORHAM.  Thankful died 10 Jan 1722 in Yarmouth.

Timothy’s second wife Elizabeth Hatch was born 15 May 1701 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass. her parents were Moses Hatch (1662 – 1747) and Elizabeth Thatcher ( 1677 – ) Elizabeth died 21 Oct 1744 in Yarmouth.

Timothy’s third wife Thankful Jones was born 12 Apr 1701 in Barnstable, Mass. Her parents were Ralph Jones (1669 – ) and Deborah Coombs (1673 – 1711) She first married 20 Oct 1733 in Barnstable to to John Jones (b. 12 Feb 1703 in Barnstable, Mass. – d. 1738 in Barnstable, Mass.) Thankful died 24 Jan 1771 in Yarmouth.

Genealogical notes of Barnstable families (1888) – - Timothy Hallett, son of Jonathan, owned and resided in the dwelling-house now occupied by Mr. Eldridge Lovell of Yarmouth. He was a farmer, and a very respectable man. He married, first, Feb. 18, 1719-20, Thankful Sturgis, who died at the birth of her first child — still born — 10th Jan. 1721, and both were buried in the same grave. Second, to Elizabeth, daughter of Dea. Moses  Hatch of Falmouth.  She died Oct. 23, 1744, aged 44 years, and he married May 23, 1745, Thankful Jones of Barnstable, his third wife.

He died as recorded on his grave stones, Jan. 24, 1771, in, the 69th year of his age. His grandson Benjamin made the following record in his family bible : “My grandfather Timothy Hallett died July 7, 1770, in the 66th year of his age.” “My grandmother Elizabeth Hallett died Oct. 23, 1744, aged 44 years.”

Timothy Hallett Gravestone — Ancient Cemetery Yarmouth Port — Find A Grave Memorial# 50148039

Child of Timothy and Thankful Sturgis

i. Baby Hallett b. 10 Jan 1722 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

Children of Timothy and Elizabeth

ii. Timothy Hallett b. 7 May 1725 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.; d. 3 Aug 1747.

iii. Elizabeth Hallett b. 12 Jun 1727 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.; d. 7 Jun 1728

iv. Moses Hallett b. 20 Apr 1729 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass. “He was an ignorant, self- conceited man.”

v. Benjamin Hallett b. 9 Oct 1730 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.; m. 26 Apr 1759 to Bethia Jones of Sandwich. He was pilot of a vessel bound to Halifax, lost at sea, and all on board perished. He left no issue

vi. Elizabeth Hallett b. 16 Nov 1735 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.; d. 20 Dec 1735

vii. James Hallett b. 12 Apr 1737 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.; died young

viii. Joshua Hallett b. 10 Jan 1739 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.;m. Dorcas Eldridge.; d. 19 Aug 1821, aged 84, and his wife April 26, 1813, aged 72 years.

His house, yet remaining in 1888, was the most westerly on the north side of the County road in Yarmouth

ix. Isaac Hallett b. 4 Aug 1742 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.; was the youngest child of Timothy. ; m. 1761 to Elizabeth Eldridge; d. 5 Oct 1814, aged 72 years, and his widow March 1, 1831, aged 86 years

He was a deacon of the Yarmouth church, and his family, as well as his brother Joshua’s, were long lived.

8. Abigail Hallett

Abigail’s husband Hatsuld Freeman was born 27 Mar 1691 in Harwich, Barnstable, Mass.  His parents were Thomas FREEMAN and  Rebecca SPARROW. Hatsuld died 23 May 1773 in Eastham, Barnstable, Mass.

Abigail Hallett Gravestone — Old Burying Ground,  Brewster , Plot: Map# 98 — Findagrave #67675130

Children of Abigail and Hatsuld:

i. Abigail Freeman b. 26 May 1723 Barnstable, Mass.

ii. David Freeman b. 18 Jul 1720 Harwich, Barnstable, Mass.

iii. Sarah Freeman b. 10 Dec 1727 Harwich, Barnstable, Mass.

iv. Jerusha Freeman b. 1740 Harwich, Barnstable, Mass.

Sources:

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=17089293&st=1

Genealogical notes of Barnstable families  Being a reprint of the Amos Otis Papers originally published in the Barnstable Patriot in 1861; Revised by Charles  F. Swift Largely made from notes made by the author (1888)

Andrew HALLETT Jr. (1615 – 1683) was Alex’s 10th Great Grandfather; one of 2,048 in this generation of the Shaw line.

Andrew Hallett was born in 1615 in Symondsbury, Dorset, England. His parents were Andrew HALLETT Sr. and Mary REEVES. He married Anne BESSE in 1643 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass. Andrew died 16 Mar 1683 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

Anne Besse was born 1620 in xx. Her parents were Anthony BESSE and Jane [__?__]. Anne died 6 Apr 1694 in Plymouth, Mass.

Children of Andrew and Anne:

Andrew Jr. settled in Sandwich but removed to Yarmouth in 1640, where he resided until his death, 1684. Goodman Hallett was “an husbandman,” and by honest industry, skillful management and economy, accumulated a large estate. In 1676, his tax was equal to one-twentieth of the entire assessment of the town; his estate was appraised at 1.180 pounds, 13.09, a large amount at that period;

Children

1. Ruhamah Hallett

Ruhamah’s first husband Job Bourne was born 1639 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass. His parents were Richard Bourne (1610 – 1682) and Bathsheba Hallett ( – 1670) Job died Feb 1677 in Hingham, Mass.

Ruhamah’s second husband William Hersey was born 1635 in Abington, Plymouth, Mass. His parents were William Hersey (1596 -1658) and Elizabeth Croade ( – 1671) William died 28 Sep 1691 in Hingham, Plymouth, Mass.

Children of Ruhamah and Job:

i. Timothy Bourne b. 18 Apr 1666 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.

ii. Hannah Bourne b. 18 Nov 1667 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.

iii. Eleazer Bourne b. 20 Jul 1670 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.

iv. John Bourne b. 2 Nov 1672 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.

v. Hezekiah Bourne b. 25 Sep 1675 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.

2. Abigail Hallett

Abigail’s husband John Alden was born 1632 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Mass. His parents were John Alden (1599 – 1687) and Priscilla Mullins (1602 – 1685) John died 14 Feb 1697 in Duxbury, Plymouth, Mass.

Children of Abigail and John:

i. Elizabeth Alden b. 1672 in Duxbury, Plymouth, Mass.

ii. Sarah Alden b. 1679 in Duxbury, Plymouth, Mass.

iii. Andrew Alden b. 1681 in Duxbury, Plymouth, Mass.

iv. John Alden b. 1681 in Duxbury, Plymouth, Mass.

v. Benjamin Alden b. 1684 in Duxbury, Plymouth, Mass.

vi. Jonathan Alden b. Mar 1686 in Duxbury, Plymouth, Mass.

4. John Hallett

John’s first wife Mary Howes was born in 1659 in Yarmouth, Bristol, Mass. Her parents were Joseph Howes (1634 – ) and Elizabeth Mayo (1653 – 1696) Her grandparents were Thomas HOWES and Mary BURR. Mary died 17 Jan 1695 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

John’s second wife Mercy Howes was born 16 Feb 1682 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass. Her parents were Jeremiah HOWES and Sarah PRENCE.

John Hallett Gravestone — Ancient Cemetery Yarmouth Port — Find A Grave Memorial# 35038450

Children of John and Mary:

i. John Hallet b. 1688 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

ii. Seth Hallett b. 1699 Yarmouth; d. 1 May 1757 in Hyannis, Barnestable, Mass;  m.  8 May 1729 in Yarmouth to  Mary Taylor Hallet (1701 – 1763)

5. Jonathan HALLETT (See his page)

6. Mehitable Hallett

Mehitable’s husband John Dexter was born 1656 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass. His parents were Thomas DEXTER and Elizabeth VINCENT. John died 1720 in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

Children of Mehitable and John:

i. Elizabeth Dexter b. 1 Nov 1683 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

ii. Thomas Dexter b. 26 Aug 1686 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.

iii. Abigail Dexter b. 26 May 1689 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.

iv. John Dexter b. 11 Sep 1692 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

Sources:

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=9328547&st=1

Andrew HALLETT Jr. (1584 – 1648) was Alex’s 11th Great Grandfather; one of 4,096 in this generation of the Shaw line.

Andrew Hallett Sr was born about 1584 in Symondsbury, Dorset, England. Andrew died 1648 in Yarmouth, Barnstable Co, Massachusetts

Mary Reeves was born about 1595 in England. Mary’s parents were James REEVES and [__?__] Mary died 1660 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass

Children of Andrew and Anne:

Hallett Immigrants

Genealogical notes of Barnstable families  — Several of the name of Hallett came early to New England. William, the ancestor of the Long Island family, was born in Dorcetshire, England, in 1616, joined in the settlement of Greenwich, Conn., whence he removed to Long Island, and Dec. 1, 1652, purchased of Jacques Bentyn, one of the Directors of Van Twiller’s Council, 161 acres of land at Hellgate, at a place known as Hallett’s Cove. “In the fall of 1655, the Indians destroyed his house and plantation at Hallett’s Cove, which induced him to take up his residence at Flushing. Here he was appointed Sheriff, in 1656, but the same year was deposed by Gov. Stuyvesant, fined and imprisoned, for entertaining the Rev. Wm. Wickenden from Rhode Island, allowing him to preach at his house, and receiving the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper from his hands. Disgusted at this treatment, Mr. Hallett, on the revolt of Long Island from the Dutch, warmly advocated the claims of Connecticut; and being sent a delegate to the general court of that colony, he was appointed a commissioner or justice of the peace for Flushing.

Afterwards he removed to Hellgate, where he lived to the age of about ninety years. He had two sons, William and Samuel, between whom in 1688 he divided his property at Hellgate Neck. William second, diedin 1729, aged81. He was a justice of the peace and captain of a company of militia. He had ten children, eight of whom married and had families. Samuel, son of William, died Dec. 27, 1724. He was a man of consideration in his time. He had an only son Samuel and several daughters.

Richard Hallett, of Boston, had a daughter Alice, who married 1st, Mordecai Nichols in 1652, and 2d, Thomas Clark, of Plymouth. Richard does not appear to have left any male descendants. A person named Angell Hallett is mentioned in the settlement of Capt. Bozoan Allen’s estate, of Boston, 1652.

There was a George Hallett, Sen’r, of Boston, a freeman in 1690, consequently there was at the same time a George Hallett, Jr. A Widow Lydia Hallett married at Boston 27th Nov. 1661, John Drummond. There was a James Hallett at Windsor, Conn., in 1643, represented as a poor thievish servant.

Andrew Hallett Sr.

Genealogical notes of Barnstable families  — Mr. Andrew Hallett, gentleman, was the ancestor of the Yarmouth and Barnstable families. He came over as early as the year 1637, and was of Plymouth March 1638-9. Respecting his family there is very little on record. His son Andrew was one of the first settlers of Sandwich. Another of his sons (probably Samuel) is named as being of Yarmouth in 1639.

The widow Mary Hallett of Barnstable, was probably his wife. Her daughter Hannah Hallett married John Hadaway July 1656. Josias Hallett was her son, and probably Joseph Hallett, of Barnstable.

This account is unsatisfactory ; but it is the best I have been able to obtain after much research. Mr. Hallett’s children were probably all born in England, and the parish registers in that country would probably furnish the desired information.

He was styled ”gentleman,” a title bestowed upon few in the Colony. It shows that he was a man possessed of a good estate, and a man of some note in his native land. He was among the very first who came to Mattakeset, but did not make it his place of residence till 1641. His son Samuel was of Yarmouth in 1639, and is spoken of as a young man, for whom his father was responsible. (Court Order, vol. 2, page 20.)

March 5, 1638-9, the Colony Court ordered the Committee of the town of Yarmouth, consisting of Mr. Anthony Thacher, Mr. Thomas Howes, Mr. John Crowe, Mr. Nicholas Sympkins, William Palmer, Philip Tabor and Joshua Barnes, to make the first division of the planting lands, to be divided equally “to each man according to his estate and quality, and according to their instructions.” Thacher, Howes and Crowe, had surveyed the lands during the previous winter, and it appears that Mr. Hallett was also in Yarmouth, and had “assumed to himself” more land than was thought equitable, and the Colony Court appointed March 5, 1638/39, Joshua Pratt, of Plymouth, and Mr. John Vincent of Sandwich, to view the lands, “and make report thereof unto the Court, that if these proportions which Mr. Andrew Hellott hath assumed to himself there shall be so p’judiciall to the whole, that then some just and equall order be taken therein, to prevent the evil consequences it may be to the whole plantation.”

No report of the committee is on record, and it would appear from the subsequent action of the Court that Mr. Hallett had not “assumed to himself” a greater proportion of the planting lauds than he had a right to claim. On the 5th of May, 1639, the Court Ordered,

“that the proportion of lands granted to Mr. Andrew Hellott, at Mattacheesett, shal be and remain unto him, and those that are appoynted to set forth the bounds betwixt Mattacheese and Mattacheeset shall lay forth the said proportion unto him in a convenient plase there.” (Coart Orders, vol. 1, page 121).

The two hundred acre lot of Mr. Hallett was laid out, approved by the Court and recorded Sept. 3, 1639. A particular description of this lot is given in the account of the Gorham family, who were afterwards the principal owners. June 17, 1641, a new boundary line was run between Barnstable and Yarmouth. This line divided the Hallett farm into two parts ; the larger in Barnstable contained 150 acres, and the smaller in Yarmouth containing forty-four acres.

Oct. 7, 1639, – “It was ordered by the Court that the seventeen acres of meadow lying at the Stony Cove (Mill Pond) in Yarmouth, shall be laid forth for Mr. Andrew Hellott, on the south west side of the said Cove, and if it want of that proportion, then to be made up on the other side, and ten acres more upon the Stony Cove Neck.”

Mr. Hallett’s name first appears on record in March 1638/39, but he had probably then been in the country several years. He was then a resident in Plymouth, where he had a dwelling-house and seven and one-half acres of land situate on the “new street.” This estate he sold to Thomas Cushman, who conveyed it to Thomas Lettis March 28, 1641-2.

Nov. 25, 1639, Mr. Hallett bought for £10 sterling, of Dr. Thomas Starr, of Duxbury, seventeen acres of land in Yarmouth, in two divisions, and twelve acres of meadow “with the frame of a house to be set and made with a chimney, and to be thached, studded and latched, (daubing excepted) by William CHASE, who was agreed with all and paid to the doing thereof by the said Thomas Starr, before the bargain was made with Mr. Hallett.” [Deeds, page 50.] No boundaries are given in the deed. The houselot was at the north west corner of the town of Yarmouth, and adjoined his “great lot” on the west, south by the highway, east by by the lot of Robert Dennis, and north by the mill pond.   It is now owned by Joshua Hallett and others. The other division of the land was in the West Field, and he soon after sold it to Robert Dennis. He was of Plymouth Sept. 1, 1640, and of Yarmouth June 17, 1641, showing that heand his son Andrew became permanent residents of Yarmouth about the same time.

Sept. 8, 1641, Mr. Hallett mortgaged to Mr. William Paddy, to secure a debt of £5, 4s, and to William Hanbury to secure a debt of 29sh, “all that his farm in Barnstable, with all and singular the appertenances thereunto belonging, and all his right, title and interest of and into the same, and every part and parcel thereof.” The mortgage was for one year, and the reason he gives for making it is, “that hee is now going into England, and is not able to pay them,” and therefore freely assigns the property for their security.

After his return from England he resided certainly three years in Yarmouth, and perhaps till his decease in 1647. The mortgaging of his farm for so small a sum indicates that he was not a man of wealth ; but the following generous act proves that he was a man of property, or he would not have given a cow to the poor of Yarmouth. The following is extracted from the Plymouth Colony records, vol. 2, page 70 :

March 5, 1643-4. “Whereas information is given to the Court that there is a cowe or a heiffer in calve given or disposed by Mr. Andrew Hallett, Sen., of Yarmouth, for the benefitt of the poore of the said towne of Yarmouth, which for the ordering thereof was referred to the Court by the said Mr. Hellot, by his letter under his hand, bearing date the first day of March, 1643 —the Court doth therefore order that the said cowe or heiffer in calve shal be on Mayday next delivered to Thomas Payne, of Yarmouth, who shall have her three years next ensuing, and the milk and the one-half of the increase during that tyme, and after the said three years are expired, the poore of Yarmouth shall have her and the encrease, to be disposed of by the townsmen of Yarmouth from tyme to tyme to other ppr persons dwelling in the said town, as they shall think fitt, and for such town, reserving the benefltt of the said stock for the benefltt of their poore, and not to be allienated to any other use.”

At the March term of the Court in 1642, Mr. William Hanbury recovered in an action of debt on a note for £6 9s, 9d, judgment against Mr. Hallett for the amount of the debt, 2 pence damage, and the cost of the suit. At the July term in 1646, Samuel Harvey, “in action of trespass upon the ease,” £6 5s, debt, 15 shillings damages and costs of suit.

This is the last entry of his name on the records, in connection with any business transaction. May 14, 1648, Mr. Thomas Howes “laid down seven and one-half acres of meadow at the lower end of Kock (Lone?) Tree furlong late Mr. Hallelt’s.”

June 7, 1648, Robert Dennis claimed seven acres of land in the West Field bought of Mr. Hallett. In a deed dated Feb. 20, 1654, the great lot of Mr. Andrew Hallett, deceased, is named.

In Lechford’s Plain Dealing, he is called a schoolmaster. If so, it is surprising that his son Andrew did not learn to write till some time after he was a married man. However, there were many in those times who could read fluently ; but were unable to write. That was not considered a necessary accomplishment, and it did not necessarily follow that the man who could not write was ignorant ; yet we may safely presume that a teacher of youth would have instructed his own children in the elementary branches of education. His other children were better educated; but, notwithstanding, Andrew was the most respectable and succeeded best in life.

Mr. Hallett, as above stated, was called a gentleman, a word that at that time had a very different meaning attached to it, than it has at the present time. When applied to a man, it meant that he was connected with the gentry or wealthy class — that he was not a mechanic or common laborer, and that he had received a good education. Rank and title were more regarded in those days than at the present time. Of the first settlers in Barnstable, about thirty were entitled to be called “goodman,” four to be called “mister,” and one “gentleman.” What his employment was the records do not inform us. He was engaged in too many lawsuits for a teacher, yet Leehford was probably right. He had not been officially employed in the public service, yet the Colony Court decided that he had rendered some public service and was entitled to a liberal grant, and though objection was made to the amount, yet the Court confirmed it, and the towns of Barnstable and Yarmouth acquiesced.

Too few incidents of his life are known to enable us to form a just estimate of his character. That he was a man of some note in the Colony, has already been shown. He speculated in wild lands ; but in doing so he only followed the fashions of the times. Every one traded in land-; from the minister in his pulpit to the cobbler on his bench; He was frequently a party in law suits. They are not always to be avoided ; tor “the over-reaching and the dishonest ought not to be allowed to possess in peace the wealth of others. However, the man of peace, the good citizen and obliging neighbor, very rarely appeals to the law to obtain redress for every offence against his property or his good name. His experience and observation has taught him that it is not the better way. The self-willed, the wayward and the stubborn, as a class, are most frequently engaged in lawsuits. Mr. Hallett did not recover damage in any of his lawsuits, and it may thence be inferred that he was a little stiff-necked, and believed his own to be the better way, a trait of character which many of his descendants, down to the fifth generation, inherited.*

However wayward he may have been, his generous donation to the poor of Yarmouth will ever be remembered, and make us regret that we know so little of the man. If at the present time a man should present a cow to the poor, the act would not be heralded in the newspapers as an act of great benevolence, but in order to form a just estimate of the value of the gift, it must be borne in mind that cattle were then scarce in the Colony, and that a cow was then the equivalent of a good sized farm, or of the wages of a common laborer for a year.

There is no record of his death. In the division of the fences in Barnstable Feb. 28, 1647, Mr. or Mrs. Hallett is named, but not in the subsequent division in 1649. This entry is probably in old style, and would be 1648, new. Not much reliance, however, is to be placed in it. He probably died in 1647, as above stated, but if the entry in the division of fences is reliable, in the spring of 1648.

Of some of the members of the Hallett family I have spoken in a note. John Hallett, who settled in Scituate, was one of the Conihasset planters in 1646. Mr. Deane calls him a brother of Andrew of Sandwich. Mr. Savage copies from Deane, and remarks that his account is “confused.” He has not made it any clearer. Both mix up the families of Andrew, Sen., with that of Andrew, Jr., and hence the confusion.

Similarity in the family names of the Scituate and Yarmouth families probably induced Mr. Deane to call them relatives. They probably were ; but John of Scituate was too old a man to be called a son of Andrew, Sen., without some more certain evidence than has yet been obtained. Richard Curtis married “Lydia,” daughter of John Hallett, in 1649, presuming her to be bis oldest child, 1609 is as late a period as can be assigned for the birth of the father. In some families there are as great or a greater disparity in the ages of the children, but such cases are rare, and in the absence of records it is not safe to make such presumptions.

Mr. Deane had but little exact information respecting the Hallett family. He evidently did not know that there were two Andrews. John, son of Andrew, Jr., he calls a son of John of Scituate, and the wife of Richard Curtis he calls in one place “Ann,” and in another “Lydia.” He informs us that John Hallett was an extensive land holder ; that his house was near the harbor at Scituate, and that Hallett’s Island near the “stepping stones,” still retains his name.

Mary Reeves Hallett

The widow Mary Hallett is described 31st March, 1659, as “now living in Barnstable,” implying that Barnstable had not been her permanent place of residence. Her lands at Goodspeed’s Hill in 1654 are thus described:

“Eleven acres of upland, more or less, bounded northerly by the highway, easterly by James Lewis’ land, southerly by her own land, (called also Josias’) westerly upon John Davis, stretching upon a sett off four rods into the swamp (Lewis’ swamp) across the north end of John Davis’ land.”

In the Goodspeed article. No. CVII, there is a diagram of this land. It is those portions of the Goodspeed and Scudder lots, bounded north by the County road, east by James
Lewis, south by Goodspeed’s outlet, which separates it from Josias Hallett’s land and John Davis’, and west by the Hyannis road, which separated it from John Davis’ houselot ; but did not include Lewis’ Swamp, now the houselot of the heirs of F. W. Crocker, Esq., deceased. These eleven acres are now owned by the heirs of Timothy Reed, Esq., Major S. B. Phinney, Eben.Bacon, Esq., heirs of F. W. Crocker, Esq., deceased, and by the United States, (Custom House lot) .

The three acres of meadow at Blush’s Point, afterwards Josias’, are also described as her property.

There is no record of her death, and her name does not appear after 1659. She probably removed, perhaps with her son Josias to Sandwich. That she was the widow of Mr. Andrew Hallett, Sen., there is very little reason to doubt. She is called in the Barnstable records “Mrs. Hallett.” Titles meant something in those days ; her husband, wherever he was, was called Mr. There was only only one man of the name prior to 1654, who was entitled to that distinction, and that man was Mr. Andrew Hal-
lett, Sen., the husband of Wid. Mary Hallett.

Investigation of Sources:

In making this investigation I was assisted by the late Judge Nahum Mitchell, author of the history of Bridgewater; and by the late William S. Kussell, Esq., author of Guide to Plymouth, and other historical works ; both good authorities. Since the above was written Mr. Freeman has published his histoiy of Cape Cod. He eays “we have no authentic information in regard to Mr. Andrew Hallett, Sen*r., and must rely on the conclusions of others.” [Vol. 2, page 199.

Mr. Hallett is often named in the Plymouth Colony Records, considered "authentic" by Hutchinson, Bancroft, BaylieSj Drake, Palfrey, and many others known to fame. Mr. Freeman "relies on the conclusions of others." He says that by his wife "Mary, in England he had Bathsheba, Andrew, Samuel, John, Hannah probably bom in Barnstable, Josias and Joseph." Where does he find this account? Not in Deane, Savage, or Winsor. To the latter he refers only to misquote.

Mr. Freeman positively asserts, that Mr. Hallett had the children named. I find no record of his maiTiage; no record of the births or baptisms of any of his children — no record of his death or of the settlement of his estate ; yet there is no good reason for doubting that the families of the name in Yarmouth and Barnstable are his descendants. The evidence, however, is circumstantial, and does not justify positive statements. In no family has its traditional history been better preserved, or the family papers more carefully kept, some dated in 1654; but it unfortunately happens that the tradition extends only to the second Andrew, and none of the papers of the first have been saved. I shall endeavor carefully to discriminate between that which is certain, and that which is only probable.

Mr. Andrew Hallett, Sen., was a householder in Plymouth and in Yarmouth, and probably in Barnstable. In those times men did not build houses to let, they built them to occupy, and in fact the legal meaning of the term householder, was a man who had a family ; it was not applied to a man who owned a house, occupied by a tenant, 'his view of the matter, I think, makes it probable, if not certain, that the elder Mr. Hallett had a family.

That the widow Mary Hallett, of Barnstable, was the widow of Andrew'HaUett, Sen'r., rests on this evidence : in 1654 she was a resident in Barnstable, and probably had been for several years. She and some of her children were the owners of one of, the original allotments of lands, purchased of one of the first settlers, for in the list of the persons who in Jannary, 1644, were proprietors of the common lands, there was no one of that name, Mr. Hallett being then a resident in Yarmouth. He was living July 1646, but his residence at that time is not named; but it was probably Barnstable. He died soon after this date, before the year 1648. His estate was probably legally settled, and a division thereof made among his heirs; but unfortunately no record was made.

Up to July 7; 1646, the records of judicial acts are in the handwriting of Mr. Nathaniel Souther, after which there is a chasm of two years and three months, to Oct. 3, 1648. In the Probate record, there is a similar chasm. During that period there does not appear to have been a permanent Secretary. The court orders during that time are in the handwriting of Gov. Bradford, Antony Thacher and others. The first record made in the court orders by Nathaniel Morton, so many years Secretary of the Colony, is dated "Dec. 7, 1647, probably written up from the minutes of others, for he did not perform all the duties till let. 1648. The Judicial acts and the Probate records were not written up by him, and the papers are now lost. Notwithstanding, the records of Barnstable and some incidental entries on the Colony records, will enable us to arrive at a conclusion which, if not entirely satisfactory, is probable.

In 1647, at the time of Mr. Hallett's death, Andrew and Samuel were of legal age. Josias and Joseph were minors, if they were able bodied and came over with their parents, because in Aug. 1643, all males able to bear arms were enrolled, and their names not being on the list it is safe to infer that they were not 16 in 1643, or 21 in 1647.

Mr. Hallett left a good estate. Mr. Freeman says : "Winsor gives his estate at £1180," a misquotation, for if so, he was a very wealthy man, a farm of of fifty acres and its appertenances could, then be bought for £10. In the division of his estate it appears that Andrew, Samuel, and Joseph, had the "Hallett Farm" or great lot of 200 acres, and the widow Mary, Hannah and Josiah, the estate at Goodspeed's Hill and appertenances. Mr. Andrew Hallett, Sen., was the only man of the name in the Colony, old enough to have been the father of this family, and I think it a legitimate inference, that the Wid. Mary was his wife, and Andrew, Jr.> Samuel, Hannah, Josias and Joseph, his children.

Children

1. Andrew HALLETT Jr. (See his page)

2. John Hallett

John's wife Ann

3. Bathsheba Hallett

Bathsheba's husband Richard Bourne was born 1610 in Devon, England. Richard died 18 Sep 1682 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.

Children of Bathsheba and Richard

i. Job Bourne b. 1639 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.

ii. Elisha Bourne b. 1641 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.

iii. Shearjashub Bourne b. 21 Apr 1643 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.

iv. Ezra Bourne b. 12 May 1648 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.

4. Samuel Hallett

Samuel, was sixteen years of age, or upwards, in 1643, consequently was born in England before the year 1627. He came to Yarmouth early, before the removal of his father from Plymouth, as the following record dated June 17, 1641, seems to prove, because Mr. Hallett had no other son to
whom it could refer, Andrew being then of age and a resident in Sandwich, and neither Josias nor Joseph, if they had then came over, was over twelve in 1639.

"It is ordered by the Court, that Mr. Andrew Hallett shall pay Massatampaimf one fadome of beads [wampam] within two moones, beside the nett he alleadgeth the sd Massatampaim soold him, for the deare that Mr. Hellot’s sonn bought of him about two years since.”

Mas-sa-tam-paim was the sachem of Nobscusset, or Yarmouth. He sold the lands in the north part of Yarmouth and Dennis to Mr. Bradford, and his release in the handwriting of Anthony Thacher is yet preserved. He lived to be very aged. The first syllable of his name signifies great — the whole perhaps “great sagamon,” but I am not certain. It is sometimes writen “Mas-am-tam-paigue.”

In the division of his father’s estate a part of the “Hallett Farm” situate within the boundaries of the town of Barnstable, and the homestead bought of Dr. Starr in Yarmouth, appears to have been set off to him, and was sold by his administaators, probably to Capt. John Gorham who was the owner in 1652.

He had no family. Neither widow nor children are named in the settlement of his estate. He was drowned at Eastham, and the particulars are thus recorded by Mr. Lothrop on the Barnstable church records : “Thomas Blossom and Samuel Hollet drowned at the Harbour of Noeett atti their first Setting out from thence aboute a fishing voyage April 22, 1650.”

“June 5, 1650, Letters of administration are graunted unto Mr. The. Howes [of Yarmouth] and Samuel Mayo§ [of Barnble] to administer upon the estate of Samuel Hollet, and to pay the debts as fare as the estate will amount unto. by equall proportions.”

The foregoing extracts show that Samuel Hallett came to Yarmouth with the first settlers in the winter of 1638-9, that he remained in that town till the removal of his father in 1641, engaged in the fisheries, and probably had the care of his father’s estate before his brother Andrew removed from Sandwich ; that he died unmarried in 1650, and probably on account of his losses at the time of his shipwreck, he did not leave a sufHcient estate to pay his debts in full.

5. Josiah Hallett

Josias was born after the year 1627. He was a mariner, and is named as living in 1663. From the notices of him in the records, it is inferred that he did not sustain a good character for sobriety. In the division of his father’s estate, the southerly part of the homestead was set off to him, containing eight acres. This land is now owned by Major Sylvanus B. Phinney, and is that part of his homestead which is situate on the south of the swamp. Anciently there was a highway between the swamp and the railroad, called Goodspeed’s Outlet. Josias Hallett’s house was on that road. Dec 14, 1661, he sold this estate and three acres of meadow at Blush’s point to John Haddeway, for £10 sterling. In the deed he is called “sometime of Barnstable.” He had then removed, perhaps to Sandwich. Being a householder it is probable that he had a family, though no children are named on the town or church records. The Jonathan of Sandwich in 1684, was a son of Andrew, not of Josias.

6. Hannah Hallett

Hannah’s husband John Hathaway was born 1617 in England. John died 1697 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

Children of Hannah and John:

i. John Hathaway b. 16 Aug 1658 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.

ii. Hannah Hathaway b. May 1662 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.

iii. Edward Hathaway b. 10 Feb 1664 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.

7. Joseph Hallett

Joseph’s wife Elizabeth Gorham was born 2 Apr 1648 in Marshfield, Plymouth, Mass. Elizabeth died 5 Mar 1684 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Mass.

Of this family no record has been preserved. It is evident from the Colony records that he had at least one child. Lois Hallett, who married April 10, 1690, was probably his daughter. She removed to Stonington, Connecticut, in 1715. In 1686 he had a house on the north side of the county road, between the houses of Joseph Benjamin (now Nathan Edson’s) and James Gorham’s (now’ Warren Marston’s) . Whether his house stood on the Hallett Farm or not, I am unable certainly to determine. In the Gorham article I presumed that it stood on the west of the mill road ; but having since obtained some additional information, I am inclined to the opinion that Joseph had the northwest
part of his father’s great lot or farm set off to him in the division of the estate, and that he built his house thereon, not far from the location of the dwelling-house of the heirs of Ansel Hallett, deceased. He was a townsman in 1670, and at the division of the common meadows in 1697 had one acre allotted to him. He is not named in the division of the common lands in 1706, and the
presumption is that some time between 1697 and 1706 he removed from Barnstable. If he had died the settlement of his estate would appear on the Probate Records. His lands were afterwards the property of James Gorham.*

Children of Joseph and Elizabeth:

i. Mary Hallett b. 1667 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.

ii. Elizabeth Hallett b. 1679 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.

Lois Hallett b. 1672 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass.

Sources:

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=15153448&st=1

Genealogical notes of Barnstable families  Being a reprint of the Amos Otis Papers originally published in the Barnstable Patriot in 1861; Revised by Charles  F. Swift Largely made from notes made by the author (1888)

Thomas DEXTER Jr. (1623 – 1686) was Alex’s 10th Great Grandfather; one of 2,048 in this generation of the Shaw line.

Dexter Coat of Arms

Thomas Dexter Jr. was born in 1623 in Great Bowden, Leicestershire, England. His parents were Thomas DEXTER Sr. and possibly Mary “Marie” PARKHURST. He married Elizabeth VINCENT 8 Nov 1648 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass. Thomas died 30 Dec 1686 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.

Elizabeth Vincent was born in 1628 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass. Her parents were John VINCENT and Hannah SMITH. Elizabeth died 19 Mar 1714 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass

Children of Jonathan and Abigail:

“Thomas Dexter, son of Thomas Dexter, was born in England and came to this country with his father. In 1647 he was chosen constable for the town of Sandwich. This proves that he must have been born before the family came to America, as he must have been over twenty-four years of age when elected constable. In 1648 he kept the mill that his father built in 1640. In 1655 he was commissioned Ensign of a company of militia, which office he held many years, and was known as “Ensign Dexter.” He served upon the jury very often between 1652 and 1659, and was elected surveyor of highways and collector of taxes 1675, and the record says he was an inn-keeper 1860. He did not have the fondness for lawsuits that his father had, but he did inherit some of his father’s quarrels about line fences, but these he settled by adjustment. In one case when there was a dispute between the town of Sandwich and him, the matter was left to Mr. Thomas Prence, Mr. Thomas Hinckley and Mr. Constant Southworth to settle. These men were among the most prominent men in the colony.” In 1663 they were a “committee to settle the boundary between Sandwich and Plymouth. In 1655 he was, according to the usages of the times, entitled to the honor of being styled “Mister,” and in the latter part of his life, being a large landowner, was styled “Gentleman.” He appears to have been a worthy man, enterprising, useful, a good neighbor and a good citizen. In addition to the land received from his father, he was granted 100 acres upland in Sandwich in 1667.

Dexter’s Grist Mill

x

x

x
Children

1. Mary Dexter

Mary’s husband Daniel Allen was born 21 Apr 1648 in Rehoboth, Bristol, Mass. His parents were John Allen (1604 – ) and Christian Bacon (1611 – ) Daniel died 1717 in Barrington, Rhode Island

Children of Mary and Daniel

i. Mary Allen b. 17 Dec 1671 in Swansea, Bristol, Mass.

ii. Elizabeth Allen b. 28 Sep 1673 in Swansea, Bristol, Mass.

iii. Christian Allen b. 26 Jan 1675 in Swansea, Bristol, Mass.

iv. Thomas Allen b. 13 Oct 1676 in Swansea, Bristol, Mass.

v. Sarah Allen b. 13 Aug 1678 in Swansea, Bristol, Mass.

vi. Daniel Allen b. 29 Aug 1680 in Swansea, Bristol, Mass.

vii. Ebenezer Allen b. 31 Aug 1682 in Swansea, Bristol, Mass.

viii. John Allen b. 6 Dec 1684 in Swansea, Bristol, Mass.

ix. Samuel Allen b. 16 May 1687 in Swansea, Bristol, Mass.

x. Joseph Allen b. 21 May 1690 in Swansea, Bristol, Mass.

4. John Dexter

John’s wife Mehitable Hallett was born in 1655 in Yarmouth, Bristol, Mass. She was his first cousin. Her parents were Andrew HALLETT Jr. and Anne BESSE. Mehitable died in 8 Nov 1725 in Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island

Children of John and Mehitable:

i. Elizabeth Dexter b. 1 Nov 1683 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

ii. Thomas Dexter b. 26 Aug 1686 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.

iii. Abigail Dexter b. 26 May 1689 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.

iv. John Dexter b. 11 Sep 1692 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

5. Abigail DEXTER (See Jonathan HALLETT‘s page)

Sources:

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=2624555

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=77550440

“Genealogy of the Dexter Family in America, 1905″ by Warden and Dexter:

http://www.douglashistory.co.uk/famgen/getperson.php?personID=I340619&tree=tree1

Thomas DEXTER Sr. (1594 – 1676) was Alex’s 11th Great Grandfather; one of 4,096 in this generation of the Shaw line.

Dexter Coat of Arms

Thomas Dexter Sr. was born between 1594 and 1606 in. Great Bowden, Leicestershire, England. Thomas died between 26 Oct 1676 and 9 Feb 1677 in Boston, Middlesex, Mass. and is buried in Kings Chapel Cemetery, Boston.

Children of Jonathan and Abigail:

Of the early life of Thomas Dexter, the first ancestor of this line of Dexters to arrive in this country, but little is known. He came either with Mr. Endicott in 1629 or in the fleet with Governor Winthrop in 1630. He brought with him three of his children at least, and several servants. hut as there is no record of his wife, it is presumed that she died before they sailed from England. There is some reason to believe that they belonged in the neighborhood of Bristol, England. “for in the years that followed he had considerable dealing with people who lived there. In 1640 he gave a mortgage of his 500-acre farm at Lynn to Humphrey Hooke, alderman of Bristol. Eng.

He had received a good education, and wrote a beautiful hand, as papers now in existence will show: was a man of great energy of character, public-spirited, and ever ready to contribute to the support of any enterprise he thought to be of interest to the colony ; always independent, and fearless in the expression of his opinions. Such were the leading traits; but it must be admitted, says one writer, “that his energy of character bordered on stubbornness and his independence of thought on indiscretion and self-will.”

In 1630, in the prime of life and with ample means, he settled on a farm of 800 acres in the town of Lynn. Mass. He had many servants, and was called “Farmer Dexter.” The house was on the west side of the Saugus River, about where the iron works were afterward erected.

In 1633 he built a bridge over the Saugus River and stretched a weir across it, and a little later built a mill nearby.

He was greatly interested in starting the iron works, which were the first to be built in this section of the country, getting the iron ore from the Cape. He interested English capital in the enterprise and became the general manager. Some years later, becoming convinced that the enterprise could not prove satisfactory, he withdrew.

He became a freeman in 1631, but soon lost the honor, for he was disfranchised on the 4th of March, 1633. He had many quarrels and many vexatious lawsuits. In 1631 he had a quarrel with Captain Endicott (afterward Governor), in which the Salem magistrate struck Mr. Dexter, who had him complained of in court at Boston. Mr. Endicott said in his defense:

“I hear I am much complained of by Goodman Dexter for striking him. Understanding since it is not lawful for a ‘justice of the peace to strike, but if you had seen the manner of his carriage with such daring of me, with arms akimbo, it would have provoked a very patient man. He has given out that if I had a purse he would make me empty it, and if he cannot have justice here, he will do wonders in England, and if he cannot prevail there, he will try it out with me here at blows. If it were lawful for me to try it out at blows and he a fit man for me to deal with, you would not hear me complain.”

The jury gave Mr. Dexter a verdict of £10.

In 1633 the court ordered Mr. Dexter to be set in the bilboes, disfranchised and fined £10 for speaking reproachful and seditious words against the government here established.

Mr. Dexter, having been insulted by Samuel Hutchinson, met him one day on the road, “and jumping from his horse bestowed about twenty blows on the head and shoulders of Hutchinson, to the no small danger or deray of his senses as well as sensibilities.” These facts would indicate that Mr. Dexter was not a meek man.

In 1637 he and nine others obtained from the Plymouth Colony court a grant of the township of Sandwich. He went there and built the first grist mill. He did not remain there long, however, for in 1638, he had 350 acres assigned to him as one of the inhabitants of Lynn. He remained in Lynn until 1646. About this time he purchased two farms in Barnstable, one adjoining to the mill-stream and afterwards occupied by his son William, and the other farm on the northeastern declivity of ”Scorton Hill.” His dwelling’ was situated on the north side of the old county road, and commanded an extensive prospect of the country for miles around. Here he lived a quieter life, yet could not keep entirely free from lawsuits, for in 1648 he had no less than six lawsuits in court. all decided in his favor.

His greatest lawsuit was with the inhabitants  of Lynn over the ownership of the land where Nahant now  is. This land Mr. Dexter bought of the Indian chief Pognannm, or “Black Will.” paying- for the same a suit of good clothes. This he fenced in and used it to pasture his cows. The title to this was disputed by the other inhabitants (1657) who, if his claim was denied, would share in the division of the land. The result was a defeat for him and his heirs. although they kept it in court over thirty-eight years.

In 1657 Mr. Dexter took the oath of fidelity. He was admitted freeman of Plymouth Colony on June 1. 1658. For the next eighteen years he lived a quiet, retired life on his farm. During the later years of his life he appears to have conveyed his mill and his large real estate in Sandwich to his son Thomas, Jr.. and his West Barnstable farm to his son William. retaining his Scorton Hill farm and his personal estate for his own use. He sold this last mentioned farm in 167:^ to William Troope (Throope).

He then removed to Boston  that he might spend the remainder of his days with his daughter, who was the wife of Captain Oliver. He died there in 1677, and was buried in the Oliver tomb in King’s Chapel burying-ground.

Taken all in all. he was one of the foremost men of his times. He had faults: and who has not?  No attempt has been made in this to veil them. He was not one to hide his light under a bushel, and in estimating his character we must inquire what he did, not what he might have done. Who did more thanThomas Dexter to promote the interest of the infant colony at Lynn, with the building of the weir, the bridge, the mill and the great iron works? Who did more at Sandwich and at Barnstable, where he built bridges, mills and roads.improvements that the public  took interest in? For these acts he is  deserving- credit, and they will forever embalm his memory. As to religious matters he was a member of the Puritan Church, yet tolerant and liberal in his views.

Children

1. Mary Dexter

Mary came to America with her father and settled in Lynn.

Mary’s first husband John Frend

Mary’s second husband Captain James Oliver His parents were Thomas Oliver and Ann [__?__] who came from England in 1632. Thomas, the father was one of the ruling elders and of wide influence in the affairs of the new town. Capt. James was admitted freeman in 1640, was of the artillery company in 1651, was Lieutenant in 1653 and Captain in 1656 and 1666. He was selectman in 1663 and for several years inspector of the port.

He was Captain of the first military company of Boston in 1673 and was was appointed to command of the company in the Narragansett campaign, and was one of the few officers that passed safely through the Great Swamp Fight. Oliver’s 3rd company of Massachusetts had 83 troops with 5 killed, 8 wounded (See my post Great Swamp Fight – Regiments)

James was an eminent merchant of Boston. He and Mary had no family, but her father came to live with them, and’ was there in 1677 when he died, and Captain Oliver was one of the administrators of his estate.

5. Frances Dexter 

It is not certainly known whether she came to America with her father or came later.

Frances’ husband Sergeant Richard Woodee, was born xx. His parents were Richard Woodee and Annie [__?__] This name is sometimes spelled Woodde.

The records say that the father and Samuel, Richard, Mary, Martha and Elizabeth were dismissed to Third Church, Boston, in 1673.

Children of Frances and Richard:

i Thomas Woodee, b. 12 Dec 1648; d. 13 Oct 1650.

ii Mary Woodee, b. 21 Aug 1650; m. John Daffern ; three children.

iii Martha Woodee, b. 25 Feb 1651/52; was a widow 1695.

iv Elizabeth Woodee, b. 19 Sep 1653.

v. Ann Woodee, b. 12 Jul 1655.

vi. Samuel Woodee, b. 11 Sep 1656.

vii. Richard Woodee, b. 3 Dec 1658.

viii. Sarah Woodee, b. 26 Mar 1661; d. 23 Aug 1661.

6. William Dexter

William’s wife Elizabeth Vincent

William- came to America with his father, and was in Barnstable in 1650. He lived on one of the two farms that his father bought. He took oath in Barnstable in 1657. He removed to Rochester, Mass. about 1679 and died there in 1694.

He was one of a party of thirty, which included such men as William Bradford, Kenelem Winslow, Thomas Hinckley and Rev. Samuel Arnold, who became the grantees of the town of Rochester.

When he died he owned considerable land both in Barnstable and in Rochester which he gave to his children, as follows : James Dexter, Thomas Dexter and John Dexter had the Rochester lands, while Stephen Dexter, Philip Dexter and Benjamin Dexter had the Barnstable land. The children all went to Rochester except Philip, who removed to Falmouth, Mass., and Stephen, who remained in Barnstable and who was the only one of the name in the town in 1703.

Children of William and Elizabeth

i Mary Dexter, b. Jan 1654; m. Moses Barlow. Removed to Rochester.

ii Stephen Dexter. b. May 1657; m. Ann Saunders

iii Philip Dexter, b. Sep 1659; m. Alice Allen; d.1741

iv James Dexter, b. May.1662; d. 15 Jul 1694; m. Mary Tobey

v. Thomas Dexter, b. Jul 1665; d. 31 July, 1744.; m1. 1695 to Mary Miller; m2. 1702 to
Sarah C. March; No issue.

vi John Dexter, b. Aug 1668; d. 31 Jul 1744; m. Sarah [__?__]

vii Benjamin Dexter, b. 16 Feb 1670; d. 1784?; m. Sarah Arnold;

Sources:

“Genealogy of the Dexter Family in America, 1905″ by Warden and Dexter

http://www.douglashistory.co.uk/famgen/getperson.php?personID=I340618&tree=tree1

John VINCENT (1608 – 1663) was Alex’s 11th Great Grandfather; one of 4,096 in this generation of the Shaw line.

Vincent Coat of Arms

John Vincent was born about 1608 in England. His parentage is quite uncertain. It has been alleged that he was the child of Sarah Allerton and her first husband, John Vincent.  If so, he was left behind in Europe and came to New England on his own as an adult.  He married Hannah SMITH. John died 1663 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

Hannah Smith’s origins are not known.    The given and maiden names of his wife is unknown.  However, in the Yarmouth Vital Records are the cryptic entries on October 1676 and 5 December 1683 of a “Miss Vincent” dying.  These could be unmarried daughters or one may be the wife of John Vincent. [Yarmouth VRs, p. 125]

Children of  John and Hannah:

Legendary Mayflower Roots

The faulty research [or the undocumented leap] is that this John Vincent is the son of another John Vincent and Sarah Allerton, daughter of Edward ALLERTON and sister of Isaac ALLERTON of the Mayflower.  Sarah Allerton’s first husband John Vincent was born about 1590 in: London, Middlesex, England. He and Sarah married about 1608 in Leiden. John died about 1610 at: Leiden, Zuid-Holland.  Some researchers have given John and Sarah a son John, but no documentation has been found, and suggest Sarah brought 5 children with her in 1623 – the only children documented are Mary Priest, Sarah Priest and Samuel Cuthbertson

In Leiden on 4 Nov 1611, Degory Priest of London married Sarah Vincent, widow of Jan Vincent of London. [Mayflower Descendant 7:129-30].  Together they have two daughters. Priest dies on 1 Jan 1620/21 and news of that event is conveyed back to Leiden where his widow remarries in November 1621 to Godbert Godbertson [sometimes transliterated as  Cuthbert Cuthbertson].  All four, that is, Sarah, Godbert and her two daughters, arrive in Plymouth in 1623 on the Anne. Both Godbert and Sarah die “without will” before 24 Oct 1633 when their inventory was spoken of. [Plymouth Colony Records 1:11-13].  Eventually their estate was settled on 3 Aug 1640 to John Combe and Phineas Pratt who had married the two daughters of Digory and Sarah (Allerton) Priest.

No mention of John Vincent, the man of Sandwich, is ever made in connection with Sarah (Allerton) (Vincent) (Priest) Godbertson, whether in Plymouth or Leiden records.  One would have to believe that the younger John Vincent was left in England and Sarah went to Leiden alone.  After all the intensive research done on Mayflower families I find it hard to believe that not one record has surfaced that ties the two together in some way.  Unlike some theories, here the timeline works.  A woman born in 1575 has a son in 1600 and then two more daughters in 1613 and 1615 (when she is about forty) and no more children.  Isaac Allerton’s birth year is ca. 1586 based on his own deposition and it all holds together.

However, John Vincent is a much more common name than you would think.  A search in the IGI for parish records (not patron submissions) shows four John Vincents born in London between 1600 and 1610.  If you include all of England and reduce the birth years to 1600 to 1604, there are still 14 John Vincents.  Certainly the John Vincent of Sandwich was a man of some social importance.  He is a leader of Sandwich from the beginning and given the honorific “Mr.” in town records.  Further research is needed in England to find his origins.  However, for now, his connection with Sarah Allerton is based solely on her marriage record as a widow of John Vincent.  Intriguing? Yes.  Evidence?  No.  Certainly not anywhere close to being a reasonable determination of a relationship.

John Vincent Bio

Genealogical notes of Barnstable families Vol 1, p 68: The Indian title to the lands in Sandwich was purchased by William Bradford and his partners of the old Plymouth Company in 1637, for £16, 19 shillings, payable “in commodities,” and Jan 24, 1647/48, they assigned their rights to Edmund FREEMAN, and on the 26th of February following, he assigned the same to George Allen, John VINCENT, William Newland, Robert Botfish. Anthony Wright and Richard Bourne, a committee of the proprietors of the town of Sandwich.

John Vincent was of Saugus (today’s Lynn), Essex, MA by 1636 but was granted lands in Duxbury, Plymouth, MA.  His Duxbury land abutted the lands of Thomas Burgess and William BASSETT, both early settlers of Sandwich. He was made freeman in 1637.  In 1638, he was appointed Constable in Sandwich.

 6 March 1638 — Mr. John Vincent is elected constible of Sandith. and was sworne to searue in the said office from this Court to the end of the next government, vis, for a yeare and a quarter .”

By 1639 John sold the Duxbury land to Thomas Weybourne, and that same year was appointed Deputy to Plymouth Court from Sandwich. Also in 1639, he was appointed to go to Yarmouth to aid in establishing land rights.  He was also listed in the 1643 roster of persons between the age of 16 and 60 who were liable to bear arms.

John Vincent was in Sandwich as late as 1658 when he married for the second time but the moved to Yarmouth, Barnstable, MA.“

Children

John’s children in order of their marriages and therefore extrapolated births are: (i) Elizabeth m. Sandwich, 8 November 1648 [poss. confused with the next record; first child born in 1649], Thomas Dexter (Jr.) and born say 1625; (ii) Mary m. Sandwich 8 November 1648 [Sandwich VRs, p. 8] Benjamin Hammond, and born say 1627; (iii) Sarah m. 8 July 1653 at Barnstable [Mayflower Descendant 4:223] William Dexter [brother of Thomas above] and born say 1631; and (iv) Henry m. 15 December 1657 at Sandwich [Sandwich VRs, p. 15], Mary Matthews, and born say 1634.  The dating of the children is important because you need to be able to date the parents.  Based on the above information we can say that John Vincent was married about 1624 and was likely born about 1600.

1. Elizabeth VINCENT (See Thomas DEXTER Jr.‘s page)

Ensign Thomas Dexter married, Nov. 8, 1648, Mary or Elizabeth Vincent. The record of the marriage is mutilated, but this seems to be its true reading. In early times Mary and
Elizabeth were considered synonymous or interchangeable.

2. Sarah Vincent

Sarah’s husband William Dexter was born about 1630 in England His parents were Thomas DEXTER Sr and Mary HARPER. William died 1694 in Rochester, Plymouth, Mass.

William came to America with his father, and was in Barnstable in 1650. He lived on one of the two farms that his father bought. He took oath in Barnstable in 1657. He removed to Rochester, Mass. about 1679 and died there in 1694.

He was one of a party of thirty, which included such men as William Bradford, Kenelem Winslow, Thomas Hinckley and Rev. Samuel Arnold, who became the grantees of the town of Rochester.

Williamm died intestate, and his estate was settled by mutual agreement between the widow Sarah and her children, Stephen, Phillip, James, Thomas, John, and Benjamin Dexter, and her daughter Mary, wife of Moses Barlow. James, Thomas and John, had the Rochester lands, and Stephen, Phillip and Benjamin, the Barnstable estate. In the division of the meadows in 1694 William had 3 acres assigned him by the committee of the town, which was reduced to two by the arbitrators in 1697. Stephen and Phillip, the only children of William of sufficient age, were assigned 2 acres each. In 1703 Phillip had removed to Falmouth, and Stephen was the only one of the name who remained in town. He had 48 shares alloted to him in the division of the common lands, considerably more than the average, showing him to be a man of good estate.

Children of William and Elizabeth

i Mary Dexter, b. 11 Aug 1649 or Jan 1654 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.; d. 1729 Mass; m. Moses Barlow. Removed to Rochester.

ii Stephen Dexter. b. Jan 1654 or May 1657 Barnstable, Mass; d. 1729 Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass, probate 17 Mar 1729/30. m. 27 Apr 1696 to Ann Saunders. Stephen and Ann had ten children born between 1696 and 1714.

Stephen spent his whole life in Barnstable and made his home on the farm which was originally his grandfather Thomas’, at Dexter lane. West Barnstable. In 1703 he was the only one of the name left in Barnstable.

iii Philip Dexter, b. Sep 1659 Barstable, Barnstable, Mass; d. 10 Jun 1741 Falmouth, Barnstable, Mass. m. Alice Allen; d.1741 Philip and Alice had nine children.

At the time of their marriage, Philip and Alice moved to Falmouth, where they spent the remainder of their life. He was miller there many years. At one time he was complained of for’ charging’ too high. But as he was the only miller, the people were dependent upon him. A committee was sent to consult with him. but the record does not reveal the result, but at a later period he was paid by the town £30 for his part of the mill and the land that the pond covered, so it may be that the matter was settled in that way. In 1712 he and Thomas Bowerman were appointed to lay out land of the ”New Purchase” into lots, etc. He was selectman, and also town clerk.

iv James Dexter, b. May 1662 Barnstable, Mass,; d. 15 Jul 1694 or 15 Jul 1697 Rochester, Mass; m. Rochester, Mass to Mary Tobey. James and Mary had three children born in Rochester.

James went to Rochester with his father. In 1712, after the death of the father, Mary, the daughter, being- a minor over 14, chose Jabez Dexter (a kinsman) for guardian. and Deborah chose Samuel Hunt for her guardian.

v. Thomas Dexter, b. Jul 1665; d. 31 July, 1744.; m1. 17 Jul 1695 to Mary Miller and had by her one sone; m2. 1702 to Sarah C. March No issue.

The son must have died before his father, for he is not mentioned in his will, and he leaves most of his property to Constant Dexter, who had been brouuht up by him. He gave land to Mary Sherman, wife of William Sherman, who was a daughter of his brother John, lie also gave land to Rose, or Rest, Dexter daughter of his brother John. He gave £3 each to the four daughters of his brother John and to the two daughters of his brother Benjamin. He gave £5 to the church, and all the balance to Constant Dexter, son of his brother Benjamin.

vi John Dexter, b. Aug 1668 Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass; d. 31 Jul 1744 Rochester, Plymouth, Mass; m. 1702 to Sarah [__?__] ( – 21 Jan 1755). John and Sarah had seven children born between 1703 and 1724 all born at Rochester. John and Sarah had eleven children.

John was called yeoman in 1690. He sold land to Samuel Arnold and John Hammond, and in 1714 to James Winslow, and in 1716 to Thomas Dexter.

vii Benjamin Dexter, b. 16 Feb 1670 Barnstable, Mass; d. 18 May 1732 Rochester, Mass.; m. Sarah Arnold Sarah’s father was Rev. Samuel Arnold, who who was the second minister at Rochester, and also one of the grantees of the town. Her grandfather, Rev. Samuel Arnold, was third minister of Marshfield. Benjamin and Sarah had eleven children, all born in Rochester between 1697 and 1718.

Benjamin removed to Rochester with his father. He was a farmer and sold land in 1693 to Moses Barlow, in 1699 to John Hammond, in 1723 to Edward Winslow, in 1715 to John Corning. All of this land was inherited from his father.

Benjamin’s estate was valued at £1,047. At his death, his son James Dexter was made guardian of the two young children, Seth and Joanna.

3. Henry Vincent

Henry’s wife Mary Matthews

Child of Henry and Mary:

i. John Vincent b. 1685 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.; m. 2 Nov 1710 in Harwich, Mass. to Hannah Sears (b. 1 Jul 1685 in Harwich, Barnstable, Mass -d. Harwich or Dennis ) John and Hannah had six children born between 1712 and 1732.

4. Mary Vincent

Mary’s husband Benjamin Hammond was born xx. His parents were William Hammond and Elizabeth p[__?__]. He went to Sandwich, and there in 1650 married Mary Vincent. . Nothing is known as to his whereabouts from his arrival in Boston, in 1634, to his marriage to Mary Vincent in 1650, except that he was at Yarmouth in 1643.

There is some mention of John Vincent in Otis book (on Barnstable):
Vol 2, p 67: ‘It is reported that he [Benjamin Hammond - also not of Barnstable] married in 1650 Mary, daughter of Mr. John Vincent of Sandwich. This date is uncertain, for there was a Mary Hammon in Yarmouth in 1648. As there was only one family in town, I thence infer that she was the wife of Benjamin…. list of children: Samuel, who married Mary Hathaway of Dartmouth… John born Nov. 22, 1663, and his wife Mary Arnold… Nathan who married a Dexter, Benjamin. He had also three daughters, two died young, and one named Rose…This list of his children is imperfect. The William named in the following extract from the Boston Journal, was perhaps his oldest son… William Hamilton, born in Scotland…settled on Cape Cod…RI…died in CT in 1746…’

Children of Benjamin and Mary:

i. Mary Hammond, b. Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass; d. young.

ii. Samuel Hammond, b. in 1655 Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass; d. m. Mary Hathaway of Darthmouth

iii. John Hammond , b. Nov. 30, 1663 Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass; d. Apr. 19, 1749, O. S.; m. Mary Arnold

iv. Nathan Hammond b. in 1670 Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass; d. m. [__?__] Dexter

v. Benjamin Hammond, b. Nov. 1673.Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass; d. 29 Mar 1747.

vi. Rose Hammond, b. Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass;d. 20 Nov 1676.

Sources:

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=42990213

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/18000960/person/640836905/story/9e1fc8ca-0e3a-45a0-b10e-59358c7529b9?src=search

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=gungazo&id=I03323

Genealogical notes of Barnstable families  Being a reprint of the Amos Otis Papers originally published in the Barnstable Patriot in 1861; Revised by Charles  F. Swift Largely made from notes made by the author (1888)

Stephen “Don Esteban” Minor (1760 – 1815) was just a second cousin of our Miner line, but his story is too unique not to include.

Stephen Minor was born 8 Feb 1760 Greene County, Pennsylvania. His great grandparents were our ancestors William MINER and Francis BURCHAM.  His grandparents were Stephen Minor and Athaliah Updyke.     His parents were Capt. William Minor and Frances Ellen Phillips.   (See William MINER‘s page for their stories)

Stephen Minor Portrait – By William Edward West (1809)

Stephen first ventured to New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1779.  He first married  Martha Ellis 1790 in Louisiana.  After Martha died, he married Katherine Lintot 4 Aug 1792 in Natchez, Adams, Mississippi. Stephen died 29 Nov 1815 in Natchez, Mississippi and is  buried at Concord, the historic residence of the early Spanish governors at Natchez, Mississippi.

Martha Ellis was born 1760 in Natchez, Natchitoches, Louisiana She was the daughter of Colonel John Ellis of White Cliffs, located south of Natchez on the Mississippi River. There were apparently no children from this union. Martha died before 1791

Katherine Lintot was born 4 Aug 1770 in Carlisle, Cumberland, Pennsylvania. Her parents were Bernard Lintot (1740 – 1804) and Katherine Trotter (1744 – 1804).  Bernard was a Wall Street trader who became the commissary at Manchac.   She was known as the “Yellow Duchess” because of her reputed fondness for all things golden. Katherine died 9 Jul 1844 in Natchez, Adams, Mississippi

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Child  of Stephen and Martha: for her story, see my post Stephen Minor’s Children – Decadent Unionists

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Children of Stephen and Katherine: (for their story, see my post Stephen Minor’s Children – Decadent Unionists

In 1780 when Stephen was twenty years old, he traveled to Spanish New Orleans to procure military supplies for the Continental Army.  Once the goods were packed on mules, Minor and his men headed up the western bank of the Mississippi in a caravan in route to the Ohio Valley.  Along the way, Minor fell ill and was at times so consumed with fever and chills that the caravan was forced to moved forward during the day while Minor followed their trail at his own sluggish pace, often catching up with the group at its encampment at night.

One day as Minor laid back shivering with a high fever, the caravan was overtaken by bandits deep in the heart of Indian country in present day Arkansas, their goods stolen and the men murdered.  Minor found the grisly crime scene hours later, his life having been spared due to his illness. Alone in the vast wilderness, the 20-year-old stumbled back into New Orleans with news of the disaster.About that time, Spain had joined the Americans in the fight against the British. Minor, always enterprising, learned Spanish and French as he determined his next move.

In the meantime, Spanish Gen. Bernardo Galvez amassed an army to take on the British in West Florida.   Stephen  joined the Spanish army and participated in a military expedition against Fort Charlotte, located near Mobile in British West Florida., which resulted in a resounding Spanish victory.   At Mobile, according to historian Benjamin L.C. Wailes, Minor caught the eye of Gen. Galvez who was impressed with Minor’s bravery and heroism as well as his “remarkable skill with the rifle.”Minor was in Spanish service for most of his adult life.

Arriving in the Natchez District in the early 1780s, Minor received a commission as a captain in the Spanish army, and he served as the adjutant of Fort Panmure at Natchez. During this time, Minor also assisted Spanish governor Manuel Gayoso de Lemos in various administrative duties. He also provided the Anglo-American settlers and Natchez Indians of the district liaison with the Spanish officials, who often referred to him as “Don Esteban.” After Gayoso was appointed as governor of Louisiana, Minor briefly served as acting governor until the Spanish evacuated Natchez prior to April of 1798, when the Mississippi Territory was created by the United States Congress.

Mississippi Territory (1798 – 1817)

Minor was next appointed as one of the Spanish commissioners responsible for establishing the boundary between Florida and the United States during 1798 and 1799. He was in command of the Spanish forces in Vidalia, Louisiana, when the United States acquired this territory with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Minor was also a Spanish boundary commissioner for Louisiana during 1804 and 1805.

Owning plantations on Sandy and Second creeks in Adams County, Minor initially produced indigo and tobacco. Following the example of Governor Gayoso, he began planting cotton around 1795, and by 1797, just one of his plantations was yielding twenty-five hundred bales of cotton annually. Minor also owned forty thousand acres of land east of the Pearl River in Louisiana.

Stephen Minor purchased Concord, the former residence and plantation of Governor Gayoso, after the latter departed Natchez.

Stephen Minor Portrait – By Edith Flisher, ca. 1900-1905 — A copy of William Edward West’s 1809 painting, with a transformation of a blue coat into this red

Some Interesting Events in Stephen’s Timeline

In 1788, Stephen Minor sold 300 acres to the Spanish government which included the bluff property.    Manuel Gayoso de Lemos   “drew a line from Front Street, facing the bluffs, and forbade the granting of lots west of it.”

Natchez Bluff Park

From 1804 to 1806, Congress was involved in a dispute over the bluff property involving 30 acres, which was eventually provided the Town of Natchez.   In 1804 the (Natchez) Common Council fell into legal controversy with the aristocrat-controlled Board of Trustees of Jefferson College in Washington over the college’s claim to the public square and the commons in Natchez. In 1803 the United States Congress granted the college, for revenue purposes, two lots in Natchez and thirty acres of federal property in the city, with the tracts to be picked by the governor. Despite loud cries of protest from the Natchez officials,  Gov. C.C.  Claiborne chose two lots on the public square, and Cato West, acting governor  of the Mississippi Territory  in 1803, picked as the thirty-acre site the city commons on the bluff…The issue was not settled until 1816 when the city ‘won permanent and clear title to the tracts’.

At noon Thursday, May 11, 1797, [Concordia Sentinel by Stanley Nelson] Englishman Francis Baily, the 21-year-old son of a London banker, arrived in Natchez on a flatboat loaded with flour. This was a tense time in Natchez country history — the Spanish flag was flying over Fort Panmure (Rosalie) and the American flag flying over Liberty Hill a few hundred yards to the north where the House on Ellicott Hill sits today. A treaty had transferred possession of Natchez to the Americans, but the Spanish had yet to leave town, causing great tension. Much excitement was also in the air over cotton, a crop which was transforming the economic fortunes of the region, triggered by the invention of Eli Whitney’s saw gin.”There is a great deal of cotton raised in this district,” Baily wrote in his journal, which was later published in a book. “There are several jennies erected…in order to extricate the seed from the cotton.” On the bank of the Mississippi River at Natchez, Baily observed one gin owned by Stephen Minor and his partner that was “worked by two horses, which will give 500 lbs. of clear cotton in a day.”

Not long after inspecting Minor’s gin on the river bank, Bailey prepared to take off for New Orleans. When the owners of the flatboat that transported Baily to Natchez sold their flour, the owner and crew headed back home through the wilderness along what became known as the Natchez Trace.

Bailey found a ride south on another flatboat, owned by a Mr. Douglass, “laden with cotton” bought at Natchez. Baily said the cotton was loaded into bags weighing about 200 pounds each and that the flatboat held an estimated 250 bags, about 25 tons. Douglass charged farmers and merchants an average of $1.50 per bag of cotton, garnering him a fee of about $375 for the entire shipment.

The flatboat was the only really serviceable type of river craft, for it would go where there was water enough for a muskrat to swim in, would glide unscathed over the concealed snag or, thrusting its corner into the soft mud of some protruding bank, swing around and go on as well stern first as before. The flatboat was the sum of human ingenuity applied to river navigation. Even (keeled) barges were proving failures and passing into disuse, as the cost of poling them upstream was greater than any profit to be reaped from the voyage.

1800-1810 - When Natchez lawyer, judge, Congressman and finally Senator  George Poindexter, a man often embroiled in controversy, challenged Minor to a duel in the early 1800s for some alleged slight, Natchez citizens thought he was insane. One friend advised Poindexter to back off, noting, “You must look to him (Minor). Whatever Major Minor states, upon his honor, you, and every other gentleman, are bound to accept.”

Poindexter was involved in two other shootings. When former U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr was arrested in 1807 for the alleged Burr conspiracy, Poindexter conducted the prosecution until Burr’s escape from custody.  Poindexter’s outspoken opposition to the Federalist Party resulted in criticisms from merchant Abijah Hunt, possibly the richest man in Mississippi Territory.

George Poindexter – US Senator from Mississippi – was bi-polar and a binge drinker. Quick tempered, Poindexter often clashed with adversaries and often challenged others to duels.

When Hunt criticized him, Poindexter challenged Hunt to a duel and the quick moving affair ended up on the dueling grounds of Concordia on the plantation known as Palo Alto, located about a mile north of the Post of Concord (Vidalia) and owned by Stephen Minor of Natchez.  Poindexter  d killed Hunt resulting in controversy and unsubstantiated claims that accused Poindexter of firing prematurely.

In 1834 when he was  President pro tempore of the Senate,  Poindexter had his Washington, D.C. home painted by Richard Lawrence. Lawrence, a deranged man, thought he was the ruler of England and the United States and that Andrew Jackson was a usurper. In Jan 1835 Lawrence shot at Jackson with two pistols while the President was attending a memorial service for a Congressman at the House of Representatives. It was the first attempt to assassinate a President. Jackson accused various political enemies as being behind Lawrence.  Among them was Poindexter, who denied any connection except for the painting. But the accusations followed Poindexter back to Mississippi. He was unsuccessful for a second term.

The Yellow Duchess

Another Yellow Duchess

Stephen Minor’s wife Katherine Lintot was known as “The Yellow Duchess” . She is buried under the massive tomb to the left and her husband is buried next to her under the “table top” tombstone. She was known as the “Yellow Duchess” because of her fondness for the color yellow. Everything she owned was yellow. Including her clothes, carriage and furniture. She even had a flower garden full of yellow roses. She insisted that her horses be Palominos,  and her slaves mulatto. Being of Spanish Royalty she had very great wealth and it is said she was buried with much of her gold. Therefore a massive structure was placed over her grave to prevent grave robbery. But no, she did not die of Yellow Fever – a disease that took many lives in Natchez.

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Katherine is buried under the massive tomb to the left and Stephen is buried next to her under the “table top” tombstone.It is said that the Yellow Dutchess was buried with much of her gold and this massive structure was placed to prevent grave robbery. – Natchez City Cemetery

Concord in Ruins 

Concord, residence of the first Spanish Governor, Don Manuel Gayoso de Lemos, who built the house in 1794. After he became Governor-General of Louisiana, he sold the house to Stephen Minor, who took over his former post. The Minor family moved after the Civil War and the home fell into a long period of deterioration. It burned in 1901, just as new owners made plans to refurbish it

Concord Natchez burned in 1901. This postcard contains the only known photo

The original house resembled Ellicott’s Hill, with a front gallery under the main roof. Later in the 1810s, under the ownership of Steven Minor, the distinctive classical portico and side galleries were added, possibly designed by Levi Weeks, the architect of Auburn (1812), a Natchez mansion thought to be the first use of the classical orders in the form of “white columns” we’ve all come to associate with the antebellum South. Many early authors assumed Concord’s portico was original and thus ascribed a level of sophistication to the Spanish period that really came later in the American period.

The Mississippian created his own architecture; his slave labor was unskilled, his models no more than pictures or memories; his real pattern was the Spanish. The result was the fusion of styles found at Natchez, predominantly Georgian in character, with columns and pediments relieved by the sloping roofs and galleries that broke across the classic fronts. In Concord, the former home of the Spanish governors at Natchez, which burned in 1901, this fusion probably reached its finest expression. The great columns that gave distinction to the building sprang from the earth itself. The lower story was extended to the face of the upper verandah, whose slender balustrade and smaller piazza posts were deeply recessed under the eaves of the light roof. The effect was Spanish West Indian as much as Greek.

Plan of Concord 1 – Mississippi Dept. of Archives and History Catalog

Mississippi State Archives

Plan of Concord 2

Nevertheless, the house was important both architecturally and historically, and was seen as such before it burned, as you can see below.

“CONCORD” IN RUINS
First Mansion Built in the State
Gives Way to the Fire
Fiend
——
ERECTED BY GRAND PRE IN 1789
——
Marble Mantels and Cornices from
Spain–Nothing Left but
a Memory
——

Concord Ruins 1940

Another grand old ante-bellum mansion, one of the many that have made this section famous, lies in ruins, a victim of the fire fiend. The mansion in question is the historic old “Concord,” built by the Spanish Governor, Carlos de Grand Pre, in 1789, who was commandant here from 1786 to 1792.

It was then known as “Grand Pre.” In 1792 Don Manuel Gayosa de Lemos succeeded Governor Grand Pre and he changed the name of the mansion to “Concord.” In 1798 Stephen Minor succeeded Governor Gayosa and occupied “Concord.” The mansion remained as the property of the Minors until some years ago when it was sold to Dr. Stephen Kelly, president of the Fifth National bank of New York, but formerly of this city.

As fate would have it, Dr. Kelly’s son arrived in Natchez day before yesterday on his bridal tour and is now occupying “Melrose,” another old ante-bellum mansion of the Kelly estate.

Concord is in a large grove and was built of brick with a large wide gallery extending around the four sides. A double stone staircase leads from the grand driveway to the second floor. The mantels were of marble quarried in Spain and brought here for Grand Pre.

One of the historical incidents mentioned in connection with Concord is the story that in the old library at “Concord” Aaron Burr endeavored to persuade Governor Minor to co-operate with him in his nefarious plot against the Federal Government.

After Burr left the Vice-Presidency at the end of his term in 1805, he journeyed into what was then the West, areas west of the Allegheny Mountains, particularly the Ohio River Valley and the lands acquired in the Louisiana Purchase drumming up support for his plans. Burr had leased 40,000 acres of land (known as the Bastrop Tract) along the Ouachita River, in what is now Louisiana, from the Spanish government.

Aaron Burr (1756 – 1836)

His most important contact was General James Wilkinson, Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Army at New Orleans and Governor of the Louisiana Territory. Others included Harman Blennerhassett, who offered the use of his private island for training and outfitting Burr’s expedition. Wilkinson was later proved to be a bad choice.

Burr saw war with Spain as a distinct possibility. In case of a war declaration, Andrew Jackson stood ready to help Burr, who would be in position to immediately join in. Burr’s expedition of about eighty men carried modest arms for hunting, and no materiel was ever revealed, even when Blennerhassett Island was seized by Ohio militia.  His “conspiracy”, he always avowed, was that if he settled there with a large group of (armed) “farmers” and war broke out, he would have an army with which to fight and claim land for himself, thus recouping his fortunes. However, the 1819 Adams-Onís Treaty secured Florida for the United States without a fight, and war in Texas didn’t occur until 1836, the year of Burr’s death.

After a near-incident with Spanish forces at Natchitoches, Wilkinson decided he could best serve his conflicting interests by betraying Burr’s plans to President Jefferson and to his Spanish paymasters. Jefferson issued an order for Burr’s arrest, declaring him a traitor even before an indictment. Burr read this in a newspaper in the Territory of Orleans on Jan 10, 1807. Jefferson’s warrant put Federal agents on his trail. He turned himself in to the Federal authorities twice. Two judges found his actions legal and released him. Jefferson’s warrant, however, followed Burr, who then fled toward Spanish Florida; he was intercepted at Wakefield, in Mississippi Territory (now in the state of Alabama) on Feb 19 1807, and confined to Fort Stoddert after being arrested on charges of treason. 

Burr’s secret correspondence with Anthony Merry and the Marquis of Casa Yrujo, the British and Spanish ministers at Washington, was eventually revealed. It had been to secure money and to conceal his real designs, which were to help Mexico to overthrow Spanish power in the Southwest, and to found a dynasty in what would have become former Mexican territory. This was a misdemeanor, based on the Neutrality Act of 1794 passed to block filibuster expeditions like those questionable enterprises of George Rogers Clark and William Blount.  Jefferson, however, sought the highest charges against Burr.

In 1807, on a charge of treason, Burr was brought to trial before the United States Circuit Court at Richmond, Virginia. His defense lawyers included Edmund Randolph, John Wickham and Luther Martin. Burr was arraigned four times for treason before a grand jury indicted him. This was surprising since the only physical evidence presented to the Grand Jury was Wilkinson’s so-called letter from Burr which proposed the idea of stealing land in the Louisiana Purchase. During the Jury’s examination it was discovered that the letter was written in Wilkinson’s own handwriting – a “copy,” he said, because he had “lost” the original. The Grand Jury threw the letter out, and the news made a laughingstock of the General for the rest of the proceedings. The trial, presided over by Chief Justice of the United States John Marshall, began on August 3.

Article 3, Section 3 of the United States Constitution requires that treason either be admitted in open court, or proved by an overt act witnessed by two people. Since no two witnesses came forward, Burr was acquitted on September 1, in spite of the full force of the Jefferson administration’s political influence thrown against him.  Immediately afterward, he was tried on a more appropriate misdemeanor charge, but was again acquitted.

Concord Natchez prior to 1901

Among the noted men who have been entertained at “Concord” were General Anthony Wayne, General Lafayette, Jefferson Davis, Aaron Burr and Winthrop Sargent, the first territorial governor of the Mississippi Territory,

Mississippi Territory ~~ Winthrop Sargent ~Issue of 1948

The entertainments at Concord were the most famous and lavish ever given in this section, even in the days when regal splendor was the order at all the social divertissements of the upper ten.

Of late years the place has been occupied by Mr. Herman Stier, a well known and prosperous meat butcher.

A few months ago “Concord” was the scene of a magnificent “country ball” given by the Duke and Duchess of Manchester. It was a reminder of the old time social festivals at “Concord” and was largely attended. It was a brilliant affair and made a suitable fluis to the social chapter in the history of “Concord.”

It was just after the town clocks struck the hour of 12 yesterday afternoon that the alarm was turned in. Though “Concord” was a mile beyond city limits the volunteer department hastened to respond. The firemen performed heroic work, but they were dependent upon a few cisterns for their water supply, which was very poor indeed. The old mansion was doomed.

The firemen assisted by numerous citizens directed their first efforts to saving the furniture in the building and succeeded in their endeavors.

Several of the rich marble mantels that were brought from Spain to add their splendid beauty to the magnificence of “Concord” were taken out before the roof caved in, but some were broken and will be of little use, save as mementoes of the famous mansion.

After the fire had played its part the relic hunters picked up small pieces of blackened stone broken from the cornices, also a product of Spanish stone quarries.

The value of the building was beyond estimate. In historic interest its value was beyond price, as its was easily the most famous of all antebellum mansions.

It was insured for $2500 through the Metcalfe Insurance Agency and $2500 through Major John Rawle’s insurance agency, making a total of $5000.

Children

For their story, see my post Stephen Minor’s Children – Decadent Unionists

Sources:

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=6634379

Minor Family Papers - Mississippi Dept of Archives and Records

http://for-natchez.org/history.html

http://misspreservation.com/2010/05/04/lost-mississippi-concord-natchez-1789-1901/

http://www.concordiasentinel.com/news.php?id=4701

http://www.natchezcitycemetery.com/custom/webpage.cfm?content=Gallery&id=8

http://www.concordiasentinel.com/news.php?id=4701

William J. Minor and Family Papers -LSU Library

Stephen “Don Esteban” Minor (1760 – 1815) was just a second cousin of our Miner line, but his story is too unique not to include.

Stephen Minor was born 8 Feb 1760 Greene County, Pennsylvania. His great grandparents were our ancestors William MINER and Francis BURCHAM.  His grandparents were Stephen Minor and Athaliah Updyke.     His parents were Capt. William Minor and Frances Ellen Phillips.   (See William MINER‘s page for their stories)

Detail of Stephen Minor Portrait – By William Edward West (1809)

Stephen first ventured to New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1779.  He first married  Martha Ellis 1790 in Louisiana.  After Martha died, he married Katherine Lintot 4 Aug 1792 in Natchez, Adams, Mississippi. Stephen died 29 Nov 1815 in Natchez, Mississippi and is  buried at Concord, the historic residence of the early Spanish governors at Natchez, Mississippi. For his story, see my post Stepehen Minor – Last Governor of Natchez

Children

Child  of Stephen and Martha:

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Children of Stephen and Katherine:

The wealthy in 19th Century Natchez: What did they contribute to economy? by Stanley Nelson “On the eve of the Civil War Natchez boasted one of the largest concentrations of men of great wealth of any town in the south. The notion of ‘wealthy Natchez’ was created largely by the presence of this plantation owners. The aristocrats’ contributions to the local economy, however, are debatable, for in many instances their principal holdings lay outside the town and country. Some paid almost all of their taxes to the Louisiana government (where their large plantations were located), few seem to have added much to the tax coffers of Natchez and Adams County.

Natchez Mississippi in 1850

A local newspaper, The Natchez Free-Trader, said the small farmer contributed much more to the local economy than the large plantation owner.  In 1842, the paper reported:

“They (small farmers) would crowd our streets with fresh and healthy supplies of home productions, and the proceeds would be expended here among our merchants, grocers and artisans. The large planters –- the one-thousand-bale planters — do not contribute most to the prosperity of Natchez. They, for the most part, sell their cotton in Liverpool; buy their wines in London or Havre; their Negro clothing in Boston; their plantation implements and supplies in Cincinnati; and their groceries and fancy articles in New Orleans.

In 1854, Frederick Law Olmsted was a journalist working for the New York Times when he visited Natchez. In the days before he became famous for designing Central Park in New York, he strolled about the region and was overwhelmed by its beauty. Olmstead, however, was turned off by the attitude of the rich and described their “marble-like” behavior as they looked at others “stealthily from the corner of their eyes without turning their heads…”    A man interviewed by Olmsted warned him of the “young swell-heads (rich)…Why, you can tell them by their walk…They sort o’ throw their legs as if they hadn’t got the strength enough to lift ‘em and put them down in any particular place. They do want so bad to look as if they weren’t made of the same clay as the rest of God’s creation.”

1. Mary Minor

Mary’s husband William Butler Kenner was born 4 Jul 1776 in Northumberland, Virginia. His parents were Rodham Kenner (1752 – 1819) and Sarah Carter (1754 – ) or Sarah Kennedy (1740 – 1820). William died 10 May 1824 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

William Butler Kenner (1776 – 1824)

William was a New Orleans businessman, planter, and politician. He arrived at Cannes Brulees at the turn of the century. The population of New Orleans at that time was just a little over 8,000 people. But the city was on the verge of an economic boom. Kenner established a very successful mercantile and commission business.

In 1803 the Louisiana territory became part of the United States. William Kenner became a member of the legislative council and later helped organize a militia to repel the British in the Battle of New Orleans. The Governor of Louisiana, William C. C. Claiborne referred to Kenner as “An honest man, a respectable merchant, a man of sense and property.” According to Kenner’s descendants, the first steamboat to leave New Orleans carried a consignment from Kenner and Company.

Kenner played an important role in organizing a company which received a franchise from the United States Congress to dig a large canal across New Orleans. The canal was never started, but Canal Street received its name from the aborted project.

In 1810 Kenner purchased a sugar plantation in Ascension Parish. The growth of the sugar industry made this a very profitable investment, the income from which far exceeded Kenner’s mercantile business.

Kenner had married Mary Minor, the 14 year old daughter of a an officer with the Spanish troops stationed at Natchez. She gave birth to four sons and died at the age 27 in 1814, a year after giving birth to Duncan. William Kenner’s tragedies were made worse six years later when a trusted business partner absconded with most of his company’s assets. William Kenner died three years later at the age of 47.

Children of Mary and William:

The Kenner brothers were orphaned at the ages of 10, 11, 13 and 15. A Creole lawyer and family friend, Etienne Masareau, salvaged enough of from the embezzlement disaster to provide each boy with an inheritance. These young men were destined to own all of Cannes Brulees.

William and Mary’s descendants lived on Oakland Plantation, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana,
and on Roseland Plantation, St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, both sugar and rice plantations. The Jefferson Parish city of Kenner is sited on the family’s lands.

i. Patsy Kenner b. 1802 Louisiana; d. young

ii. Maria Kenner b. 1803 in Louisiana; d. 1806

iii. Martha Kenner b. 1804 d. 1873 New Orleans, Louisiana; m1. John B Humphreys (b. 1789 in Staunton, Virginia – d. 30 Jul 1835 in Lexington, Fayette, Kentucky) John’s parents were Alexander Humphreys (1757 -1802) and Mary Brown (1763 – 1836); m2. Charles Oxley ( – d. 13 Apr 1854)

Martha and Charles Oxley resided at Roseland Plantation.

iv. Frances Ann Kenner b. 1806 d. 1875; m1. John Dick ( – d. 1824); m2. 20 Jul 1826 to George Currie Duncan ( 1800 – 1879)

v. Stephen Minor Kenner b. 1808 in Louisiana; m. Eliza Davis (b. 1811 in Louisiana – d. 1862 in Louisiana)

Down river from Oakland was Belle Grove Plantation, located about where the modern Williams Boulevard meets Jefferson Highway. Minor Kennedy acquired this property from through his wife, Eliza, who was heir to the property through her widowed mother Maria Holliday.

The Kenners acquired Pasture Plantation in parcels. By 1845 the Pasture Plantation property was owned entirely by Minor Kenner.

In 1855, Minor Kenner  founded the city of Kenner  near New Orleans. on land that consisted of three plantation properties that had been purchased by the Kenner family. At the time, all land north of what is now Airline Highway was swampland.

vi. William Butler Kenner b. 1810 in Virginia; m. 1832 to Rumahah) A. Riske (b. 1811 in Ludlow Station, Ohio – d. 24 Feb 1885) Rumahah’s parents were David Riske ( – 1818) and Charlotte Chambers (1768 – 1821) William and Rumahah had six children born between 1833 and 1846.

The area now called Kenner consisted of three large plantation properties known by the names Oakland, Belle Grove and Pasture. Farthest upriver, bordering St. Charles Parish, was the Oakland tract, owned by Louis Trudeau. After a decade of persistent effort the Kenner brothers acquired the entire Trudeau property. The Oakland Plantation was acquired by William Butler Kenner in 1841.

Their children included Philip Minor Kenner (1833-circa 1890), Josephine, Charlotte “Lottie” K. Harding, Butler, Mary Minor, Sarah Belle, and Fredrick Butler Kenner. Philip Kenner served as a lieutenant during the Civil War; he married Ella Humphreys.

vii. George Rappele Kenner b. 1812; d. 1852; m. Charlotte Jones

viii. Duncan Farrar Kenner b. 1 Feb 1813 in Bienville St, New Orleans, Louisiana; d. 3 Jul 1887
Carondelet St, New Orleans; m. Jun 1839 to Anne Guillelmine Bringier (b. 24 Aug 1823 in Hermitage, Ascencion Parish, Louisiana – d. 6 Nov 1911 in New Orleans, Louisiana) Anne’s parents were Michel Douradou Bringier (1789 – 1847) and Elizabeth Aglae Du Bourg (1798 – )

Duncan Kenner, the youngest brother, eventually took over William’s sugar plantation in Ascension. On this property he built a splendid mansion surrounded on all four sides by a magnificent white colonnade. The building was designed by James Gallier, the most famous Southern architect of the day. Duncan named it Ashland after the home of Henry Clay.

By 1845 New Orleans had a population of about 110,000, making it the nation’s fourth largest city. New Orleans had become a major economic hub with dozens of steamboats departing daily carrying sugar, cotton, grain and other goods. Norbert Rillieux had perfected the “multiple effect” process for refining sugar, revolutionizing the industry and providing for significant financial rewards to those who held lands able to grow the cane. Duncan Kenner prospered, listing sales of 1.5 million pounds of sugar in 1850.

Duncan of Ashland Plantation and his Uncle William John Minor each had a private track for training purposes and took many honors on the turf, racing their fine horses at Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Natchez, and Mobile.

3. Frances Minor

Frances’ husband Henry Chotard was born 3 Mar 1787 in Santo Domingo. His parents were
Jean Marie Joseph Chotard ( – 1810) and Henrietta Lofont. Henry died 7 Jul 1870 in Natchez, Adams, Mississippi.

Children of Frances and Henry:

i. Catherine Chotard b. 2 Jan 1820 Natchez, Adams, Mississippi; d. 12 Feb 1877
New Orleans; m. Horatio Sprague Eustis (1811 – 1858)

ii. Frances “Fanny” Chotard b. ~1824 in Natchez, Adams, Mississippi

ii. Henry Chotard b. ~1828 in Natchez, Adams, Mississippi

iii. Henrietta Chotard b. ~1829 in Natchez, Adams, Mississippi

iv. Charles K. Chotard b. ~1823 in Natchez, Adams, Mississippi

v. Maria Marshall Chotard b. 27 Nov 1837 in Natchez, Adams, Mississippi; d. 6 Dec 1912 in Natchez, Adams, Mississippi.

4. Katherine Lintot Minor

Katherine’s husband James Campbell Wilkins was born 27 Oct 1786 in Carlisle, Cumberland, Pennsylvania. James died 9 Apr 1849 in Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky.

5. Stephen Minor

Stephen’s wife Charlotte Walker was born 1808 in Arkansas,

6. William John Minor

Upon the death of his father Stephen in 1815, his uncle Col. John Minor (See William MINER‘s page) managed the family affairs until William J. Minor became of age. (21 in 1829)

William’s wife Rebecca Ann Gustine was born 17 May 1813 in Carlisle, Cumberland, Pennsylvania. Her parents were James Gustin (1780 – 1846) and Mary Ann Duncan ( – 1816). She was the niece of wealthy Natchez planter and investor Stephen Duncan. Rebecca Ann Gustine’s sisters, Margaret and Matilda, were married to brothers Charles and Henry Leverich, who were successful cotton factors and commission merchants in New York and New Orleans. Rebecca Ann died 14 Jul 1887 in Cayuga Lake, New York

William John Minor was privately educated until he entered the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia in the 1820s. There, he became acquainted with Rebecca Ann Gustine. William John Minor and Rebecca Ann Gustine were married in Philadelphia on July 7, 1829.They returned to Natchez in the 1830s, living at Concord. The Minors had eight children: Duncan, Francis, Henry, James, John, Katherine, Stephen, and William.

As a hedge against declining cotton prices, Minor sought to diversify his holdings by investing in sugar-cane production in Louisiana. He acquired Hollywood Plantation (1,400 acres) and Southdown Plantation (6,000 acres) in Terrebonne Parish and Waterloo Plantation (1,900 acres) in Ascension Parish. Prior to the Civil War, these three plantations were producing an average of more than twelve hundred hogsheads of sugar annually. Although Minor was largely an absentee owner, entrusting the management of his plantations and slaves in Louisiana to overseers, he was meticulous in the administration of his holdings. His net worth, including hundreds of slaves, was estimated to be more than one million dollars in 1860. Minor also found time to serve as a captain in the Natchez Hussars, a local militia unit, and as president of the Agricultural Bank in Natchez.

Nationally recognized in the breeding and racing of horses, William John Minor owned at least sixty thoroughbreds during his lifetime. Under the pseudonym, “A Young Turfman,” Minor authored more than seventy articles on horse racing for the Spirit of the Times, a New York sporting-life newspaper, between 1837 and 1860. He also published a pamphlet entitled Short Rules for Training Two Year Olds, which was published by The Picayune in New Orleans in 1854. Minor was also instrumental in founding local cricket and jockey clubs in Natchez.

William J. Minor, who managed the plantation business, was very well known for his high living and lavish entertaining. He liked racing and built large stables for the fine horses he purchased for the sport of kings. Minor and his nephew, Duncan Kenner , of Ashland Plantation, each had a private track for training purposes and took many honors on the turf, racing their fine horses at Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Natchez, and Mobile.

Active in Whig politics in the years before the Civil War, William John Minor lobbied against secession throughout the South. He was convinced that secession and war would lead to economic ruin for the planter class. When war did come, Minor remained loyal to the Union despite the social ostracism and economic losses that his family would suffer during and after the war. Although the majority of William John Minor’s sons remained loyal to the Union, at least one son served in the Confederate army against his father’s wishes.

William John Minor died in Terrebonne Parish on September 18, 1869. Rebecca Ann Gustine Minor died in Cayuga Lake, New York, on July 14, 1887.

Southdown Plantation

Southdown located in Houma, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, approximately 60 miles southwest of New Orleans,  was built on part of a Spanish land grant to Jose Llano and Miguel Saturino, who were engaged in growing indigo. In 1790 and 1798 respectively, two more tracts were given to them by Charles IV, King of Spain.

Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana

Subsequently, the property was owned by the noted adventurer and soldier, Jim Bowie , renowned for the knife named after him and for his exploits at the Alamo.

In 1828, William John Minor  purchased the plantation. In 1858, he built the house with brick made in his own kilns and with cypress from his own swamps.  It is now the Southdown Museum and home to the Terrebonne Historical & Cultural Society.

William John Minor’s 1858 Southdown Plantation home  during Voice of the Wetlands Festival

Each fall, Southdown Plantation hosts the Voice of the Wetlands Festival, showcasing dozens upon dozens of world class musical artists kicking off the weekend on a serious musical note in the traditional “Friday Night Guitar Fights” with performances from the likes of Joe Bonamassa, Tab Benoit, Sonny Landredth, Paul Barrere, Camille Baudoin, Mike Zito and Joe Stark. Continuing through the weekend, we have listened to the extraordinary sounds of Dr. John, Beausoliel, The Radiators, Susan Cowsill, The Producers, Zebra, Amanda Shaw, Chubby Carrier and especially Louisiana LaRoux, whose appearances at the Festival have become a true South Louisiana must see tradition. And completing the perfect weekend, a performance by the acclaimed Voice of the Wetlands All Stars, recognized by rave reviews and sold out performances across the nation as a truly talented cultural and blues musical ensemble.

Southdown appears very different in design from the homes normally seen on plantations of the Old South. Gothic Revival architecture was slightly less popular than Greek Revival at that time, but the Minors nevertheless chose the former. Instead of the familiar white columns, Minor erected a smallish, simple entrance gallery. The original house, begun in 1858 and completed in 1862, consisted of what is now Southdown’s main floor, which includes the twin front turrets and the rear center turret. The top floor and the turrets were added in 1893 by William’s son, Henry C. Minor.

This brick home has twenty rooms; the brick and plaster walls range between twelve and twenty inches of thickness. The center hall doorways are flanked by beautiful stained glass in a sugarcane design. Second-floor side galleries face up and down Little Bayou Black, and a balcony opens from the rear. Just behind Southdown stands a two-story brick structure that served as a kitchen for the manor and as a home for the house servants – a two story slave dwelling is an unusual sight in Louisiana outside of the Vieux Carre. A covered walkway once connected this building with the “big house”.

Southdown’s sugarcane played a dramatic role for the South. The first crop grown at Southdown was indigo but various factors made sugarcane more rewarding. On the fields of Southdown, a heartier subspecies of sugarcane was developed. The new variety fought the blight and disease that had periodically attacked Louisiana’s cane. Varieties of the new seed were then adopted by most of Louisiana’s sugarcane planters.

Southdown was named after a variety of English sheep, Southdowns, that the Minor family imported to eat the weeds and grass between the rows of sugarcane.

Despite the great contribution that Southdown owners had made to the sugar industry, they could not weather the many setbacks that occurred during the early 1920′s. During the economic crash of October, 1929, and the severe Depression of the 1930′s, all their property was lost to the creditors.

Sadly, the family legacy of Southdown House, where so many notables were entertained at gala affairs, was ended when a new owner took possession in 1932. For more than four decades, the home was utilized by the new owners to house various plantation personnel.

Southdown House gradually fell into a state of disrepair, but the Terrebonne Historical and Cultural Society, Inc. had the foresight to start a movement to save the great mansion. On July 31, 1975, that dream was realized when the owners donated the home, servant quarters, and four and a half acres of land to the society for the purpose of historical preservation, cultural activities, and a museum of arts and crafts of Terrebonne Parish.

Children of William John and Rebecca Ann:

i. John Minor b. 8 Aug 1831  Concordia, Natchez, Adams, Mississippi; d.  26 Jun 1869 New York City. Interred at Oakland Plantation. He was later reinterred in the Natchez City Cemetery;  m. 6  Mar 1855 at Cherry Grove,  her father’s plantation to Katherine “Kate” Surget (b. 27 Apr 1834 in Natchez, Adams, Mississippi – d. 17 Feb 1926)   Kate’s parents were James Surget Sr. and [__?__]

John  was privately educated until he entered the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1848. Although frequently ill at school, Minor completed his education and returned to Natchez in the early 1850s. He soon became involved in local equestrian life, including fox hunting and high-stakes racehorse gambling, and attending rounds of social gatherings such as dinner parties and fancy-dress balls. Minor also began a courtship with Kate Surget, . They were married at Surget’s plantation, Cherry Grove, on March 6, 1855.

The Minors had five children born between 1855 and 1868.    James Surget (1855-1864); Mary Grace (1858-ca. 1859); Katherine Surget (b. 1860); Duncan Gustine (b. 1862); and Jeanne Marie (b. 1868).

Following a severe bout of yellow fever, James Surget, Sr., died intestate on August 27, 1855. His children, James Surget, Jr., and Kate Surget Minor, divided the elder Surget’s estate, which was estimated at around three million dollars. Kate Surget Minor’s inheritance included Carthage Plantation (2,095 acres) in Adams County and Palo Alto Plantation (2,560 acres) in Concordia Parish, as well as hundreds of slaves and considerable agricultural stores and livestock.

At the time of John Minor’s marriage to Kate Surget Minor, his father gave him $10,000 for the purchase of Oakland, an estate near Natchez. His wife supplied an additional $5,000 to complete the purchase of this property in 1857.

Today, Oakland Plantation is a hotel at 1124 Lower, Woodville Rd. Natchez, MS.  They say  ~1785. Andrew Jackson courted his future wife, Rachel Robards, at this gracious 18th-century home.  The guest rooms are located in the old servants’ quarters building, just steps from the main house. This working cattle plantation includes fishing ponds, a tennis court and canoeing. Rooms are filled with antiques, and the innkeepers provide guests with a tour of the main home and plantation. They also will arrange tours of Natchez.

Oakland Guest Room

Kate Surget Minor also acquired Wannacutt Plantation (1,217 acres) in Concordia Parish in 1857. The deed to this plantation was recorded in the name of John Minor, and the income from it was apparently intended for his personal use. John Minor acquired no additional real property with his own funds during the course of his fourteen-year marriage to Kate Surget Minor.

Although the Minors shared the burden of plantation management during the early years of their marriage, it became increasingly necessary for Kate Surget Minor to shoulder more of this responsibility on the eve of the Civil War. In her role as plantation mistress, Kate Surget Minor was also responsible for supervising many aspects of domestic life at Oakland and on the working plantations.

As the threat of secession and war became imminent, John Minor enlisted as a first lieutenant in the Adams Troop, a local cavalry company organized by attorney William T. Martin in 1860. Its recruits were mainly from wealthy families in Adams County. The cavalry company was intended to counter potential lawlessness in the county. However, when Mississippi ratified the Confederate constitution in March of 1861, the Adams Troop also began to prepare for war. When war came in April of 1861, John Minor resigned his commission and publicly declared his support for the Union.

Fearing forced conscription in the Confederate army, John Minor eventually paid a man $5,000 to serve in his place. His decision to support the Union cause would also have social and economic consequences that would adversely affect his family during and after the war. Many of Minor’s friends and acquaintances considered his behavior to be dishonorable and therefore openly censured him. His wife was also spurned by many of her friends and acquaintances, including her best friend, Margaret Conner Martin. The Minors further alienated themselves by entertaining Union officers at Oakland after Natchez was occupied in July of 1863.

The Unionist sympathies of the Minors initially made them more vulnerable to the expropriation of cotton, horses, livestock, stores, and supplies on their Louisiana and Mississippi plantations by Confederate officers. However, their Unionist position would not shield them from later expropriations by Union officers, which were far more severe in terms of economic loss. Emancipated slaves and itinerant whites later plundered what the Confederate and Union armies failed to take.

The Minors survived the Civil War with their plantation holdings essentially intact. They soon applied for pardons from President Andrew Johnson in 1865, since amnesty ensured that they would have full control over the management of their plantations. The Minors gradually adjusted to a wage-based labor system supervised by the Freedmen’s Bureau, which approved labor contracts between planters and black workers. It was necessary to mortgage Carthage and Palo Alto plantations in order to raise sufficient capital to rebuild, make necessary repairs, pay wages, and harvest a marketable cotton crop. It was also necessary to sell the heavily mortgaged Wannacutt Plantation to the Louisiana State Bank. Declining cotton prices, family illness, flooding, insect damage, labor problems, and yellow-fever epidemics often confounded the Minors’ attempts to produce a successful cotton crop during Reconstruction.

The health of John Minor worsened in the late spring of 1869. Hoping to recover, he traveled to New York for the summer. However, a short time after arriving at his New York hotel, he sustained a serious head injury in a fall. Minor died the following day on June 26, 1869. Survived by his wife, Kate, and three young children, Katherine Surget, Duncan Gustine, and Jeanne Marie, John Minor was interred at Oakland. He was later reinterred in the Natchez City Cemetery.

The finances of Kate Surget Minor began to improve toward the end of Reconstruction. After the 1869 death of wealthy uncle Jacob Surget, she inherited several plantations jointly with her brother, James Surget, Jr., and $26,000 in securities. Kate Surget Minor and her brother also formed a partnership to administer their properties, which lasted until the death of James Surget, Jr., on May 1, 1920. During the post-war years, revenue from her plantation holdings was primarily generated from annual leasing or sharecropping agreements with tenants. Initially, James Surget, Jr., assisted her in the management of the jointly held plantations, but in later years her son, Duncan Gustine Minor, would assume full responsibility for the management of her properties.

Kate Surget Minor filed a petition with the Southern Claims Commission in the summer of 1871. The mandate of this commission, which was created by Congress in March of 1871, was to determine the validity of monetary claims of loyal southern Unionists whose property had been confiscated by the Union army during the Civil War. Her claim for losses on Carthage and Palo Alto plantations totaled $64,155. However, after nearly a decade of litigation, the commission disallowed the majority of her claim and awarded only $13,072.

Kate Surget Minor had regained much of her former wealth and status by the 1880s. At the time of her death on February 17, 1926, she owned the estate, Oakland; Blackburn, Carthage, Magnolia Place, and Palo Alto plantations; and a half-interest in Brighton Woods, Cole Hill, Fatherland, Hunters Hall, Hurricane, Jane Surget White, and Mount Hope plantations, which were jointly held with her brother, James Surget, Jr. Kate Surget Minor died intestate, and her estate was equally divided among her three surviving children. Duncan Gustine Minor served as administrator of the estate. However, litigation among the three heirs delayed the final settlement of the estate until 1941.

Katherine (Tassie) Surget Minor married Frederick Schuchardt, a grandson of the Leveriches, at a lavish wedding and reception at Oakland in 1882. The Schuchardts had three children: Frederick, Jr., Katherine, and Mary Ann, and they lived in New York. Frederick Schuchardt, Sr., died in 1894, and Katherine Surget Minor Schuchardt died in 1934.

Duncan Gustine Minor continued to live at Oakland. He remained a bachelor but had a close relationship with Jennie Surget Merrill for many years, apparently in defiance of his disapproving family. Minor would later become linked to scandal when Merrill was murdered in the woods behind her home, Glenburnie, on August 4, 1932. The eccentric and impoverished Richard Dana and Octavia Dockery, who lived in squalor next door at Glenwood (Goat Castle), were initially implicated in the murder, which received considerable local and national press coverage of a highly sensational nature. However, a deceased black itinerant worker, George Pearls, was ultimately blamed for the murder, and Dana and Dockery were cleared of suspicion. Merrill bequeathed her entire estate to Duncan Gustine Minor. The legacy included Glenburnie, two plantations in Louisiana, and $250,000 in cash. Minor died at Glenburnie in 1939. His inheritance from Merrill reverted to the Merrill family, and the remainder of his estate was equally divided among Jeanne Marie Minor McDowell, Frederick Schuchardt, Jr., Katherine Schuchardt Robertson, and Mary Ann Schuchardt Scott.

Jeanne Marie Minor McDowell was married to Seaborn McDowell but had no children. Spending the majority of her life at Oakland, McDowell died there in 1949. Frederick Schuchardt, Jr., inherited her estate.

ii. Stephen Minor b. 18 Aug 1833 Natchez, Adams, Mississippi

iii. William Minor b. 31 Jul 1834 Natchez, Adams, Mississippi

iv. James Gustine Minor b. 31 Mar 1839 Natchez, Adams, Mississippi

v. Henry Chotard Minor b. 29 Sep 1841 Natchez, Adams, Mississippi; m. 1875 to Anna Butler

Henry  became an excellent sugar planter in Terrebonne Parish. In the years following Reconstruction, he superseded his father, William J. Minor, and the later correspondence is addressed to him as the head of the family. Henry  was a Congressional candidate in 1889.

vi. Duncan Minor b. 20 May 1844 Natchez, Adams, Mississippi

vii. Francis Octave Minor b. 30 May 1847 Natchez, Adams, Mississippi

viii. Katherine Lintot Minor b. 4 Dec 1849 Natchez, Adams, Mississippi

Sources:

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=6634379

Minor Family Papers - Mississippi Dept of Archives and Records

http://for-natchez.org/history.html

http://misspreservation.com/2010/05/04/lost-mississippi-concord-natchez-1789-1901/

http://www.concordiasentinel.com/news.php?id=4701

http://www.natchezcitycemetery.com/custom/webpage.cfm?content=Gallery&id=8

http://www.concordiasentinel.com/news.php?id=4701

William J. Minor and Family Papers -LSU Library

Kenner Family Papers – Louisiana State University Libraries

http://www.eastjeffersonparish.com/history/KENNER/EARLY/EARLY.HTM

Henry DILLINGHAM (1624 – 1705) was Alex’s 9th Great Grandfather; one of 1,024 in this generation of the Shaw line.

Dillingham – Coat of Arms

Henry Dillingham was born 13 Oct 1624 in Cottesbach, Leicestershire, England. His parents were  Edward DILLINGHAM and Ursula CARTER. Henry died 26 July 1705 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.

Hannah Perry was born in 1623 in Devonshire, England.  Her parents were Edmund PERRY and Sarah BETTS.  Hannah died 9 Jan 1672/73 Sandwich, Barnstable Co. Mass

Children of Henry and Hannah:

Henry was baptized at Cottesbach, Leicestershire, England on Oct 13, 1624. He was mentioned in his grandfather’s will of that year. He came to America in 1632 on the William Francis  to Boston with his father.  He removed with him from Lynn to Sandwich in 1637, where he passed the remainder of his life. His name first appears on the records in the list of men able to bear arms in 1643.

Both Henry and his sister Elizabeth , wife of John WING II early adopted the Quaker faith and suffered persecution in common with others of that sect. The trouble seems to have begun about 1656. In 1657 neither he nor his father appears on a list of those subscribing to support the minister.

Sandwich was the site of an early Quaker settlement. However, the settlement was not well-received, as their beliefs clashed with those of the Puritans who founded the town. Many Quakers left the town, either for further settlements along the Cape, or elsewhere.

7 June 1659 – Henry  was fines 50 shillings “for refusing to serve in the office of constable, being chosen by the town of Sandwich”In the same year he was again fined 2 pounds,10 shillings.

In 1659 he was fined 15 Shillings ” for refusing to aid the Marshall in the execution of his office” (relating to Quakers) and in the same year his wife was fined 10 shillings for being at a Quaker’s meeting.

Protesting the fines for being at a Quaker meeting.

He seems later to have modified his views, or possibly the authorities had grown more tolerant, as in 1666 he served a constable.

In 1654 he contributed to build the mill: in 1655 signed a petition to the minster of the church at Sandwich;in 1658 appears as a landowner;in 1662 took the oath of fidelity;in 1667,with his brother John, settled his father estate; in 1670 was on the Grand Jury;in 1675 appears on the list of “townsmen of Sandwich,and was “voted to become one of the council of War from that time”

15 Jul 1678 – He was on a list of those who had taken the oath of fidelity, and in 1681 is again on the list of “townsmen. In June 1689, he was admitted freeman. As it was necessary for this that he should have complied with all the civil and religions requirements,it indicates that he had made his peace with the authorities and also that the persecution of the Quakers had been modified or abandoned. Although he was certainly a Quaker, his name does not appear in the first volume of records of the Sandwich Monthly Meeting, covering the period from 1672-1755.
His name is found in the list of freeman of the town in 1701 and 1702.

It is believed that Henry is Buried in the Backyard of the home still standing in Sandwich Mass.  How ever he also could be buried close to his father, Edward, but the stone is no longer there.

Edward’s home is still in use in Sandwich, Mass as a B&B and it is said to be haunted!!! Lights go off and on and doors have been known to open and close when no one is around them….. According to the Sandwich Historical Society, the Dillinghams are still is watching over their beloved home.

Children

1. Mary DILLINGHAM (See John WING III‘s page)

2. John Dillingham

John’s wife Lydia Hatch was born 5 Dec 1669 in Scituate, Plymouth, Mass. Her parents were  eremiah Hatch (1626 - 1712) and  Mary Hewes (1633 - 1716). Lydia died 1710 in Scituate, Mass.

Alternatively, John’s wife was Sarah Bourne. Sarah was born 6 Jul 1681 in Scituate, Plymouth, Mass. Her parents were Shearjashub Bourne (1643 – 1718) and Bathsheba Skiff (1648 – 1714) Sarah died 7 Sep 1733 in Scituate.

Very little has been found in the public records about this John, reason unknown unless it is due to the fact that he was a Quaker. The public records do not give a date for his marriage or record his children, nor the orthodox church: the Quakers were not recorded.

John Dillingham was on the list of those who took the oath of fidelity in Sandwich, Jul 4, 1678. He was admitted townsman Jan 27, 1681.

Here Lyes buried the body of Mr John Dillingham who departed this life SEPth 11th Anno Domni 1746 in ye 83d year of his age

Children of John and Lydia:

i. John Dillingham b. 1695 Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.; d. 30 Jan 1763  Brewer, Barnstable, Mass; m. 7 Aug 1715  Scituate, Mass to  Jael Turner .   Jael’s parents were  Elisha Turner and Elizabeth Jacob.

ii. Jeremiah Dillingham b. 1696 Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.

iii. Melatiah Dillingham b. 1700 Hanover, Plymouth, Mass.

iv. Patience Dillingham b. 1701 Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.

v. Mary Dillingham b. 1702 Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.

vi. Edward Dillingham b. 1704 in Harwich, Mass,

3. Deborah Hannah Dillingham

Deborah’s husband Daniel Wing was born 28 Jan 1664 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass. His parents were Daniel Wing and Hannah Swift. His grandparents  Rev. John WINGE and Deborah BACHILER.  Daniel died Mar 1740 in Sandwich

Children of Deborah and Daniel:

i. Edward Wing b. 10 Jul 1687 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass; d. 1734 in Dartmouth, Bristol, Mass; m. 1 Jun 1717 Dartmouth to Sarah Tucker (b. 23 Apr 1693 Dartmouth – d. 2 May 1727 Dartmouth)

ii. Samuel Wing b. 12 Aug 1690 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass; d. 12 Feb 1732 in Sandwich

iii. Jemima Wing b. 14 Oct 1692 Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass

iv. Jeremiah Wing b. 6 Jan 1693/94 Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass

v. Daniel Wing b. 6 Oct 1695 Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass; d. 1759

vi. Dorcas Wing b. 6 Oct 1695 Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.; d. 22 Mar 1737 in Dartmouth, Bristol, Mass

vii. Rebecca Wing b. 1 Jul 1700 Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.; d. 1721 in Sandwich

viii. Zaccheus Wing b. 3 Apr 1703 Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.; d. 15 Mar 1784 in Sandwich

ix. Hannah Wing b. 29 Oct 1706 Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.; d. 3 Mar 1778 in Dartmouth, Plymouth, Mass

4. Dorcas Dillingham

Dorcas’ husband Ralph Earle was born 1664 in Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island. His parents were Ralph Earle Sr.  (1632 – 1716) and Dorcas Sprague (1632 – 1702) Ralph died 14 Apr 1718 in Dartmouth, Bristol, Mass.

Children of Dorcas and Ralph:

i. Deborah Earle b. 2 Sep 1693

ii. Barnabas Earle b. 3 Feb 1698 Dartmouth, Bristol, Mass.;

iii. Hannah Earle b. 21 Dec 1701 Dartmouth, Bristol, Mass.;

iv. Meribah Earl b. 29 Jan 1703 Dartmouth, Bristol, Mass.;

5. Edward Dillingham

Edward’s wife Abigail Nye was born 18 Apr 1678 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass. Her parents were John Nye (1644 – ) and Esther Shedd ( – 1724) Abigail died Jul 1720 in Sandwich.

Children of Edward and Abigail:

i. Hannah Dillingham b. 12 Jul 1696 Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.;

ii. Abigail Dillingham b. 26 Feb 1697 Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.;

iii. Simeon Dillingham b. 24 Sep 1700 Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.;

iv. Edward Dillingham b. 12 Mar 1704 Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.;

v. Mary Dillingham b. 22 Oct 1705 Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.;

vi. Experience Dillingham b. 9 Mar 1707 Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.;

vii. John Dillingham b. 14 Nov 1710 Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.;

viii. Deborah Dillingham b. 7 Jun 1716  Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.;

Sources:

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/6651184/person/8383721?ssrc=

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=1006629

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=1007092

(Under Construction)

Most genealogies say Ensign John DAVIS (1621 – 1686) was killed at the Oyster River Massacre,  he actually died a few years earlier, but the actual toll to his family is bad enough; daughter Sarah, son John Jr, daughter-in-law Elizabeth, grandson James and grandson Samuel all killed, two to four grandchildren carried off to Canada, one to live for fifty years as a French nun. Another son and grandson were killed by Indians in 1720 and 1724.

Yesterday, I found out that one of his granddaughters, Mary Smith, later married Thomas Freeman Jr, , son of another ancestor in a different region of New England Deacon Thomas FREEMAN (1653 – 1716) of Cape Cod.  Did Mary escape or was she captured and taken to Canada?   How did she get the 150 miles from New Hampshire to Harwich?   Was it a massacre or act of war?  I decided to make this post to share what I found out.

Navigate this Report
1. Overview
2. French Perspective
3. Indian Perspective
4. English Perspective
5. Family Perspective
6. Aftermath

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1. Overview

The Oyster River Massacre (also known as the Raid on Oyster River)  happened during King William’s War, on July 18, 1694 at present-day Durham, New Hampshire.

2. French Perspective

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3. Indian Perspective

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4. English Perspective

Jeremy Belknap, The History of New Hampshire, ed. John Farmer (Dover, N.H.: S.C. Stevens and Ela & Wadleigh, 1831)

The towns of Dover and Exeter being more exposed than Portsmouth or Hampton, suffered the greatest share in the common calamity.

The engagements made by the Indians in the treaty of Pemaquid, might have been performed if they had been left to their own choice. But the French missionaries had been for some years very assiduous in propagating their tenets among them, one of which was ‘ that to break faith with heretics was no sin.’ The Sieur de Villieu, who had distinguished himself in the defence of Quebec when Phips was before it, and had contracted a strong antipathy to the New-Englanders, being then in command at Penobscot, he with M. Thury, the missionary, diverted Madokawando and the other Sachems from complying with their engagements; so that pretences were found for detaining the English captives, who were more in number, and of more consequence than the hostages whom the Indians had given.

The settlement at Oyster river, within the town of Dover, was pitched upon as the most likely place; and it is said that the design of surprising it was publicly talked of at Quebec two months before it was put in execution.

Rumors of Indians lurking in the woods thereabout made some of the people apprehend danger; but no mischief being attempted, they imagined them to be hunting parties, and returned to their security. At length, the necessary preparations being made, Villieu, with a body of two hundred and fifty Indians, collected from the tribes of St. John, Penobscot and Norridgewog, attended by a French Priest, marched for the devoted place.

The enemy approached the place undiscovered, and halted near the falls on Tuesday evening, the seventeenth of July. Here they formed two divisions, one of which was to go on each side of the river and plant themselves in ambush, in small parties, near every house, so as to be ready for the attack at the rising of the sun; and the first gun was to be the signal.

John Dean, whose house stood by the saw-mill at the falls, intending to go from home very early, arose before the dawn of day, and was shot as he came out of his door. This firing, in part, disconcerted their plan; several parties who had some distance to go, had not then arrived at their stations; the people in general were immediately alarmed, some of them had time to make their escape, and others to prepare for their defence. The signal being given, the attack began in all parts where the enemy was ready.

Of the twelve garrisoned houses five were destroyed, viz. Adams’s, Drew’s, Edgerly’s Medar’s and Beard’s. They entered Adams’s without resistance, where they killed fourteen persons ; one of them, being a woman with child, they ripped open. The grave is still to be seen in which they were all buried. Drew surrendered his garrison on the promise of security, but was murdered when he fell into their hands. One of his children, a boy of nine years old, was made to run through a lane of Indians as a mark for them to throw their hatchets at, till they had dispatched him. Edgerly’s was evacuated. The people took to their boat, and one of them was mortally wounded before they got out of reach of the enemy’s shot. Beard’s and Medar’s were also evacuated and the people escaped.

The defenceless houses were nearly all set on fire, the inhabitants being either lulled or taken in them, or else in endeavoring to fly to the garrisons. Some escaped by hiding in the bushes and other secret places. Thomas Edgerly, by concealing himself in his cellar, preserved his house, though twice set on fire. The house of John Buss, the minister, was destroyed, with a valuable library. He was absent; his wife and family fled to the woods and escaped. The wife of John Dean, at whom the first gun was fired, was taken with her daughter, and carried about two miles up the river, where they were left under the care of an old Indian, while the others returned to their bloody work. The Indian complained of a pain in his head, and asked the woman what would be a proper remedy : she answered, occapee, which is the Indian word for rum, of which she knew he had taken a bottle from her house. The remedy being agreeable, he took a large dose and fell asleep ; and she took that opportunity to make her escape, with her child, into the woods, and kept herself concealed till they were gone.

The other seven garrisons, viz. Burnham’s, Bickford’s, Smith’s, Bunker’s, Davis’s, Jones’s and Woodman’s were resolutely and successfully defended. At Burnham’s, the gate was left open : The Indians, ten in number, who were appointed to surprise it, were asleep under the bank of the river, at the time that the alarm was given. A man within, who had been kept awake by the toothache, hearing the first gun, roused the people and secured the gate, just as the Indians, who were awakened by the same noise, were entering. Finding themselves disappointed, they ran to Pitman’s defenceless house, and forced the door at the moment, that he had burst a way through that end of the house which was next to the garrison, to which he with his family, taking advantage of the shade of some trees, it being moonlight, happily escaped.

Still defeated, they attacked the house of John Davis, which after some resistance, he surrendered on terms; but the terms were violated, and the whole family was either killed or made captives.

Thomas Bickford preserved his house in a singular manner. It was situated near the river, and surrounded with a palisade. Being alarmed before the enemy had reached the house, he sent off his family in a boat, and then shutting his gate, betook himself alone to the defense of his fortress. Despising alike the promises and threats by which the Indians would have persuaded him to surrender, he kept up a constant fire at them, changing his dress as often as he could, shewing himself with a different cap, hat or coat, and sometimes without either, and giving directions aloud as if he had a number of men with him. Finding their attempt vain, the enemy withdrew, and left him sole master of the house, which he had defended with such admirable address.

Smith’s, Bunker’s and Davis’s garrisons, being seasonably apprised of the danger, were resolutely defended. One Indian was supposed to be killed and another wounded by a shot from Davis’s. Jones’s garrison was beset before day; Captain Jones hearing his dogs bark, and imagining wolves might be near, went out to secure some swine and returned unmolested. He then went up into the flankart and sat on the wall. Discerning the flash of a gun, he dropped backward; the ball entered the place from whence he had withdrawn his legs. The enemy from behind a rock kept firing on the house for some time, and then quitted it. During these transactions, the French priest took possession of the meeting-house, and employed himself in writing on the pulpit with chalk; but the house received no damage.

Those parties of the enemy who were on the south side of the river having completed their destructive work, collected in a field adjoining to Burnham’s garrison, where they insultingly showed their prisoners, and derided the people, thinking themselves out of reach of their shot. A young man from the sentry-box fired at one who was making some indecent signs of defiance, and wounded him in the heel: Him they placed on a horse and carried away. Both divisions then met at the falls, where they had parted the evening before, and proceeded together to Capt. Woodman’s garrison. The ground being uneven, they approached without danger, and from behind a hill kept up a long and severe fire at the hats and caps which the people within held up on sticks above the walls, without any other damage than galling the roof of the house.

At length, apprehending it was time for the people in the neighboring settlements to be collected in pursuit of them, they finally withdrew; having killed and captivated between ninety and an hundred persons, and burned about twenty houses, of which five were garrisons. The main body of them retreated over Winnipiseogee lake, where they divided their prisoners separating those in particular who were most intimately related.

5. Family Perspective

In the days of the French and Indian Wars, the  town of Durham,  today home to the University of New Hampshire, was called Oyster River. The scattered farmhouses were guarded by six or eight garrison houses. Nothing lay between the settlements and Quebec, but the unbroken wilderness known only to the Indians, the fur traders and the marauding war parties which were sent out against each other by Catholic Canada and Protestant New England.

In 1693 the English at Boston had entered into peace and trade negotiations with the Abenaki tribes in eastern Massachusetts.  Governor General Frontenac  of New France wished to disrupt the negotiations and sent Claude-Sébastien de Villieu in the fall of 1693 into present-day Maine, with orders to “place himself at the head of the Acadian Indians and lead them against the English.” Villieu spent the winter at Fort Nashwaak. The Indian bands of the region were in general disagreement whether to attack the English or not, but after discussions by Villieu and cajoling by the Indians’ priest Fr. Thury (and with support from Fr. Bigot), they went on the offensive.

Mary Smith lived at the Inn which was kept by her father James Smith and her mother Sarah Davis in Oyster River N.H.  The people lived in constant terror of attack. Mary’s father was killed by the Indians, and Mary’s mother took her five children and moved into the garrison house near by with her brother Ensign John Davis.

July 18, 1694 some 200 Indians led by 20 French Canadians and 2 Catholic Priests burst, without warning, on the sleeping village.  The garrison house of Ensign Davis, Mary’s Uncle, was quickly surrounded. One of the French leaders and a Catholic priest promised safety for him and his household if he surrendered. He took them at their word, realizing all too well, that alone he could not hold out long. The instant he unbolted the door, he was rushed upon by the Indians, tomahawked and scalped, together with is wife and two of their children while the two older girls were seized as captives. When Mary’s mother saw what was happening, she  shouted for her  children to run for their lives out the back door. Somehow, Mary, her sister Sarah, and brother John made their escape and hid in the woods.  Mary’s brothers James and Samuel were not so lucky.

Twenty-eight of Mary’s closest relatives met death that morning.  In all, 104 inhabitants were killed and 27 taken captive,  with half the dwellings, including the garrisons, pillaged and burned to the ground. But Mary was not to be taken captive. In a few days Captain Tom Freeman from Cape Cod was heading his lumber schooner in toward Oyster River for a load of sawn boards. He found several frightened, bewildered people who told him of the massacre. He loaded no lumber that trip but began to search along the bank and in the woods for all those he could possibly save.

Among this group was our ancestor Mary Smith. She was taken to Tom Freeman’s father’s home which was in Harwich, Mass. Mary was reared and educated by those fine people and when she grew up she married the youthful sea captain who had rescued her – Captain John Freeman _ Mary Smith Freeman.
From the family Bible – we read in Mary’s own precise handwriting –
Mary Smith born May 24, 1685
Md
Tom Freeman November 13, 1707
In a short ten years her husband was dead and she a widow at thirty-three with four little children. The final line of the record reads – My husband Thomas Freeman deceased March 22, 1718.

6. Aftermath

xxx

Sources:

 The History of New Hampshire, by Jeremy Belknap,  ed. John Farmer Dover, N.H.: S.C. Stevens and Ela & Wadleigh, 1831

http://massandmoregenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/08/mary-smith-freeman-1685-1766-oyster.html

http://www.unh.edu/users/unh/acad/libarts/cnec/exhibit1/oysterriver.html

Overviews

Steve Condarcure’s New England Genealogy Index - The purpose of these pages is to help beginners gather raw data for their genealogy project.  This database does NOT have any sources on the names here.  Steve guesses that 98% of the information here is accurate, but there is some that he has put here with the idea that questionable data is better than nothing.

http://newenglandgenealogy.pcplayground.com/

Ancestry.com

Great Migration Begins: Biographies of immigrants to New England, 1620-33

Gravestones

http://www.capecodgravestones.com/index.html -

Gravestone Records from the 15 Towns of Cape Cod  A major goal is to photograph and display the most interesting old gravestones in Barnstable County before they are lost to the ravages of time. A related goal is to provide reasonably complete gravestone records from the earliest in 1683 up to 1900 for all Barnstable County cemeteries. The web site is complete to 1880 for most cemeteries and many cemeteries are complete to 1900. Work continues for the time period 1880 – 1900.

http://www.findagrave.com/

People

Since the earliest days of settlement, the town clerk of the community has been responsible for vital records. He or she is usually the best person to approach for advice about how to access the records.

GenForum -  Genealogy Message Board organized by surname

PlymouthColony.net –  holds a variety of resources for those whose research involves families of New Plymouth Colony (1620-1685) and the Massachusetts counties that sprang from it – Plymouth, Barnstable and Bristol. That includes sites for Plymouth and Barnstable Counties, twenty-eight sites for cities and towns in the Old Colony, and one for Town Records of Barnstable County.  It also hosts three sites for towns in other Massachusetts counties, a set of forums for online genealogical and historical discussions, and four sites holding other genealogical resources

RootsWeb.com  -  Resources to connect people so that they can help each other and share genealogical research.

USGenWeb Project - A group of volunteers working together to provide free genealogy websites for genealogical research in every county and every state of the United States. This Project is non-commercial and fully committed to free genealogy access for everyone.

Organization is by county and state, and this website provides you with links to all the state genealogy websites which, in turn, provide gateways to the counties. The USGenWeb Project also sponsors important Special Projects at the national level and this website provides an entry point to all of those pages, as well.

World Connect Project –  The WorldConnect Project is a set of tools, which allow users to upload, modify, link, and display their family trees as a means to share their genealogy with other researchers.  More than 640 million names on file

English Ancestors

Medieval source material on the internet: Heralds’ Visitations and the College of Arms -

At first sight, the heralds’ visitations are an ideal source of information for the medieval genealogist. The visitations produced a collection of pedigrees of families with the right to bear arms, recorded between the early 16th and the late 17th century, but in many cases extending much further back. Though they are indeed a valuable source, they must be used with great care, and confirmed from contemporary records wherever possible.

From the early 16th century to the late 17th century the heralds carried out visitations, county by county, in order to regulate the use of arms. Most counties were visited several times during this period. Those who were allowed arms had them recorded, including the quarterings to which they were entitled. Most importantly to the genealogist, supporting pedigrees were recorded. These could include, in addition to the main line of descent, offshoots giving the ancestry of wives who were heraldic heirs, in order to illustrate the route by which the quartered arms had been acquired. In these pedigrees, dates are given only occasionally, and presumably reflect the dates of documents which mention the people concerned. Often the ages of those in the final generation are given, which can allow the chronology of the later part of the pedigree to be estimated.

Sometimes the heralds also recorded some of the evidence on which the pedigree was based, such as transcripts of medieval charters, drawings of seals, coats of arms copied from churches or private houses and so on. Other information may also have been recorded at visitations, such as lists of those using arms to which they could not prove any right. This may sound too good to be true and sadly, in many cases, it is not true. While some of the heralds were pioneers in the systematic application of record evidence to genealogy, others were far less skilful and far less scrupulous.

Edmund HAWES Sr. (1567 – 1653)  was Alex’s 11th Great Grandfather; one of 4,096 in this generation of the Shaw line.

I found it! Hayes of Little Leigh — Arms: Sable, a chevron Argent between three leopards’ faces Or (Harl 1424)
(In Harl 1505 the leopards’ faces are Argent)

Edmond Hawes was born in 1567 in Hillfield Solihull, Warwickshire, England. His parents were William HAWES and Ursula COLLES. He married Jane PORTER 1599 in Bayham, Sussex, England. Edmund died 1653 in Solihull, Warwickshire, England.

Edmund Hawes Sr Signature

Jane Porter was born 1582 in Bayham, Sussex, England. Her parents were Richard PORTER and Jane WHITFIELD Jane died 1643 in Solihull, Warwickshire, England

Edmund was baptized in St. Alphege Church, Solihull

St. Alphege Church is medieval. The previous spire was 59m and collapsed in 1757: the current spire is 57.34m The Church, dedicated to St. Alphege, is a large cruciform structure. The tracery mouldings and corbels in the interior are extremely elegant; there are also some fine specimens of screen work: it consists of nave, chancel, side aisles, and an embattled tower, surmounted by an octagonal spire, and contains a peal of thirteen good bells.

Children of Edmund and Jane:

Jane Porter’s Ancestors

Jane’s 3rd great grandfather 1 William PORTER was of Markham, Nottingham

Jane’s 2nd great grandfather 2. Stephen PORTER lived in Sussex

Jane’s great grandfather 3. Richard PORTER m. Joane, daughter of John WILDEGOSE

Jane’s grandfather 4. John PORTER ( – 1574) of Bayham in Sussex married Anne, daughter of Richard ISTED, of Moat House in Mayfield, Sussex.

Jane’s father 5. Richard PORTER ( – 1584) m. Jane, daughter of Robert WHITFIELD of Wadhurst in Sussex.  Richard had ironworks

Edmund Hawes Sr.

Edmund Hawes Sr Bio – From Edmond Hawes of Yarmouth, Massachusett 1914

Children of Edmund and Jane:

Hawes English Origins

The Hawes family in Solihull goes back 700 years to a  1313 deed in which Robert Hawes agrees with his brother Richard to dig, enclose and maintain two hedges and ditches for the manner of Solihull and in which mention is made of land which Richard had bought of Dame Ela de Odingsells, widow of Sir. William de Odingsells, Lord of the Manor

Sir William de Odingsells was knighted in 1283. Like his father he was an active soldier, He was Sheriff of Shropshire and achieved the high position of Chief Justiciar of Ireland.

He married Ela, daughter of the Earl of Salisbury and great grand-daughter of Henry II.
The extensions which he made to his moated home, set within the medieval park, witnessed to his rank and status. So too did his great scheme to rebuild St Alphege church. First to be built c. 1277 were the fine chancel and the chantry chapels but progress was interrupted by Sir William’s death in 1295. The manor was sold and the rebuilding continued slowly, not reaching its completion until 1535.

Metropolitan Borough of Solihull

Solihull  is a town in the West Midlands of England with a population of 94,753.  It is a part of the West Midlands conurbation and is located 9 miles  southeast of Birmingham city centre. It is the largest town in, and administrative centre of, the larger Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, which itself has a population of 200,400.

Richard Hammond - Top Gear presenter and radio personality was born in Solihull.

Historically part of Warwickshire, Solihull is one of the most prosperous towns in the English Midlands.  Residents of Solihull and those born in the town are referred to as Silhillians The motto of Solihull is Urbs in Rure (Town in Country)

Solihull’s name is commonly thought to have derived from the position of its parish church, St Alphege, on a ‘soily’ hill. The church was built on a hill of stiff red marl, which turned to sticky mud in wet weather.

Solihull probably came into being about a thousand years ago, as a clearing in the forest to which people would come to trade.  The town is noted for its historic architecture, which includes surviving examples of timber framed Tudor style houses and shops. The historic Solihull School dates from 1560 (although not on its present site). The red sandstone parish church of St. Alphege dates from a similar period and is a large and handsome example of English Gothic church architecture, with a traditional spire 168 feet high, making it visible from a great distance.   It was founded in about 1220 by Hugh de Oddingsell. A chantry chapel was also founded there by Sir William de Oddingsell in 1277 and the upper chapel in St Alphege was built for a chantry.

For the biographies of  Edmund’s grandparents (7. Thomas Hawes & Elizabeth Brome), and  parents (8. William Hawes & Ursula Colles) see the page of Edmund’s father  William HAWES.
Sources:

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=12758811&st=1

Edmond Hawes of Yarmouth, Massachusetts: an emigrant to America in 1635, his ancestors, including the allied families of Brome, Colles, Greswold, Porter, Rody, Shirley and Whitfield; and some of his descendants  By James William Hawes  1914   –
A genealogy of this  immigrant and his descendants, with extensive information on the English origin, including the apprenticeship in London, and with full transcripts of many important documents

William HAWES (1531 – 1611)  was Alex’s 12th Great Grandfather; one of 8,192 in this generation of the Shaw line.

I found it! Hayes of Little Leigh — Arms: Sable, a chevron Argent between three leopards’ faces Or (Harl 1424)
(In Harl 1505 the leopards’ faces are Argent)

William Hawes was born 1531 in Solehull, Warwickshire, England.  His parents were Thomas HAWES   and Elizabeth BROME.  He married Ursula COLLES in 1562 in Leigh, Worcester, England. William died 29 Oct 1611 Solihull.

Copy of William Hawes Brass from a copy in the Solihull library that was easier to read, primarily because we could get closer to it!

Ursula Colles was born 1545 in Leigh, Worcestershire, England. Her parents were William COLLES (b. 1500 Leigh – d. 1558 Leigh) and Margaret HITCH (b.1505 in Leigh – d. 1511 in Leigh) Ursula died 26 Oct 1611 in Solihull, Warwickshire, England

Edmund was baptized in St. Alphege Church, Solihull

St. Alphege Church is medieval. The previous spire was 59m and collapsed in 1757: the current spire is 57.34m The Church, dedicated to St. Alphege, is a large cruciform structure. The tracery mouldings and corbels in the interior are extremely elegant; there are also some fine specimens of screen work: it consists of nave, chancel, side aisles, and an embattled tower, surmounted by an octagonal spire, and contains a peal of thirteen good bells.

Children of William and Ursula Given in Order of the Visitation of Warwickshire:

Hillfield Hall was built for William and Ursula Hawes in 1576. It remained in the family until the 1660s, at which time it was owned first by the Feildings, and later by the Greswolds.

More recently, it became a nightclub (1964) and then a restaurant (1974), and now it has been converted into apartments. The main house was divided into 3 units with a total asking price of 2 million pounds. To the left, with a side entrance, is The Tower.

Above the main doorway remains the Latin inscription Hic Hospites in Caelo Cives (Here we are guests, in Heaven citizens), along with the initials of William and Ursula Hawes, and 1576.

Perpendicular to the main house, these existing buildings were also converted into 3 residences. Back when the house was a restaurant, at least some of this property was a bar called The Stable, so you can probably guess its original use.

New housing was built on the rest of the land, for a grand total of 19 units. It would be fun to live there now, but it would be even more exciting to go back in time and see Hillfield Hall in 1576!

William HAWES

Hillfield Hall in 1904

The present house was built by William Hawes in 1576 and descended through the Hawes Family to the Fieldings and then the Greswoldes.  The south front of the Hall was destroyed by fire in 1867 but was rebuilt.  The Hall became a restaurant in 1974 and was recently converted into three apartments.

Hillfield Hall

Hillfield Hall 1911

Martydom of St Thomas Becket, Solihull

St Alphege Church – Between the north porch (right) and the north transept (left), you can see 2 nave windows. The one on the left looks into St Thomas a Becket’s Chapel (below). This used to be the location of the Hawes’ family pew. It was not the ideal place to view a service – the stained glass panel on the right was formerly a small opening through which to look. However, it was the ideal place – in front of all the other pews – to emphasize your wealth and status.

Above the stained glass panel is a Jacobean monument containing a brass, dated 1610, to William and Ursula Hawes. It was restored in the 1990s by American relatives.

Copy of William Hawes Ursual Colles Brass from the Solihull library. The Hawes’ coat of arms is on the left, and the Colles’ coat of arms is on the right.

William Hawes Will

Ursula Colles’ Ancestors 

Ursula’a great grandfather 1. Richard COLLES( – 1440) of Powick m.  Margaret, daughter of Thomas HALL, Esq. of Suckley

Ursula’s grandfather 2.  William COLLES of Bransford in Leigh m1. Isabell, duaghter of Richard TUBERVILLE; m2. Alice, daughter of William Romney

Ursula’s father 3. William COLLES (1500 Leigh – 1558 Leigh) m, Margaret HITCH (b.1505 in Leigh – d. 1511 in Leigh) sister and co-heiress of John Hitch of Gloustershire.

Ursual (Coles) Hawes Will

Children Given in Order of the Visitation of Warwickshire

1. Thomas Hawes

Died without issue before his father

2. William Hawes

Died without issue before his father

3. Edmund HAWES Sr. (See his page)

5. Elizabeth Hawes

Elizabeth’s husband William Sheldon was born in Bromsgrove, Warwickshire

6. Ursula Hawes

Ursula’s husband Raphael Hunt was born in Stoke Green, Hambury Parish, Warwickshire

7. Constance Hawes

Constance’s husband George Dalby was born in Milcombe, Boxham Parish, Oxford

Sources:

Edmond Hawes of Yarmouth, Massachusetts: an emigrant to America in 1635, his ancestors, including the allied families of Brome, Colles, Greswold, Porter, Rody, Shirley and Whitfield; and some of his descendants  By James William Hawes  1914   –
A genealogy of this  immigrant and his descendants, with extensive information on the English origin, including the apprenticeship in London, and with full transcripts of many important documents

http://londonbink.blogspot.com/2008/06/hillfield-hall.html

http://www.dickcoveney.us/Chris’%20Ancestry/Chris’%20Ancestry-p/p84.htm#i1969

Thomas HAWES Sr (1500 – 1574)  was Alex’s 13th Great Grandfather in the Shaw line.

I found it! Hayes of Little Leigh — Arms: Sable, a chevron Argent between three leopards’ faces Or (Harl 1424)
(In Harl 1505 the leopards’ faces are Argent)

Thomas Hawes was born about 1500 Solihull, Warwickshire.  His parents were  Thomas HAWES (b. ~1450) and Ann GREANWOLD or Johanna RENSFORD.   He married Elizabeth BROME in 1527 in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England.  Thomas died 1574 in Solihull.

Thomas Hawes Pedigree (Browne is a 19th C error, should be Brome)

Elizabeth Brome was born  1501 in Baddesley Clinton, Warwickshire.  Her parents were Nicholas BROME ( ~ 1450  at Baddesley Clinton, Warwick – 1516).  and  Katherine LAMPECK  ( –  aft. 1508)  Nicholas’ parents were  He was the son of Lord John Brome and Beatrix Shirley.  Elizabeth died 1566 in Baddesley Clinton.

Children of Thomas and Elizabeth

Baddesley Clinton Manor  - Map

Baddesley Clinton Manor (Wiki) was Elizabeth Brome’s childhood home.   It is a moated manor house, located just north of the historic town of Warwick; the house was probably established in the 13th century when large areas of the Forest of Arden were cleared and eventually converted to farmland. The site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and the Hall is a Grade I listed building.

Baddesley Clinton

In 1438,  Elizabeth’s grandfather John Brome, the Under-Treasurer of England, bought the manor. It then passed to Elizabeth’s father Nicholas, who is thought to have built the east range, which is the main entrance. Nicholas is also responsible for the extensive rebuilding of the nearby parish church dedicated to St. Michael, done as penance for killing the parish priest, a murder reputed to have taken place in the great house itself.

The house from this period was equipped with gun-ports, and possibly a drawbridge. When Nicholas Brome died in 1517, the house passed to Elizabeth’s sister, who married Sir Edward Ferrers (High Sheriff of Warwickshire) in 1500. The house remained in the ownership of the Ferrers family until 1940 when it was purchased by Thomas Walker, a relative of the family who changed his name to Ferrers. His son, who inherited it in 1970, sold the estate in 1980 to the National Trust, who now manage it.

Elizabeth’s great nephew Henry Ferrers (Wiki) ”The Antiquary” (1549–1633) made many additions to Baddesley Clinton, including starting the tradition of stained glass representing the family’s coat of arms. Such glass now appears in many of the public rooms in the house. It is thought that he was responsible for building the great hall. In the 18th century the great hall was rebuilt in brick, and the east range was extended, though with great care to continue the style of the original building.

Baddesley Clinton Stained Glass

The house was inhabited in the 1860s by the novelists Lady Chatterton (1806-1876) and her second husband Edward Heneage Dering(b. 1827), both of whom converted to Catholicism. The house’s Catholic chapel was rebuilt, along with a general refurbishment of the house. Major interior changes took place up until the 1940s, with the first floor outside the chapel being completely altered.

Baddesley Clinton Plan

The Great Irish Famine in 1845–1851 deprived Laday Chatterton’s first husband of his rents. They retired to a small house at Bloxworth, Dorset, until 1852, when they moved to Rolls Park, Essex. and Sir William died there on 5 Aug 1855. On 1 Jun 1859 the widow married a fellow novelist Edward Heneage Dering, youngest son of John Dering, rector of Pluckley, Kent, and prebendary of St Paul’s Cathedral, who had retired from the army in 1851.  They took up residence in Baddesley Clinton Hall, where Dering took to wearing 17th-century costume. Twenty years her junior, he was the author of the novels Lethelier and A Great Sensation (1862). Within six years of their marriage Dering entered the Roman Catholic Church. She herself wavered, but after a correspondence with William Bernard Ullathorne, bishop of Birmingham, she also converted in August 1875.

The house as it now exists has extensive formal gardens and ponds, with many of the farm buildings dating back to the 18th century. St. Michael’s church, which shares much history with the house is just a few hundred yards up a lane. Inside the house are a beautiful great hall, parlor and library, among other rooms, and there is a great deal of 16th century carving and furniture,  as well as the 19th century accessories the later inhabitants used.

The Ferrers remained Catholic Recusants after the Reformation, along with many other members of the Warwickshire gentry. They sheltered Catholic priests, who were under the threat of a death sentence if discovered, and made special provision to hide and protect them. Several priest holes were built, secret passages to hide people in the event of a search. One hole is off the Moat Room, and is simply a small room with a door hidden in the wood paneling. A second leads into the ceiling, and though not visible to visitors, is reputed to hold six people. A third is hidden in an old toilet. Fugitives could slide down a rope from the first floor through the old garderobe shaft into the house’s former sewers, which run the length of the building, and could thus probably hold at least a dozen people.

These priest holes are said to have been built by Saint Nicholas Owen, a lay-brother of the Jesuits who made many masterful hides, notably at nearby Harvington Hall. He was eventually caught and tortured to death by the Protestant English government. The hides came into use at least once, in 1591 when a conference of Jesuit priests was raided by local authorities. They did their job, as no-one was caught.

Thomas Hawes

Thomas Hawes Bio – From Edmond Hawes of Yarmouth, Massachusetts 1914

Will of Elizabeth’s brother Rauffe Brome

Will of Thomas Hawes

Thomas Hawes Inventory

Children

1. Willliam HAWES (See his page)

2. Constance Hawes

Constance’s husband Thomas Shepherd was born 1515 in Stewkley, Buckinghamshire, England.    Thomas died 1563 in Hockliffe, Bedfordshire, England

Children of Constance and William

i. William Shepherd b. 1546 in Hockliffe, Bedfordshire, England’; d. 4 May 1623 Great Rollright, Oxfordshire, England; m. Ann Moore  (b. Whitechurch)  William and Anne had seven children

ii.  Thomas Shepherd b. 1557 in Normand-On-Soar, Nottinghamshire, England; d. 17 Dec 1607 Maulden, Bedfordshire, England

3. Elizabeth Hawes

Elizabeth’s husband Thomas Jackson

Children of Elizabeth and Thomas

i. Thomas Jackson

ii. Others

4. Margaret Hawes

Margaret’s husband Walter Chamber

5. Daughter Hawes

She and [__?__] Hatley had issue

Sources:

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=12697900&st=1

http://www.dickcoveney.us/Chris’%20Ancestry/Chris’%20Ancestry-p/p84.htm#i3462

Rev. John  HOWSE (1570 – 1630) was Alex’s 11th Great Grandfather; one of 4,096 in this generation in the Shaw line through his grandson Barnabas Lothrop.  He was also Alex’s 10th Great Grandfather; one of 2,048 in this generation of the Miller line through his grandson Samuel Lothrop.

Rev, John Howse was born about 1570.  His parents were Thomas HOWSE and Alice HINTON. He married Alice LLOYD 30 Aug 1593 at Lavenham in County Suffolk.  John died 30 Aug 1630 – Eastwell Parish, Kent, England and was buried 2 Sep 1630.

Alice Lloyd’s origins are unknown.  We only know  for sure is that John named his wife  ”Alice” in his will.   Alice was born about 1572 in Kent, England.  Alice died  Nov 1653 in Kent, England

Children of John and Alice

The origin of the surname Howse is problematical at best and, moreover, its spelling was quite variable in English and colonial records in which it was commonly rendered Howse, Howes, or House. Indeed, the latter spelling seems to have become more predominant in later generations, perhaps, owing to its convergence with the common English noun house, which descends from the Old English form hús. Accordingly, one might suppose that the surname and the common noun share the same etymology, but this is probably not so, at least for this family.

Alternatively, the name may be derived from the antique word howe, denoting a hill or high place and remaining in current use only as an element of relatively few place names in the north of England. In this case, one might suppose that the surname descends from a grammatical construction such as so-and-so of the howes (hills) or something similar, which became fixed as a family name, perhaps, at the beginning of the fifteenth century when patrilineal surnames became adopted in England as common custom.

It is commonly asserted that John Howse was born at Eastwell in County Kent and was the son of Thomas and Alice Hinton Howse. Although, this could be correct, there does not seem to be any documentary evidence in support of such a presumption. After 1603, he was, indeed, the rector of the parish church at Eastwell (St. Mary’s), but it may be reasonably supposed that like many clergymen of local parishes, he had originated somewhere else. Accordingly, it is reported that John Howse was educated at Cambridge University, but details of his matriculation and subsequent graduation are unknown.

It may be reasonably inferred that if he was rector at Eastwell, he had likely served previously as a lower ranking clergyman, e.g., a curate, in some other parish, which remains unknown. In support of this presumption, it appears that he had married and had several children prior to his service at Eastwell. Therefore, as a matter of chronology one may reasonably suppose that John Howse was born, perhaps, about 1570 and that he attended university in the late 1580′s.

Within this context, it has also been asserted without significant substantiation that John Howse and Alice Lloyd married August 30, 1593, at Lavenham in County Suffolk. Again, no documentary source affirming this date or his wife’s identity is known (although, her given name as Alice can be established from John’s will).

Some researchers have associated Rev. John Howse with a minor noble family of the same name having estates at Besthorpe near Attleborough and Morningthorpe Manor near Long Stratton in County Norfolk. This geography would be favorable in support of his education at Cambridge, his marriage in nearby Suffolk, and his probable Puritan sympathies, since the general region of East Anglia was a stronghold of Puritan sentiment. Moreover, due to the custom of primogenture it was common for younger sons of country gentlemen to enter the service of the Church, since they did not inherit land. Nevertheless, although these coincidences are suggestive, they remain entirely unsubstantiated and the origin of John Howse and his wife must be properly regarded as unknown.

While three of his children emigrated to New England, suggesting Puritan sentiments, it does not seem that Rev. Howse ever broke completely with the Church of England. St. Mary’s Church at Eastwell appears to have been an important parish to which curacies of smaller neighboring parishes, e.g., St. James’ at Egerton and St. Mary’s at Little Chart, were likely attached. Unfortunately, the historic church building at Eastwell collapsed due to decay in 1951 (and is now a ruin) and the church at Little Chart was destroyed by a V-1 flying bomb in World War II (although a new building was completed about ten years later). Only, St. James’ Church at Egerton remains intact.

Children

Six children of Rev. John and Alice Howse can be confirmed from baptismal records of Eastwell and it seems evident that John Howse remained in this parish for the rest of his life.

1. Hannah HOWSE (See Rev. John LOTHROP‘s page)

John Howse  performed the marriage ceremony for his daughter  Hannah, in her marriage to Rev. John Lothrop  in Eastwell, 16 Oct 1610.

2. Peninnah (Jemima) Howse

Peninnah was second wife of Elkanah; bore him ten sons. She would frequently annoy her rival wife,Hannah, badgering her about her childlessness.

Peninnah was less favored than Elkanah’s other wife,Hannah; although she bore him more children, Peninnah also brought grief and disharmony to the household by her insolent mocking of infertile Hannah. “And because the Lord had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.”Every year, when Elkanah offered up a sacrifice at Shiloh, he would share out the portions of meat and give Hannah a double portion, which further incited the jealousy of Peninnah.  Eventually, in answer to her desperate prayer, Hannah’s womb was opened, and she bore Samuel, and later another three sons and two daughters.

I was wondering why John would name his daughter after such a b****, but then I read that some commentators suggest that Peninnah’s actions were in fact noble, and that Peninnah “mocked” the barren Hannah in order to further drive Hannah to pray even harder to God to give her children.

Peninnah’s husband Robert Linnell was born in 1584 in London, England. He may haved had a first wife before Peninah who  may have been the mother of Sarah, born 1621/22.  At least one source lists his marriage to Jemimah as occuring in 1626 which be appropriate for the birth of David in 1626 or 1627. Robert died 23 Jan 1661 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass

Married between 1632 and 1638 to Robert Linnell, probably in London.[The will of her brother Thomas Howes, in 1643 gives her name as "Pininna Lynell".  In the High Commission proceedings in 1632, she is given as Peninah Howes].

There has been great confusion in the American record to the effect that Robert Linnell’s first wife was a Jemimah Howes, presumably another daughter to Rev. John Howes. This has been compounded by an LDS record of the supposed marriage of a Jemimah Howes to Robert Linnell in 1621 in Ashford, Kent. There are no records to support this.

Children of Peninah and Robert

i. Sarah Linnell b. 1622 in Bermondsey, Surrey, England; d. 1693

ii. Hannah Linnell b. 17 Apr 1625 in London, England; d. 1701 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass

iii David Linnell b. 1627 in London, England; d. 14 Nov 1688 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass

iv. Mary Linnell b. 1631 in London, England; d 1662 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Mass; m. 15 Oct 1649 Barnstable to Richard Childs (b. 14 Jun 1624 in Wesminster, Middlesex, England – d. 15 Sep 1691 in Marshfield, Plymouth, Mass) Richard’s parents were Nathaniel Childe (1591 – 1627) and Isabell Tredway (1591 – 1649) Mary and Richard had three children born between 1651 and 1655.

3. Drusilla Howse

Drusilla’s husband Simon Plyer (Player)

4. John Howse

John’s wife Mary Osborne

6. Thomas Howse

Thomas’ wife Elizabeth Osborne

The will of Thomas Howse of St. Stephen in Coleman street, London, a Citizen and Brownbaker of London, was dated 18 Oct 1643.

St. Stephen’s Church, Coleman Street was a church in the City of London, at the corner of Coleman Street and what is now Gresham Street, first mentioned in the 13th century. Destroyed in the Great Fire of London of 1666, it was rebuilt by the office of Sir Christopher Wren. The church was destroyed again, by bombing in 1940, and was never rebuilt.

Early in the 17th century, St. Stephen’s became a Puritan stronghold.   John Davenport, the vicar appointed in 1624, later resigned to become a Nonconformist pastor. His successor, John Goodwin, was also a prominent Puritan preacher. Goodwin was ejected from St Stepehn’s in 1645 for setting up a covenanted community within his parish and was briefly imprisoned after the Restoration for his political views. The five Members of Parliament impeached by Charles I repaired to Coleman Street in early 1642 when his troops were searching for them, and during the Commonwealth, communion was only allowed to those passed by a committee comprising the vicar and 13 parishioners – 2 of whom had signed the death warrant of Charles I.

Thomas lists his wife Elizabeth, his brother Samuel [of Scituate and Barnstable, Mass., his sister "Pininna" Lynell, his sister Druscilla Player. He also lists as administrators, the famous Puritan Praise-God Barebon [Speaker of Parliament during the Commonwealth period, known as “Barebones Parliamant”, and William Granger, who was brought up before the High Commission along with Barebon’s wife Sara. All were members of Rev. Lothrop’s congregation in London]

Praise-God Barebone (c. 1598 –1679) administered Thomas’ will.

Thomas made a specific bequest in his will to Mr. John Goodwine, minister at St. Stephen’s Church in Coleman Street in London. A previous pastor of this church had been Rev. John Davenport, a prominent Puritan clergyman who had been persecuted by Archbishop Laud and emigrated to New Haven.

His will mentions wife Elizabeth; one third to son Samuel Howse; one third to “the child my wife now goeth withal;” and the other third to pay legacies to brother John Howes £20 and to each child he shall have living at my death 50s; to brother Samuell Howse £20 and to each child he shall have living at my death 50s apiece; to sister Pininna Lynnell £10, and to every child she shall have living at my death 50s; £10 to the needy poor at the discretion of my friends Praise Baron and William Grainter the elder; to Mr. John Goodwine, minister of the word of God in the parish of St. Stephens, Coleman Street, 50s.  And if I die in London and he make my funeral sermon, 20s more….  Will proved 23 Dec 1644 by Elizabeth Howes, relict of the deceased

7. Samuel Howse

Samuel’s wife Elizabeth Hammond

Samuel  emigrated to America in 1634, joined Rev Lothrop’s church in Scituate then Barnstable, and returned to Scituate.

8. Henry Howse

9. Elizabeth Howse
Sources:

http://web.pdx.edu/~davide/gene/Howse_John.htm

http://www.friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/CMSMS/index.php?page=eastwell