I just want to say that this is ridiculous. It should not be this hard to find information about Samuel Starr. After all, he married Hannah Brewster, daughter of Jonathan Brewster and granddaughter of Elder William Brewster of the Mayflower. How can someone with those ties go almost missing?
Well, we do know a few things about him, but certainly not enough to fill in the dash between 1641 and 1687. Samuel is the son of Thomas and Rachel (last name not proven) Starr, born November 3, 1641, at Scituate, Massachusetts Bay Colony. Scituate is a town on the coast of Massachusetts, between Boston and Plymouth. Samuel had as many as seven brothers and sisters, and growing up along the coast would have been a good life. He could have looked to the sea for his future living, or perhaps decided he didn't like the life of a seaman. Since his father was a surgeon, it's probably that Samuel learned to read and write.
He may not have learned his religious lessons well, though, because when he married, his wife and their children were accepted into church but there seems to be no mention of Samuel. We don't know what he did for a living, but sometimes those engaged in the maritime trade were less likely to join the church, and this may apply to Samuel's situation. Or not.
As mentioned, Samuel married Hannah Brewster, daughter of Jonathan and Lucretia Oldham Brewster, on December 23, 1664, in New London, Connecticut. One of the mysteries about Samuel is how when and why he went from Scituate to New London. Did it have something to do with the maritime trade? We just don't know.
Samuel and Hannah had at least five children together, which was not a lot for the time and for 20 years of marriage. They apparently lived in New London for all the years of their marriage.
In 1670, Samuel was granted the right to establish a ferry at Norwich, but it doesn't appear that the operation ever got off the ground. He may have been somewhat well to do because he was surety for a Widow Bradley in 1673, who had had two children by a married man, Christopher Christophers. She would have been whipped and jailed if Samuel hadn't paid the fine, but we don't know why he did this. Was Widow Bradley a relative, or a neighbor, or just someone upon whom Samuel took pity?He was elected county marshal (sheriff) in 1678 and held the post until he resigned in 1682.
Hannah died in 1684 and Samuel died February 2, 1687. I haven't yet located any estate papers for him. We don't know the cause of death for either of them. It's of course possible that Hannah died in or followin childbirth. Samuel would have been just 46 years old so one wonders whether it was an accident rather than a disease that killed him.
Among the things I'd like to know, occupation being first and foremost, is whether or not he participated in some way in King Philip's war. If he didn't participate, what was his reason for staying out of the war? And since he likely was required to attend church, why did he not join it?
There are probably answers to some of these questions out there somewhere, and I'd love to solve these questions. In the meantime, we can be grateful to Samuel for the life he lived, which allows us to live our lives.
The line of descent is:
Samuel Starr-Hannah Brewster
Thomas Starr-Mary Morgan
Thomas Starr-Jerusha Street
John Starr-Mary Sharp
John Starr-Betsy Havens
John Havens Starr-Clarissa Falley
Harriet Starr-John Wilson Knott
Edith Knott-Edward Allen
Richard Allen-Gladys Holbrook
Their descendants
Showing posts with label Morgan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Morgan. Show all posts
Friday, March 6, 2020
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
Allen line: Lucretia Oldham Brewster 1600-1678
I've written before of how hard it is to learn the stories of our female ancestors. Usually we are lucky to find a birthdate, a marriage date, and a death date. Sometimes all we know of our grandmothers is their first name, sometimes just the last name of their first husband, and sometimes nothing at all.
With this ancestor, we have just a little bit more. We have a few phrases that tell us quite a bit about her. And for that, I declare this "Happy Genealogy Dance" day, for whenever you happen to read this blog post.
Here are the "normal" facts for Lucretia. She was born about January 14, 1600/1601, which is actually her christening date, in Derby, Derbyshire, England. Some sources say she was born ten days earlier. She was christened at All Saints Church in Derby, and her parents were William and Philippa Sowter Oldham. We don't know what William's occupation was but Philippa was the daughter of a butcher, so it is likely that William wasn't a man of great means.
Lucretia arrived in Plymouth Colony in July of 1623 on the ship Anne with her brother John Oldham. We don't know what motivated her to come to the new colony. Did she come to keep house for her brother, or to accept another position as servant here, or was she simply an adventurous lady who wanted to see more of the world than Derby? She was 23 years old when she arrived here, and apparently had acquired some education because she is referred to later in life as a "doctoress, nurse, and midwife".
From my reading, I think this also implies that she was something of an herbalist. Nurses and midwives are frequently portrayed in both fiction and non-fiction about colonial times, as women who gathered and processed herbs to use in medicines and teas, many of which were surprisingly effective. I'd love to know where she got this knowledge, especially since many of the plants she would have relied on were native to New England and not known in England at all. Did some of the native American women share there knowledge with her? It's not a far-fetched idea, since there were few English women in the colony, and since her husband traded with the Indians.
Oh, yes, her husband...She married Jonathan Brewster, oldest son of Elder William and Mary Brewster, in April 10, 1624 in Plymouth Colony. She must have been a respectable woman, to be approved by her new in-laws, and probably she was considered a "catch", too. I need to acknowledge that their were few single women in the colony by 1624, but even so... Jonathan was a widower with no children, and was an ambitious, curious, probably very interesting man, so the two probably complemented each other.
Jonathan and Lucretia had eight children together. They lived in Duxbury for a time while Jonathan built up his business, which involved trading along the coast line as far south as Virginia, as well as running a ferry service and acting as a surveyor for the colony. He also helped operate a trading post with the Indians, set up on the Connecticut River just north of the Dutch trading post which had been set up for the same purpose. After the couple had been married about 25 years, Jonathan suffered some financial reverses (I am not sure what they were, perhaps he lost a ship in a storm or perhaps it was something else) and he had to sell his Plymouth and Duxbury properties.
The couple soon went to Norwich, Connecticut in 1649, when Jonathan set up a trading post with the Indians. All this time, Jonathan had been interested in alchemy and he was now closer to John Winthrop the Younger, who was deeply involved in the same research. It is easy to imagine that Lucretia worked with him on his experiments, except that there is reference that his wife and family knew nothing of this part of his life (it was highly secretive work). Regardless, there may have been books involved that Lucretia consulted for her own use.
In Norwich, in the part known as Preston, Lucretia was well-respected. She is referred to as "Mrs." or "Mistress", which was above the rank of "goodwife". She witnessed at least one will, although we don't know whether this was for one of her patients or not. Women seldom were recognized as witnesses for wills but she had a reputation that allowed this.
I like to think about Lucretia. She was a mother of eight and yet gave herself to her community. I wonder how many pregnancies she attended as a midwife? It's quite possible that she was the midwife at the birth of some of our other ancestors, so we owe her a double dose of honor and respect.
Jonathan died October 7, 1659 and Lucretia died about 20 years later, on October 4, 1678/79. She had not remarried, but had remained a widow for all her remaining days. What a legacy she left her family, of faith and hard work, of faithfulness and servanthood. It is an honor to be able to share a little of her story with you.
The line of descent is
Lucretia Oldham-Jonathan Brewster
Hannah Brewster-Samuel Starr
Thomas Starr-Mary Morgan
Thomas Starr-Jerusha Street
John Starr-Mary Sharp
John Starr-Elizabeth "Betsy" Chester Havens
John Havens Starr-Clarissa Falley
Harriet Starr-John Wilson Knott
Edith Knott-Edward Allen
Richard Allen-Gladys Holbrook
Their descendants
With this ancestor, we have just a little bit more. We have a few phrases that tell us quite a bit about her. And for that, I declare this "Happy Genealogy Dance" day, for whenever you happen to read this blog post.
Here are the "normal" facts for Lucretia. She was born about January 14, 1600/1601, which is actually her christening date, in Derby, Derbyshire, England. Some sources say she was born ten days earlier. She was christened at All Saints Church in Derby, and her parents were William and Philippa Sowter Oldham. We don't know what William's occupation was but Philippa was the daughter of a butcher, so it is likely that William wasn't a man of great means.
Lucretia arrived in Plymouth Colony in July of 1623 on the ship Anne with her brother John Oldham. We don't know what motivated her to come to the new colony. Did she come to keep house for her brother, or to accept another position as servant here, or was she simply an adventurous lady who wanted to see more of the world than Derby? She was 23 years old when she arrived here, and apparently had acquired some education because she is referred to later in life as a "doctoress, nurse, and midwife".
From my reading, I think this also implies that she was something of an herbalist. Nurses and midwives are frequently portrayed in both fiction and non-fiction about colonial times, as women who gathered and processed herbs to use in medicines and teas, many of which were surprisingly effective. I'd love to know where she got this knowledge, especially since many of the plants she would have relied on were native to New England and not known in England at all. Did some of the native American women share there knowledge with her? It's not a far-fetched idea, since there were few English women in the colony, and since her husband traded with the Indians.
Oh, yes, her husband...She married Jonathan Brewster, oldest son of Elder William and Mary Brewster, in April 10, 1624 in Plymouth Colony. She must have been a respectable woman, to be approved by her new in-laws, and probably she was considered a "catch", too. I need to acknowledge that their were few single women in the colony by 1624, but even so... Jonathan was a widower with no children, and was an ambitious, curious, probably very interesting man, so the two probably complemented each other.
Jonathan and Lucretia had eight children together. They lived in Duxbury for a time while Jonathan built up his business, which involved trading along the coast line as far south as Virginia, as well as running a ferry service and acting as a surveyor for the colony. He also helped operate a trading post with the Indians, set up on the Connecticut River just north of the Dutch trading post which had been set up for the same purpose. After the couple had been married about 25 years, Jonathan suffered some financial reverses (I am not sure what they were, perhaps he lost a ship in a storm or perhaps it was something else) and he had to sell his Plymouth and Duxbury properties.
The couple soon went to Norwich, Connecticut in 1649, when Jonathan set up a trading post with the Indians. All this time, Jonathan had been interested in alchemy and he was now closer to John Winthrop the Younger, who was deeply involved in the same research. It is easy to imagine that Lucretia worked with him on his experiments, except that there is reference that his wife and family knew nothing of this part of his life (it was highly secretive work). Regardless, there may have been books involved that Lucretia consulted for her own use.
In Norwich, in the part known as Preston, Lucretia was well-respected. She is referred to as "Mrs." or "Mistress", which was above the rank of "goodwife". She witnessed at least one will, although we don't know whether this was for one of her patients or not. Women seldom were recognized as witnesses for wills but she had a reputation that allowed this.
I like to think about Lucretia. She was a mother of eight and yet gave herself to her community. I wonder how many pregnancies she attended as a midwife? It's quite possible that she was the midwife at the birth of some of our other ancestors, so we owe her a double dose of honor and respect.
Jonathan died October 7, 1659 and Lucretia died about 20 years later, on October 4, 1678/79. She had not remarried, but had remained a widow for all her remaining days. What a legacy she left her family, of faith and hard work, of faithfulness and servanthood. It is an honor to be able to share a little of her story with you.
The line of descent is
Lucretia Oldham-Jonathan Brewster
Hannah Brewster-Samuel Starr
Thomas Starr-Mary Morgan
Thomas Starr-Jerusha Street
John Starr-Mary Sharp
John Starr-Elizabeth "Betsy" Chester Havens
John Havens Starr-Clarissa Falley
Harriet Starr-John Wilson Knott
Edith Knott-Edward Allen
Richard Allen-Gladys Holbrook
Their descendants
Friday, June 28, 2019
Allen line: Samuel Street 1635-1717, Pastor
It's wonderful to find an ancestor with stories. It's even better to find one with records. Best of all is an ancestor who has both.
Samuel Street was probably born in England, perhaps in Bristol, the son of Reverend Nicholas and Anna Poole Street. Because we don't have a definite birth date nor a date of immigration for his parents, it's also possible that Samuel was born either on the ocean trip or soon after his parents' arrival in New England. He was one of at least five children but seems to be the only son of his parents.
Being an only son of a pastor, Samuel was likely steered toward, or at least encouraged, to attend Harvard College, the first college in New England and one intended to educate pastors. Samuel took advantage of the opportunity and learned Hebrew, Greek, and Latin as part of his education, along with classes in Scripture and probably in some kind of elocution. A pastor surely must know how to speak! He graduated from Harvard in 1664 and in November of that same year married Anna Miles, daughter of Richard and Mary Katherine Elithorpe Miles. Samuel and Katherine had at least five children together.
Samuel was ready to start his new life in New Haven, Connecticut, where he taught in the Hopkins Grammar School for several years. He started out with just eight pupils but the school grew during his time there. He was made a freeman in 1669, so at last he was eligible to vote in town elections. In 1672, Samuel was invited to go to Wallingford as the pastor, to replace John Harriman. Samuel agreed to go, but wanted a new house built for him and his family. His salary was 50 pounds a year.
The small congregation met at the home of Lieutenant Nathaniel Merriman and Ensign Munson for several years, until a meeting house was built. The first meeting house was twenty eight feet long and twenty four feet wide, but it did give the congregation room for everyone to sit, one hopes. As the settlement of Wallingford grew, the church was expanded several times and a "fort" was built around it. Street's salary was doubled and he was given several grants of land by the town. The website for the First Congregational Church of Christ advises that they have been at the same location, at Center Street and South Main Street, since 1675.
Even more remarkable, the home that was built for Samuel and his family still stands, also on South Main Street. It is a typical New England saltbox style, but maybe a little larger than some I've seen. Wouldn't it be fun to visit there?
Samuel Street served his congregation for 45 years. Samuel Whittelsey of Yale College was ordained at Wallingford in 1710 after Samuel Street became old and infirm. Samuel died January 16, 1717, about thirty years after his wife Anna had died. I didn't find a will but I did find an inventory. It appears that his estate was valued at about 619 pounds, plus or minus 31 pounds because I can't tell if that second number was to be added to or subtracted from the original number. Among the items in his inventory was a gun, an old musket, and swords, He also owned enough animals for a large farm, a considerable number of household goods, and other items that tell us he was fairly well to do.
This tells us a lot about Samuel but I have more questions. What was his experience in the military, if any? Did he serve in King Philip's War, or in other incursions against the native Americans? I know some pastors were also officers or soldiers in the training bands that responded during these wars. What did Samuel think of the battles, whether or not he was part of them? Did he hold any positions of leadership in the town, or did he steer clear of anything that might be considered political?
This is, however, a pretty good collection of information about a man who may have been an immigrant, but who surely was an early settler of Connecticut. I'm glad I've been able to find and share this information, and to add another pastor to the Allen line.
Fun fact: Samuel Street is also the ancestor of Lyman Hall, signer of the Declaration of Independence; General William Tecumseh Sherman, Civil War General; and Norman Rockwell, beloved artist. We're all cousins!
The line of descent is:
Samual Street-Anna Miles
Nicholas Street-Jerusha Morgan
Jerusha Street-Thomas Starr
John Starr-Betsy Havens
John Havens Starr-Clarissa Falley
Harriet Starr-John Wilson Knott
Edith Knott-Edsward Allen
Richard Allen-Gladys Holbrook
Their descendants
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Holbrook line: Richard Rosemorgie, Immigrant
Ive hesitated to write about this ancestor for a long time, because I found so many confusing ways that his name was spelled or presented. I also found opposing views about his country of origin. I finally found an authoritative source, in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, volume 154 page 63 and following, written by Anita A. Lustenberger, C.G. Even she, however, is hesitant to state with certainty his origins.
First, I do not believe some of the web sites that say he was "Sir Richard Rhys Morgan" of Wales. There are simply no records that support that theory, and is he was a "Sir" he would have left more records in New England than he did. Those folks who could claim a title of some sort did so, and he did not. It appears likely that he came from a small town or hamlet called "Rosemergy", which is in Morvah Parish, Penwith District, Cornwall, England. Of course records for the years that would interest us are missing. Rosemergy is just a few miles inland from the coast but I don't know of a good nearby harbor. I'd don't know whether he would have been exposed to the life of a mariner, or a fisherman, or whether he would have raised sheep, or worked in the mines of Cornwall. We simply don't know any of his early life.
We do know that Richard was in Charlestown, Massachusetts by 1664, when he married Hopestill Merrick, daughter of John and Hopestill (maiden name unknown) Merrick. The Merricks had been in New England for about 33 years by then, and may or may not have approved of this man who would marry their daughter. Richard didn't own land in Charlestown, and moved to New London, Connecticut when his landlord died and left the house to his widow, by which time the Rosemoregie's had at least three children.
I've not found anything that says what Richard's occupation was. He acquired land both by grant and by purchase in New London He acquired enough land that he could well have been a planter, but because this was New London, he could have been engaged in some kind of maritime work, such as ship building, or trading, or fishing. We do know he was busy building a life for his family, which eventually included seven children.
The book "From Deference to Defiance", by Robert Charles Anderson, reports that Richard and Hopestill were charged with premarital fornication in 1666. Since they were married in 1664, it's a little puzzling to me why these charges were brought at that time. No mention is made of their disposition. Usually in these cases the woman was soundly whipped, and sometimes the man, also. And before we get too excited and say "Grandma Hopestill, you did what?" let's remember that many times the woman was not to blame, but had been assaulted, coerced or exploited in some way. Still, Hopestill's parents must have been mortified, as they were members of the church.
Richard died about 1698, leaving a will which has been lost, and Hopestill died in 1712. They were "Rosemorgie"s to the end of their days, but some of their children and all of their grandchildren changed their names to Morgan, probably because it was just easier to say and to spell. This led to the confusion I mentioned in my first paragraph, because I wasn't sure I had the right family. I did.
The line of descent is:
Richard Rosemorgie-Hopestill Merrick
Abigail Morgan-John Eames
John Eames-Rachel Comstock
John Eames-Elizabeth Longbottom
Hannah Eames-James Lamphire
Susan Lamphire-Joseph Eddy
Susan Eddy-Hiram Stanard
Louis Stanard-Mary Alice Hetrick
Etta Stanard-Loren Holbrook
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Allen line: Jonathan Brewster 1593-1659 Immigrant
I haven't written about Jonathan Brewster before now because I wrote about his somewhat famous father, Elder William Brewster earlier, and my feeling was that the father kind of outshines the son. I may be wrong about that. Jonathan Brewster is a fascinating man in his own right, and he was almost a Mayflower ancestor, arriving on the Fortune in November of 161. But let's start at the beginning
Jonathan was born August 12, 1593 to William and Mary (last nae still uncertain) Brewster in Scrooby, Nottinghamshire, England. By the time he was born, his parents were already ardent Puritans and Separatists, and it was after his father had been jailed and released for his religious beliefs that the Pilgrims fled to Amsterdam and then Leiden, Holland (The Netherlands). Jonathan accepted citizenship there in 1617 and may have planned to make his life there.
However, he married and his wife and baby died, and that convinced Jonathan to join his family in New England. (It's possible that he had already been planning to come, of course). It should be noted that not every genealogist believes that there was a first marriage. It would be interesting to know but that fact isn't essential to the rest of our story. In Leiden, Jonathan supported himself and any family he may have had by ribbon making, which was a craft that several of the Pilgrims were practicing. He probably didn't have a real occupation in England, given that he was 17 years old when he went to Holland, and jobs were not plentiful for Separatists in England. Possibly he was a day laborer.
About three years after coming to New England, Jonathan married Lucretia Oldham, daughter of William and Philippa Sowter Oldham on April 10, 1624. By this time, Jonathan may already have been trading with the natives on an informal basis. Later, he became a trader and was allowed to set up a trading post in what became Connecticut.
We know that Jonathan had quite an education, or at least read widely, because one of his other interests was alchemy. He is mentioned several times in the book "Prospero's America" by Walter W. Woodward. The book is more of the story of John Winthrop Jr and his study of alchemy, but Jonathn is mentioned several times there as having correspondence with Winthrop, as is William White, our ancestor on the Holbrook side Alchemy could probably be thought of as an attempt by Christians to learn the secrets of nature in order to use them for profit and also to prepare the world for the Second Coming, which would only happen when the world was good enough. If an individual alchemist was good enough and pious enough, worked very hard and studied constantly, God might provide him with the clues needed to understand all of nature, and incidentally, to make gold out of base metals Not every alchemist was trying to find gold. Some concentrated on making medicines with minerals as their base, as opposed to herbal medicines. I don't know how much Jonathan was involved in any of these particular ventures, but he does seem to have been involved with an iron works that Winthrop had developed.
I've found indications that Jonathan also served as surveyor, as a deacon or/an an elder in the church, in military service during the Pequot War, as a deputy to the General Court and as an assistant to the governor of Connecticut (don't know which governor). He was also an attorney, and was styled "Gentleman". Probably about 1649 but possibly earlier, he moved his family to Pequot, which became New London, and served there as town clerk He was censured for setting up an Indian trading post without permission but in 1652 the deed from the Indian sachem to Jonathan was approved and he was allowed to continue the trading post. All in all, Jonathan was a busy man.
John and Lucretia had at least 8 children together, the last born in 1641 in Duxbury, Plymouth Colony. He died August 7, 1659 at Norwich, New London, Connecticut and is buried at Brewster's Neck, Preston, Connecticut. I haven't yet found a copy of his will, but I would expect that it would show a considerable net worth since I know he had debts owed him of hundreds of pounds at one time There is much more to be found, or to be learned, about Jonathan and his story deserves to be found and told. He was a remarkable man.
The line of descent is
Jonathan Brewster-Lucretia Oldham
Hannah Brewster-Samuel Starr
Thomas Starr-Mary or Mercy Morgan
Mary Starr-John Chester
Thomas Chester-Sarah Eldridge
Bathsheba Chester-Jonathan Havens
Betsy (Elizabeth Chester) Havens-John Starr
John Havens Starr-Clarissa Falley
Harriet Starr-John Wilson Knott
Edith Knott-Edward Allen
Richard Allen-Gladys Holbrook
Their descendants
Jonathan was born August 12, 1593 to William and Mary (last nae still uncertain) Brewster in Scrooby, Nottinghamshire, England. By the time he was born, his parents were already ardent Puritans and Separatists, and it was after his father had been jailed and released for his religious beliefs that the Pilgrims fled to Amsterdam and then Leiden, Holland (The Netherlands). Jonathan accepted citizenship there in 1617 and may have planned to make his life there.
However, he married and his wife and baby died, and that convinced Jonathan to join his family in New England. (It's possible that he had already been planning to come, of course). It should be noted that not every genealogist believes that there was a first marriage. It would be interesting to know but that fact isn't essential to the rest of our story. In Leiden, Jonathan supported himself and any family he may have had by ribbon making, which was a craft that several of the Pilgrims were practicing. He probably didn't have a real occupation in England, given that he was 17 years old when he went to Holland, and jobs were not plentiful for Separatists in England. Possibly he was a day laborer.
About three years after coming to New England, Jonathan married Lucretia Oldham, daughter of William and Philippa Sowter Oldham on April 10, 1624. By this time, Jonathan may already have been trading with the natives on an informal basis. Later, he became a trader and was allowed to set up a trading post in what became Connecticut.
We know that Jonathan had quite an education, or at least read widely, because one of his other interests was alchemy. He is mentioned several times in the book "Prospero's America" by Walter W. Woodward. The book is more of the story of John Winthrop Jr and his study of alchemy, but Jonathn is mentioned several times there as having correspondence with Winthrop, as is William White, our ancestor on the Holbrook side Alchemy could probably be thought of as an attempt by Christians to learn the secrets of nature in order to use them for profit and also to prepare the world for the Second Coming, which would only happen when the world was good enough. If an individual alchemist was good enough and pious enough, worked very hard and studied constantly, God might provide him with the clues needed to understand all of nature, and incidentally, to make gold out of base metals Not every alchemist was trying to find gold. Some concentrated on making medicines with minerals as their base, as opposed to herbal medicines. I don't know how much Jonathan was involved in any of these particular ventures, but he does seem to have been involved with an iron works that Winthrop had developed.
I've found indications that Jonathan also served as surveyor, as a deacon or/an an elder in the church, in military service during the Pequot War, as a deputy to the General Court and as an assistant to the governor of Connecticut (don't know which governor). He was also an attorney, and was styled "Gentleman". Probably about 1649 but possibly earlier, he moved his family to Pequot, which became New London, and served there as town clerk He was censured for setting up an Indian trading post without permission but in 1652 the deed from the Indian sachem to Jonathan was approved and he was allowed to continue the trading post. All in all, Jonathan was a busy man.
John and Lucretia had at least 8 children together, the last born in 1641 in Duxbury, Plymouth Colony. He died August 7, 1659 at Norwich, New London, Connecticut and is buried at Brewster's Neck, Preston, Connecticut. I haven't yet found a copy of his will, but I would expect that it would show a considerable net worth since I know he had debts owed him of hundreds of pounds at one time There is much more to be found, or to be learned, about Jonathan and his story deserves to be found and told. He was a remarkable man.
The line of descent is
Jonathan Brewster-Lucretia Oldham
Hannah Brewster-Samuel Starr
Thomas Starr-Mary or Mercy Morgan
Mary Starr-John Chester
Thomas Chester-Sarah Eldridge
Bathsheba Chester-Jonathan Havens
Betsy (Elizabeth Chester) Havens-John Starr
John Havens Starr-Clarissa Falley
Harriet Starr-John Wilson Knott
Edith Knott-Edward Allen
Richard Allen-Gladys Holbrook
Their descendants
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
Allen line: William Brewster, Immigrant and Pilgrim
It seems somehow fitting that I write the last regularly scheduled Allen family post about the first ancestor our nuclear family learned of . We were given for Christmas one year a typewritten genealogy of the Starr family, and in those pages we found our connection to William Brewster. I was about 12 years old at the time, and I was one proud young girl. William Brewster! The Mayflower! Elder, holding the role of chaplain! To someone already deeply interested in history, this was a treasure of pure gold.
Much has been written about William Brewster and I could just say "look him up on Wikepedia" and not have to write another word . But because some of my family might not take that step, here is a brief summary of his life. William Brewster was likely born at Scrooby Manor, Nottinghamshire, England, where his father, also William Brewster, was the bailiff of the archbishop of York (Scrooby Manor belonged to the archbishop) and also the local postmaster.
The first significant event in William's life was his brief period of study at Peterhouse, Cambridge, before he entered the service of William Davison. This likely meant that he was part of the court of Queen Elizabeth I. William Davison got on her wrong side and was sent home in disgrace, and our William Brewster went home to Scrooby. There he took over his father's role as postmaster.
Whether it was at Peterhouse or somewhere else, William became less and less a proper Anglican and more and more a Separatist. Scrooby Manor was frequently used as a meeting place by other Separatists in the area, where the group worshipped and planned what to do as the authorities started cracking down on anyone not a full supporter of the Anglican church. The group decided to leave England, but before they could do so, many of this small group were arrested. The cell where William Brewster and William Bradford were held is now a tourist attraction, seen on "Who Do You Think You Are?" in the Ashley Judd program. Eventually the two were released, and made their way to the Netherlands, where other members of the Separatists had already fled.
The Pilgrims spent 13 years in the Netherlands, which practiced a certain amount of religious freedom. The group lived in close proximity to each other, and ate many of their meals together. Here William Brewster practiced the trade of printing, and taught English at Leiden, and made enough money to help support the group in very modest circumstances. One of the pamphlets he printed angered King James in England, and he had to go into hiding as the Separatists negotiated to buy ships and prepare to leave the Netherlands.
The story of the Mayflower is well enough known that I won't repeat much here. There was at least one false start, as the second ship intended to go with the Mayflower, the Speedwell, began leaking, and unsuccessful repairs were made. This was a fearful time for the passengers and the trip across the Atlantic wasn't easy, either. Once land was sighted, most of the men on board the Mayflower signed what became known as the Mayflower Compact, setting up basic regulations for the way they would live. Tradition says that this was signed using the top of a chest belonging to William Brewster, which has been preserved.
The first Massachusetts winter, that of 1621, was terrible for the Pilgrims and at the end, there were only seven men left alive. William Brewster was one, and William Bradford wrote in his journal of the tender care that Mr. Brewster gave to those who were ill. William took on many of the roles of a pastor, praying and preaching, conducting graveside services, and encouraging the congregation to live a Christian life. However, he continually refused to preside over Communion services, so the group had to wait until their pastor, John Robinson, arrived in 1629.
William's wife Mary, surname still a subject of debate, died in 1627 after having given birth to six children, one of whom died in England. William did not remarry, and he died April 10, 1644, at Duxbury. He was about 77 years old at the time of his death.
Pilgrims were stern people because they had to be. But they laughed and raised families and felt joy as well as other emotions. While we may not understand some of their religious beliefs, we can honor them for their faithfulness, for their hard work, and for the opportunity that they saw to "start over" in a new country. William Brewster is one of my favorite ancestors, and not just because he was the first one I learned about. I hope he is one of yours, too.
Our line of descent is
William Brewster-Mary
Jonathon Brewster-Lucretia Oldham
Hannah Brewster-Samuel Starr
Thomas Starr-Mary Morgan
Mary Starr-John Chester
Thomas Chester-Sarah Eldridge
Bathsheba Chester-Jonathon Havens
Betsy Havens-John Starr
John Havens Starr-Clarissa Falley
Harriet Starr-John Wilson Knott
Edith Knott-Edward Allen
Richard Allen-Gladys Holbrook
Their descendants
Fun fact: There is a whole list of famous descendants in the Wikepedia article. We are distant cousins of Katherine Hepburn, Bing Crosby, Nelson Rockefeller, and Zachary Taylor, among many others. Hello, cousins!
Much has been written about William Brewster and I could just say "look him up on Wikepedia" and not have to write another word . But because some of my family might not take that step, here is a brief summary of his life. William Brewster was likely born at Scrooby Manor, Nottinghamshire, England, where his father, also William Brewster, was the bailiff of the archbishop of York (Scrooby Manor belonged to the archbishop) and also the local postmaster.
The first significant event in William's life was his brief period of study at Peterhouse, Cambridge, before he entered the service of William Davison. This likely meant that he was part of the court of Queen Elizabeth I. William Davison got on her wrong side and was sent home in disgrace, and our William Brewster went home to Scrooby. There he took over his father's role as postmaster.
Whether it was at Peterhouse or somewhere else, William became less and less a proper Anglican and more and more a Separatist. Scrooby Manor was frequently used as a meeting place by other Separatists in the area, where the group worshipped and planned what to do as the authorities started cracking down on anyone not a full supporter of the Anglican church. The group decided to leave England, but before they could do so, many of this small group were arrested. The cell where William Brewster and William Bradford were held is now a tourist attraction, seen on "Who Do You Think You Are?" in the Ashley Judd program. Eventually the two were released, and made their way to the Netherlands, where other members of the Separatists had already fled.
The Pilgrims spent 13 years in the Netherlands, which practiced a certain amount of religious freedom. The group lived in close proximity to each other, and ate many of their meals together. Here William Brewster practiced the trade of printing, and taught English at Leiden, and made enough money to help support the group in very modest circumstances. One of the pamphlets he printed angered King James in England, and he had to go into hiding as the Separatists negotiated to buy ships and prepare to leave the Netherlands.
The story of the Mayflower is well enough known that I won't repeat much here. There was at least one false start, as the second ship intended to go with the Mayflower, the Speedwell, began leaking, and unsuccessful repairs were made. This was a fearful time for the passengers and the trip across the Atlantic wasn't easy, either. Once land was sighted, most of the men on board the Mayflower signed what became known as the Mayflower Compact, setting up basic regulations for the way they would live. Tradition says that this was signed using the top of a chest belonging to William Brewster, which has been preserved.
The first Massachusetts winter, that of 1621, was terrible for the Pilgrims and at the end, there were only seven men left alive. William Brewster was one, and William Bradford wrote in his journal of the tender care that Mr. Brewster gave to those who were ill. William took on many of the roles of a pastor, praying and preaching, conducting graveside services, and encouraging the congregation to live a Christian life. However, he continually refused to preside over Communion services, so the group had to wait until their pastor, John Robinson, arrived in 1629.
William's wife Mary, surname still a subject of debate, died in 1627 after having given birth to six children, one of whom died in England. William did not remarry, and he died April 10, 1644, at Duxbury. He was about 77 years old at the time of his death.
Pilgrims were stern people because they had to be. But they laughed and raised families and felt joy as well as other emotions. While we may not understand some of their religious beliefs, we can honor them for their faithfulness, for their hard work, and for the opportunity that they saw to "start over" in a new country. William Brewster is one of my favorite ancestors, and not just because he was the first one I learned about. I hope he is one of yours, too.
Our line of descent is
William Brewster-Mary
Jonathon Brewster-Lucretia Oldham
Hannah Brewster-Samuel Starr
Thomas Starr-Mary Morgan
Mary Starr-John Chester
Thomas Chester-Sarah Eldridge
Bathsheba Chester-Jonathon Havens
Betsy Havens-John Starr
John Havens Starr-Clarissa Falley
Harriet Starr-John Wilson Knott
Edith Knott-Edward Allen
Richard Allen-Gladys Holbrook
Their descendants
Fun fact: There is a whole list of famous descendants in the Wikepedia article. We are distant cousins of Katherine Hepburn, Bing Crosby, Nelson Rockefeller, and Zachary Taylor, among many others. Hello, cousins!
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Allen line: Comfort Starr 1589-1659, Immigrant
I found a fascinating piece of speculation while looking for information about Comfort Starr, "Chirurgeon". He lived at the right time and the right place, with the right training, to have possibly been an associate or student under Dr. William Harvey, the man who first described the circulation of blood in the human body. There is even a possibility, but as far as I know no proof, that he may have followed in Dr. Harvey's footsteps and received his medical training at Padua, Italy. Even if none of this is borne out by facts and documents, the fact remains that the two men were active in medicine at the same time and place and would have at least known each other. I think that's pretty cool.
In the first of several known connections with other Allen and Holbrook ancestors, it appears that Rev. William Eddye, who is an ancestor in both of our families, was the vicar of the church Comfort likely attended in Cranbrook, from 1591 to 1616.
Comfort Starr, of course, does not need to hang onto the shirt tails of anyone. He can quite well stand on his own as an honorable and respected man, one dedicated to the well being of his friends and neighbors, and one brave enough, in middle age, to bring his family to New England while the country was still young and barely hanging on, still in survival mode.
He and three children, at least, and three servants sailed in the ship Hercules, of Sandwich, in 1635. One of the servants was his sister, Truth-Shall-Prevail. His wife was Elizabeth Watts, whom he married on October 4, 1614, but we don't know whether she traveled with the family or whether she came later.
Comfort is first seen in Cambridge, but by 1638 he had gone to Duxbury, in Plymouth Plantation (where our Holbrook ancestor Miles Standish lived). As another connection in the Allen line, the land and "dwelling" he purchased in Duxbury or Duxburrow was owned by Jonathan Brewster, also our ancestor. He was admitted a freeman there in 1639. In another eight years, Comfort Starr was in Boston, which by that time had grown to a larger population than Duxbury.
At Duxbury, Comfort had owned several pieces of land. He was respected enough that he represented Duxbury at a Plymouth Colony council of war in 1642. The next year, he was on a list of men able to bear arms, and his inventory later included a musket and sword.
We don't know much of his private life, but it is safe to assume that he was quite busy as a surgeon, and may have acted as an apothecary also as there is record of Thomas Lechford making a note to himself to write to Mr. Comfort Starr at Duxbury for a quarter of a pint of henbane and a quarter of a pound of hemlock seed. (Henbane was a remedy for stomach ailments. I didn't find a medical use for hemlock seed, in my extensive 30 second search of Google). There were over 70 names on a list of those whom owed Comfort Starr money when he died, and who knows whether all the debts were even noted. This gives us a feel for the size of his medical practice.
Although we don't know the extent of his education, he did own books valued at seven pounds when he died, which is more of a library than many had. If he studied with or in the footsteps of Dr. Harvey, we can guess that he had more education than most of his peers. He and Elizabeth had at least 10 children. I'm happy to report that except for passing on the name "Comfort", the other children were given more common names than Comfort and his siblings had received.
Elizabeth died at Boston on June 25th, 1658, aged 63, so she would have been about 19 when she married. Thomas died January 2, 1659/60 and left an estate valued at a little over 292 pounds. In his will, he made bequests to his children and grandchildren, with more granted to the grandchildren who had lost one or both parents.
In 1909, some of Comfort's many descendants had a monument erected at the Cranbrook church which said "In Memory of Dr. Comfort Starr Baptized in Cranbrook Church 6th July, 1589, a Warden of St Mary's, Ashford, Kent, 1631 & 1632 Sailed from Sandwich for New England 1635 One of the Earliest Benefactors of Harvard, the First College in America, 1638, of which His Son Comfort was One of 7 Incorporators, 1650, Died at Boston, New england in January 1659 A Distinguised Surgeon Eminent for Christian Character Erected by this American Descendants 1909".
Comfort and Elizabeth are buried at King's Chapel Burial ground in Boston, and there is a memorial stone there similar to the one described above. If we're ever in Boston, we need to pay our respects to this man.
There are two lines of descent for Comfort. The first is:
Comfort Starr-Elizabeth Watts
Thomas Starr-Rachel Harris
Samuel Starr-Hannah Brewster
Thomas Starr Mary Morgan
Thomas Starr-Jerusha Street
John Starr-Mary Sharp
John Starr-Betsy Havens
John Havens Starr-Clarissa Falley
Harriet Starr-John Wilson Knott
Edith Knott-Edward Allen
Richard Allen-Gladys Holbrook
Their descendants
The second line is the same down through Thomas Starr-Mary Morgan. Then it diverges:
Mary Starr-John Chester
Thomas Chester-Sarah Eldridge
Bathsheba Chester-Jonathan Havens
Betsy Havens-John Starr
and yes, cousin married cousin, although they were, by my calculations, third cousins.
In the first of several known connections with other Allen and Holbrook ancestors, it appears that Rev. William Eddye, who is an ancestor in both of our families, was the vicar of the church Comfort likely attended in Cranbrook, from 1591 to 1616.
Comfort Starr, of course, does not need to hang onto the shirt tails of anyone. He can quite well stand on his own as an honorable and respected man, one dedicated to the well being of his friends and neighbors, and one brave enough, in middle age, to bring his family to New England while the country was still young and barely hanging on, still in survival mode.
He and three children, at least, and three servants sailed in the ship Hercules, of Sandwich, in 1635. One of the servants was his sister, Truth-Shall-Prevail. His wife was Elizabeth Watts, whom he married on October 4, 1614, but we don't know whether she traveled with the family or whether she came later.
Comfort is first seen in Cambridge, but by 1638 he had gone to Duxbury, in Plymouth Plantation (where our Holbrook ancestor Miles Standish lived). As another connection in the Allen line, the land and "dwelling" he purchased in Duxbury or Duxburrow was owned by Jonathan Brewster, also our ancestor. He was admitted a freeman there in 1639. In another eight years, Comfort Starr was in Boston, which by that time had grown to a larger population than Duxbury.
At Duxbury, Comfort had owned several pieces of land. He was respected enough that he represented Duxbury at a Plymouth Colony council of war in 1642. The next year, he was on a list of men able to bear arms, and his inventory later included a musket and sword.
We don't know much of his private life, but it is safe to assume that he was quite busy as a surgeon, and may have acted as an apothecary also as there is record of Thomas Lechford making a note to himself to write to Mr. Comfort Starr at Duxbury for a quarter of a pint of henbane and a quarter of a pound of hemlock seed. (Henbane was a remedy for stomach ailments. I didn't find a medical use for hemlock seed, in my extensive 30 second search of Google). There were over 70 names on a list of those whom owed Comfort Starr money when he died, and who knows whether all the debts were even noted. This gives us a feel for the size of his medical practice.
Although we don't know the extent of his education, he did own books valued at seven pounds when he died, which is more of a library than many had. If he studied with or in the footsteps of Dr. Harvey, we can guess that he had more education than most of his peers. He and Elizabeth had at least 10 children. I'm happy to report that except for passing on the name "Comfort", the other children were given more common names than Comfort and his siblings had received.
Elizabeth died at Boston on June 25th, 1658, aged 63, so she would have been about 19 when she married. Thomas died January 2, 1659/60 and left an estate valued at a little over 292 pounds. In his will, he made bequests to his children and grandchildren, with more granted to the grandchildren who had lost one or both parents.
In 1909, some of Comfort's many descendants had a monument erected at the Cranbrook church which said "In Memory of Dr. Comfort Starr Baptized in Cranbrook Church 6th July, 1589, a Warden of St Mary's, Ashford, Kent, 1631 & 1632 Sailed from Sandwich for New England 1635 One of the Earliest Benefactors of Harvard, the First College in America, 1638, of which His Son Comfort was One of 7 Incorporators, 1650, Died at Boston, New england in January 1659 A Distinguised Surgeon Eminent for Christian Character Erected by this American Descendants 1909".
Comfort and Elizabeth are buried at King's Chapel Burial ground in Boston, and there is a memorial stone there similar to the one described above. If we're ever in Boston, we need to pay our respects to this man.
There are two lines of descent for Comfort. The first is:
Comfort Starr-Elizabeth Watts
Thomas Starr-Rachel Harris
Samuel Starr-Hannah Brewster
Thomas Starr Mary Morgan
Thomas Starr-Jerusha Street
John Starr-Mary Sharp
John Starr-Betsy Havens
John Havens Starr-Clarissa Falley
Harriet Starr-John Wilson Knott
Edith Knott-Edward Allen
Richard Allen-Gladys Holbrook
Their descendants
The second line is the same down through Thomas Starr-Mary Morgan. Then it diverges:
Mary Starr-John Chester
Thomas Chester-Sarah Eldridge
Bathsheba Chester-Jonathan Havens
Betsy Havens-John Starr
and yes, cousin married cousin, although they were, by my calculations, third cousins.
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Allen line, or not? Thomas Harris 1580-1634
I'm sticking my neck out here, because nothing I'm finding supports my tree that says that Rachel Harris, who married Thomas Starr, is the daughter of this Thomas Harris. So we may or may not be related to this man. Thomas Starr was from Canterbury, Kent, England and Thomas Harris is from Hatherup, Gloucester, England, so we need to find a reason and a way for the two to meet before we set this branch of the tree firmly in place. It may well be that there will be a better candidate found for Rachel's parents, and that would be fine with me.
However, in case this Thomas Harris is the right person, and because he came with the Winthrop Fleet and is therefore automatically interesting (to me, at least), I'll give the bare facts about him, mostly as researched by Robert Charles Anderson in The Great Migration Begins. Thomas was the son of William amd Agnes Mason Harris, and was born at Hatherup, Gloucester, England, about 1580. He married Elizabeth, (most sites, but not Anderson, say her name was Hills) sinetime before 1613, as children started arriving at that time. Six children were noted in a will by Harris's nephew in 1639, but Rachel wasn't left a bequest. There could be reasons for that, but nevertheless it is worth considering. Known children of our couple are Anna, John, Thomas, William, Anthony and Daniel. According to the approximate birth dates, there would have been time for a child named Rachel to have been born between Anna and John. However, it seems that we have no definite birth dates for any of the children. or for Eliabeth, so this is almost just speculation.
As mentioned, the Harris's came to New England in 1630, with the Winthrop fleet. For whatever reason, whether political, familial, or religious, Thomas's name is listed as Thomas Harris alias Williams, and he continued to use that name, Harris alias Williams, for some time in the New World. The family settled at Winnissimmet, later known as Chelsea and now part of Boston. In 1630, shortly after arrival at Massachusetts Bay Colony, he requested freemanship which was granted as Thomas Williams alias Harris in 1631. That same year he was granted the authority to set up a ferry to run between Winnissimmit and Charlton, and also from Winnissimmet to Boston, with fees sets by the authorities.
We don't know how long this was actually in operation under Harris's watch, because by 1634 his widow had remarried and her new husband had control of the ferry. (The ferry stayed in operation until 1917). Elizabeth lived until February 16,1669/70, and was either 83 or 93 when she died. We can guess that Thomas may have had an accident, or drowned, or succumbed to one or another of the illnesses that killed so many early pioneers. We will likely never know that story, and we may not ever know whether Rachel was truly his daughter.
If he is our ancestor, here is the line of descent:
Thomas Harris-Elizabeth Hills
Rachel Harris-Thomas Starr
Samuel Starr-Hannah Brewster
Thomas Starr-Mary Morgan
Thomas Starr-Jerusha Street
John Starr-Mary Sharp
John Starr-Betsy Havens
John Havens Starr-Clarissa Falley
Harriet Starr-John Wilson Knott
Edith Knott-Edward Allen
Their descendants
If someone knows whether or not Rachel Harris's father is Thomas, and whether or not this is the correct Thomas, I sure would like to know about it!
However, in case this Thomas Harris is the right person, and because he came with the Winthrop Fleet and is therefore automatically interesting (to me, at least), I'll give the bare facts about him, mostly as researched by Robert Charles Anderson in The Great Migration Begins. Thomas was the son of William amd Agnes Mason Harris, and was born at Hatherup, Gloucester, England, about 1580. He married Elizabeth, (most sites, but not Anderson, say her name was Hills) sinetime before 1613, as children started arriving at that time. Six children were noted in a will by Harris's nephew in 1639, but Rachel wasn't left a bequest. There could be reasons for that, but nevertheless it is worth considering. Known children of our couple are Anna, John, Thomas, William, Anthony and Daniel. According to the approximate birth dates, there would have been time for a child named Rachel to have been born between Anna and John. However, it seems that we have no definite birth dates for any of the children. or for Eliabeth, so this is almost just speculation.
As mentioned, the Harris's came to New England in 1630, with the Winthrop fleet. For whatever reason, whether political, familial, or religious, Thomas's name is listed as Thomas Harris alias Williams, and he continued to use that name, Harris alias Williams, for some time in the New World. The family settled at Winnissimmet, later known as Chelsea and now part of Boston. In 1630, shortly after arrival at Massachusetts Bay Colony, he requested freemanship which was granted as Thomas Williams alias Harris in 1631. That same year he was granted the authority to set up a ferry to run between Winnissimmit and Charlton, and also from Winnissimmet to Boston, with fees sets by the authorities.
We don't know how long this was actually in operation under Harris's watch, because by 1634 his widow had remarried and her new husband had control of the ferry. (The ferry stayed in operation until 1917). Elizabeth lived until February 16,1669/70, and was either 83 or 93 when she died. We can guess that Thomas may have had an accident, or drowned, or succumbed to one or another of the illnesses that killed so many early pioneers. We will likely never know that story, and we may not ever know whether Rachel was truly his daughter.
If he is our ancestor, here is the line of descent:
Thomas Harris-Elizabeth Hills
Rachel Harris-Thomas Starr
Samuel Starr-Hannah Brewster
Thomas Starr-Mary Morgan
Thomas Starr-Jerusha Street
John Starr-Mary Sharp
John Starr-Betsy Havens
John Havens Starr-Clarissa Falley
Harriet Starr-John Wilson Knott
Edith Knott-Edward Allen
Their descendants
If someone knows whether or not Rachel Harris's father is Thomas, and whether or not this is the correct Thomas, I sure would like to know about it!
Friday, June 23, 2017
Holbrook line: John Merrick or Mirick, Immigrant 1614-1679
When I write a blog post, I try to do a little bit of research on my own so I feel sure in my own mind that the summaries I've found on line are correct. So far, I have to say that I've not been successful in that search. So this will be pretty much a rehash to a couple of internet sites, Geni and a family site of vibber. com.
John Merrick or Mirick was born in St. David's, Pembrokeshire, Wales/England in 1614, the son of John Meyrick and Dorothy Bishop. He came to America in 1636, settled in Charlestown, and apparently did not leave that town. He was a cooper and a block-maker, and his place of business was near the river (this may or may not have been his dwelling). Depending on the website, he is credited with up to three wives but most of the sites agree that the children were from his marriage with Hopestill, last name unknown, which took place in Charlestown in 164l (one source says they arrived together, but this may have been a first wife). He was admitted as a freeman in Charlestown in 1641, and then appears to have stayed out of trouble and out of the public eye. At least, records aren't readily available that mention him. More research might yield more information.
There is one mention in the "History of Charlestown, Massachusetts" involving a drawing by lot for additional land. John Mirich in this lottery (more or less) for land "on the Mystick side" was awarded 17 acres of woods and three acres of commons. We know that John was in Charlestown during this time period and his son John wasn't born until 1655 so it seems reasonable to assume this was land that our John was given. He would have been eligible for any earlier divisions, too, since he had been in Charlestown since at least 1641 and probably 1635.
John's children were Hopestill, Benjamin, Hannah, James, John, Sarah, Mercy, Abigail, Joseph, Amathia, and Mary. His wife, Hopestill, was alive in 1669 but we don't know how much longer she lived. Unfortunately, the will has been lost, and that would have answered several questions, perhaps. His brother James was the executor, so apparently there was some property to dispose of, anyway. Some of the children would have been considered "infants" at the time of John's death, so guardians may have been appointed. It might be worthwhile to look for those records.
This is what I know of John Merrick or Mirick (or other spellings). I would love to talk to him to learn why he came to America (my guess is economic reasons, but I'd love to know from his own words) and how he adjusted to life in his new home, in a Puritan town. I'd like to thank him for the hard work he did to help build America, and I'd like to thank him, on this Father's Day, for being one of so very many who raised good families while building a life here.
The line of descent is:
John Merrick-Hopestill
Hopestill Merrick-Richard Rosemorgie
Abigail Morgan-John Eames
John Eames-Rachel Comstock
John Eames-Elizabeth Longbottom
Hannah Eames-James Lamphire
Susan Lamphire-Joseph Eddy
Susan Eddy-Hiram Stanard
Louis Stanard-Mary Alice Hetrick
Etta Stanard-Loren Holbrook
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants
John Merrick or Mirick was born in St. David's, Pembrokeshire, Wales/England in 1614, the son of John Meyrick and Dorothy Bishop. He came to America in 1636, settled in Charlestown, and apparently did not leave that town. He was a cooper and a block-maker, and his place of business was near the river (this may or may not have been his dwelling). Depending on the website, he is credited with up to three wives but most of the sites agree that the children were from his marriage with Hopestill, last name unknown, which took place in Charlestown in 164l (one source says they arrived together, but this may have been a first wife). He was admitted as a freeman in Charlestown in 1641, and then appears to have stayed out of trouble and out of the public eye. At least, records aren't readily available that mention him. More research might yield more information.
There is one mention in the "History of Charlestown, Massachusetts" involving a drawing by lot for additional land. John Mirich in this lottery (more or less) for land "on the Mystick side" was awarded 17 acres of woods and three acres of commons. We know that John was in Charlestown during this time period and his son John wasn't born until 1655 so it seems reasonable to assume this was land that our John was given. He would have been eligible for any earlier divisions, too, since he had been in Charlestown since at least 1641 and probably 1635.
John's children were Hopestill, Benjamin, Hannah, James, John, Sarah, Mercy, Abigail, Joseph, Amathia, and Mary. His wife, Hopestill, was alive in 1669 but we don't know how much longer she lived. Unfortunately, the will has been lost, and that would have answered several questions, perhaps. His brother James was the executor, so apparently there was some property to dispose of, anyway. Some of the children would have been considered "infants" at the time of John's death, so guardians may have been appointed. It might be worthwhile to look for those records.
This is what I know of John Merrick or Mirick (or other spellings). I would love to talk to him to learn why he came to America (my guess is economic reasons, but I'd love to know from his own words) and how he adjusted to life in his new home, in a Puritan town. I'd like to thank him for the hard work he did to help build America, and I'd like to thank him, on this Father's Day, for being one of so very many who raised good families while building a life here.
The line of descent is:
John Merrick-Hopestill
Hopestill Merrick-Richard Rosemorgie
Abigail Morgan-John Eames
John Eames-Rachel Comstock
John Eames-Elizabeth Longbottom
Hannah Eames-James Lamphire
Susan Lamphire-Joseph Eddy
Susan Eddy-Hiram Stanard
Louis Stanard-Mary Alice Hetrick
Etta Stanard-Loren Holbrook
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Allen line: Thomas Starr 1565-1640 Immigrant
How hard can it be to write about the very first ancestor I ever heard about, back when I was a pre-teen or early teen-ager? A family genealogist, unidentified, had researched the Starr family and an aunt gave us a copy of her discoveries as a Christmas gift. (Although, now I wonder how much of it was her work and how much was a compilation; still, it was and is precious to us).
But when I actually sat down to write about him, there is much less information than I expected to find, and some of it is contradictory, as is often the case. His father was Thomas, his son was Thomas, and hehad grandsons named Thomas, so it's easy to see how facts could be a little confusing, and confused.
Thomas Starr was born about 1565 in New Romney, Kent, England. His father was Thomas Starr who served as mayor of New Romney for a short period of time, and it appears that his mother's name was Agnes. Our Thomas was a mercer, a dealer in textile goods, generally silks, velvets, and fine materials. He would have supplied the well-to-do of the towns of Cranbrook and Ashford, which are the two towns where most of his children were baptized. It is likely that Thomas and his wife Susan or Susannah made the first move, from New Romeny to Cranbrook, because of economic reasons. They may have moved a second time because they had become Puritans, and Ashford was a center for people with these beliefs.
Thomas and Susan gave names to their children that are on trivia games and lists of "amazing" names, but they surely didn't intend to give their children a fleeting moment of fame. They were names chosen because they meant something to the family, even if we are a bit puzzled by some of them now. Their children were Jehosaphet, Comfort, Nostrength, Moregift, William, Mercy, Suretrust, Standwell, Judith, Truth-Shall-Prevail, Joyfulle (also seen as Joyfoole), Constant, and Beloved. I hope someone called them "Bub" or "Sis"! It does give us a glimpse into the mindset of Thomas, though.
His son Comfort, a surgeon, seems to have been the first of the family to make the trip to Massachusetts, in 1637, and his parents are believed to have come in 1637, although I've seen one guesstimate as 1633. At any rate, it was still early in the history of the colony. Thomas would have been somewhere between 68 and 72 years of age, so perhaps he expected more of his family to come also, or maybe the religious pressures in England were just beginning to be more than he could deal with.
We know little of his life in Boston except that he is believed to have died in Dorchester in late 1639 or early 1640. His estate in New England was small, about 69 pounds, but he still owned lands and buildings in England which helped his family live more comfortably than some.
We have two lines of descent from Thomas:
Thomas Starr-Agnes
Comfort Starr-Elizabeth Watts
Thomas Starr-Rachel Harris
Samuel Starr-Hannah Brewster
Thomas Starr-Mercy Morgan
Mary Starr-John Chester
Thomas Chester-Sarah Eldridge
Bathsheba Chester-Jonathan Havens
Betsy Havens-John Starr
John Havens Starr-Clarissa Falley
Harriet Starr-John Wilson Knott
Edith Knott-Edward Allen
Richard Allen-Gladys Holbrook
Their descendants
The second line is the same through Thomas Starr and Mary or Mercy Morgan. Then it's
Thomas Starr-Jerusha Street
John Starr Mary Sharp
John Starr-Betsy Havens
and continues on from there. So John and Betsy would have been distant cousins.
But when I actually sat down to write about him, there is much less information than I expected to find, and some of it is contradictory, as is often the case. His father was Thomas, his son was Thomas, and hehad grandsons named Thomas, so it's easy to see how facts could be a little confusing, and confused.
Thomas Starr was born about 1565 in New Romney, Kent, England. His father was Thomas Starr who served as mayor of New Romney for a short period of time, and it appears that his mother's name was Agnes. Our Thomas was a mercer, a dealer in textile goods, generally silks, velvets, and fine materials. He would have supplied the well-to-do of the towns of Cranbrook and Ashford, which are the two towns where most of his children were baptized. It is likely that Thomas and his wife Susan or Susannah made the first move, from New Romeny to Cranbrook, because of economic reasons. They may have moved a second time because they had become Puritans, and Ashford was a center for people with these beliefs.
Thomas and Susan gave names to their children that are on trivia games and lists of "amazing" names, but they surely didn't intend to give their children a fleeting moment of fame. They were names chosen because they meant something to the family, even if we are a bit puzzled by some of them now. Their children were Jehosaphet, Comfort, Nostrength, Moregift, William, Mercy, Suretrust, Standwell, Judith, Truth-Shall-Prevail, Joyfulle (also seen as Joyfoole), Constant, and Beloved. I hope someone called them "Bub" or "Sis"! It does give us a glimpse into the mindset of Thomas, though.
His son Comfort, a surgeon, seems to have been the first of the family to make the trip to Massachusetts, in 1637, and his parents are believed to have come in 1637, although I've seen one guesstimate as 1633. At any rate, it was still early in the history of the colony. Thomas would have been somewhere between 68 and 72 years of age, so perhaps he expected more of his family to come also, or maybe the religious pressures in England were just beginning to be more than he could deal with.
We know little of his life in Boston except that he is believed to have died in Dorchester in late 1639 or early 1640. His estate in New England was small, about 69 pounds, but he still owned lands and buildings in England which helped his family live more comfortably than some.
We have two lines of descent from Thomas:
Thomas Starr-Agnes
Comfort Starr-Elizabeth Watts
Thomas Starr-Rachel Harris
Samuel Starr-Hannah Brewster
Thomas Starr-Mercy Morgan
Mary Starr-John Chester
Thomas Chester-Sarah Eldridge
Bathsheba Chester-Jonathan Havens
Betsy Havens-John Starr
John Havens Starr-Clarissa Falley
Harriet Starr-John Wilson Knott
Edith Knott-Edward Allen
Richard Allen-Gladys Holbrook
Their descendants
The second line is the same through Thomas Starr and Mary or Mercy Morgan. Then it's
Thomas Starr-Jerusha Street
John Starr Mary Sharp
John Starr-Betsy Havens
and continues on from there. So John and Betsy would have been distant cousins.
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Allen line: Richard Miles, Immigrant 1598-1666
It's unusual to find so much information about an immigrant ancestor. Usually I bewail the fact that I know almost nothing about the person and then work hard to stretch a post into a three paragraph biography. With Richard Miles, it's the opposite. I have enough information to make a rather long article, but other people have already done that. So, here are the highlights that I'm choosing to share.
Richard Miles, variously styled yeoman, judge, and deacon in later life, was born in 1598 in Great Munden, Hertfordshire, England, the son of Richard and Alice Cherrye Miles (Myles). I've not located siblings for him but it's possible that he had some who died young, for his father's will mentions only his wife Alice (who actually predeceased him by 5 weeks) and son Richard. Richard Senior appears to have been a prosperous "yeoman", because he mentions a room in his "mansion" as being a "hall."
Richard became a Puritan, as were some of his neighbors and friends. He married Mary Chambers and they had five children together, three in England and two in Connecticut. It appears that they emigrated to Connecticut in 1638, although some records indicate they were in Boston in 1637 and (probably due to weather) waited until 1638 to go to Milford. He's listed as a founder of Milford, and a freeman, and owned land there until 1645, but he was in New Haven by 1643. Perhaps this move had to do with the death of his first wife and his subsequent remarriage. He marred Mary Katherine Elithorpe Constable, the widow of a pastor. They must have met shortly after the death of Mary Chambers, if they didn't already know each other, or at least know of each other.
The Constable children returned to England after their father's death, and Richard and Mary Katherine had two more children in Connecticut. He served as magistrate, elder, and deacon, from 1656-1667, and also had various other positions such as surveyor of all roads and bridges, deputy for the plantation, and clerk of the artillery company. He seems to have been an educated man, although I've not found a record claiming education in a particular school or college.
Richard made his will December 26,1666 and died early in 1667. He left a well and the inventory was valued at 288 pounds, 6 shillings and 10 pence. I haven't found the inventory yet but I would love to see it. Did he have books, and does it estimate how many books? What tools or implements did he have? The number of his animals might give us a sense of his prosperity, too.
Still, this is a nice amount of information for a man who died 350 years ago. He was respected by his townsmen and church members, and he did a lot to help establish and further the interests of his new home. We can be proud of such an ancestor!
The line of descent is:
Richard Miles-Mary Katherine Elithorpe
Anna Miles-Samuel Street
Nicholas Street-Jerusha Morgan
Jerusha Street-Thomas Starr
John Starr-Mary Sharp
John Starr-Betsy Havens
John Havens Starr-Clarissa Falley
Harriet Starr-John Wilson Knott
Edith Knott-Edward Allen
Richard Allen-Gladys Holbrook
Their descendants
Richard Miles, variously styled yeoman, judge, and deacon in later life, was born in 1598 in Great Munden, Hertfordshire, England, the son of Richard and Alice Cherrye Miles (Myles). I've not located siblings for him but it's possible that he had some who died young, for his father's will mentions only his wife Alice (who actually predeceased him by 5 weeks) and son Richard. Richard Senior appears to have been a prosperous "yeoman", because he mentions a room in his "mansion" as being a "hall."
Richard became a Puritan, as were some of his neighbors and friends. He married Mary Chambers and they had five children together, three in England and two in Connecticut. It appears that they emigrated to Connecticut in 1638, although some records indicate they were in Boston in 1637 and (probably due to weather) waited until 1638 to go to Milford. He's listed as a founder of Milford, and a freeman, and owned land there until 1645, but he was in New Haven by 1643. Perhaps this move had to do with the death of his first wife and his subsequent remarriage. He marred Mary Katherine Elithorpe Constable, the widow of a pastor. They must have met shortly after the death of Mary Chambers, if they didn't already know each other, or at least know of each other.
The Constable children returned to England after their father's death, and Richard and Mary Katherine had two more children in Connecticut. He served as magistrate, elder, and deacon, from 1656-1667, and also had various other positions such as surveyor of all roads and bridges, deputy for the plantation, and clerk of the artillery company. He seems to have been an educated man, although I've not found a record claiming education in a particular school or college.
Richard made his will December 26,1666 and died early in 1667. He left a well and the inventory was valued at 288 pounds, 6 shillings and 10 pence. I haven't found the inventory yet but I would love to see it. Did he have books, and does it estimate how many books? What tools or implements did he have? The number of his animals might give us a sense of his prosperity, too.
Still, this is a nice amount of information for a man who died 350 years ago. He was respected by his townsmen and church members, and he did a lot to help establish and further the interests of his new home. We can be proud of such an ancestor!
The line of descent is:
Richard Miles-Mary Katherine Elithorpe
Anna Miles-Samuel Street
Nicholas Street-Jerusha Morgan
Jerusha Street-Thomas Starr
John Starr-Mary Sharp
John Starr-Betsy Havens
John Havens Starr-Clarissa Falley
Harriet Starr-John Wilson Knott
Edith Knott-Edward Allen
Richard Allen-Gladys Holbrook
Their descendants
Friday, March 20, 2015
Holbrook line: Oops! Not Anthony Eames?
I thought I was going to write this post about Anthony Eames. There is a fine amount of information about him on line, and it was going to be a pretty good post. But a funny thing happened on the way to writing this...I stumbled upon facts, documented facts. And they don't support what it is in my file notes, as to the lines of descent. I thought I had two lines, one through daughter Hannah who married William Ford, and one through son Robert who married Elizabeth. Again, oops!
As it turns out, Hannah is not proven to be a daughter of Anthony, and Robert isn't even mentioned in the most authoritative sources I can find. Both of these "children" are supposed to have been born in the right place at the right time, but records can't be found and there should be records, unless they were truly baptized somewhere away from their home, which can't be ruled out. Sometimes parents took at least one of their children to be baptized in the home church of either their father or their mother.
However, with documentation so lacking and so much unsearched and maybe unsearchable, I am not going to write a post about Anthony Eames now. Instead, I'm going to look for records to see what can be proven. If someone out there has worked on the Eames family, I'd love to hear from you.
Here are the lines of SUPPOSED descent from Anthony. Please don't take these as proven, because as far as I know, they are not.
Anthony Eames-Margery Pierce
Robert Eames-Elizabeth
John Eames-Abigail Morgan
John Eames-Rachel Comstock
John Eames-Elizabeth Longbottom
Hannah Eames-James Lamphire
Susan Lamphire-Joseph Eddy
Susan Eddy-Hiram Stanard
Louis Stanard-Mary Alice Hetrick
Etta Stanard-Loren Holbrook
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendents
Second Line
Anthony Eames-Margery Peirce
Hannah Eames-William Ford
Joanna Ford-John Rockwood
Joseph Rockwood-Mary Hayward
John Rockwood-Deborah Thayer
Joseph Rockwood-Alice Thompson
Levi Rockwood-Deborah Lazell
Susanna Rockwood-Nahum Holbrook
Joseph Holbrook-Mary Elizabeth Whittemore
Fremont Holbrook-Phoebe Brown
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendents
I sure would like to learn the parents of Hannah Eames who married William Ford and also the parents of Robert Eames who married Elizabeth, or to get documentation that they are the children of Anthony and Margery, so I can someday write the post I intended to write today!
As it turns out, Hannah is not proven to be a daughter of Anthony, and Robert isn't even mentioned in the most authoritative sources I can find. Both of these "children" are supposed to have been born in the right place at the right time, but records can't be found and there should be records, unless they were truly baptized somewhere away from their home, which can't be ruled out. Sometimes parents took at least one of their children to be baptized in the home church of either their father or their mother.
However, with documentation so lacking and so much unsearched and maybe unsearchable, I am not going to write a post about Anthony Eames now. Instead, I'm going to look for records to see what can be proven. If someone out there has worked on the Eames family, I'd love to hear from you.
Here are the lines of SUPPOSED descent from Anthony. Please don't take these as proven, because as far as I know, they are not.
Anthony Eames-Margery Pierce
Robert Eames-Elizabeth
John Eames-Abigail Morgan
John Eames-Rachel Comstock
John Eames-Elizabeth Longbottom
Hannah Eames-James Lamphire
Susan Lamphire-Joseph Eddy
Susan Eddy-Hiram Stanard
Louis Stanard-Mary Alice Hetrick
Etta Stanard-Loren Holbrook
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendents
Second Line
Anthony Eames-Margery Peirce
Hannah Eames-William Ford
Joanna Ford-John Rockwood
Joseph Rockwood-Mary Hayward
John Rockwood-Deborah Thayer
Joseph Rockwood-Alice Thompson
Levi Rockwood-Deborah Lazell
Susanna Rockwood-Nahum Holbrook
Joseph Holbrook-Mary Elizabeth Whittemore
Fremont Holbrook-Phoebe Brown
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendents
I sure would like to learn the parents of Hannah Eames who married William Ford and also the parents of Robert Eames who married Elizabeth, or to get documentation that they are the children of Anthony and Margery, so I can someday write the post I intended to write today!
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Allen line: James Morgan Sr. 1607-1685
First, let me say I have no original research about our ancestor, and the long, long genealogy I have for his mother may be completely erroneous. So as far as we know for sure, James may have been dropped from a spaceship back in 1607. Many websites indicate that his father was William Morgan and his mother was Elizabeth Morgan. Elizabeth ties into a long long line leading to royalty, but I just found a website that listed the children of William and the well known Elizabeth, and there was no James listed. So for now, James may be the son of William Morgan, and his wife may have been named Elizabeth, but there's no proof.
It's believed that James was born (not to aliens from a spaceship) in Llandaff, Glamorgan, Wales, about 1607 and later lived in Bristol, Gloucester, England. Nothing further is known of him until he sailed from Bristol in the summer of 1636 and landed in Boston. Massachusetts Bay Colony. He settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts and there married Margery Hill on August 6, 1640. In 1649 or 1650, he and his young family moved to New London, Connecticut, where he was associated with the church of Rev. Richard Blinman. Most of the congregation was of Welsh background, which lends credence to the belief that James was also Welsh, although if records have been found and proven I am not aware of them.
He was apparently a respected person in his community, for he was one of a committee to lay out the bounds of New London on the east side of the Great River in 1661. He was one of three people to seat the people in the meeting house in 1661, and in 1662 he was one of a committee to contract to build a house for the ministry. This year he also had the third highest assessment of any town member, with a value of 250 pounds. Apparently his relative wealth were as a result of his land holdings, as there is no mention of other occupations he may have followed. The lands he was first granted were just 6 acres of uplands, which doesn't seem to be a basis for wealth, but he may have been a speculator, also. He sold these lands and moved to what is now Groton, Connecticut in 1657.
Besides serving as a selectman for many years, he was the first Deputy from New London plantations to the General Court at Hartford in 1657 and was returned there annually until 1671. Despite his standing in the community, his relative wealth, and his political achievements, as far as can be found he always signed his name with an "X", indicating he couldn't sign his name.
His known children are Hannah, James, John, Joseph, Abraham, who lived just 11 months, and a daughter who also died in infancy.
I wonder why James chose to come to Massachusetts and then was willing to move from Roxbury to the New Haven (then known as Pequot) settlement? Was it for economic reasons, or was he an adventuresome sort, or was it for religious reasons, or did all three come into play? I'd also like to know what was in his mind as he and his family fled Groton in 1676, when the Indians burned all but four buildings during King Philip's War? Did he have any regrets, or did he and Margery get through this crisis one day at a time, as the other refugees also did? How did they summon up the courage to return and rebuild their home?
Our line of descent is:
James Morgan-Margery Hills
James Morgan Jr-Mary Vine
Mary or Mercy Morgan-Thomas Starr
Thomas Starr Jr-Jerusha Street
John Starr-Mary Sharp
John Starr-Betsy Havens
John Havens Starr-Clarissa Falley
Harriet Clarissa Starr-John Wilson Knott
Edith Clarissa Starr-Edward Allen
Richard/Edith/Vernon/Corinne/Tessora
kids, grandchildren, etc
James is my 8th great grandfather.
It's believed that James was born (not to aliens from a spaceship) in Llandaff, Glamorgan, Wales, about 1607 and later lived in Bristol, Gloucester, England. Nothing further is known of him until he sailed from Bristol in the summer of 1636 and landed in Boston. Massachusetts Bay Colony. He settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts and there married Margery Hill on August 6, 1640. In 1649 or 1650, he and his young family moved to New London, Connecticut, where he was associated with the church of Rev. Richard Blinman. Most of the congregation was of Welsh background, which lends credence to the belief that James was also Welsh, although if records have been found and proven I am not aware of them.
He was apparently a respected person in his community, for he was one of a committee to lay out the bounds of New London on the east side of the Great River in 1661. He was one of three people to seat the people in the meeting house in 1661, and in 1662 he was one of a committee to contract to build a house for the ministry. This year he also had the third highest assessment of any town member, with a value of 250 pounds. Apparently his relative wealth were as a result of his land holdings, as there is no mention of other occupations he may have followed. The lands he was first granted were just 6 acres of uplands, which doesn't seem to be a basis for wealth, but he may have been a speculator, also. He sold these lands and moved to what is now Groton, Connecticut in 1657.
Besides serving as a selectman for many years, he was the first Deputy from New London plantations to the General Court at Hartford in 1657 and was returned there annually until 1671. Despite his standing in the community, his relative wealth, and his political achievements, as far as can be found he always signed his name with an "X", indicating he couldn't sign his name.
His known children are Hannah, James, John, Joseph, Abraham, who lived just 11 months, and a daughter who also died in infancy.
I wonder why James chose to come to Massachusetts and then was willing to move from Roxbury to the New Haven (then known as Pequot) settlement? Was it for economic reasons, or was he an adventuresome sort, or was it for religious reasons, or did all three come into play? I'd also like to know what was in his mind as he and his family fled Groton in 1676, when the Indians burned all but four buildings during King Philip's War? Did he have any regrets, or did he and Margery get through this crisis one day at a time, as the other refugees also did? How did they summon up the courage to return and rebuild their home?
Our line of descent is:
James Morgan-Margery Hills
James Morgan Jr-Mary Vine
Mary or Mercy Morgan-Thomas Starr
Thomas Starr Jr-Jerusha Street
John Starr-Mary Sharp
John Starr-Betsy Havens
John Havens Starr-Clarissa Falley
Harriet Clarissa Starr-John Wilson Knott
Edith Clarissa Starr-Edward Allen
Richard/Edith/Vernon/Corinne/Tessora
kids, grandchildren, etc
James is my 8th great grandfather.
Friday, November 8, 2013
Allen line: Reverend Nicholas Street, immigrant and Puritan pastor
Once upon a time, long long ago...
Well, this story is not about a prince or princess, but it is a long ago story. It is hard for us to think about what life was life in England about the year 1600, or what would have inspired someone who presumably could have had a good life in England to come to America. It's hard to imagine the possibly difficult trip over the ocean, or the work involved in building or finding a place to live, or the feelings that must have been involved when a child was born.
Nicholas Street is an ancestor of whom quite a bit is known, but quite a bit is not known. His great grandfather, Richard Street, was a clothier in Stogumber, Somersetshire, England, who died in 1592. His grandfather was Nicholas Street who died in 1610, who was married to Mary.His father, Nicholas Street, was married to Susanna Gilbert at Bridgewater, Somerset, on January 16, 1602. . Our Nicholas was born to this couple shortly before January 29, 1603 (date of baptism). His mother died about a month later, and his father died when he was 13. Nicholas was the only child of this marriage, but he had 7 half brothers and sisters by his father's second marriage.
Since Nicholas was the eldest son, his father lest him "myne antient estate of Rowberton neare Taunton, and also my lease of Hentesbell in the Marsh." Presumably these properties were the source of the funds that allowed him to go to Oxford University beginning Nov 2, 1621. In his matriculation papers, he is listed as "gent." which basically meant he came from a distinguished family. He received his B.A. degree on February 21, 1624/25, and received his MA from Cambridge in 1636. (What did he do in the ensuing years?)
Nicholas was or became a Puritan, although little is known about how he came to these beliefs in a country that was strongly of the Established church (now known as the Church of England) established by the crown. However, life must have been uncomfortable for him, as he came to Plymouth Colony about 1637 and was recongized as a freeman there in 1638.
It is probable that the "ordination" he received at Taunton, Massachusets along with Reverend William Hooke was actually an installation service. Reverend Hooke became the head of this church and Rev. Nicholas Street was the "Teacher". They continued there together for 7 years. When Mr Hooke moved on to New Haven, Ct, Nicholas Street continued as sole pastor of the church there for 15 years. This was a long time for a pastor, even in those days, so he must have been much admired and loved by his congregants. (Did he serve in military units, or were Pastors and Teachers exempt?)
In 1659, Reverend Street moved on to New Haven where he was again the "Teacher" under Reverend John Davenport. Eight years later, Rev. Davenport was called to Boston and from 1667 until his death in 1674, Reverend Street was the sole pastor there.
Evidence seems strong that Nicholas Street was first married to Anna Poole, daughter of William Poole or Pole and Mary or Marie Periam. Their children were Samuel, Abiah, Hannah, Sarah and Susanna, all good Puritan names.
Reverend Nicholas is one of many Allen ancestors who were pastors. We can be proud of his faith and his dedication, even if some of his beliefs may be hard to understand. Thanks to the hard work of this and many more ancestors, we have a chance to continue the story as "happily ever after."
Much more work remains to be done to learn more about his life, but the information I've used here was primarily from the website of Walter Gilbert and from a book called The Street Genealogy by Mary E Anderson, published in 1895.
Our line of descent is:
Nicholas Street and Ann or Anna Poole
Samuel Street and Anna Miles
Nicholas Street and Jerusha Morgan
Jerusha Street and Thomas Starr
John Starr and Mary Sharp
John Starr and Betsy Chester Havens
John Havens Starr and Clarissa Falley
Harriet Clarissa Falley and John Wilson Knott
Edith Clarissa Knott and Edward Franklin Allen
Allen children-Vernon, Edith, Richard, Corinne, Tessora
Well, this story is not about a prince or princess, but it is a long ago story. It is hard for us to think about what life was life in England about the year 1600, or what would have inspired someone who presumably could have had a good life in England to come to America. It's hard to imagine the possibly difficult trip over the ocean, or the work involved in building or finding a place to live, or the feelings that must have been involved when a child was born.
Nicholas Street is an ancestor of whom quite a bit is known, but quite a bit is not known. His great grandfather, Richard Street, was a clothier in Stogumber, Somersetshire, England, who died in 1592. His grandfather was Nicholas Street who died in 1610, who was married to Mary.His father, Nicholas Street, was married to Susanna Gilbert at Bridgewater, Somerset, on January 16, 1602. . Our Nicholas was born to this couple shortly before January 29, 1603 (date of baptism). His mother died about a month later, and his father died when he was 13. Nicholas was the only child of this marriage, but he had 7 half brothers and sisters by his father's second marriage.
Since Nicholas was the eldest son, his father lest him "myne antient estate of Rowberton neare Taunton, and also my lease of Hentesbell in the Marsh." Presumably these properties were the source of the funds that allowed him to go to Oxford University beginning Nov 2, 1621. In his matriculation papers, he is listed as "gent." which basically meant he came from a distinguished family. He received his B.A. degree on February 21, 1624/25, and received his MA from Cambridge in 1636. (What did he do in the ensuing years?)
Nicholas was or became a Puritan, although little is known about how he came to these beliefs in a country that was strongly of the Established church (now known as the Church of England) established by the crown. However, life must have been uncomfortable for him, as he came to Plymouth Colony about 1637 and was recongized as a freeman there in 1638.
It is probable that the "ordination" he received at Taunton, Massachusets along with Reverend William Hooke was actually an installation service. Reverend Hooke became the head of this church and Rev. Nicholas Street was the "Teacher". They continued there together for 7 years. When Mr Hooke moved on to New Haven, Ct, Nicholas Street continued as sole pastor of the church there for 15 years. This was a long time for a pastor, even in those days, so he must have been much admired and loved by his congregants. (Did he serve in military units, or were Pastors and Teachers exempt?)
In 1659, Reverend Street moved on to New Haven where he was again the "Teacher" under Reverend John Davenport. Eight years later, Rev. Davenport was called to Boston and from 1667 until his death in 1674, Reverend Street was the sole pastor there.
Evidence seems strong that Nicholas Street was first married to Anna Poole, daughter of William Poole or Pole and Mary or Marie Periam. Their children were Samuel, Abiah, Hannah, Sarah and Susanna, all good Puritan names.
Reverend Nicholas is one of many Allen ancestors who were pastors. We can be proud of his faith and his dedication, even if some of his beliefs may be hard to understand. Thanks to the hard work of this and many more ancestors, we have a chance to continue the story as "happily ever after."
Much more work remains to be done to learn more about his life, but the information I've used here was primarily from the website of Walter Gilbert and from a book called The Street Genealogy by Mary E Anderson, published in 1895.
Our line of descent is:
Nicholas Street and Ann or Anna Poole
Samuel Street and Anna Miles
Nicholas Street and Jerusha Morgan
Jerusha Street and Thomas Starr
John Starr and Mary Sharp
John Starr and Betsy Chester Havens
John Havens Starr and Clarissa Falley
Harriet Clarissa Falley and John Wilson Knott
Edith Clarissa Knott and Edward Franklin Allen
Allen children-Vernon, Edith, Richard, Corinne, Tessora
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