Fike Colonial Immigrant Ancestors

William Bradford (1590-1657) Alice Carpenter (1593-1670)

We are descended from 3 of the 102 passengers that arrived in Plymouth Harbor in 1620. William Bradford became the colony’s leader. We are descended from Bradford through Daniel H. Wells on the Andrew side of the family. We are also descended from Thomas Rogers and his son Joseph through Electa England on the Fike side. There are a lot of resources available online to learn about the Mayflower story and passengers, so I won’t reproduce much of it here. I invite you to learn more and to visit the Plymouth, Massachusetts museums and other sites in the area.

William Bradford was born to Alice Briggs and William Bradford in Austerfield, West Riding of Yorkshire, and was baptized on March 19, 1589/90. The family possessed a large farm and were considered wealthy and influential in a time when most of their countrymen were farmers of modest means.

When Bradford was 12 years old, a friend invited him to hear the Rev. Richard Clyfton preach 10 miles away in All Saints’ Church, Babworth in Nottinghamshire. Clyfton believed that the Church of England ought to eliminate all vestiges of Roman Catholic practices, and that this would result in a purer Christian church. During one meeting, Bradford met William Brewster, a bailiff and postmaster who lived at Scrooby manor, four miles from Austerfield. During frequent visits, Bradford borrowed books from him, and Brewster regaled him with stories of the efforts toward church reform taking place throughout England.

The Scrooby congregation decided in 1607 to leave England unlawfully for the Dutch Republic, where religious freedom was permitted, and Bradford determined to go with them. By the summer of 1608, however, they managed to escape England in small groups and relocate to Leiden in the Dutch Republic. Bradford was 18.

Bradford arrived in Amsterdam in August 1608. He had no family with him and was taken in by the Brewster household. After nine months, the group chose to relocate to the smaller city of Leiden.

Bradford continued to reside with the Brewster family in a poor Leiden neighborhood known as Stink Alley. Conditions changed dramatically for him when he turned 21 and was able to claim his family inheritance in 1611. He bought his own house, set up a workshop as a fustian weaver (weaver of heavy cotton cloth for men’s clothing), and earned a reputable standing. In 1613, he married Dorothy May, the daughter of a well-off English couple living in Amsterdam. They were married in a civil service, as they could find no example of a religious service in the Scriptures.

In 1619, William Bradford sold his house in Leiden and appears in March 1620 tax records in London being taxed for personal property at the Duke’s Place, Aldgate. Aldgate was an area of London known to be the residence of numerous Dutch merchants, as well as many religious dissenters. Some familiar Mayflower names of families living in the area included Allerton, Tilley, Sampson, and Hopkins.

By 1617, the Scrooby congregation began to plan the establishment of their own colony in the Americas. The Separatists could practice religion as they pleased in the Dutch Republic, but they were troubled by the fact that their children were being influenced by Dutch customs and language, after nearly ten years in the Netherlands. Therefore, they commenced three years of difficult negotiations in England seeking permission to settle in the northern parts of the Colony of Virginia (which then extended north to the Hudson River). The colonists also struggled to negotiate terms with a group of financial backers in London known as the Merchant Adventurers. By July 1620, Robert Cushman and John Carver had made the necessary arrangements, and approximately fifty Separatists departed Delftshaven on board the Speedwell.

It was an emotional departure. Many families were split, as some Separatists stayed behind in the Netherlands, planning to make the voyage to the New World after the colony had been established. William and Dorothy Bradford left their three-year-old son John with Dorothy’s parents in Amsterdam, possibly because he was too frail to make the voyage.

The Mayflower departed Plymouth, England on September 6/16, 1620. The 100-foot ship had 102 passengers and a crew of 30 – 40 in extremely cramped conditions. There were two deaths on the trip, a crew member and a passenger.

They spotted Cape Cod hook on November 9/19, 1620, after about a month of delays in England and two months at sea. They spent several days trying to get south to their planned destination of the Colony of Virginia, but strong winter seas forced them to return to the harbor at Cape Cod hook, now called Provincetown Harbor, where they anchored on November 11/21, 1620. The Mayflower Compact was signed that day, Bradford being one of the first to sign.

Bradford had yet to assume any significant leadership role in the colony by the time that he was 30. The Mayflower anchored in Provincetown Harbor and he volunteered to be a member of the exploration parties searching for a place for settlement. In November and December, these parties made three separate ventures from the Mayflower on foot and by boat, finally locating Plymouth Harbor in mid-December and selecting that site for settlement.

During the first expedition on foot, Bradford got caught in a deer trap made by Indians and hauled nearly upside down. The third exploration departed from the Mayflower on December 6, 1620 when a group of men (including Bradford) located Plymouth Bay. A winter storm nearly sank their boat as they approached the bay, but they managed to land on Clark’s Island, suffering from severe exposure to the cold and waves. During the ensuing days, they explored the bay and found a suitable place for settlement, now the site of downtown Plymouth, Massachusetts. The location featured a prominent hill ideal for a defensive fort. There were numerous brooks providing fresh water, and it had been the location of an Indian village known as Patuxet; therefore, much of the area had already been cleared for planting crops. The Patuxet tribe had been wiped out by plagues between 1616 and 1619, possibly as a result of contact with English fishermen or from contact with the French to the north. Bradford wrote that bones of the dead were clearly evident in many places.

When the exploring party made their way back on board, he learned of the death of his wife Dorothy. Dorothy (May) Bradford fell overboard off the deck of the Mayflower during his absence and drowned. Bradford married Alice (Carpenter) Southworth in 1623, with whom he had three children. We are descended from Alice.

The Mayflower arrived in Plymouth Bay on December 20, 1620. The settlers began building the colony’s first house on December 25 (Christmas). Their efforts were slowed, however, when a widespread sickness struck the settlers. The sickness had begun on the ship. On January 11, 1621, Bradford was helping to build houses when he was suddenly struck with great pain in his hipbone and collapsed. He was taken to the “common house” (the only finished house built then) and it was feared that he would not last the night.

Bradford recovered, but many of the other settlers were not so fortunate. During the months of February and March 1621, sometimes two or three people died a day. By the end of the winter, half of the 100 settlers had died. In an attempt to hide their weakness from Native Americans who might be watching them, the settlers buried their dead in unmarked graves on Cole’s Hill, often at night, and made efforts to conceal the burials.

In April 1621, Governor Carver collapsed while working in the fields on a hot day. He died a few days later. The settlers of Plymouth then chose Bradford as the new governor, a position which he retained off and on for the rest of his life.

William Bradford’s most well-known literary work by far is “Of Plymouth Plantation”. It is a detailed history in journal form about the founding of the Plymouth Colony and the lives of the colonists from 1621 to 1646. The first part of the work was written in 1630; toward the end of his life, he updated it to provide “the account of the colony’s struggles and achievements through the year 1646.” Bradford drew deep parallels between everyday life and the events of the Bible. As Philip Gould writes, “Bradford hoped to demonstrate the workings of divine providence for the edification of future generations”.

(excerpted from a Wikipedia article)

Nathaniel Dickinson (3 May 1601 – 16 June 1676) born in Billingborough, Lincolnshire. He married widow Anna Gull in the mid-1620s and they had at least twelve children, the first five of whom were born in England.  He and his family likely emigrated between 1636, at which point they still appear in the parish register at Billingborough, and 1638, when they appear in the records in Wethersfield, Connecticut

In the late 1650s, he and a group of fellow dissenters from the Wethersfield church organized a new settlement in Hadley, Massachusetts. In 1660, Dickinson was appointed town clerk of Hadley. He became the first permanent settler in the town and also surveyed the neighboring towns of Amherst, Belchertown, and Hatfield where he lived for a few years after moving to Hadley to help get the town started up.

Three of Nathaniel’s sons, John, Joseph, and Azariah, were killed in King Philip’s War in 1675 and 1676. Nathaniel died shortly after them on June 16, 1676.

Nathaniel Dickinson Memorial Plaque in Old Hadley Cemetery, Hadley MA

His original headstone is no longer visible, but a descendants group erected the memorial plaque attached to a boulder now standing on his gravesite.  Nathaniel is our shared ancestor with the poet Emily Dickinson.

“The Puritan” -The artist was Augustus St. Gauden and it was commissioned by Chester W. Chapin, Springfield’s railroad magnate, in 1885. The statue was originally unveiled on Thanksgiving Day in 1887 in Stearns Square, and remained there for twelve years before being moved to its current location. In moving the statue, the beautiful bronze fountain and pink granite bench that were constructed to compliment the artwork were relocated to other parts of the city. The working model is now owned by the Carnegie Museum of Art.

“The beginning of the Chapin family is altogether creditable. We may well be satisfied that it should start with this genuine old Puritan and what he did, with his fellow pioneers, to open the American Continent and on it found a city and to establish a model Christian Republic. The rolls of heraldry, even if they could show the name linked with royal or princely blood, would add nothing to the true nobility of its origin. It belongs peculiarly to this country, and the sphere of its highest dignity and honor was no doubt ordained to be here. Our chief anxiety should be to maintain and advance its true nobility by lives and deeds worthy of such a father.” – Aaron L. Chapin, President of the Chapin Family Association, at the unveiling of the Chapin Statue at Springfield, MA on 24 November 1887.

Samuel Chapin and his wife, Cicely, came from England with three sons and two daughters in 1635. He probably landed at Boston, which was then, as it is now, the chief port of New England. They probably settled immediately in Roxbury. Roxbury was founded a few years earlier, in 1630, by William Pynchon. It soon became a small village of from two to three score families, most of whom came from Nazing, London, or the west of England. Possibly it was because he had friends among the latter that determined Samuel to settle in Roxbury. Samuel held land as early as 1639, as is shown by the Roxbury land records.

Like most of the early settlers, Samuel Chapin must have been principally a farmer, although undoubtedly, he had to turn his hand to many other pursuits as occasion required, which was in fact very often. In 1636 Samuel, then comparatively a young man, was very probably one “of the Roxbury people” who worked on the fortifications at Cornhill in Boston. In the fall of that year the General Court met at Roxbury, thus giving Samuel a chance to see its workings. During his stay in Roxbury the Pequot War took place, which resulted in making it possible to settle with safety in Western New England as at Springfield. The Chapins lived in Roxbury till the close of the year 1642.

In 1636 William Pynchon, then a resident of Roxbury, led a party of about a dozen families to the Connecticut River, where he founded a settlement then called Agawam, but which four years later was renamed Springfield, after his home in England. Most of the settlers took up farming, as there were many fertile meadows along the banks of the Connecticut, while Pynchon for the most part engaged in the fur trade. The settlement grew slowly at first, but by the time the Chapins arrived, it had become a village of respectable size for New England in those days.

As he had in Roxbury, as at Springfield, Samuel was primarily a farmer, but of course here also he had to do all sorts of other things besides. He soon became one of the leading men in the government of the town and held many public offices during his life including Selectman, Auditor and Magistrate and he was Deacon of the church.

Samuel Chapin lived to be an old man and having borne for over twenty years the burdens of government, now in his declining years withdrew from the center of political affairs. He slowly handed over the reins to the younger men in town. Samuel died 11 Nov 1675; according to the diary of his son Japhet, “My father was taken out of this troublesome world the 11th day of November about eleven of the clock, 1675.” His widow, Cicely, died 8 Feb 1683.

Samuel had an inventory of his estate performed for his will. The total sum of his goods, not including his land, was over 45 English pounds. His wife’s estate was inventoried in 1682 for her will and the goods were then valued at over 100 English pounds.

The map below shows the early New England colonies with the settlement’s dates of formation:

The settlements that developed along the Connecticut River in the 1630s were the result of a search for fertile farmland more than a search for religious freedom.

Thomas Hooker, a prominent minister in Newtown (Cambridge), Massachusetts, harbored clear democratic leanings, but was not an outspoken dissident. While helping his congregation to find a more promising physical environment, Hooker played by the rules and received permission from the authorities to lead a migration into the west. In 1635 and 1636, nearly 1,000 people moved from the Massachusetts Bay area into lands claimed by the Dutch in the Connecticut Valley. A settlement was established at Hartford, followed later by villages at Wethersfield and Windsor, where a small Pilgrim community already existed.

In the autumn of 1635, a company, consisting of sixty men, women and children, from the settlements of Newtown and Watertown, in Massachusetts, commenced their journey through the wilderness to the Connecticut River. On their arrival, they settled at Windsor, Wethersfield, and Hartford.

Hartford Founder’s Monument at Old Church Graveyard

If you get a chance to visit Hartford you can visit the Old Church Graveyard and see the Founder’s monument.  We are descended from the following founders who have their names carved there (well at least the men’s names):

John and Agnes Webster

Thomas and Alice Welles

Matthew and Elizabeth Marvin

John and Rachel Steele

Thomas and Elizabeth Judd

John and Dorothy Tallcott

Matthew Marvin 

Matthew was baptized March 26, 1600 and died December 20, 1678.  He was a founding settler of Hartford and Norwalk, Connecticut.

He was the son of Edward and Margaret Mervyn of Great Bentley. He is mentioned in the will of his father, receiving the mansion named Edons alias Dreybrockes and land called Hartles and Brocken Heddes with the condition that he pay his mother yearly for the rest of her life. He most likely lived with her until her death in May 1633. Matthew was “sydeman” of the parish of Great Bentley in 1621, overseer in 1627, and senior warden in 1628.

Matthew Marvin was among the so-called “Adventurers Party” of twenty-five men who set out to explore the area that would become Hartford, led by John Steele in October 1635, prior to the departure from Cambridge of the Rev. Hooker’s party in May 1636, and was one of sixteen founders living in Hartford in 1635 prior to the arrival of Hooker’s party. He resided at the corner of Village and Front Streets. He was a surveyor of highways from 1639 to 1647. In 1648, he was given a cash reward for killing a wolf. He owned land at Farmington and may have lived there a short time.

Marvin went to Norwalk as one of its original settlers in 1650. His home in Norwalk was next to the meeting house. He was a wheelwright. Marvin served as Deputy for Norwalk to the Connecticut General Court in 1654.

He died in Norwalk on December 20, 1678.  He is listed on the Founders Stone bearing the names of the founders of Hartford in the Ancient Burying Ground in Hartford. He is buried at the          

East Norwalk Historical Cemetery, Norwalk, Connecticut.

John Steele

John was baptized 12 Dec 1591 in Fairstead, Essex, England, and died 27 Feb 1664/65 in Farmington, CT. He married Rachel Talcott 10 Oct 1622 in Fairstead, Essex, England.  She was the daughter of Hartford founder John Talcott and Anne Skinner. She was born abt. 1600 in Braintree, Essex, England, and died 24 Oct 1653 in Farmington, CT.

John Steele emigrated from Fairstead, Essex, England in 1633 along with his brother George Steele, another founder of Hartford, first residing in Cambridge, where he was made freeman 14 May 1634. He owned nine parcels of land in Cambridge, was Deputy to the General Court of Massachusetts for Cambridge in 1635, and was appointed Massachusetts Bay Commissioner for new settlements on the Connecticut River 3 March 1635/6.

He was the leader of the so-called “Adventurers Party” of twenty-five men who set out to explore the area that would become Hartford in October 1635, prior to the departure from Cambridge of the Rev. Hooker’s party in May 1636, and was one of sixteen founders living in Hartford in 1635 prior to the arrival of Hooker’s party.

In the Hartford land inventory of February 1639/40 he held four parcels: two acres on which his dwelling house stood with other outhouses, yards and gardens located on the main street, north of the home lots of Elder William Goodwin and Samuel Stone; two acres in the Little Meadow; three acres and thirty perches in the North Meadow; and twenty-one acres, three roods and twenty-two perches.

He was the Recorder (town clerk) for Hartford beginning in 1640 until 1645, and became Recorder for Farmington when he removed there in 1645.

Governor Thomas Welles

Thomas Welles was born abt. 1590 in Tidmington, Worcestershire, England, and died 14 Jan 1659/60 in Wethersfield, CT. He married Alice Tomes aft. 05 Jul 1615 in England.  She was born abt. 1590 in Long Marston, Gloucestershire, England, and died bef. 1646 in Hartford, CT. He the married our ancestor Elizabeth Deming  abt. 1646 in Hartford, CT. She was born abt. 1595 in England, and died 28 Jul 1683 in Wethersfield, CT.

Thomas Welles emigrated to the American colonies from Burmington, Worcester, England in 1635, first residing in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he held one house in the town 8 February 1635/6.

He removed to Hartford in 1636 where he held in the land inventory of February 1639/40: seven acres and two roods on which his dwelling house stood with other outhouses, yards or gardens including two acres for the house lot, two acres and two roods of upland, and three acres of meadow; one parcel of ninety acres; twelve acres lying in Hockanum; and three acres and fourteen perches in the swamp by the Great River.

He was one of the most important and influential men in Connecticut. On his arrival in Hartford he was immediately made a magistrate of the colony at the General Court, serving in that position 1637 to 1653. He was Treasurer of the Colony 1639, 1648, 1649, and 1650; and Secretary 1641, 1643, 1644, 1645, and 1647. He lived in Hartford until 1646, when he removed to Wethersfield.

He served as Moderator in February 1654, following the death of Governor John Haynes, Deputy Governor Hopkins then being in England. He was elected Deputy Governor 1654, 1656, 1657, and 1659, and was Governor of Connecticut in 1655 and 1658. He was a Commissioner of the United colonies 1649, 1654, and 1659 he was on the war committee for Wethersfield in 1653.

Gov. Thomas Welles died in Wethersfield 14 January 1659/60, his inventory being taken 30 January of that same year.  He is buried in the “Ancient Burying Ground” in downtown Hartford.

Governor John Webster

Webster was born in Cossington, Leicestershire, England, August 16, 1590, the son of Matthew Webster (1548–1623) and his wife, Elizabeth Ashton.

In the early 1630s, he traveled to the Massachusetts Bay Colony with his wife Agnes and five children, settling in the area of Newtowne (now Cambridge, Massachusetts). He left in 1636, in all probability with Thomas Hooker and his adherents, to settle Hartford, Connecticut. His first public office was as a member of a committee that joined with the Court of Magistrates in determining the course of war with the Pequot Indians. He was chosen from 1639 to 1655 to be magistrate, and in 1655 he was chosen as Deputy Governor of the Colony of Connecticut. In 1656 he was elected governor, and he served as first magistrate from 1657 to 1659.

In addition to his service as Governor of the Connecticut Colony, John Webster was one of the nineteen men representing the towns of Hartford, Wethersfield, and Windsor in 1638-39 who participated in the drafting and adoption of the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, a document that is widely acknowledged as establishing one of the earliest forms of constitutional government.

A split amongst the church members in Hartford grew when the current minister at the First Church in Hartford, Samuel Stone, declared that the requirement that stated only parents that had both taken communion should be allowed to have a child baptized would be removed, and non-communicants would be allowed to vote. John Webster, among others, were a part of a council that agreed that this was not acceptable. Reverend Stone chose to ignore this sentiment, and the issue was taken up with the General Court in Massachusetts. The Court ruled that although Reverend Stone had been too strict in ignoring the majority of his parishioners, he was right in liberalizing the baptism ritual. It was also found that those who disagreed with Stone could remove themselves to a location in Massachusetts to practice how they saw fit. This eventual location chosen was Hadley, Massachusetts, and in 1659, a new community was built there. Webster lived there for less than two years, for in 1661 he contracted a fever and died.

Clement Briggs arrived at Plymouth in the 55-ton ship “Fortune” on 9 Nov 1621. The “Fortune,” Thos. Barton master, was the second ship to come to the new colony.

Governor Bradford in his “History of the Plymouth Plantation” says: “In November, about that time twelfe month that themselves came, ther came in a small ship to them unexpected or looked for, in which came Mr. Cushman (so much spoken of before) and with him 35 persons to remaine and live in the plantation. Most of them were lusty young men, and many of them wild enough, who little considered whither or aboute what they wente. The plantation was glad of this addition of strength, but could have wished that many of them had been of beter condition. I shall remember one passage more, rather of mirth then of waight.

On the day called Christmas-day, the Gov. called them out to worke, (as was used,) but the most of this new-company excused themselves and said it went against their conscious to work on that day. so the govr. tould them that if they made it a matter of conscience, he would spare them till they were better informed. So he led-away the rest and left them; but when they came home at noone from their worke, he found them in the streets at play, openly; some pitching the barr, and some at stoole-ball, and shuch like sports. So, he went to them, and tooke away their implements, and tould them that was against his conscience that they should play and others worke.”

Clemente Brigges was allotted one acre of land in 1623. “These lye beyond the first brooke to the wood westward.” and 22 May 1627 he received one of the four “heyfers” which were brought over in the ship “Jacob”.  He was named in the records as one of the 58 “purchasers” and “Old Comers” of New Plymouth.

In Bradford’s letter of 1631 to John Winthrop he is mentioned as having removed to Dorchester. From Dorchester he removed to Weymouth, before 1633, where his oldest son Thomas, was born in 1633.

He was born in England, 1587. Judging from the ages of his sons, he must have married in England around 1610. Nathaniel had at least three sons, possibly four, all born in England, by his first wife who died before he came to Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony, about 1633. Around 1638, he married Margaret Jackson.

He was a carpenter by trade, but also worked as a surveyor running boundary lines, including those between Massachusetts Bay Colony and its neighbors, Plymouth Colony and Connecticut, and was sometimes called a “mathematician.” By 1661 he and his wife Margaret had sold all of his property in Boston.

He was born in England about 1613 and emigrated to Boston with his father around 1633. His first wife was Mary Jackson of Boston, Lincolnshire, England. It’s uncertain whether he married her in Old England or New England, but likely the latter, around 1640, when she was admitted to the Boston church as “Mary Woodward the wife of our Brother Nathaniell [sic] Woodward.” 

About 1648, they removed to Taunton, Massachusetts. By 1655, Mary had died, and Nathaniel Jr. returned to Boston for a time. By 1664 he had married Katherine ______ and moved back to Taunton. 

Like his father, Nathaniel Jr. was a carpenter. (It’s also possible that he was the surveyor, and not his father, but it’s difficult to sort out the records for the two Nathaniels.) Both Nathaniel Jr. and his wife Katherine died sometime after 14 September 1686, when they deeded property to their son James.

John Crossman was born in 1588 in Somersetshire, England.  He married Elizabeth who died in England.  This is the John Crossman of Somersetshire in the Rhode Island Quaker records listed him as born 1588, resided Taunton prior to removal to Providence.  John Crossman purchased land in Taunton, Mass. in 1639. “Crossman Hill” near Taunton, Mass. is named for the early settler John Crossman.  He was banished from Massachusetts for bad language:

“Whereas the Court & jury did not agree in Crossmans case, who is now a prisonor for blasphemy, & so, it necessarylie cominge to this Court to be determined, the Court, on a full hearing of the case, uppon the evidence given in doe order & determine as follows, vizt: that the sd Crossman be severely whipt in open market place, & imediately after to be burnt in his forehead with the letter: B: & also to be banished forever out of or jurisdiction” (Vol. III, p. 328 MBC). 1651, Oct. 24.

The Taunton History (1893) says that John Crossman came from Somerset County, England, when he was about 50 or 51 years old and settled in Taunton, Massachusetts, where he was one of the original 46 purchasers of land from the Indians.

1677: Land records of Providence, RI: “This Deed witnesseth that I John Crossman of newport on Roadisland in ye Collony of Roadisland and providence Plantations, Marriner: Have for Seaverall good Causes and Considerations moving me thereunto, have Bargained and sould & doe for my selfe, my heires, executrs, Administrators, & Assignes make over Bargaine and sell for forty shillings in silver in hand payd all my Right of land in ye Towneshippe of providence in ye Collony  aforesayd: To John Easton and Walter Clerke for ye use and Benneffitt of the people called Quakers in sd Roadisland & theire Successors: with all prievelledges & Appurtenances what Soe Ever, as, fences or fencing Stuffe, house or Ruinge of house or Stones to Builde with being upon or on ye shore side of ye sayd Land: with all & singular ye abovesd Conveinances, As it Ley at a place Called Cow-Cove Chiefely bounded upon ye Sea or River; which sd Land soe Bounded, with sd prieveledges; I doe afirme my selfe to be ye just and Lawfull owner; and doe therefore for Ever, warrant unto ye sd John Easton & Walter clerke & theire foresd Successers against me.

John (his mark) Crossman, L.S.”

His Son Robert Crossman: Biography from New England Ancestors.org

“Robert Crossman was born 1 Nov 1622 St. Andrews parish, Devonshire, England.  He came to America with his father about 1634 and settled in Dedham. It was also in 1642 that he began to accumulate land in the Dedham area. On May 26, 1649 along with Anthony Fisher, Robert made claim to a mine for metal ore. He worked as an apprentice to Joseph Kingsbury who eventually became his father-in-law. 

He moved to Taunton, MA in 1653 with his wife and daughter and built an Iron Works there. They bought their home on Dean Street from Captain Foster. He was a carpenter and considered a very skilled mechanic. Known as “The Drum Maker of New England” and as “The Gun Maker” he fitted the soldiers from Taunton with guns and drums for the Canada Expedition under Sir William Phipps, Captain Samuel Gallup’s Company in 1690. Robert’s youngest son, Thomas, was a part of that expedition.

As a testament to his great skill, the townsmen of Dedham enlisted him to build a water mill for them in what was to later become Wrentham, MA on June 28, 1672. He was also in demand as a surveyor for the new highways needed for the commerce that was developing. 


Joseph Kingsbury was born in 1600 in Boxford, Suffolk, England. Joseph Kingsbury (1605-1676) married Millicent Ames in 1628 in Boxford, Suffolk, England and settled in Dedham, MA and their daughter, Sarah Kingsbury (1635-1686) married Robert Crossman (1622-1692) on May 25, 1652 at Dedham, MA and moved to Taunton, MA. Joseph was christened on 9 Feb 1641 in Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts.

About 1635 they sent an exploring party up the Charles River and established a settlement at Watertown. John and Joseph Kingsbury were part of this party. The community flourished and they quickly organized in what was referred to as a “Contentment” recording all important events. The Kingsbury brothers were apparently of strong pioneer stock and considered Watertown too crowded. A small band of like-minded individuals again used the Charles River which turned South just beyond Watertown and settled in what is now Dedham.

In 1638 he was not admitted to the Dedham Church because he was “too much addicted to the world,” but on the 9th of the 2nd month 1641 the church was persuaded of his repentance and faith and he was received.

Joseph died in May 1676 at the age of 76 in Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts. Joseph was buried in Old Burying Ground about Jun 1676. Some have suggested that, in keeping with his long feud with the church and town fathers, Joseph was buried in the Norfolk Cemetery. However, he did give the land for the Dedham Cemetery and most likely he and his wife were buried there. At this time in American history, it was very seldom that one would have a grave stone of any kind as they were very expensive. Thus, he would have had a wooden marker if any and this has been lost to the elements and time.

Thomas came to America on the ship Recovery of London.  He was living in Hingham MA in 1635. He bought thirteen acres of land, on the “nect of houselots” of Mr. Pritchard; besides which, he owned several other parcels.

He and his son John had houses and land on the south side of Goose Cove; which, in 1661, they sold to Thomas Riggs, and, with another son (Isaac) and a son-in-law (Matthew Coe), went to Falmouth, Maine, where they purchased a large tract of land, on which they settled, and remained till the destruction of the place by the Indians in 1675, when Thomas Wakely and his wife Elizabeth, and John and his wife and two children, were barbarously slaughtered by the savages. Elizabeth, daughter of John, was carried off; but after some months’ captivity, was taken by Squanto, the Saco sachem, to Major Waldron at Dover, where she subsequently married Richard Scamman, a Quaker.

Following is an account of the Wakelys in Maine:

“The Wakelys came from Cape Ann, and had originally settled in 1661, at Back Cove, on the west side of Fall Brook, where a son-in-law, Matthew Coe, died. The eldest son, John, had removed to the east side of Presumpscot river several years before the melancholy event which terminated his life; his farm was about three-quarters of a mile below the falls, and between the farms of Humphrey Durham and Jenkin Williams; his house fronted the river ‘and stood within about a gun shot of said Durham’s house.’ His father and mother from their advanced age had probably taken up their residence with their eldest son, or had gone there at this time in consequence of the general alarm. He is spoken of by Mather as a worthy old man, ‘who came into New England for the sake of the gospel,’ and had long repented moving into this part of the country so far out of the way of it.”

(The Wakely land can be seen today when you drive from South to North on I-295 North of Portland Maine.  As you cross the Presumpscot River look to your left on the North bank of the river.)

KING PHILIP’S WAR, 1675-76

King Philip was the chief of the Wampanoag Indians and the son of Massasoit, the chief who had befriended the Pilgrims and celebrated the first Thanksgiving in 1620. King Philip resented the intrusion and domination of the colonists and led an uprising of several tribes, including the Narragansetts, in 1675-76, terrorizing New England in what would become known as the bloodiest Indian War ever to take place there. By the time the war ended 52 out of 90 New England settlements had been attacked, 12 completely destroyed. King Philip himself was trapped and killed in Aug. 1676.

“The first visitation of their vengeance was upon the family of Thomas Wakely of Falmouth, about a week after the affray before mentioned. This unsuspecting family was composed of Thomas Wakely and his wife, his eldest son, John, his wife, who was far advanced in pregnancy, and their four children. They killed the old man and his wife, his son John and wife, with three of their children, in a cruel manner, and carried one daughter, Elizabeth, about eleven years old, into captivity. Next day Lt. George Ingersoll, who had perceived the smoke, repaired to the place with a file of soldiers to learn the cause. He found the body of John’s wife and the fhree chidlren with their brains beaten out lying under some planks, and the half consumed bodies of the old man and his sife near the smouldering ruins of the house. Why this family was selected for a sacrifice we have no means of determining; the Indians committed no further violence, but immediately withdrew to a distant place. The daughter Elizabeth was some months after carried by Squando, the Saco Sachem, to Major Waldron at Dover, where she subsequently married Richard seamman, a quaker.

The following is an account of a witness to the aftermath of the Indian attack on the Wakelys:

“Indian War in Maine, 1675 – Letter of Lieutenant Ingersol

“Yesterday morning, being the 9th of September, was heard three Gunes, and was seen a great smoke up in the River above Mr. Mackworth’s; whereupon I caused an alarme, but could not get the Soldiers together, by reason of which I was uncapable for that day to know the cause therof, and what the issue might be; but this day, being the 10th of the said month, haveing strengthened my selfe, I went up with two fils, and when I came to the place, I found an house burtn downe, and sic persons killed, and three of the same family could not be found [The family of Mr. Thomas Wakeley, who lived at Presumpscot An old Man and Woman were halfe in, and halfe out of the house neer halfe burnt. Their owne Son was shot through the body, and also his head dashed in pieces. This young man’s Wife was dead, her head skined, she was bigg with Child, two Children haveing their heads dashed in pieces, and laid by one another with their bellys to the ground, and an Oake planke laid upon their backs. While we were upon this discovery we saw a smoke, and heard two Guns about one Mile or more above, in the same [quarter]. We judge there be a company of Indians, but how many we know not; therefore I would entreat Major Pendleton and your selfe to send to me, each of you, a dowzen men. I shall then goe to see whetehr it be according as we thinke or noe. Pray post this away to Major Walden. Thus thaking my leave, I subscribe my selfe,

Your loveing friend,  Leif: George Ingersol”  Sept. 10, 1675. 

John Thorndike was a Puritan who migrated to America, but he was also the brother of an important figure in the Church of England, and this would bring him to be buried at a landmark in London.

John was born in 1603 to Francis Thorndike and Alice Coleman in Great Carlton, England, which is in Lincolnshire. He had at least one brother, Herbert. While Herbert studied theology at Cambridge, John fell in with the Puritans and migrated to America, possibly with the 1630 Winthrop fleet. In 1632, John was one of 12 men named as living in the newly founded town of Ipswich (known as Agawam); the list also included John Winthrop, Jr., who later became the governor of Connecticut.

John eventually settled in Salem, and in 1636, he married Elizabeth Stratton. They would have six daughters and one son born between 1636 and about 1653. One of John’s daughters, Elizabeth, married a man named John Proctor who would later be executed by hanging during the Salem witch hunt in 1692 (Elizabeth died 20 years before this).

John appears on many town records in Salem; one reference was a court case in 1636 involving a man named John Adams who was apparently his indentured servant, because he had him whipped for running away. In 1640, a man named John Stone brought suit against John for “defamation.” And in 1645, he appeared in court trying to avoid training for military duty by pleading that he suffered from “weakness of body and [age].”

John’s wife Elizabeth died sometime in the 1650s or 1660s. On July 29, 1668, John made out his will and stated that he was proposing “to go this year to England.” He did make the trip, bringing daughters Martha and Alice with him (ages 17 and 15). John’s brother Herbert had become Canon of Westminster Abbey. The family from America stayed in Herbert’s living quarters at the Abbey, and John died there in November 1668. Herbert had his brother buried in the Abbey in a grave in the East Cloister. When Herbert died in 1672, he was buried next to his brother. John’s daughters had stayed with their uncle after their father died and were mentioned in Herbert’s will which left them a “considerable provision” as long as they didn’t return to the Puritan colony in America.

For many years, the area of the Cloisters with John and Herbert’s graves was covered by a ramp leading up to the Church; when it was removed in 1998, no trace of the graves could be found. But in 1723, the inscription had been recorded in a history of the Abbey:

Herbert Thorndick, Canon of this Church,1672

Our 11^th Great-Grandfather Thomas Rogers also came to The New World on “The Mayflower” in 1620 with his eldest son Joseph Rogers. 

Thomas was a signatory to the Mayflower Compact but died in the winter of 1620/21. His son Joseph, who traveled with Thomas on the Mayflower, but was too young, at age 17, to sign the Mayflower Compact but survived to live a long life.

Thomas Rogers was born in the village of Watford, in Northamptonshire, England about 1571.  He married Alice Cosford in Watford parish October 24, 1597, with their six children being baptized there between 1598 and 1613. The family went to Leiden with other members of the English Separatist church sometime after their last child, Margaret, was baptized in 1613.

The earliest Leiden record for Thomas Rogers notes that on February 14, 1614 he bought a house on Barabarasteeg from Jan Bloemsaer, a baker. Leiden records also notes that Rogers became a citizen of Leiden on June 25, 1618.  That record states that he was a merchant of camlet, a luxury Asian-type fabric made from a combination of silk and camel’s hair.

Thomas Rogers traveled on the Mayflower with only his eldest son Joseph (our ancestor), leaving behind in Leiden his wife and their three other children – John, Elizabeth and Margaret. In the 1622 poll tax for Leiden, Rogers’ family were found among the poor of Leiden, residing at the rear of Anthony Clement’s home. His possible second wife, who author Eugene Stratton lists as Elizabeth (or Elsgen) in the 1622 poll tax, may have died in Leiden sometime between 1622 and when his son John and daughters came to Plymouth sometime after 1627.

William Bradford’s later recollection of Thomas Rogers and his son embarked on the Mayflower: “Thomas Rogers, and Joseph, his sone. His other children came afterwards.”

Thomas Rogers and his 18-year-old son Joseph departed Plymouth, England aboard the Mayflower on September 6/16, 1620. On November 9/19, 1620, after about three months at sea, including a month of delays in England, they spotted land, which was the Cape Cod Hook, now called Provincetown Harbor. After several days of trying to get south to their planned destination of the Colony of Virginia, strong winter seas forced them to return to the harbor at Cape Cod hook, where they anchored on November 11/21. The Mayflower Compact was signed that day.

Thomas Rogers was the 18th signatory to the Mayflower Compact. His son Joseph was then about 18 years of age and could not sign the Compact.

Thomas Rogers died sometime during the first winter in Plymouth. His son Joseph survived and may have lived with Governor Bradford and family.

William Bradford’s 1651 recollection of the fate of Thomas Rogers and his family: “Thomas Rogers dyed in the first sickness, but his son Joseph is still living, and is married, and hath 6 children. The rest of Thomas Rogers (children) came over, and are married, and have many children.”

Thomas Rogers was buried, likely in an unmarked grave as with most Mayflower passengers who died in the first winter, in Coles Hill Burial Ground in Plymouth. The name of Thomas Rogers is memorialized on the Pilgrim Memorial Tomb on Coles Hill.

Joseph Rogers. Baptized January 23, 1602 and came to Plymouth on the Mayflower with his father in 1620. He married in New England and had eight children, most born in Duxbury. A wife “Hannah” is mentioned in his will, but it is not known when they married or if she is the mother of his children. He died in Nauset, now Eastham, on January 15, 1678, and was buried in Old Cove Burial Ground there.

Joseph Rogers was a notable person in Plymouth Colony. Over the years, he was involved in the founding of Bridgewater and Eastham. His name appears in the following colony records: 1623 Division of Land with Wm. Brewster – in the 1623 Plymouth Colony land division, Joseph Rogers was allotted two acres – one for himself and one on behalf of his late father; 1626 Purchasers list (colony investors); 1627 Division of Cattle with Wm. Bradford; 1633-34 Tax Lists – with his brother John on the 1633 list along with being a freeman that year; 1643 Able to Bear Arms List (with his brother John – with his surname given as “Roger”). In 1658 he was on the War Council of Plymouth Colony.

Our next arrival was Isaac Robinson who was a son of Rev. John Robinson and Bridget Whyte. Rev. Robinson was a pastor of the Separatists and moved to Leiden with the Mayflower congregation to escape English persecution. Isaac was born in Leiden in 1610.

Reverend Robinson died in Leiden in 1625. Isaac crossed the Atlantic with his widowed Mother and two Brothers in 1631. By that time the Great Migration was in full swing and there were English settlements along the Massachusetts coast. The Robinson’s settled in Scituate located on the Atlantic coast between Boston and The Plymouth Plantation. There he married Margaret Hanford in 1636

The Robinsons relocated to Barnstable with the Rev. Lothrop congregation in 1639. Where Isaac lived to the age of ninety-four in 1704.

“Robert Shelly came to New England on the ship Lion which sailed 21 June 1632 and landed in Boston on 12 September 1632. Judith Garnet came in the ship Frances which sailed from Ipswich, England, the last of April 1634. Her age is given on the ship’s list as twenty-six. In September 1634 she was admitted to the first church at Boston as “our brother John Coggeshall’s maidservant.”

Robert and Judith were living in Scituate, Plymouth Colony, MA, soon after Rev. John Lothrop arrived. Lothrop kept careful church records, of which the following relate to the Shelleys: “The Houses in the plantation of Situate…since my coming…No. 39 was Robert Shellyes, 1636.” “Goodman Shelley joyned 14 May 1637.” “Isaac Robinson & Margaret Handford contracted at Mr. Hatherlyes 27 June 1636, and by him Robert Shelly and his wife from Boston marryed here 26 September 1636.”

Robert had a farm in Scituate in 1636, on the Third Cliff near Gillson’s windmill. Plymouth Colony records show: Nov. 5, 1638 “Robert Shelly & John Winter desire to be admitted freeman at the next Genral Court.” 1 Feb. 1639/40, Robert Shelly of Scituate took oath of allegiance and fidelity.” In October 1639, he, with Mr. Lothrop and other members of the church, moved to Barnstable, where he was living in 1670.

Another record shows that he was listed among those able to bear arms, in 1643. On 5 Jan. 1643/4, Thomas Hinckley, Thomas Lothrop, Henry Cobb and Isaac Robinson drew up a list of those who were then inhabitants of Barnstable, and among the forty-five householders was “Robert Shelley, from Scituate 1639.” Mr. Lothrop’s Barnstable church records state: “Judith Shelly joyned by dismission from the church att Boston, 25 August 1644.” Otis says in Barnstable Families: “Robert Shelly was an easy, good-natured man and cared little how the world moved. He was however, an honest man, a good neighbor and a sincere Christian.” Judith, on the contrary, was “proud, tenacious of her own opinions.”

These conclusions of course are based upon the records of John Lothrop, whom Judith defied: “Goody Shelley excommunicated 4 June 1649 & cast out of the church, though absent for she would not come, setting att naught the messenger of the church sent to her, principally for slaundering of 2 systers, Syster Wells & Syster Dimmock, saying Sister Dimmick was proud & went about telling Lyes, but could never prove anythinge by any Testimonye. And also affirming that myselfe & Brother Cobb, to my syster Wells at her house didd talk of her…Continued from tyme to tyme to affirme as cpmfodemt;u as of sje jadd jadd a s[orot pf Reve;atopm. saying also that I had confessed it, and after did denye it; and that all the church knew it was soe, but durst not or would not speake. And that I deserved rather to be cast out then shee, for shee was innocent but I was guilty. She would never be convinced of any of her conceived Jealousyes, and was wondrous perremptorye in all her carriages, many times condeming the Breathren that they dealt not with her in a way of God. Wee had long patience towards her & used all the courteous intreatyes & persuasians, but the longer wee waited the worse shee was.” Reverend Lothrop goes on to say that Judith was resentful because some of the church women had not invited her to one of their “Christian meetings.”

Nothing further can be found concerning Judith after her excommunication by Mr. Lothrop, whose stern Puritanism is well known. In 1653 he had fifteen-year-old Hannah Shelley and David Linnell whipped, which Otis says was because David had courted her without her father’s permission. Judith’s name is not mentioned, but Otis did once use the word “parents.” David and Hannah were married the next year by John Lothrop and raised a large family. In 1634 Robert was made a freeman of Barnstable. In 1669 his wife, then Susanna, was a witness to the will of Richard Foxwell in Barnstable, and was apparently on good terms with her sister-in-law, Anne Shelly. Lothrop says Anne “came into the land in 1632.” She married Richard Foxwell in 1634 as his second wife.

Robert Shelley’s will of 11 March 1688/89, was recorded on 22 October 1692:

John Phinney arrived in at Plymouth in 1638 with his wife Christiana, his mother, his brother Robert, and his sister Catherine. Tradition has it that his father died while crossing the sea. He was one of the proprietors of the town of Plymouth, December 2, 1639.  

John Phinney lived in Plymouth for several years; his two sons by his first wife were born there. He next moved to Barnstable, Mass. where seven of his children were born, and eventually to Bristol, R.I.

He had seven sons. The eldest, John, Jr. (ancestor) settled in Barnstable and founded what is known as the Barnstable branch of the family; his descendants have usually spelled their surname “Phinney.” Josiah made his home in Plymouth and thus established the Plymouth line. Jonathan, Jeremiah, and Joshua all went to Rhode Island with their father, and their descendants form the so-called Bristol branch. The Phinney spelling is sometimes found in the Plymouth and Bristol lines also, especially in the later generations.

His wife Christian died September 9, 1649, and he married (second) at Barnstable, July 9 or June 10, 1650, Abigail Coggin (or Cogan), widow of Henry Coggin. She was buried May 7, 1653.

Mr. Phinney married (third) June 26, 1654, Elizabeth Bayley, of Barnstable. He was constable at Barnstable. He became interested in that fertile region about Mount Hope Rhode Island and he removed in his later years. “Mr. Phinney with his townsman Major Walley, became interested in the fertile region about Mount Hope, RI (now Bristol, RI) where he removed after holding the office of constable in Barnstable.

‘Mother Phinney,” his mother, died at Plymouth, April 22, 1650, aged upwards of eighty. His brother Robert settled also at Plymouth, where he was a town officer and deacon; married, September, 1641, Phebe Ripley; died January 7, 1687-88, aged eighty, and in his will bequeathed to the children of his brother John and others, having no surviving children. John died in 1702 in Bristol, RI.

William Weeks was in New England by 1638. He married Mary Lynde after his arrival and the family had relocated to Martha’s Vineyard by probably sometime between 1646 and 1652.

In 1655 he was granted land “near the pines in the middle of the island.” It is known that he was married at that time because of a deposition by Goodwife Weeks, dated Dec. 25, 1655, but her given name was not noted. It may be that he brought his children with him, or they may have been born after his move to Martha’s Vineyard. Sometime before 1658 this wife died. In later divisions between 1664 and 1669 Williams Weeks continued to receive a share in the common lands.

In 1667, while on a trading voyage from the Vineyard, William and his son William had their vessel wrecked at Quick’s Hole and the vessel and all its cargo looted by the Wampanoags of the Elizabeth Islands. He went to court to attempt recovery of damages. They were rescued by John Dixey who told the Governor of New York about the incident. He, in turn, wrote to Governor Mayhnew to deal with the Wampanoags and require restitution of the vessel and its stolen cargo.

Several suits against William indicate that he operated a tavern. He appeared in various business and litigation activities between 1684 and 1687. In 1688 he sold his real estate interests in Homes Hole to Isaac Chase. A final sale in December of that year seems to be his last transaction. Between that date and August 3, 1689, he died, as his widow, Mary, sold the home lot and he is referred to as being deceased.

Robert Linnell, born c.1584, was in his fifty-fourth year when he made the voyage from London, England to America. He was known as “Mr. Linnell” when he arrived at Scituate, a fact that gives some support to the belief that he was known and respected even in England before coming to this land. Mr. Linnell took the oath of allegiance to the King and of fidelity to the colony on 1 Feb. 1638 and was admitted a freeman on the 3rd of December of that same year. (Amos Otis; Genealogical Notes of Barnstable Families Vol. 2, p. 151). It was among the men of Kent that he first settled, men who may have been neighbors at one time before their removal to London and then to America. It is said that their choice of a settlement at Scituate may have been because the cliffs of that seaport reminded them of the cliffs of Dover in Kent.

That Kent was well known to Mr. Linnell is evidenced by the fact that his second wife, Penninah Howes was the daughter of John Howes, the parish clerk of Eastwell, Kent. It is probable that her mother was John Howes’ wife Alice. Penninah’s sister, Hannah, was the wife of the Rev. John Lothrop whose congregation in London had refused to accept the King as head of the Church. This conflict had resulted in the imprisonment of the Rev. John Lothrop for two years. Upon his release, many members of the congregation made their move to America with him to be able to worship as they chose. That Penninah belonged to the congregation in London can be shown by the report of her being questioned by the Ecclesiastical Court along with others in the congregation in 1632. There she stated that only God was Lord of her beliefs.

It is probable that Robert Linnell had also been in London and a member of Lathrop’s congregation. He must have been married to his first wife (unknown name) at this time. His first four children were probably born in England during the years 1627 (Otis’s estimate of son David’s birth date) to 1633/34. Why Robert did not leave London with the remainder of John Lothrop’s congregation is not known. There may have been a connection with the death of his first wife; perhaps they waited for the the birth of a son Shubael whom Amos Otis names as a child in this family. Otis states, “I name him (Shubael) as his son and probably born in this country, though there is no record of his birth either in Scituate or Barnstable” (Otis, Gen. Notes, Vol. 2,p.152).If, indeed, Shubael was born in this country, he was the son of Penninah; for she had become Robert’s wife before the passage to America. Kerry Bate omits Shubael in his listing of Robert’s children and names Bethia, bap. 7 Feb. 1640/41, as the only child of Penninah (Kerry William Bate, The Ebenezer Hanks Story, 1962, p.164). Shubael has been retained in this history because there are references to such a person in later events. However, we cannot know which of Robert’s wives was Shubael’s mother.

 The reunion of the Linnells with the Rev. John Lothrop and his flock in Scituate must indeed have been joyous, especially for Penninah Linnell with her sister, Hannah Lothrop. The sixtieth entry in John Lothrop’s records of the church at Scituate was that “My Brother Robert Linnell and his wife having a letter of dismission from the church in London joyned to us September 16, 1638.”

Robert Linnell was one of those who petitioned to be granted land in another area of the colony. They wanted to develop their own close-knit group, observing their religious practices according to their interpretation. Land was granted to this group first at Sippican; but there seem to have been problems connected to this location and a new grant was given for removal to Mattacheese. On “June 26, 1639, a fast for the presence of God in mercy to go with us to Mattacheese” was held with a Thanksgiving celebration when they had all arrived in that place now known as Barnstable.

The list of 45 townsmen and voters in 1640 included Robert Linnet, and in 1643 those able to bear arms also included David Linnet, by this time 16 years old. Capt. Miles Standish was placed in charge of this militia. They were expecting trouble with the Indians.

At the town meeting in 1641 “Mr. Thomas Lothrop and Bernard Lombard were appointed measurers of land,” and authorized “to lay out all the lands that the several inhabitants are to have laid out, and to bound them with stakes.” The land thus measured to Mr.Linnell ranked him one of those with large holdings. “His house lot, Lot #9 of the original town plan, contained ten acres and was bounded northerly by the harbor, easterly by the lot of Thomas Lumbard, southerly by the highway, and westerly by the home lots of William and John Casely. He also owned three acres of planting land in the Common Field, three acres of meadow at Sandy Neck, nine at Scorton, a great lot containing sixty acres, and rights of commonage”. It was here that Mr. Linnell lived for twenty-four years until his death in January, 1662. These were years of carving a home and a living out of the wilderness, a quite different life from that in London and Otis notes that he died a poor man.

These twenty-four years in Barnstable saw many changes in the Linnell family. In the records of the Rev. John Lothrop,

David Lynnell and Hannah Shelley (our ancestors) were married by Mr. Prince March 9,1652.  David and Hannah had violated the old law, enacted by the Pilgrim fathers, “That if any shall make any motion of marriage to any man’s daughter, or mayde servant, not haveing first obtayned leave and consent of the parents or master so to doe, shall be punished either by fine of corporal punishment or both at the discretions of the bench”.

David and Hannah were summoned to appear at a meeting of the church. They appeared May 30, 1652, and there in the presence of the whole congregation confessed their fault. “They were both, by the sentence and joint consent of the church, pronounced to be cutt off from that relation which they hadd formerlye to the church by virtue of their parents covenaunt.” The action of the church was an accepted proceedure; but the action of the civil court just three days later added anguish and shame.

In the list of presentments made in the civil court by the “Grand Enquest” dated June 2,1652 neither David Linnel nor Hannah Shelley were indicted; yet, on the next day, June 3, 1652, the Court condemned “both of them to be publicly whipt at Barnstable, where they live,” and the sentence was executed at Barnstable five days afterwards, that is on the 8th day of June, 1652.

This was only the fourth case that had required the interposition of the authority of the magistrates in the thirteen years the town had been. The possibilities of embarrassment and grief in this close-knit society were great. The fact that the love of David and Hannah withstood this test and that they were married in March of the following year is cited by Otis as a story having as much romantic interest and poetic appeal as the story of John Alden and Priscilla Mullins. Even so David did not join the church again until in the final years of his life; Hannah never did.

Robert Linnell’s death on 23 January 1662 completed the first generation of this family in America.

Robert Linnell’s will reads as follows:

“The last Will of Robert Linell Deceased the 23 of January 1662 I give to my wife my house and home lott soe long as shee lives a widdow; alsoe…all my household stuffe and plow and Cart and two Cowes and a calfe for ever; I give my house and home lott to David and his heires after my wife either Dieth or marrieth

alsoe my mersh att sandy necke I give to David and his heirs for ever and my lot by John Casleyes; I give my ground and mersh att the lower end of the pond att Mattakeessett to Abigail; I give to John Davis my two oxen to find my wife wood and to mow my marsh and plow my ground for her for two yeare if she Remaine a widdow so longe; if she marryeth before the two yeares bee out then to bee free; I give to Bethya one Cow to have it when my Will; It is my will that the swamp I bought of Thomas Lewis to goe with my house lott; Robert Linell”

“The tearme; and a Calfe in the third line in the originall was put in since the man Deceased.

Thomas Laythrop

Trustrum Hull “

The home lot, dwelling-house, and some articles of personal estate, were appraised by Thomas Lothrop and Thos. Lewis at L55,4,6. He owed Mr. Thomas Clark L1,10 shillings, and some other small debts, and the Court ordered March 3, 1662-3, that Joseph Lothrop and Nathaniel Bacon “bee helpful to the Widdow Linnel in seeing the debts payed either out of the whole or pte of the estate.”

Otis evaluates the Linnell family with a sermon on wealth by stating that “Mr.Linnel died a poor man. His sons had been nursed in the lap of ease, and wanted that energy of character which is indispensable for success in life… The parent may bestow wealth, it is soon dissipated– little will be inherited by the grandchildren. The tax lists exhibit the folly of bequeathing wealth to thriftless children, to those who have not been educated to be temperate, honest, industrious and frugal”. The inference here is that sons David and Shubael were less than contributing members of society and that they dissipated the estate that was left to them by their father.

On Oct.20, 1669, Penninah Linnel complained to the Court that “David Linnil had possessed himself of the house and land given to her by her deceased husband, Mr. Robert Linnitt, and had given her no satisfaction for the same. The Court ordered that he give her satisfaction for the same before the next March Court, otherwise the Court order that he shall be disposed of the same. As no subsequent action was taken the presumption is that David did make the required satisfaction”.  The date of Penninah’s death is not known.

Second Generation (The First Generation in America was Robert Linnell)

David Linnell (Robert-1)

b. c.1627, England d. bet.14 Nov.1688 date of will and its probate on 9 Mar. 1652/53. m. Hannah Shelley 9 Mar. 1652/3

David was 25/26 years old when he married Hannah, a lass of 16 years. Otis notes that “our ancestors encouraged early marriages. He who married at eighteen was admitted to all the privileges, and required to perform all the duties of a citizen; while, he that remained single, had to tarry till he was twenty-four to be enrolled as a townsman”. While David had been listed as able to bear arms for ten years, he had waited to marry for some time. The romance between David and Hannah had blossomed; it had received the public censure of public whipping and exclusion from the church rolls and privileges; yet they had moved on into marriage.

Hannah was the daughter of Robert and Judith (Garnet) Shelley. Otis describes Robert as “an easy, good-natured man, who cared little how the world moved. He was, however, an honest man, a good neighbor, and a sincere Christian. His wife Judith Garnet was before her marriage a Boston woman– a member of the church there, proud, tenacious of her own opinions, and had little control over her tongue, which ran like a whip-saw, cutting everything it came in contact with”. Judith’s tongue got her into problems with the women of the community, and an excommunication by the church on June 4,1649 for speaking ill of other women. It was in this environment that Hannah grew up and out of which she married David. Clearly, she was the independent daughter of an independent mother.

Little mention is made of David’s mature life. He was chosen “hayward of the General field” in 1679 but seems to have held no other function for the general good of the community. It seems probable that his estate was very small at the time of his death.

David’s will is dated 17 Nov. 1688 and was proved 6 March 1689. To his sons Samuel and Elisha, and to his daughters Hannah Davis, Experience, Susanna, Abigail and Mary, he gave one shilling. The land was to be divided in thirds among Jonathan, John, and David’s wife Hannah. She was to have the lower room in “my now dwelling house during her widowhood and all the Rest of my Estate in what kind so ever it be to be at her own dispose. She to be sole executrix.” Jonathan was to have the house and to pay his brother John half of its worth. It is probable that Hannah continued to live in Barnstable until her death in 1708 but that Jonathan had already moved to Eastham as early as 1687. How early John moved to Hyannis Port is not known but his marriage to Ruth Davis in 1695 may indicate the time of establishing residence there.

Hannah’s will, dated 2 Feb.1708/09, probated 5 Apr.1709, mentions as beneficiaries Abigail Linnel; Mary Sergeant [Sargent], wife of John; Experience, wife of Jabez Davis; Susanna, wife of Eben. Phinney; and her grandaughter Hannah Davis; daughter of Dolar. She signed with a mark and appointed John Phinney, Jr. as executor.

Lt. Andrew Newcomb was born in 1640 Wolborough, Devon, England.  His parents were Andrew Newcomb, Sr. and Susan Cock. He married Sarah Young about 1661. After Sarah died, he married Ann Bayes (our ancestor) in 1676.   Andrew died 20 Aug 1708 in Edgartown, Dukes [Martha’s Vineyard], Mass.

Sarah Young was born about 1642 in Kittery, Maine.  Sarah died about 1674 in Kittery, Maine. The name of his first wife, Sarah —, whom he married about 1661, has been found but once upon record. From deeds at Exeter, N. W., Vol. 3, p. 80, it appears that “Andrew Newcombe, of Hogg Island (Now Appledore Island, the largest of the Isles of Shoals located about seven miles off the Maine/New Hampshire coast so called from its rude resemblance to a hogg’s back) on ye Ile of Sholes,” fisherman, for £52 in merchantable fish, sold Henry Platts, of same place, with consent of his wife, Sarah, house on Hog Island (not described) 19 July 1673, in the 25th. year of Charles the Second, deed recorded 21 July 1673. From the foregoing it would seem that Mr. Newcomb had previously lived upon Hog Island and after the purchase of his house in Kittery he removed his family to the mainland.

Andrew Newcomb was born about 1640 in England. He was living in 1666 in Isles of Shoals.  The Isles of Shoals are a group of small islands and tidal ledges situated approximately 10 miles off the east coast of the United States, straddling the border of the states of New Hampshire and Maine.

“Kittery is the least quantity of land of any town in the county. To the town of Kittery was attached the north half of the Isles of Shoals; was then and has ever since been attached. This portion of Kittery was ‘the N 1/2 Of ‘the Isles of Shoales. This north half consisted of two islands, Hog Island and Smutty Nose (alias Church) called Georges -part or northerly part of the group. These isles contained the better land but Star Island, on account of their convenience for the fisheries, was very early lined with fishing stages and studded with fish houses–taken up before 1660. Majority of people lived upon the northerly islands. “While the Church, Court House and principal Ordinary still remained on Smutty Nose, about 1629 the southerly half of the Shoals was reclaimed from Mass., and annexed to N. H., the new Province, and a large part of the inhabitants of the northerly half removed across the harbor to Star Island. No less than 40 families crossed over from Hog Island at the time. Courts ceased to be held on Smutty Nose after 1684.”

27 Mar 1672 – Andrew deposed regarding the price of fish in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts. At that time his age was stated to be 32 years or there about. Richard Endell of the Isles of Shoals had brought a case against Jonathan Wade of Ipswich, for fish and oil delivered to Wade for several years.  The case turned on the price of fish in 1666; and to this Andrew Newcomb made affidavit, which is now on file among the court papers at Salem, Mass.  This is how we know Andrew’s birth year.

Andrew Newckum aged thirtey tow yeares or theare aboutt Swaren and Saith that in the year 1666 the prise off ffish wass Sett and mad at the Illes off Showles marchanabell fish–thirtey tow Railles per quntel this deponent then Receued Seuerall poundes in marcha fish att the prise Corrantt aboue Rightin and this deponent Knew no other prise Corrantt Butt that aboue Rightin and fforder Saith nott
Taken upon oath 27 : 1 mo
[16]72 Wm Hathorne Assist

The earliest record found of Andrew Newcomb’s purchase of land in this country is upon deeds at Alfred, York Co., Maine, Vol. 2, page 162, date 20 Apr. 1669, from which it appears that Daniel Moore of Portsmouth, blacksmith, for £58 sold Andrew Newcomb of Kittery, York Co., Me., fisherman, a dwelling-house in Kittery, near Thomas Spinney’s and formerly in the tenure and occupation of James Emberry (Emery), also. 6 acres of land adjoining the house at Emberry’s (Emery’s) Point.

The house and land, as above, “next to the land of Spinney’s of Kittery side,” were sold 7 July 1674 to John Cutt of Portsmouth; and he sold the same 8 Jan. 1674/75 to Samuel Fernald, who bequeathed them, 1698, to his son, Nathaniel; and Nathaniel, again, in 1743, to his Son, Nathaniel. This place in Kittery, York Co., Me., is on the southeast side of the mouth of Spinney Creek, and bounded westerly by the Piscataqua River, [the boundary between Maine and New Hampshire] about half a mile from the city of Portsmouth and was owned and occupied by Miss Sally Carter in 1874.   From this description, it looks like the site is occupied by the Great Cove Boat Club today.

He also appears to have owned other land at Kittery, record of purchase not found. York Deeds at Alfred, York Co., Me., 3/123-4 —

“William Hearle and wife Beaton of Portsmouth, for valuable sum of money and goods, sell John Fernald of Kittery, Shoemaker, all that parcel of land which was formerly in possession of Adrew Newcomb, lying in Kittery near unto and butting upon ye Broad Cove commonly called Spinny’s Cove, containing 20 acres, being 40 rods broad butting upon said Core and having the land of Christian Ramix (Remich) on the South side. and the land of John Saward on ye North side, and so runs 80 rods east into the woods; which said land was sold by William Hilton unto the said Andrew Newcomb.” Deed acknowledged 1 Feb. 1680 and recorded 26 Apr. 1683.

Mr. Newcomb, held the office of constable and was living at the Shoals or in Kittery in 1671, as shown by the following from York Court Records, Book E, page 51:

September 8, 1671 — Marke Roe complaynd of by Andrew Nucum Constable of ye Yles of Shoales for threatening to break his bones and tearing of his shyrt, & other uncivill behayors towards him, in the execution of his office, upon his serueing of an Attachment: from the … for the breach of his bonds And further the Constable complayns of seuerall Oaths sworn by the sd Roe in comeing ouer, who upon examination the sd Marke Roe confesed before mee yt hee was provoaked to sware seurall oaths
Edw Rishworth Asst

16 May 1672 – Probate at Exeter, first file, Edward Carter’s estate owed Andrew Newcomb 12 shillings

Among the court papers (filed in covers at office of deeds) at Exeter, N. H., is an original bond given by Mr. Newcomb, in which he agrees to appear at next county court at Dover, the last Tuesday in June 1673, to answer complaint of Francis Small

“for withholding the Hull of a ffishing shallop of sd Smalls receiued of Thomas Trickle by virtue of sd Small’s order,” The case came to trial 26 June 1673, at which time Lydia Green testified that she heard Small agree with “Andrew Newcombe of the Ile of Shoales that he would carry on one quarter part of A fishing voyage at ye Ile of Shoales in the Shollop that the said Andrew Newcombe recd of Mr Thomas Tricky pr order of sd Small and this was sometime about Nouember or December last past.” The case was withdrawn, there being no cause for action.

At the time of his residence upon the Shoals they were places of resort, and the Church, Court House and principal Ordinary being located upon Smutty Nose or Church Island, together with the fishing industry, in which Mr. Newcomb was engaged, caused the islands to be preferred for residences until later, when the mainland became more thickly settled.

“Att a County Court houlden at Wells for the County of Yorke July 7, 1674, the Worshipfl Major Tho. Clarke, Praesident, Major Bryan Pendleton, Mr. Geo. Munjoy, Edw- ReCor. Assotiates.

Mr John Cutt is plantiffe in an action of debt Contra Andrew Newcom Defendt. In ye action Capt. Davess is taken off and Capt. Charles Frost is put in his place. The Jury finds for ye Plantiffe 16:00:0 one halfe in marchtble fish & ye other halfe in refuge fish, according to bill: 5″ Damage & costs of Court 25 & 6d.”

Mr. Newcomb removed from Kittery and Isles of Shoals in the year 1674 or early in 1675. From the foregoing it will be seen that after the decision of the Court at Wells (7 July 1674) he turned over to John Cutt his house and land in Kittery and, his wife having died previously, he took his seven young and motherless children to a more favorable location, for it is possible that the Indians had become troublesome in Maine, as King Philip’s war broke out in June 1675. and this may have influenced him in his decision to move. He settled at Edgartown, on the Island of Martha’s Vineyard, the same year, where he became a proprietor and at various times received shares in the divisions of lands in that town and where he and his wife both died.

Ann Bayes was born about 1658 in Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.  Her parents were Capt. Thomas Bayes and Anna Baker.  Ann died in 1731 in Edgartown

Andrew was a Lieutenant in the Martha’s Vineyard militia. Mr. Newcomb was chosen Lieut. of Militia 13 Apr 1691, and that he was in command of fortifications is shown from the following:

Andrew Newcomb, Commander of the fortifications: who had such number of men as occasionally were ordered by the chief Magistrates.

“All debts to the king, customs, excise, wrekes &c. were the care of the collector, and the ordinarie let at 10 Ib. per annum, viz. custome & excise.

Andrew Newcomb became a prominent citizen of Martha’s Vineyard.  He was juror at quarter court at Eastham 25 Sept. 1677 and 28 Dec. 1680; foreman of grand jury Sept. 1681, June 1700 and 1703 and 7 Mar 1704; constable in 1681; was chosen 25 Nov. 1685. with two others, “to make ye governors rate of three half penny upon ye pound”; tithingman 10 May 1693; selectman 1693/94; and overseer 16 Mar 1693/94. His name appears many times upon record as witness to deeds, etc. Upon the records of Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., he is in nearly every case called “Mr.” a title then conferring more honor and distinction and doubtless commanding higher respect than that of “Hon.” today.

Here’s an example of the high esteem in which he was held:

Maj. Wait Winthrop in a letter to Gov. Phips, no date but received 21 Oct 1692, mentions “Mr. Newcomb”; and in a letter Simon Athern to the Governor and Council Oct. 1692 says: “being sensable of much troble on marthas vineyard for want of dew settlement of the affairs of that Iland And Considering the present state of persons and things there I humbly shew that if Mr. Andrew Newcomb be made Cheefe Justice And Mr. Joseph Norton & Mr. James Allen Justices there who are reputed welthy and having such influence in the people there, will be most Reddy way to settle your government there.”

There are reasons for believing that he was a merchant several and perhaps many years. On 18 Feb 1683 he paid Nathaniel Fryer £3: 11s. in feathers. Land Records, Edgartown, Dukes Co., Mass., Vol. I, p. 219.

“Received this 18th of February 1683 from Mr. Andrew Newcomb of Edgartown upon Martin Vineyard the sum of three pounds, eleven shillings in feathers for account of my father Nathaniel Fryer in full of all debts dues and demands from the beginning of the world to this day. Received pr me Joshua Frier.
“Joshua Frier acknowledged the above written receipt this 18th day of Feb., 1683-4. Before me,
Matt Mayhew, Justice of Peace.”‘

Court Records (Edgartown).

“Special Corte held this 16th December 1684, Mr. Andrew Nurcom complayneth agaynst Amos an Enden for Inbaseling or purloyning away Sider & Rum. They joyne ishew before the Court to his the sayed Nucom great treble to the damag to ye vallew of seven pounds & twelve shillings.

“In ye case betwene Mr. Andrew Nurcorn plantife Amos Endian defendant we find ye defendant gilty of one cask of Rum containing 12 gallons, and one pound & twelve shillings damage with costs of Corte.”

From Records at Albany, N. Y.-N. Y. Col. Mss. 34: part 2, p. 35-3ce

“Insula Martha Vineyard. I under written doe confess and acknowledge to owe and to be Indepted unto Richard Sarson his heirs &c ye summe of thirty eight pounds ffive Shillings and three pence money to be paid unto ye aforesaid Richard Sarson his heirs &c, upon ye Bottome of ye Shipp Betty now in the Harbour of ye above Island being for wages paid to the men of ye Shipp Betty as witness my hand this 13th ffebry 1684-5

Rob: Right
Witness
Andrew Nucombe
Thomas Harlock
The abovesaid Capt Robert Right acknowledged the abovewritten to be his act & Deed the day & year abovesaid
Matt Mayhew
Chiefe Magistrate.”

“Insula Marthas Vineyard. I underwritten doe obleidge myself my heires &c to pay or cause to be paid unto Andrew Newcombe Junior three pounds Money to his heirs &e upon Demand, being soe much due for three Months wages on ye Shipp Betty of Carolina, Capt Robt Right commandr: as witness my hand this 13th ffebry 1684-5
Robt Right
Testes

Stepen Hussey
Andrew Neucombe Senior.

Court Records (Edgartown) p. 71.

“At Court Sept 30, 1690
“September 24, 1690, Andrew Newcomb haueing legally purchased a neck of land caueled Job’s neck of ye Sachem thereof, ye Sachem haueing given legall conuayance to sd Andrew Newcomb being ye trew and proper oner of ye sayd neck, one Jobe an Indian hauing noe just nor lawfuli caues therefore hath trespassed on ye sayd neck by tilling, improfing, moing, and to his own use converted the benefitt of sayd land thereby not only berefing sayd Andrew Newcomb of such benefitt which he ought and might lawfully make of ye same but deffaming his just title thereunto whereby ye sayd Newcomb hath ben lett and hindred from a dew Improfement thereof and his title to the same questioned to his great dammage and lose of which he doubteth not to make this Court sencible and humbly prayeth relefe in his sd caus and shall eaver pray yo” humble Supplyant (not signed) “In ye case pending betwene Andrew Newcomb plaintife and Jobe the Indian defendant, the verditt of ye Jury is We find for ye plaintife Six pence dameg and Cost of Court”

Andrew (2) Newcomb bought of Indian Job 24 Sept. 1690 a tract of land called “at Saprataine” or in the deed called “Sopotaminy,” Martha’s Vineyard records. Court Records (of Edgartown) p. 95.

“Court of common pleas holden at Edgartown, Oct. 3, I693. Andrew Newcomb complaineth against Jacob Washaman and notick quanum alis Elizabeth queon Sachem his wife in an action of trespas on the case for Refusing to give to sd Andrew Newcomb posesion of certain land in Edgartown containing one neck of land caled Sapotomane.

“The humble petytion and declaration of Andrew Newcomb to their Majesties honoured Court seting Octobr 3d. 93 humbly sheweth that whereas the sd Andrew Newcomb procured a deed of sale of Jacob Washaman & Elizabeth his wife of the neck of land called Sapautamane whereby sd Jacob was legally… end
“In the case depending between Andrew Newcomb plaintife and Jacob Washaman an indian defendant, the Jury find for the defendant and cost of Court.”

“Court of Quarter Sessions, holden at Edgartown, Oct 2d 1696 by their Majesties’ Justices for Martha’s Vineyard.
“Dick alias Soo-ah-chame, an Indian, being legally convicted of lifting the door of Andrew Newcombs’ dwelling house at Edgartown off from the hinges and entering into the house, being late in the night, thereby disturbing and frighting the people of the house, is adjudged to pay the summe of three pounds to said Newcombe and to stand committed until payed.”
“October 4″ 27th 1684 voted that Mr. Newcomb Joseph Norton and Thomas Butler are chosen to make up ye accounts of ye men that hav, done any Seruice for ye Town or Layed out any money for ye town and to make a Rate and to sett all things to Rights and to make all Rates for this year.”

Maj. Wait Winthrop in a letter to Gov. Phips, no date but received 21 Oct 1693 mentions “Mr. Newcomb”; and in a letter Simon Athern to the Governor and Council Oct 1692 says:

“being sensable of much troble on marthas vineyard for want of dew settlement of the affairs of that Iland And Considering the present state of persons and things there I humbly shew that if Mr. Andrew Newcomb be made Cheefe Justice And Mr. Joseph Norton & Mr. James Alien Justices there who are reputed welthy and having such influence in the people there, will be most Reddy way to settle your government there.

Mr. Newcomb’s first purchase of land on Martha’s Vineyard was made 13 Feb. 1677 of John Daggett, for £25, 10 acres land, “according to the bounds thereat as it was layed out, unto John Freeman, Blacksmith, and to him granted by the said town; as likewise half a Commonage in the said townshippe; for him, the said Andrew Newcomb, to have and to hold the aforesaid land and p’misses, with the now dwelling house thereon standing and being, with all and singular the outhouseing barnes shoppes hovells fence and fencing stuff on the said land and p’mises being.”

This land situated on the south side of the village, together with a house-lot, he sold Israel Daggett for £40, 3 Feb. 1702. May 13, 1686, he bought of Jacob Washaman and Notickquanum (also written Wonnottoohquanam) alias Elizabeth, his wife, Sachem, and Queen of Nunpauque, for £5, a piece of land called Job’s Neck, alias Sapotem or Sapotamane, running into a pond on south side of the township, bounded southerly by pond, easterly and westerly by coves of water to Mill Path (also written Milne Path). He sold this land, Job’s Neck, 22 Jan. 1701/02, to his son, Simon, one of the witnesses to the deed being Peeter Newcomb. He sold for £22 land at Sanchacantaket, bought of Misam alias Wabamuck; and in 1700 he sold the land, later occupied as a famous camp-meeting ground on Martha’s Vineyard. (Vol. 3, p. 320.)

In June 1703 he, with others, gave Samuel Holman, the tanner, a lot of land “to encourage him in his business.” Mar. 10, 1709-10, Thomas Harlock sold lands bought of “Mr. Andrew Newcomb, late deceased.” He owned the land in Edgartown upon which the Court House was afterwards built.

Mrs. Newcomb’s name is in the earliest preserved list of church members, 13 July 1717; also in the list of 24 Jan. 1730-1. She received in 1680, by will of her father dated 4 Feb. 1679-80, £50; also, a three-eighths interest in his real estate, which was increased by rights of her sister bought by Mr. Newcomb in 1686. Of the Indian lands of Capt. Bayes Mr. and Mrs. Newcomb owned, in 1688, three and a half shares at Sanchacantaket, near the camp-meeting ground ten acres at Pompineches Neck, and one half-share on the Island of Chappauiddick.

In 1710 Mrs. Newcamb sold 5 acres of land near the court house in Edgartown, formerly from her father, and in 1716 she, “widow, Relict of Andrew Newcomb, late of Edgartown,” sold her stepson, Simon(3) Newcomb, for £20, land in Edgartown. In 1728 she sold her dau. Mary “all my household goods, to enter upon at my decease.”

Mr. Newcomb was chosen Lieut. of Militia 13 Apr 1691, and that he was in command of fortifications is shown from the following:

“University of the State of New York, etc. New York State Library Albany, N. Y. May 15, 1896.

Andrew Newcomb, Commander of the fortifications: who had such number of men as occasionally were ordered by the chief Magistrates.

“All debts to the king, customs, excise, wrekes &c. were the care of the collector, and the ordinarie let at 10 Ib. per annum, viz. custome & excise.

“A Nantucket commanded As chief Magistrate Capt: John Gardener James Coffin Justices of peace William Gayer William Worth “Capt. John Gardener, Collector, and his charge was all dues for the king. Ye chief Magistrate in the County, present, had a casting voice in (a word illegible) Dedimus potes tatem to Matthew Maphew to Administer the Oath to all the Magistrates and officers Civil & military in Dukes County. Dated 20th. Augt. 1691. Ret 20 March following.

“Judges, John Gardener, James Coffin & Richd Sars (on) (two last letters missing in the original),br> Common Pleas.
G. R. Hatch.”

Andrew Newcomb appears to have died without making- a will, and no inventory or settlement of his estate has been found upon record. By his first wife he had seven children, all of whom appear to have been born in the vicinity of Kittery, Me. By his second wife there were eight children, all of whom were married and had families, and although no record of their births has been preserved yet their relationship as brother and sisters, also that they were children of Andrew and Anna Newcomb, has been authenticated by a plea for partition of land and brought 1 Oct. 1731, in which all, or nearly all of the children and heirs are named.

The following is from “The Hoagland Family in America” by Daniel Carpenter Hoagland:

“Our earliest known Hoagland ancestor was Harme Hooghlandt born about 1550. Hoogland is a village in the province of Utrecht, Netherlands.

His grandson son was Harme Dircksz Hooghlandt born circa 1607 at Rijnsburg, South Holland close to the city of Leiden and died October 1677.  He married Jannetje Deynoot who was born circa 1610 at Rotterdam on August 17, 1632 at Rotterdam. Their banns were published on August 1, 1632.

The Deynoot family removed to Rotterdam about 1580 – 1584 due to religious and economic reasons.  Also, a war was being fought between Spain and the Northern Provinces of the Netherlands. Most of the 80 year war took place in the southern provinces (Flanders, Antwerp and Ghent). The Deynoot’s were members of the Remonstrant Church which was more liberal than the Dutch Reformed Church. Jannetje’s brother Daniel resided at Haarlem and was one of the regents of the Old Man House, the home for the aged.”

His portrait is to be found in a painting depicting regents of the Old Man House of Haarlem which was painted by Frans Hals (1580 – 1666).

Another immigrant ancestor was  Christoffel Hooghlandt who was born 1634 in Haarlem, Holland, and died February 8, 1684 in New Amsterdam.  He married June 23, 1661. “It was formally announced from the pulpit of the church in the fort.” to Catrina Creiger (a.k.a. Tryntie – a Dutch habit of forming a diminutive by dropping the first syllable); born 1645 in New Amsterdam; baptized December 31, 1645 died about 1713 in the Flatlands (Long Island)

Catrina was the daughter of Captain Martin Cregier (born about 1614 in Toulouse, France – died between 1713 – 1715 in the Mohawk Valley (Canastagione, New York) and Lysbet Jans.

From the George Q. Cannon Document Collection:

“Christoffel Hooglandt was born in Holland in 1634. (Christoffel, in English Christopher, was often shortened to Stoffel, the Dutch being much given to abbreviating names. Hence this Hooglandt is often called in the records “Stoffel Hooglandt”. There is something pleasant about these good old Dutch names borne by our worthy ancestors. And they meant something, too as, Christopher, the Christ‑bearer).

He came from Haarlem to New Amsterdam when but a youth. He was clerk for a mercantile house, and it appears that on his coming of age he commenced business for himself. In 1655 his name appears on the records of the Bargomasters and Schepens Court. We infer from the previous silence of the records regarding him that he had but lately arrived in this country. He next comes to our notice on the 16th of March, 1661, when he united with the Dutch Church in New Amsterdam. Evidently, he had been well educated, and was of a good family.

The next notice of him is on April 24, 1661, when he stands as witness at the baptism of a child of Martin Abrahams, who had arrived here a year before from Bloemendael. One June 23d ensuing, his intended marriage with Miss Catrina Cregier, a young woman born here in 1645, and the daughter of Capt. Martin Cregier, a noted officer under Kieft and Stuyvesant, was formally announced from the pulpit of the church in the fort. This alliance was not only calculated to give young Hooglandt a social standing, but shows that he was even then held in esteem. He must have already obtained some prominence as a merchant, because, on October 21, 1661, he and Hendrick Willemsen, baker, “as having a better knowledge of bread,” were appointed by the Court of Burgomasters and Schepens to put in force an ordinance passed on that date regulating the quality, weight and price of bread, and the forbidding of bakers ”To bake any more Koeckjes, jumbles or sweet cake.”

On May, 1666 he was living in the Hooge Street, supposed to have been a part of the present Pearl Street, west side of Broad, his lot being described as “Hoogland’s Corner, front to ye bridge, 50 feet to ye Pearl Street.” His dwelling stood on the Pearl Street side. The bridge was that crossing the canal, which at that date ran through Broad Street. He was also the owner of other property in the city. On May 24, 1669, being at this time an Aldrman, he purchased from WilliamVan Borden a house and lot “outside the Land Gate (at Wall Street and Broadway) and south of the house of Gerrit Hendricksen, the blaauw boet,”and there he spent the remainder of his days. He also bought land near the house of the noted Capt. Jacob Leisler from ex‑Governor Stuyvesant.” In 1676 two farm lots (Government grants) were surveyed for Mr. Hooglandt upon Staten Island. He was also the owner of several tracts of land in the States of New York and New Jersey.

On March 12, 1676, being “Monday in the afternoon about five o’clock,” Mr. Hoogland and his wife Catharine Cregier‑‑” the testator sickly and the testatix going sound of body”‑‑made their joint wills which was drawn up by William Borgardus, Notary, and witnessed by their friends, Francis Rombonts and Paul Richard, Merchants. (The wife of Wm. Borgardus is said to have been Sarah Cregier, sister to the wife of Christopher Hoagland). It provided for the ultimate and equal division of the property among their present children, Dirck, Harman, Martins Christopher and Francis De Groot Hoogland: and “the children which they may by the blessing of God get in the future.” The wisdom of this last provision became obvious when another son was born to them four years later, and whom they named Harman, the first child of that name having died. Surviving eight years, Mr. Hoogland attained again the position of Alderman in 1678.

His death took place on February 8, 1684, when he was probably about fifty years of age. Catrina was then a resident of Pearl Street, her father, Capt. Cregier, occupying the same adjoining premises.

On October 3, 1688, the widow Hoogland signed a marriage contract with Rocloff Martinsen Schenck, a prominent and wealthy resident of Flatlands, to whom she was married on the 9th of November following. She thereupon removed with her younger children to “The Bay,” as Flatlands was familiarly called, and where she was still living September 4, 1704, the date of Mr. Schenck’s will. There her youngest son, Harman, spent his life.”

Children of Christoffel and Catrina:

Harmanus Hooglant was born February 18, 1681 and baptized at the Dutch Reformed Church in New Amsterdam. He died November 8, 1771 at Flatlands – Long Island.  He was an elder of the church at Flatbush in 1710, 1712 and 1716 he owned and occupied a house near the Flatlands church. He owned other property and owned one or more slaves.  He married between 1702 – 1706 Alida Jansz Van Dyckhuysen (also spelled Alyday) born circa 1684 and died April 25, 1706. On April 25th, Harman paid 24 gl. for grave and pall for his wife.

Their son (the grandson of the immigrant) Harmanus Hooghlandt (son of Harmanus Hooghlandt and Adrianna Stoothuff) was born January 1, 1725 at the Flatlands baptized died January 25, 1806 and was buried in the Hoagland Cemetery, South Branch, Somerset County religion both were members of the Neshanic Reformed Church as of September 13, 1776.

He married Styntie Van Gelder (Styntie is short for Christyntie) born December 22, 1734 baptized January 26, 1735 at New Utrecht. Witnessed by Cornelius and Christyntie Vanderhoven. died March 25, 1798 age 64 years Daughter of Hendrick Van Gelder (circa 1709 in Flatbush) and Annatje VanderVoort (circa 1713 in Bushwick) Family bible record has her name as Stinche.

Several years after their marriage, they moved to Somerset County, New Jersey. They purchased 189 acres on the road that leads from Flaggs to South Branch. His farm joined his brother’s, Christopher and Harmanus. There is a record of a purchase of 128 1/2 acres of land by Harmanus Hoogland, of Hillsborough, in 1784, from Jeronomus Vanderbilt for the sum of 768 pounds, 19s, 11d. See Somerset county record A 123 – this land was located just across the river from Neshanic Station.

The Hoagland land was in Flaggtown, Somerset County, New Jersey.  The Hoagland Cemetery is no longer in existence.  From an entry in Find-a Grave:

“Late 18th century – early 19th century burying ground that was located on the old Hoagland farm in the Flagtown section of Hillsborough Township, NJ. Headstones that were still standing in December 1934 were transcribed and recorded by Walter P. Coon of the Genealogical Society of New Jersey, and published January 15, 1937 in the Somerset Messenger-Gazette. He did note some illegible broken stones. The cemetery has since been plowed over.”

Their son was Lucas born April 24, 1753 at Flatlands, Long Island, NY, baptized April 29, 1753 at Flatbush Reformed Church. Witnesses – Lucas Voorhees and Christina (nee Vandervoort) Voorhees, wife of Lucas. died May 22, 1821

He had a farm on the South Branch of the Raritan River in Hillsborough Township. He occupied the farm which his father owned before him, and also had about 225 acres near Branchville, which came to him by marriage. That which came to him by marriage was on the other side of the South Branch. The former 189 acres was bought from his father, Harmanus, for 1000 pounds on February 1, 1800. The land bordered Martin Hoagland and Christopher Hoagland’s land (son of Christopher of Flatlands and a nephew of Martinus who was brother of Harmanus). Martin and Harmanus were sons of Harmanus and Adriana. 

He married Mary Bunn on December 1772.  She was born March 15, 1755 in Branchville and died August 14, 1835 according to family bible record. Her will was signed on May 21, 1829 and proved August 24, 1835.

She was the daughter of Squire Edward Bunn (1730 – January 3, 1796) of Branchville and Catherine  (1736 in Bridgewater – July 12, 1799 age 63).

Captain Martin Cregier (1617-1713) Elizabeth Jansz (1623-1661)

One Cregier genealogy states that he had been a Huguenot refugee from Borcken, Holland and from Toulouse, France. Martin Cregier (Krygier), the first Burgomaster of New Amsterdam, having distinguished himself as a fearless warrior, retired with Gov. Stuyvesant into private life.

There were actually 2 burgomasters of New Amsterdam: Martin and Arendt Van Hattem. They were sworn in on February 2, 1653 along with five schepens and a secretary. He may have settled at Canastagione, now Niskayuna (Albany county, NY), on the banks of the Mohawk River. In the retired spot, he died in the early part of 1713. His descendants continued to own the homestead in Niskayuna well into the 1900’s.

New Amsterdam was the first permanent settlement by the Dutch West Indies Company in 1626. In the same year, Fort Amsterdam was constructed. In 1628, the settlement consisted of 270 persons.  In a tax list of New York City for the East ward, made about 1703, is the name of Captain  Cragror [Cregier] who had 1 male 16-60; 2 females; 2 female children; and 1 female slave.  den 31 dict . [Dec] Marten Cregier Tryntie Cornelis Van Tienhoven, Secrts., Olof Stephenszen  Van Courtlant, Ariaen Dircks, Sara Roelofs, h. v. Mr. Hans Van Kierstede.  Pieter Montfoort baptized Jannetje May 8, 1646. 

“Martin Cregier, patriot, captain and burgomaster, will be remembered for his great activity in the civic and military life of New Amsterdam. From a humble beginning, as a trader and tavern keeper, he showed such ability that he came to serve in almost every civic capacity and his skill, bravery and love of adventure raised him to the Captain-Lieutenancy of the West India Company” Before coming to New Amsterdam, Martin lived in Borcken, where his son, Frans, was born, and Amsterdam where his daughter, Margrietje, was born. Borcken may have been a village in the province of North Brabant, Holland. 

Martin came to New Amsterdam with his wife, Lysbeth Jans, and at least 3 children prior to April 5, 1643 (when their daughter, Catherine, was baptized). He entered into the service of the West India Company. On August 4, 1649, Martin Kregier, late sergeant to Gerrit Vastrick, petitioned for 1,271 guilders and 19 stivers due him from that company at Amsterdam. On March 4, 1649, he had been listed as lieutenant in a company of burgher officers of which Jacob Couwenhoven was captain. 

Martin was at first a trader in America. On September 2, 1643, there is a record of him discussing the price of beaver. On July 15, 1644, he sent 50 beavers to Holland for sale. On December 4, 1646, he signed partnership papers with Kieft, acting for the West India Company, and 9 others which indicate he owned 1/16th of the small French-built frigate, “La Garce,” which sailed as a privateer under the control of the Dutch government, preying upon Spanish barks and returning to New Amsterdam with copper, Negroes, coral, wine, tobacco, ebony, sugar and the spoils of war.

Cregier was captain of a sloop which sailed between Albany and New Amsterdam, called the “Bedfort” with which in later years he traded along the Delaware.  His trading activities were not confined to New Netherlands. In 1651 and 1652, there were letters from Lion Gardener of the Isle of Wite the mention Martin. As early as February 1683, Martin had a sloop on which he conducted trading ventures to New Castle, Delaware. He traded with “Natives or others in those parts.” On March 27, 1675, after the British reoccupation, Gov. Andros sent a message to the Schout of New Castle by Capt. Kriegiers Sloop. 

As early as 1647, Martin was a tavern-keeper in New Amsterdam. There were three inns located near the fort and overlooking the green. One was operated by Peter Kock, the Dane, at # 1 Broadway, and another owned by Martin who was Peter’s neighbor and another across  Marketveldt, the new name for Bowling Green, on Stone Street. This tavern was later called the ‘King’s Arm Tavern’ and at the time of the Revolution, it was called Burns’ Coffee House. As late as 1860, there was still a tavern on the spot, then being known as ‘The Atlantic Garden.’ 

On May 18, 1643, he was given a ground-brief – a house and garden north of the fort on the west  side of the Heere Wegh (Broadway) opposite the open space before the fort which later became  Bowling Green (located at the present #3 or #9-11 Broadway). It was the first lot on De Heere  Straat on the left side of Bowling Green, some 87 rods in perimeter. In 1643, when Broadway was starting to resemble a street, Martin built the second tavern (#9-11 Broadway). There was a tavern on the site till 1860. On March 10, 1645, Jan Jansen van den Ham declared that Martin was bequeathed a house by his friend Sergeant Martin Ael (lot was #14-16 Broadway). His friend wrote his will while lying in bed wounded during the night between March 5th and 6th. 

On February 25, 1656, he petitioned the council for leave to build on his lot west Broadway.  The house was supposed to be a 2 story building with window in the high peak and the crowstepped  gables being turned towards Broadway. It was taller and narrower than his neighbors – possibly due to the narrowness of the lot which was broader at North River and narrower at The Great Highway. The house was completed by September 15, 1659, when “the newly built house and lot of the Worshipfull Burgomaster Marten Cregier” are referred to by his neighbor Jacobus Backer. On January 3, 1664, a malicious servant, a negress named Lysbet Antonio or Antonis, set fire to the house.

The year 1664 marked the surrender of New Netherlands to the English and New Amsterdam became New York. On January 11, 1664, Martin conferred with the reckless Captain John Scott about the latter’s claim to Long Island. On February 21, he contributed 100 florins towards the fortification of the city. On September 8, he signed the Articles of Capitulation of the Surrender of New Netherlands and New Amsterdam fell to the control of the British. Captain Cregier said  that he would provide powder, but, for fear the Dutch soldiers would suddenly attack the English  on account of the surrender, he had two kegs of powder brought to his house instead of on board  the ship Gideon then the soldiers sailed.

The latter days of Martin Cregier’s life were still active. Under the English Governor, Richard Nicolls, in 1668, the men of the city were listed, divided into two companies and ordered to appear upon departure of the governor. Cregier was made one of the captains on August 17, 1668. In 1670 and 1672, he was made captain of a foot company, both under Governor Lovelace. On July 30, 1670, a commission was issued to Martin to be captain, Goovert Lookermans, lieutenant, Stephans Van Cortland, ensign, of a company at New York. A commission was also issued to Captain Martin for a company in his city. 

Later in 1686, it is said that he retired to Albany where his son, Martin, was living and where Martin already owned property.  One biographer said of Martin: “He was a pleasant, intelligent, and able personality, a born leader.  Apart from his tavern, he ran a prosperous shipping business. Official appointments had been heaped on him since his arrival around 1643 — firewarden, orphanmaster, militia commander — and ten years later he became the first burgomaster of New Amsterdam, a function he would frequently fulfill and which he had relinquished upon taking command of the vital campaign at Esopus. It was to become the crown of his career…” 

Joannes Nevius (circa 1627 – circa June 1672) was the third secretary of New Amsterdam under the Director-General of New Netherland. He became the first secretary of New York City under the English.

Nevius was baptized March 14, 1627, at his father’s church in Zoelen, in Guelderland, just north of Brabant. He moved with the family to Venlo in 1634. Sometime before 1646, the family moved to Kampen (the father may have been dead by that point).

Nevius entered the University of Leyden in 1646. In 1651 (or possibly 1650), he sailed to America, probably leaving from Amsterdam. When he landed in Manhattan, it contained perhaps 1,000 inhabitants. Peter Stuyvesant was governor. The village was called Manhattoes until 1653, when it was incorporated as the city of New Amsterdam.

Joannes Nevius was probably a merchant when he first arrived. The first record of him in Manhattan is March 3, 1652, when he witnessed a baptism. On March 13, 1653, he was assessed 100 guilders to help pay for the city’s defensive wall. On September 1, 1653, he was appointed arbitrator in a suit for wages.

On November 18, 1653, he married Adriaentje Bleijck (Ancestor). On November 22, 1653. She was from Batavia in the East Indies; born about 1637 in Batavia Dutch East Indies; died about 1686 and was buried Brooklyn Churchyard NY.

Johannes owned a lot at what is now 80 Broadway and may have had his house there. This land was taken from him by the city on May 3, 1657, for a parade ground. On November 30, 1654, he appeared in court as attorney-in-fact for his father-in-law, who was defendant in a suit regarding the construction and outfitting of a ship, the Nieuwe Liefde. This suit dragged on for several years.

December 8, 1654, Joannes Nevius was named a city Schepen (filling the term of a Schepen who had been murdered). There were five city Schepens and two Burgomasters, who sat as magistrates and city council in the Court of Burgomasters and Schepens at the Stadt Huis, or city hall.

October 1657, he was sworn in as City Secretary. He resided in the Stadt Huis (71 & 73 Pearl St.). He kept the minutes of the Court of Burgomasters and Schepens, recorded deeds, and prepared official documents. He was also vendue master, i.e., he conducted all public sales (for a fee of 3 guilders per transaction), and he was law librarian. From this time, started spelling his name consistently “Joannes” instead of “Johannes.”

On July 22, 1658, he conveyed his house and lot on Pearl St. to Cornelius Steenwyck. September 6, 1664, the British took New Amsterdam and renamed it New York. In October, all the inhabitants were required to swear an oath of allegiance to King Charles II. Joannes Nevius continued as City Secretary under the British. On June 12, 1665, the city government was restructured after the British model of mayor, aldermen, and sheriff. On June 19, it was found that the City Secretary could not keep minutes in English, and on June 27 Joannes resigned his position.

The Nevius family moved out of the Stadt Huis and onto Hoogh (High) Street. Not much is known about his whereabouts or activities from 1665 to 1670. By about 1670, Joannes Nevius and family were on the other side of the East River in Brooklyn, leasing and living in the ferry house there. He ran the ferry (probably hiring ferrymen) and a tavern in the ferry house.

Joannes Nevius died in May or June 1672. By June 10, 1672, his wife signed a petition to hold the ferry house as “widow.” Following Dutch custom, his grave was probably unmarked and its location is now unknown.

Adriaen Hegaman was born about 1624 in Elburg, Gelderland, Holland and died Abt. 1 Apr 1672 in Flatbush, Kings Co., Long Island, NY.  He married 7 Mar 1648/49 in Sloten (near Amsterdam), North Holland to Cathrine Margetts the daughter of Joseph Margetts and Anna Jans van Waardenburg.   Catherine was baptised 4 Feb. 1625 in the Nieuwe Kerk, Amsterdam. We are descended from their fifth of nine children: Denuyse “Denys” Hegeman (Ancestor) who was born in Flatbush, NY in 1658. He married Luccretia “Grace” Dollen (Ancestor) who was born in Permaquid, Maine.

Adriaen Hegeman was the son of Rev. Hendrick Hegaman (1595-1637) and Martigen Van Marle. Rev. Hendrick Hegeman was born in Harderwijk, Holland. He graduated from the University of Franeker in Holland and served as the minister of the Vorchten Dutch Reformed Church from 1624 until his death in 1637. Shortly after Hendrick’s death, his widow remarried the new minister of the church and young Adriaen was sent to Elburg to live with relatives on Egalantier Street. In addition to his early schooling he was trained as a silk weaver. The trade was passed down through successive generations of Hegemans/Hagamans. 

Adriaen Hegeman was the grandson of Jacob Hegeman (1575-1625) from Harderwijk, Holland (1575-1625) and Antigen Feith.  Adrian was the great grandson of Lambert Hegeman (1545-1611) from Harderwijk, Holland and Erewetije Hoecolm. Lambert Hegeman was the brother of Col. Wolter Hegeman, the hero of the Seige of Bronkhorst.

At the time of his marriage in 1649 he was a silk-worker (syreder), of Egelantier Straet, Amsterdam, and his wife was of the Oudezijds Achterburgwall.  They were still in Amsterdam on 15 January 1651, when their second son Joseph was baptized in the North Church, but were in New Netherland before 9 March 1653, when their third son, Jacob, was baptized in the New York Dutch Church. The only known document mentioning Adriaen Hegeman between these dates, drawn 21 Feb. 1652 at Elburg, and published by Melssen, states that “Dionys Hegeman, acting for himself and for his brother Adriaen Hegeman by notarial proxy given at Amsterdam, provide[s] a guaranty for the estate of the late Gualtherus Hegeman, in his life minister of Doornspijk [in the municipality of Elburg], in favor of his creditors”; this document, unfortunately, is not explicit regarding Adriaen’s place of residence at the time. But given the unlikelihood of a transatlantic voyage with a pregnant wife in the winter of 1652-1653, we may infer that in all probability the passage was made no later than 1652.

By about 1653 he resided in New Amsterdam and on April 25, 1661, he obtained a patent for 50 morgens, with plain and meadow land in addition, in Flatbush, to which he removed. He helped settle Flatbush (Midwout) Kings County, on the west end of Long Island, where he was appointed sheriff (schout) of four of the “five Dutch towns” in Kings County.  The four towns being Flatlands, Brooklyn, Flatbush, and New Utrecht. He and his wife were the ancestors of most of the Hegemans of New York and New Jersey. During his lifetime he acquired more than 350 acres of land and became the largest property owner in the Village of Flatbush.

This 1661 deed, signed by Peter Stuyvesant, Director-General of New Netherlands, conveyed a plot of land in the village of Vlack Bos (Flatbush) to Adriaen Hegeman, an early Dutch settler. In 1784, Peter Lefferts (1753-1791) married Femmetie Hegeman (1760-1847), an ancestor of Adriaen. After their marriage, Peter arranged to purchase 100 acres of the original Hegeman plot, thus enlarging the Lefferts family’s Flatbush homestead. After this transaction, the original deed passed into the hands of the Lefferts family.

Adrian Hegeman also helped to establish the Old Flatbush Dutch Reformed Church and School. A bronze plaque honoring him as a teacher is attached to Erasmus Hall High School in the general area of where the old school once stood. Erasmus Hall High School is located across the street from the church and cemetery on Flatbush Ave. A public elementary school is named in his honor as well. He also served as the first “shout” or Mayor of the five villages which would eventually become Brooklyn.

The bronze plaque reads: On this site was opened the first public school in Midwout (now Flatbush) by the authority of the Director General and Council of New Netherlands, January 29, 1658, Adriaen Hegeman, teacher 1659-1671.

Jan Stryker (sometimes spelled Strycker) was born in Ruinen, Netherlands in 1615. He married Lammertje Seubring on 30 Apr 1679 in New York and they had 8 children (most of their birth dates are unknown). Jan was a gunsmith and made armor. In January 1643, he and his brother, Jacobus, were granted land in New Amsterdam by the Dutch West India Company, under an agreement they would bring twelve families to the colony at their own expense. It’s not known how this offer played out, but in 1651, Jacobus migrated to New Amsterdam and Jan moved there in 1652.

Jacobus was a portrait artist, known to have done paintings of four people: himself, Jan, Adriaen Van der Donck and Governor Peter Stuyvesant. All were thought to be painted during the years 1653-1655. The portrait of Jan shows a bearded man of about 40 years-old, proud and confident. The painting is in the possession of the National Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Fredrick’s manor house and other buildings still exist and are open to the public as museums.  If you are in the New York City area you can visit the properties and gravesites. 

Fredrick, son of Philippus Douwes and his wife Ebel/Ibel Feddricks, was baptized on 08 Mar 1627 in Bolsward, Friesland. His family was of Bohemian descent. He arrived in America as early as 1653.

In 1662, he married the energetic Margaret Hardenbrook (our ancestor), widow of Peter Rudolphus De Vries, a merchant-trader of New Amsterdam, who left her a large fortune. Margaret Philipse went repeatedly to Holland in her own ships and bought and traded in her own name. Philipse soon became the richest man in New Amsterdam; and soon after Margaret’s death remarried, in 1692, another heiress, Catharine van Cortlandt, widow of John Derval, and daughter of Olaff Stevensz van Cortlandt.

Beginning in 1672 Philipse and some partners started acquiring land in what was to become lower Westchester County, New York. When the British took over the Dutch colony in 1674, Philipse pledged his allegiance to the Crown and was rewarded with a title and manorship for his holdings, which ultimately grew to some 81 sq mi (210 km) (210 km²). Serving later on the Governor’s executive council, he was subsequently banned from government office for conducting a slave trade into New York.

His manor house, built in 1682, altered and enlarged by his grandson, is still standing; and is now used as the Town Hall of Yonkers. The original staircase was brought from Holland. The house was surrounded by fine trees and gardens in its early days. Philipse also had two hundred and forty square miles.

In 1685 Philipse imported about 50 slaves directly from Angola on his own ship. He was also a known trading partner of Madagascar pirate-merchant Adam Baldridge, employing traders like Thomas Mostyn and John Thurber to make the New York-to-Madagascar voyages. In the 1690s, Baldridge supplied many of the slaves traded and owned by the Philipse family; in return Philipse sent Baldridge guns, alcohol, and other supplies much in demand by pirates.

After swearing allegiance to the English and later being granted his manorship from them, he built in 1693 the first bridge connecting New York City with the mainland, erecting King’s Bridge over the Spuyten Duyvil at Marble Hill. He also began construction of the Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow. Although this project had financing, work likely progressed slowly and was completed in 1685. Philipse built a simple residence in today’s Getty Square neighborhood of Yonkers, New York near the confluence of the Nepperhan River with the Hudson. Later it was expanded by his descendants into a full-fledged mansion, Philipse Manor Hall. The neighborhood of Kingsbridge, Bronx, is named for his bridge over the Harlem River.

In 1699 Fred and Catherine built the church at Fredericksborough (Sleepy Hollow) where he built, in 1683, Castle Philipse, a stone fortification for protection against the Indians.

Upon his death, Philipse was one of the greatest landholders in the Province of New York. He owned the vast stretch of land spanning from Spuyten Duyvil Creek, in the Bronx (then in lower Westchester County), to the Croton River. He was regarded by some as the richest man in the Colony. His son Adolphus acquired substantial land north of modern Westchester sanctioned as the royal Philipse Patent. Stripped from the family after the Revolution for their Tory sympathies, the some 250 sq mi (650 km) tract became the present-day Putnam County, New York.

Philipse died in 1702 and is buried with his two wives in the crypt of the Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow.

Margaret Hardenbroek De Vries Philipse (1631-1686-90), was not a typical colonial woman. She was financially independent & very successful as a merchant & ship owner in her own right. Margaret sailed back & forth across the often harsh Atlantic to manage her financial affairs. Much of her independence stemmed from the fact that she was part of the Dutch society that settled early New York. New Amsterdam as a Dutch society did afford women the independence to work and did not completely strip them of their capital and resources when they married.

She was born in Elberfeld in the Rhine Valley of Westphalia in Germany, the daughter of Adolph Hardenbroek and his 2nd wife Maria Katernberg who were in Bergen, New Jersey before 1662 and took the oath of allegiance to England in 1665. She was living in the Dutch colony of New Netherland by 1659, having been sponsored from near Dusseldorf in Rhenish Prussia.  by her brother Abel Hardenbroek who signed an indenture to work for the Ten Eyck family in New Amsterdam.

Margaret was 28 when she married her first husband, Pieter DeVries (1603 – 1661), on Oct. 10, 1659.  DeVries, a wealthy, widowed merchant-trader, was 28 years older than his new bride. Within the year, the newlyweds had a daughter, Maria, who was baptized Oct. 3, 1660. During the same year, Pieter DeVries also died, leaving a considerable estate. After Pieter’s death in the spring of 1661, Margaret immediately took over his business as a shipper, merchant, and trader. She shipped furs to Holland in exchange for ready-made Dutch merchandise, which she sold to the residents of New Amsterdam.

Margaret’s second husband was Frederick Philipse (our ancestor), a rising power in the economic, social, and political life of New Amsterdam.  Just as they were to be married in the Dutch Reformed Church of New Amsterdam, the Court of Orphan Masters requested Margaret to present an inventory of her child’s paternal inheritance. The wedding could not take place until she gave the Orphan Masters, who protected the inheritance rights of children who had lost a parent, a complete and accurate accounting of the financial affairs of her late husband Pieter Rudolphus de Vries. Because her late husband’s business records were in disarray, Margaret could not produce acceptable accounting. 

Frederick Philipse, desperate to save his pregnant fiancée the humiliation of an out-of-wedlock birth, eventually signed a pre-nuptial legal document stating that he would make the child Maria De Vries an heir equal with any children he would have by Margaret Hardenbroek. They were finally allowed to marry, and their 1st child Phillip was born three months later in March of 1663.

In her 2006 book The Women of the House, Jean Zimmerman explains that Margaret chose to establish the partnership with her 2nd husband according to the census, crafting the age-old prenuptial contract that explicitly denied a husband unlimited power over his wife. As a she-merchant, who already ran an independent trading concern, Margaret needed the control of her finances. Entering into her marriage under usus ensured that the property she brought to the marriage, the house lots in Manhattan and Bergen, ships that now included the “New Netherland Indian”, “Beaver”, “Pearl” and “Morning Star”, and her furniture, plate and linens would remain hers. She would continue as a ‘free merchant of New Amsterdam’, as court transcripts described her.

Margaret & Frederick Philipse went on to have 4 children together in addition to Maria (also known as Eva):  Anna, Philip (our ancestor), Adolphus, and Rombout, who died in infancy. Adolphus, who never married, followed in his father’s business assuming control of his overseas trading operations. Their son Philip was also involved in cross-Atlantic shipping and trading and was later sent to Barbados in the West Indies.  In Barbados, Philip married the daughter of the governor of the island. His wife died shortly after the birth of their only child, a son. Frail Philip died the following year. Their young son Frederick was sent back to New York, to be raised by his relatives. We are descended from Phillip’s second wife, Elizabeth (Lysbeth) Ganesvoort.

Extent of the original Philipse land holdings

Philipsburg Manor House at the Upper Mills. 381 N Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591

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The lower mills manor house is also open to the public at 29 Warburton Ave, Yonkers, NY 10701.  The southwest corner, the oldest part of the structure, was built around 1682 by Dutch-born merchant and trader Frederick Philipse, the first Lord of Philipsburg Manor, and his wife Margaret Hardenbroeck.

During Philipse’s life, the building was used primarily as a stopover point on the long journey up and down the river between his home in New Amsterdam and the northern parts of his estate. His grandson, Frederick Philipse II, the second Lord, and his great-grandson, Frederick Philipse III the last, successively enlarged and enhanced the building, making it the primary family residence.

On November 28, 1776, nearly five months after the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the start of the American Revolution, Frederick Philipse III and over 200 of his contemporaries signed a document declaring their allegiance to the British Crown and their unwillingness to support the Revolutionary cause. Because of his Loyalism, Philipse was branded a traitor and placed under arrest on orders signed by General George Washington. He was held in Connecticut for a time but was given special permission to travel back to Yonkers to settle his affairs on the condition he was not to aid the British cause. In violation of his parole, he and his family fled to British-occupied New York City and later to Great Britain, leaving their estate and Philipse Manor Hall behind to be attained in 1779.  The vast majority of the Philipse Patent became today’s Putnam County, and other large parcels went to Dutch New York businessman Henry Beekman.

John Phillips’ 3^rd Great-grandparents were Dutch Immigrants to Beverwyck (Albany).  This is a biography of the couple:

“Leendert Phillipse Conyn (1620-1704) was of Dutch descent and an early settler in the village of Beverwijck, Dutch colonial Albany. Leendert Phillipse married Agnietje Casperse Stynmets, the daughter of Caspar Stynmets of New Amsterdam. Baptism of a daughter, Annetje Leendertse [Conyn], was recorded in the baptismal records of the Reformed Dutch Church of New Amsterdam on October 23, 1652. It is unlikely she was either the youngest or the oldest of the children.

The precise date of the family’s arrival in Beverwijck has not been established. Leendert Phillipse received a patent for a lot in Beverwyck in early 1654. He was one of only twenty inhabitants likely to have received a patent that year. On May 19th he was summoned to appear in court concerning an officer’s claim the lot was not built upon within the appointed time. Leendert claimed he was given permission to delay building by Harmen Bastiaensz, a surveyor selected by a committee appointed by the court at Beverwyck. The court decided to continue the matter until the next session to be held June 16th and summoned Bastiaensz to appear. Bastiaensz failed to appear and apparently, the court ultimately ruled in Leendert’s favor.

By December 1656, in addition to his residence, Leendert owned at least one additional house in Beverwyck, which he rented out. This arrangement resulted in a lawsuit. In the court proceedings that followed, the renter acknowledged he was subletting the property and agreed to give the proceeds to Leendert Phillipse.

Seven months later, on the 10th of July 1657 at Fort Orange, Leendert Phillipse purchased additional property consisting of a house, lot and garden in the village, described as being bound on the east by the river, the south by Jan Tomassen [Mingal], the north by Pieter Bronck and the west by the common road. He continued to own this property at least through July 1676. Leendert Phillipse was a resident of the third ward of Albany much of his life.

The surname Conyn seldom stood alone in the public record in the mid-17th century. It wasn’t until the closing decades of the century that it routinely appeared. The patronymics system of naming was in widespread use by the Dutch at the time and continued for decades to come; and so Leendert Phillipse Conyn was commonly known simply as Leendert Phillipse. Additionally, the se tagged onto the end of the middle name, identifies him as “Leendert, son of Phillip.”

Conyn appears to have a Dutch origin meaning rabbit. Some researchers suggest that Coney Island in Brooklyn, acquired its name from the Conyn Family. While this is unlikely, “The Comprehensive Atlas of the Dutch West India Company, The Old WIC 1621-1674” shows the island as Conyn Island. Some observers read this as Conyn, Conyne or Coneyn. These variations and many others were in common use by the descendants of Leendert Phillipse over the generations that followed.

Leendert Phillipse Conyn described himself in the public record as a master tailor. He was one of sixteen tailors serving the community during the period 1652-1664. In at least two of those years, 1661 and 1664, he is referred to as a master tailor. In two other years, 1656 and 1659, documents indicate he was working as a tailor in the community. In the remaining eight years, while not specifically mentioned as a tailor, he was most likely still working as such.

Leendert’s occupation as a tailor is further substantiated in an October 17, 1656, lawsuit in the Court at Fort Orange for the loss of a pair of black cloth sleeves given to him by Isbrant Eldersen for alteration. In testimony that followed, Leendert acknowledged receipt of the sleeves and testified that they had been stolen from his place of business. In settling the dispute, the court ordered Leendert to restore the sleeves in question or pay eight guilders cash for them.

Leendert Phillipse is also referred to as a master brewer, contributing at least in part to the early success of the Gansevoort family’s brewing business. On other occasions, he is referred to as a fur trader.

On June 7, 1658 he, along with others, was granted a permit to employ Indians as brokers in the woods for the purchase of furs. Later, on May 25, 1660, he petitioned the Court asking that no Christian brokers be allowed to “roam through the woods,” and that Indian brokers only be allowed in the Indian trade. And, in fact, six days later the Court directed that no brokers be allowed in the Indian trade, but that the Indians be allowed to offer their beavers for sale in town wherever they pleased.

Leendert Phillipse was included in the March 1679 list of persons who were to keep in repair the posts set around the town fence. He and his wife Agnietje were also enumerated in the Albany census of June 1697. He was a member of the Reformed Dutch Church of Albany in the 1683 List of Members, and occasionally served as a baptismal witness. He signed the Loyalty Oath of 1699 bearing true allegiance to King William.

Leendert died in Kings County, New York in 1704. Why he was there at the time of his death instead of Albany County, as well as his association with Kings County, has not been fully explained. His ties to that area, contained within the public record, include the previously mentioned baptism of his daughter Annatje in the Reformed Church at New Amsterdam some five decades earlier.

For whatever reason he was in New York at the time of his death, Agnietje his widow remained in their third ward residence in Albany through at least 1709.

Their daughter Maritje Leendertse (Conyn) Gansevoort was born between 1646 and 1650 in Beverwyck, New York. She was the daughter of Leendert Phillipse Conyn (1620-1704) and his wife Agnietje Casparse (Stynmets) Conyn (1635-1708). In 1670 in New York, Maritje married Harmen Harmense Gansevoort. A Maritje Leendertse (Conyn) Gansevoort biography appears in the Colonial Albany History Project (CAP #7699, by Stefan Bielinski). Maritje died in 1743 in Beverwyck, New York. Originaly, she would have been buried out of the Dutch Church, but after the establishment of the Albany Rural Cemetery, her remains would have been moved there in the 1860’s. “Tradition holds that the remains were loaded on wagons and carried out Northern Boulevard to their present location in Menands.” (Burying the Dead in Early Albany). CHILD: Lysbeth (Elizabeth) Gansevoort (1672-1742). CHILD: Leendert Gansevoort (1683-1762).

Maritje’s husband was another Dutch immigrant Harmen Harmanse Gansevoort born during the 1630s. He is believed to have been a native of Westphalia, emigrated to New Netherland, and to have appeared in Beverwyck (later Albany, New York) by 1657. He married brewer’s daughter Maria Conyn and was the patriarch of the Albany Gansevoort family.

In his earlier days, he may have kept a brewery south of the Normanskill and also owned land at Catskill. Marrying into a brewing family, by 1677 he had purchased a houselot on what became the east side of Market Street where it intersected with Maiden Lane. In 1679, he was identified as an Albany householder. In 1684, his Albany taxes were in arrears. In 1697, his riverside Albany household included six children. By that time, he had become a member of the Albany Dutch church. Previously, he had been a Lutheran.

Called “Harme de Brouwer,” he built a brewery on his riverside property and was among seventeenth century Albany’s most prominent brewers. He also engaged in the fur trade and was brought to court for not paying the “tapping excise.” In his later years, he was called on by the city government to perform various tasks.

Originally, Harmen was a Lutheran. Then he attended the Dutch Church. When Harmen died in 1708 in Albany, New York, “he was buried in the Lutheran cemetery…” (Stefan Bielinski. However, these graves were moved to the Albany Rural Cemetery in the 1860’s. “Tradition holds that the remains were loaded on wagons and carried out Northern Boulevard to their present location in Menands.” Lutheran church records for 1708 noted the passing of Harmen Harmanse, “a very old man more than 80 years,” and that he was buried in the Lutheran cemetery in the Fall.

Their daughter Lysbeth was the second wife of the son of the immigrant and landowner Frederick Philipse.  Since Phillip pre-deceased his father the family and their descendants did not inherit the vast landholdings on the Hudson River. 

Phillip Philipse was John Phillips’ great-grandfather.  During his life he left the family’s large landholdings near New York and re-settled on lands he purchased on both sides of the Mohawk River West of Schenectady and East of Fort Johnson in an area now known as Cranesville, about a mile East of the village of South Amsterdam. The plantation was known as Willike or Willege.  The legal description was “. . . Eight Morgan[s] of Lowland along the said Mohawk River and so along the side of the Land of Abraham Philipse to the Road called the Willow Flatt and the one third part . . . of 100 acres of Wood Land adjoining and belonging to the said Willow Flatt . . . also a tract of low land above the house adjoining to Colyers Kill containing five morgans and all the adjoining woodland”

Phillip and Lysbeth’s son Harmanus Philipse was born in 1684.  The settlers of Willow flats suffered attacks fror the French and their Indian allies during the 1670s and 1700s. Schenectady and surrounding farme were attacked several times with the town itseld burned to the ground in 1690. The county population declined from 2,016 in 1689 to 1,459 in 1698.

Harmanus married a German widow Marietje Ursula Lapp.  Ursula’s first husband died on the ship Hartwell during their journey from Germany to the colonies in 1710.  They were part of the German Palatine migration of 1709-1710. Ursula was listed as head of household in 1711 and married Harmanus in 1712.

Harmanus and Ursula were John Phillips’ paternal grandparents.  Their son John Phillips married Catherine Mary Middleton in Schenectady.  And their son John Phillips is the Revolutionary War soldier. 

On 2 June 1609, ship Sea Venture set sail from Plymouth, England was the flagship of a seven-ship fleet destined for Jamestown as part of the Third Supply, carrying 500 to 600 people.  Our earliest arrival, my 10^th great-grandfather Henry Bagwell (1589-1660), sailed on the Sea Venture. 

On July 24th, the fleet was caught in a tremendous hurricane. The storm forced the Sea Venture aground on the reef off Bermuda (the stories of this shipwreck inspired the plot of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”).  The crew and settlers reached the shore, where they lived for several months. Eventually they constructed two smaller ships from timbers salvaged from the Sea Venture, and sailed on to the struggling settlement at Jamestown, where they arrived in May of 1610.

Arriving there on the heels of the infamous “starving time” they found stores depleted, and in June, the settlers decided to abandon Jamestown to sail back to England. While they were waiting for the tide to turn at the mouth of the James River, they encountered the first ships of Lord De Le Warr’s relief expedition.  Since the expedition brought more settlers and was well supplied everyone returned to Jamestown.

Not a lot was written about Henry Bagwell, but we know that by 1623 he owned land upriver from Jamestown at a plantation known as Shirley Hundred.  He died sometime after 1640.

Our second known Jamestown immigrant ancestor was Cecily Reynolds who arrived in August of 1610.  The following excerpt is from a posting on Familytreemaker.com:

“Cecily was born 1600 in England, and died Abt. 1662 in Charles City, Henrico Co. Virginia. She married (1) Thomas Bailey on Abt. 1616 in Henrico Co. Virginia. She married (2) Samuel Jordan on Bef. December 01, 1620 in Henrico Co. Virginia. She married (3) William Farrar on Bet. January 03, 1624/25 – May 02, 1625 in Charles City, Henrico, Co. Virginia, son of John Farrer and Cecily Kelke.

“Cecily” was said to have introduced the art of flirting in Virginia… she was the original southern belle and no doubt beautiful for she won the hearts of some of the colony’s outstanding citizens. The fascinating Cecily earned her reputation as a heartbreaker and a place in history when she became the object of the first breach of promise suit in America. There is much myth and speculation, but few facts truly known about this often-married elusive lady of whom so many today claim descendancy. There has long been a mystery surrounding the little girl who arrived in Jamestown at the tender age of ten and received the distinction of “Ancient Planter.”

Cecily was born in England about 1600. In June 1610, at age ten, Cecily sailed from the port of London aboard the “Swan” arriving at the Jamestown Colony in late August 1610. The “Swan” was one of a fleet of three ships belonging to Sir Thomas Gates, which along with the “Tryall” and the “Noah” carried 250 passengers and a year’s worth of provisions for 400 men. Fortunately for Cecily she arrived well supplied because the previous year 1609 had been known as that dreadful “starving time” when the infant colony was reduced from about 500 souls to “a haggard remnant of 60 all told, men, women and children scarcely able to totter about the ruined village”. The only surviving record of the passengers on the “Swan” are Cecily “Sisley Jordan” and ten other persons named in the Virginia Muster of early 1624/25 taken 14 years after the voyage. 

It is not known for certain who Cecily’s parents were, who brought her to Virginia, or who raised her in Virginia.  There is strong circumstantial evidence that Cecily, at about age 16, married her first husband and had daughter Temperance Bailey (possibly our first ancestor born in the New World) from this union about 1617, and was widowed before 1620. It is generally accepted as fact that Cecily was the mother of Temperance Bailey based on the two Musters of Jordan’s Journey of February 16, 1623, and January 21, 1624/5, land patents and deeds, and wills in the Cocke family into which Temperance Bailey married. Lineage societies accept the descendants of Temperance Bailey Cocke (ancestor) as proven. 

Some researchers have written that Cecily’s first husband was either John or Thomas Bailey, who came to Virginia in 1612, sponsored by William Pierce… he was a young member of the Governor’s Guard stationed at Jamestown. He and Cecily were married in the home of William Pierce in Jamestown. The young couple lived at Bailey’s Point, Bermuda Hundred and Bailey died of malaria shortly after the marriage.”

Cecily’s daughter Temperance Bailey married Thomas Cocke (ancestor) in 1637. My wife Heather is also descended from Cecily, making us distant cousins.  Below is a more extensive biography:

It is thought Cecily Farrar died prior to 1676, probably about 1662, but she may have died much earlier. There is no conclusive proof. Perhaps because her son, Col. William Farrar II, wrote his will in 1676 and doesn’t mention his mother in it may be the reason she is presumed deceased before 1676.

These are images of two historical markers on the South side of the James River in Virginia that mention Cecily and Temperance by name. You can search for Virginia historical markers K 206 and PA 252 to find the locations of these signs if you want to visit the sites of our ancestor’s original plantations.

Note Bailey Creek on the South shore of the James River – With Temperance Bailey mentioned specifically.  The North part of this map shows the extensive holdings of the Cocke family. North of the lettering CURLES in the middle of the map is Bremo plantation owned by Temperance and Richard Cocke.  If you have good eyesight you can see Abraham Wood, William Hatcher, and Joseph Royall – all Lowe family ancestors.

Abraham Wood was born in Tottingham, Yorkshire, England in 1610 and died in 1683 in Ft. Henry [Petersburg], Prince George, Virginia.  At age 10 arrived in Jamestown in 1620 on the ship Margaret & John and served as an indentured servant to Captain Mathews living on the Mathews’ plantation across the river from Jamestown. In 1638 he was patented 400 acres in Charles City on the Appomattox River.

He became a landowner, politician, Soldier, Trader & Explorer. He was an English fur trader (specifically the beaver and deerskin trades) and explorer of 17th century colonial Virginia. Wood’s base of operations was Fort Henry at the falls of the Appomattox in present-day Petersburg.

Fort Henry was built in 1646 to mark the legal frontier between the white settlers and the Native Americans and was near the Appomattoc Indian tribe with whom Abraham Wood traded. It was the only point in Virginia at which Indians could be authorized to cross eastward into white territory, or whites westward into Indian territory, from 1646 until around 1691. This circumstance gave Wood, who commanded the fort and privately owned the adjoining lands, a considerable advantage over his competitors in the “Indian trade”.

Several exploration parties were dispatched from Fort Henry by Wood during these years, including one undertaken by Wood himself in 1650, which explored the upper reaches of the James River and Roanoke River. The first English expeditions to reach the southern Appalachian Mountains were also sent out by Wood. In 1671, explorers Thomas Batts (Batte) and Robert Fallam reached the New River Valley and the New River. The New River was named Wood’s River after Abraham Wood, although in time it became better known as the New River. Batts and Fallam are generally credited with being the first Europeans to enter within the present-day borders of West Virginia.

In 1673 Wood sent his friend James Needham and his indentured servant Gabriel Arthur on an expedition to find an outlet to the Pacific Ocean. Shortly after their departure Needham and Arthur encountered a group of Tomahitan Indians, who offered to conduct the men to their town across the mountains.  After reaching the Tomahitan town Needham returned to Fort Henry to report to Wood. While en route back to the Tomahitan town Needham was killed by a member of the trading party with whom he was traveling. Shortly thereafter, Arthur was almost killed by a mob in the Tomahitan settlement but was saved and then adopted by the town’s headman. Arthur lived with the Tomahitans for almost a year, accompanying them on war and trading expeditions as far south as Spanish Florida and as far north as the Ohio River.

By 1676 Wood had given his place as commander and chief trader to his son-in-law, Peter Jones, for whom Petersburg was eventually named. He retired to patent more plantation land in 1680 west of the fort.

The Farleys were descended from English and Norman nobility.  Through them we are descended from English kings and aristocrats.  William De Falaise was a courtier and trusted subject of William the Conqueror. Sir William was of native Norman blood, born within the castle of the Lords De Falaise, who traced their lineage to the ancient Vikings. William de Falaise, at the time of the conquest, was the twenty-seventh lord of this castle. He was rewarded for his loyalty and bravery out of the distribution of the spoils of victory; twenty-nine manors and lordships in the County of Devon. In 1072 he began the building of his castle near the present-day city of Bristol, England.”

Thomas Farley (our immigrant ancestor) was born in 1600 in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. He married Jane, the illegitimate daughter of the Baron of Sefton. The Seftons were also English aristocrats tracing their lineage to the Norman conquerors of England.

As a young man Thomas may have been involved in the legal field and had contact with the Molyneux family that way. Both Thomas and Jane lost all their parents the same year. In 1622 the Virginia colonies were opened to settlement by families. Sir Thomas Farley and Lady Jane left England and arrived in Jamestown in 1623 on the ship “Ann”. Their first child, a daughter, whom they named Ann, was born soon after their arrival or aboard ship. 

A muster of the Inhabitants of the Neck-of-Land near James City taken 4 Feb 1624: “Thomas came in the ANN 1623. Jane his wife in the same ship. Ann a child. Servant: Nicholas Shotten aged 40 years in the ANN 1623. Corne, 6 bushells; English meale, 1 hogshead; Pease, 3 bushells; Powder, 2 lb; Lead, 10 lb; Peeces, 2; Armour, 1; Swine, 5 and a pigg; House, 1. page 37 & 38. {Source: Order of First Families of Virginia, 1607-1624/25}”

If you visit Jamestown today, you can drive to the Eastern tip of Jamestown Island and look to the Northeast.  The land you see on the bank of the James River is where Archer’s Hope plantation was located.  It was later known as Farloe’s Neck (Farley was often spelled Farloe in early records).

Thomas served as a Burgess, representing the plantations between Archer’s Hope and Martin’s Hundred in the 1628 General Assembly of the House of Burgess. He served again during the session of 1630, representing Harrop and the Plantations between Archer’s Hope and Martin’s Hundred. He also served in the Grand Assembly of 1632 as a representative for Archer’s Hope.

The Farleys were wealthy landowners who owned many slaves. Thomas and several other residents of Archer’s Hope were in trouble with the law and the church for being drunk and disorderly late at night. At Court in James City, 21 August 1626, Thomas Farley, gent, confessed to being absent from church on the Sabbath day for three months. He was ordered to pay 100 pounds of tobacco into the public treasury.

He owned his own plantation and rented other adjoining lands to produce large quantities of tobacco for English markets. Thomas maintained a private wharf on the James River, and there is a record of one vessel calling at their plantation for eight tons of tobacco.

He kept in close touch with his family in his homeland and brother, Humphrey, put some of his servants at Thomas’ disposal on the plantation. Thomas sent his eldest children, Ann and George, to school in England.

George Farley was a brother of our ancestor Thomas. He was deeply involved in Bacon’s Rebellion, an uprising against Governor Berkeley of Virginia in 1676. This conflict began because the settlers who lived on the outer limits of the colony were being harassed by Indians and didn’t feel that they were protected by the governor’s militia. The settlers in opposition got somewhat out of hand, assuming authority beyond what was reasonable.

George Farley was one of the twenty-two hanged for their part in Bacon’s Rebellion. Rolls listed him as: Farloe, George – York – Captain – hanged.  George was educated in England and was the last owner of the Farley Estate when it was confiscated after the restoration of King Charles II to the throne in 1660.

John B. Farley, Sr. was the son of Thomas & Lady Jane (Sefton) Farley, born 1648, Charles City, Henrico Co., VA; died ca. 1732-33; married Mary Willett (Ancestor) in 1668.  John & Mary Farley had nine (9) children: Our ancestor is his son John Farley Jr., born ca. 1670.

John Farley inherited Farloe’s Neck which was eventually sold by 1679 to Edward Gray. John Farley moved to Henrico Co. due to the troubles associated with Bacon’s rebellion.

Richard Cocke, our 10th great grandfather, was an original settler to the American colonies while his wife Temperance was among the earliest children actually born in America.

Richard Cocke was born in Pickthorn, Shropshire, England around December 13, 1597 which is when he was baptized. Richard’s father was John Cocke, also of Pickthorn, and his grandparents were William and Elizabeth Cocke, for which he named other children.

Richard arrived in Virginia in 1627 as the purser on a ship called “The Thomas and John”. Eventually, he obtained large grants of land for the transportation of more than 220 colonists to Virginia. He settled at “Bremo,” on the James river, in Henrico county, about 15 miles east of current day Richmond, Virginia.

Before 1632 he married Temperance Baley (Bailey) Browne, the widow of John Browne whom she had married at age 13. Temperance had actually been born in the colonies about 1617.

A review of historical documents suggests Temperance’s father, an “ancient planter,” died very young leaving her with 200 acres of land. In Jan 1625 she is identified as a 7-year-old girl who had been born in the colony who was living at Jordan’s Journey. Temperance’s mother was Cecily Jordan Farrar (our 11th great grandmother) who married the owner, Samuel Jordan. After his death in 1623, she married William Farrar. 

Richard Cocke did well in the colony both financially and politically. He was appointed lieutenant-colonel of his county and was a member of The House of Burgesses, the first group of elected representatives of English colonists in North America, in 1632 from Weyanke, and in 1644 and 1654 from Henrico County.

He owned three plantations named Curles, Bremo, and Malvern Hills. These totaled over 7,000 acres of land. The plantations that Richard Cocke owned remained in the Cocke family for generations.

Richard died 4 Oct 1665 and, as he requested, was buried in his orchard near Temperance in the Malvern Hills Cemetery. 

Richard’s children with Temperance were Thomas (ancestor) and Richard (the elder). He and his second wife Mary had five children: William, John, Richard (the younger), Elizabeth, and Edward who was born shortly after his father’s death.

You can still step on the land settled by Richard Cocke but, according to an old article in the Oct 1933 issue of William and Mary Quarterly, the house is no longer standing. “There is not a vestige of the old house at “Bremo” not nor anything except the old graveyard and the name by which the place is known to indicate the locality in which the house stood. A frame house was built there a few years ago by Mr. W. H. Ferguson, superintendent of the present “Curles Neck Farm” who says that this house is on the site of an old house that was burned by Federal gunboats during the War between the States. This is probably the location of the old house of Richard Cocke for it is near the graveyard and close to the riverbank…”

This is a link to the find a grave web page if you want to visit this very old family cemetery

From a History of the Isle of Wight County Virginia:

 “Joseph Bridger, the most prominent man of his time in the Isle of Wight County, was the third son of Samuel Bridger, auditor of the College of Gloucester, who died in Gloucester in 1650. He was a member of the House of Burgesses from the Isle of Wight, in the session of 1657-8, which appears to be the first mention of his name in Virginia records, so he probably came over shortly before this time (Journals p. XXIII). He was also a member of the House in 1663.  On the 7th of June 1666, He together with William Burgh patented 7,800 acres “beginning by a white march, a meadow about a half a mile from the main run of the Blackwater ” (De. p.559). This was for the transportation of 156 persons and among those named were Thomas Pitt, James Bridger, probably a brother, and himself, Joseph Bridger. His residence “Whitemarsh” may have been named from the marsh mentioned herein.

Colonel Bridger was an adherent of Governor Berkeley during Bacon’s Rebellion in 1676 and was denounced along with the other prominent Virginians in Bacon’s Proclamation of 1676 as “wicked and pernitious Councillors ,aiders and asstors against the Commonalty in these our cruel commotions” (Va. Mag. I p.60). Sir John Berry, one of the commissioners sent over by Charles II to report on Governor Berkeley’s rule says that Colonel Bridger was a “a very resolute gentleman, who though forced to fly in the heat of war from his own Countrie, yet on his return was very active and instrumental in reducing to their obedience the South parte of the James River”. The Colonel fled to the Eastern Shore with the Governor during the Rebellion.”……..

From the Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography:

“Bridger, Joseph, the subject of this sketch, was born in 1628, and in March, 1657-58, he represented Isle of Wight in the house of burgesses, as also in 1663. The following year, he was one of the commissioners to decide upon the boundary line between Virginia and Maryland, and on July 12, 1666, he was one of the commissioners to treat with Maryland upon the subject of tobacco culture, and in the same year he is mentioned as a member of the general assembly with the title of adjutant general Bridger. In 1670, he was sworn a member of the council and was present at meetings in 1674. There seems to have been some question of his eligibility for membership, however, for in a list of the councillors made for the lord of trades and plantations, the name of Joseph Bridger is marked “query,” and their lordships stated that they would inquire further into the ability and deserts of Col. Joseph Bridger to be of the council. The King, however, on March 14, 1678-79, directed that Joseph Bridger be continued in the council, and he is mentioned as a counselor as late as 1683.

In 1675, Col. Bridger took part in the Indian wars, and in the year following, was described by Nat. Bacon, as one of Berkeley’s “wicked and pernicious councilors.” During Bacon’s rebellion, Gov. Berkeley gave to Col Bridger the command of “all the country south of James River.” In 1680, he was commander-in-chief of the militia forces raised “so as to be ready for the Indians” in Isle of Wight, Surry, Nansemond and Lower Norfolk. In 1683, Lord Culpeper appointed him his deputy in the office of vice-admiral. Gen.

Joseph Bridger died on April 15, 1686. He had acquired a very large landed estate in Isle of Wight county besides grants in Surry and James City counties and Maryland. He has numerous descendants.”

Joseph Bridger’s Will:

The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 7, No. 4 (Apr., 1899), pp. 243

Will of ColI. Joseph Bridger : Personal estate to be equally divided between his wife and sons : Joseph, Samuel and William, and daus. Martha (Godwin), Mary and Elizabeth, share and share alike; except Martha Godwin is to have one hundred pds. less than the rest in respect of what I have already given her husband; and alsoe there mother and my dear wife shall have in the first place and before it be delivered, over and above her proportion at her choice, one Bed covering and furniture to it, halfe dozen chaires, a chest of drawers, table and carpet and looking glasses and Andirons to furnish the chamber and one horse as she shall choose, and one man, and one woman servant white or black to waite upon her, besides all her apparell, Rings, jewels, and appurtenances for life, and at her decease to go to his heirs; to Samuel Bridger the plantation bought by me of John Gatlin and William Gatlin wherein John Cooke now lives, also one half of my plantation of Curawaock 7800 acres, &c.; to Son William 850 acres granted to me by an escheat formerly belonging to Nathaniel Floyd, &c., and another tract part of which is leased to Christopher Wade; his wife to have the tract of land on which he lives, 850 acres formerly belonging to Capt. Upton, and 300 acres formerly belonging to Mr. Seward, and she keeping the Brick housing and orchard in repaire; after her death they are to go to his son Joseph, as well as half the land at Curawaock for his natural life, and remainder to the heirs male of his body; also tract at Manokin: to my mother Mrs. Mary Bridger 5 pounds yearly during her life. Lt. ColI. Jno. Pitt, Mr. Tho. Pitt and ColI. Arthur Smith to assist my wife, to whom I give 20 shillings apiece to buy Rings.

Dated 18 Oct., 1683. Proved May 8, 1686.

“Colonel Bridger died the 15th of April, 1686.”…… “Many years ago Colonel Bridger’s tombstone was found on his farm “Whitemarsh” and it was removed to the Old Brick Church where it lies at the foot of the chancel.” …..” Colonel Bridger made his will October 18, 1683 and same was probated May 8, 1686.”

Joseph was buried in the Chancel of St. Luke’s Church. Old St. Luke’s, originally known as the “Old Brick Church” of Newport Parish, is the oldest existing Church of English foundation in this country and the nation’s only surviving original Gothic building. The Church is dated as having been begun in 1632. It is located on route 10, about 4 miles south of Smithfield, Virginia. Colonel Joseph Bridger, who was long associated with St. Luke’s brought over from England members of the Driver family to do the “finishing” work inside the Church. He was given much acknowledgement for the important contribution he made in completing the Church. Joseph Bridger was first buried on his farm “Whitemarsh”, and later his remains were moved into the Church and marked by a marble tombstone located in the chancel.

“Sacred to ye memory of the Honble Joseph Bridger Esq. Councelr of State of Virginia to King Charles ye 2nd. Dying April 15, A.D. 1686. Aged 58 years; Mournfully left His wife, 3 sons & 4 daughters.” Also buried in the chancel, and beside the remains of Joseph Bridger is: Anne Randall who departed this life the 23 day Anno. Dom. 1696.

The following story is copied from a Bridger family historian’s website:

“The Bridger family and members of the Bridger Family Association gathered at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. the next April. We were all allowed to enter the museum one hour before it was opened to the public. We had a personal tour by Dr. Owsley, who exhumed my 12th great grandfather Joseph Bridger’s bones and who helped create the Written in Bone exhibit at the Smithsonian. There was a plaque and displays illustrating that our “Grandpa Joseph” died from lead poisoning and that he was a victim of his wealth.

She told us that Colonel Joseph Bridger, a Royalist and a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, served the King of England until his death in 1686 at age 58. Joseph Bridger gave the money to help finish the church and brought men from England to help build the church tower. To honor him, church members chose to have his bones removed from his gravesite at his home, Whitemarsh, and rebury them in the church. Joseph Bridger’s wife was Hester Pitt, daughter of Robert Pitt, who was also a Burgess. The docent at the church then told me that there was a Bridger Family Association that I might want to join. From their website, I learned that the bones of Col. Joseph Bridger, determined to be one of the wealthiest men in Colonial Virginia at the time, were exhumed in April of 2007 and taken to the Smithsonian Institution for study. Smithsonian anthropologist Dr. Douglas Owsley and his team have studied the bones for information on Bridger such as his health, diet and build. The information gleaned from the study of Bridger’s bones is part of an exhibit which opened in February 2009 at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History entitled “Written in Bones: Life and Death in the Colonial Chesapeake.” See http://anthropology.si.edu/writteninbone/ for a video of the exhibit and an explanation by Dr. Owsley. The History Channel filmed the exhumation of Joseph Bridger’s bones and published the film on their website.

https://www.theheritagelady.com/bridger-family-of-england-virginia-and-north-carolina/

This is a presentation about recent archaeology of Whitemarsh Plantation.

https://www.slideshare.net/kaupmaun18/historic-st-lukes-the-future-of-whitemarsh-plantation

Robert Bracewell is one immigrant whose migration to America can be attributed to a purpose higher than economics or necessity as he was a Priest of the Church of England. Robert was born 1612 in England. He graduated from Oxford University with a BA in Divinity on 11/3/1631.

Robert immigrated to Isle of Wight Co VA in about 1645. He married Rebecca Izard in 1649 in Virginia and in about 1650, he assumed the Parish of Lawne’s Creek, Isle of Wight Co VA.

In 1651, he purchased 300 acres of land in Isle of Wight County from Capt. John Upton, who mentioned this land in his will of January 16, 1652.

In 1652 Robert served as Pastor of St. Luke’s Church, Smithfield VA. Constructed in 1634, St. Luke’s (known affectionately as Old Brick) is the oldest original Protestant church in America. It is the church where our ancestor Joseph Bridger was buried. In 1653, Robert was elected to the House of Burgesses; however, his status as clergy was deemed to set an undesirable precedence (conflict between church and state). And, he was dismissed.

Robert wrote his will on 2/15/1667, naming Richard Izard as an executor. And, Robert died shortly thereafter.