I hesitate to write this blog post, because I'm finding information that is different than mine. It looks like two of even three men by the name of Joseph Stevens have been combined in some of the information that is out on the web. I hope I have untangled our Joseph Stevens from the others, and if I haven't, I hope someone who has the documentation will correct me.
Our Joseph Stevens was the son of John and Elizabeth Hildreth Stevens. His grandfather, Henry, was the Stevens immigrant, and father John was born in Boston in 1637. Joseph, however, was born in Chelmsford, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony on March 24, 1679, This was just after King Philip's War, and Chelmsford had apparently not been seriously attacked during that conflict, although the town did suffer raids from native Americans. Joseph may have been the youngest of the eight Stevens children, so some of his older siblings likely told him stories as he grew up. I can imagine the youngster's eyes growing round as they told stories that may have become slightly embellished with time.
This might be a good time to comment on a reference I saw that Joseph is believed to have been one.eighth native American. I would say that this is possible only because I don't know all of Joseph's great grandparents. They would have been born around the turn of the seventeenth century, or earlier, and would have had to have lived in the colony. So far I've no evidence that there was anyone here that early. I would love to know the truth of that rumor.
I don't know whether Joseph ever lived in Woburn, but it's possible because he married Elizabeth Tidd, daughter of John and Elizabeth Fifield Tidd there in 1701. We next find Joseph in Billerica, where he married his second wife, Elizabeth Sherman in 1713 in BIllerica. Elizabeth Tidd had died shortly before that, of unknown causes.
Joseph had four children with Elizabeth Tidd and then perhaps as many as eight children with Elizabeth Sherman. It would have been quite a household. Joseph was well-regarded in Billerica and took responsibility to help form the town of Chelmsford. It was formally incorporated in 1732, but settlers were probably there earlier. He had the right to call the first town meeting, as the proprietor of the town, but he didn't do that. He was, however, moderator of the first town meetings and was chosen as selectman several times. He also seems to have been active in getting the first church started, after signing the covenant in 1734.
Then it is hard to tell what happened to Joseph. He died October 1, 1756 in Townsend, still in Essex County. I haven't yet been able to trace when he moved there, or why, but his probate papers clearly state that he is of Townsend. (Note: I found a will attached to him on Ancestry trees but it doesn't appear to be correct. The children named don't belong to our Joseph, for one thing. I found what I believe is the correct probate file at American Ancestry.) Joseph died without a will and with a very small estate, burdened with debts. Perhaps in his old age taking "loans" from friends was a way to sustain himself. But he was rich in treasure laid up in heaven, because this is what his headstone says:
"Halt stranger as you go past
Remember time doth runeth fast
My dust in narou bounds do lye
Remember man that thou must dye
This dust revive it shalt again
And in a grave no more remain
When trumpet sounds I shall arise
And celebrat my God his praise"
(Transcribed by Kevin Avery on Find a Grave.) I've not seen this verse before and it speaks to me. Joseph was a man of his times, a not so stern Puritan as he looked forward to his resurrection.
So we know a little about Joseph, but not enough to really satisfy me. Why did he move so many times? Did he have a trade that was valued at each of his homes? Why did he fall on hard times? Did he participate in any of the military missions of his times? There is always more to learn!
The line of descent is
Joseph Stevens-Elizabeth Tidd
Elizabeth Stevens-William Snow
Lucy Snow-Josiah Whittemore
Josiah Whittemore-Betsy Foster
Mary Elizabeth Whittemore-Joseph Holbrook
Fremont Holbrook-Phoebe Brown
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants
Showing posts with label Tidd. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tidd. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Friday, April 3, 2020
Holbrook line: John Stevens 1637-1691
As is often the case, there's much I don't know about John Stevens. But we do have a few facts that will help us place him in a time and a location, with family around him and work to be done. So although it's a very faint and not detailed picture of his life, at least it's something.
John was born September 10, 1637 in Boston, Massachusetts, when Boston was just a few years away from being total wilderness. So by definition, at least in his early years, he would have seen native Americans on the streets of his town, and he was most likely a Puritan. His parents were Henry and Alice (maiden name unknown) Stevens. An account of his father in "The Great Migration" indicates that his father was a mason and was likely a servant from at least 1635 to 1640, when his master left permanently for England. Henry was one of those who were able to live above the subsistence level that was the lot of many servants, and he had died with a decent estate.
John, however, was another story. We don't know for sure why or how he ended up in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, which was probably at the time about 40 miles north and west of Boston. But it was in Chelmsford that he married Elizabeth Hildreth, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (possibly Hinchman) Hildreth. I can't make a guess as to what his occupation was, other than farmer, based on his inventory. He and Elizabeth had at least five children in Chelmsford.
He is referred to as "Ensign" but we don't know when or how he acquired that title. He would have been the right age to have served in King Philip's War but I didn't find anyone I could positively identify with our John Stevens then. There was one John Stevens in that war, who had either lost an arm, or had it badly damaged, in the conflict. But it seems that he was likely of a different community than our John. Like most towns, there is little reference to the war or its aftermath in the town records, but John did sign a petition in 1676 asking for lower taxes because the town had suffered so grievously in the war. We know that Chelmsford did suffer at least one raid but it's not clear whether the town was then abandoned, or whether the people simply lived in garrisons.
John was made a freeman, meaning he had property, could join the church if he hadn't already, and could now vote, on May 3, 1665, shortly after his December 15, 1664 marriage to Elizabeth. So he had some status in the community. His farm was located about two miles west of the meeting house, at the foot of "Francis" hill. Five generations of the family lived there after John, so likely the family watched and perhaps participated in the Revolutionary War from this home.
From a couple of tax lists I reviewed, it looks like John was neither well off nor dirt poor. His "rates" or taxes, were maybe a tad below the average charge, but were not at the lowest amount, by any means. He doesn't seem to have been elected to town office, which again indicates that he didn't have much status in the town. Still, he was a freeman, and not everyone achieved that distinction
John died April 6, 1691 in Chelmsford. If he left a will, I've not been able to locate it. I did find his inventory, which looks like that of many farmers-animals and tools, some household goods, several properties, arms and ammunition. Since he wasn't yet 60 years old, he was probably still a member of the training band, which explains the arms. The estate was valued at a little over 195 pounds, significantly less than the amost 500 pounds his stone mason father had left when he died less than a year earlier.
That's what we know of John. He seems to have stayed out of trouble and out of the public limelight, while taking care of his family and serving his colony. He didn't get rich along the way, but he probably never let his family go hungry. He deserves to have a few paragraphs written about him, all these years later.
The line of descent is
John Stevens-Elizabeth Hildreth
Joseph Stevens-Elizabeth Tidd
Elizabeth Stevens-William Snow
Lucy Snow-Josiah Whittemore
Josiah Whittemore-Betsy Foster
Mary Elizabeth Whittemore-Joseph Holbrook
Fremont Holbrook-Phoebe Brown
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants
John was born September 10, 1637 in Boston, Massachusetts, when Boston was just a few years away from being total wilderness. So by definition, at least in his early years, he would have seen native Americans on the streets of his town, and he was most likely a Puritan. His parents were Henry and Alice (maiden name unknown) Stevens. An account of his father in "The Great Migration" indicates that his father was a mason and was likely a servant from at least 1635 to 1640, when his master left permanently for England. Henry was one of those who were able to live above the subsistence level that was the lot of many servants, and he had died with a decent estate.
John, however, was another story. We don't know for sure why or how he ended up in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, which was probably at the time about 40 miles north and west of Boston. But it was in Chelmsford that he married Elizabeth Hildreth, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (possibly Hinchman) Hildreth. I can't make a guess as to what his occupation was, other than farmer, based on his inventory. He and Elizabeth had at least five children in Chelmsford.
He is referred to as "Ensign" but we don't know when or how he acquired that title. He would have been the right age to have served in King Philip's War but I didn't find anyone I could positively identify with our John Stevens then. There was one John Stevens in that war, who had either lost an arm, or had it badly damaged, in the conflict. But it seems that he was likely of a different community than our John. Like most towns, there is little reference to the war or its aftermath in the town records, but John did sign a petition in 1676 asking for lower taxes because the town had suffered so grievously in the war. We know that Chelmsford did suffer at least one raid but it's not clear whether the town was then abandoned, or whether the people simply lived in garrisons.
John was made a freeman, meaning he had property, could join the church if he hadn't already, and could now vote, on May 3, 1665, shortly after his December 15, 1664 marriage to Elizabeth. So he had some status in the community. His farm was located about two miles west of the meeting house, at the foot of "Francis" hill. Five generations of the family lived there after John, so likely the family watched and perhaps participated in the Revolutionary War from this home.
From a couple of tax lists I reviewed, it looks like John was neither well off nor dirt poor. His "rates" or taxes, were maybe a tad below the average charge, but were not at the lowest amount, by any means. He doesn't seem to have been elected to town office, which again indicates that he didn't have much status in the town. Still, he was a freeman, and not everyone achieved that distinction
John died April 6, 1691 in Chelmsford. If he left a will, I've not been able to locate it. I did find his inventory, which looks like that of many farmers-animals and tools, some household goods, several properties, arms and ammunition. Since he wasn't yet 60 years old, he was probably still a member of the training band, which explains the arms. The estate was valued at a little over 195 pounds, significantly less than the amost 500 pounds his stone mason father had left when he died less than a year earlier.
That's what we know of John. He seems to have stayed out of trouble and out of the public limelight, while taking care of his family and serving his colony. He didn't get rich along the way, but he probably never let his family go hungry. He deserves to have a few paragraphs written about him, all these years later.
The line of descent is
John Stevens-Elizabeth Hildreth
Joseph Stevens-Elizabeth Tidd
Elizabeth Stevens-William Snow
Lucy Snow-Josiah Whittemore
Josiah Whittemore-Betsy Foster
Mary Elizabeth Whittemore-Joseph Holbrook
Fremont Holbrook-Phoebe Brown
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants
Friday, March 1, 2019
Holbrook line: John Tidd, Immigrant, of Woburn
John Tidd is a bit of a mystery, or at least his earlier years are a mystery. Some, but not all, genealogists say that we was the John Tidd who was christened at Hertford, Hertfordshire, England on October 18, 1594. If so, he was the son of John Tidd and Anna or Agnes Dane. This date would fit in well with the proposed marriage date of 1616 for John to marry Margaret. Margaret is believed by some to be Margaret Greenleaf of Yarmouth, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Leeds Greenlefe, which leaves us to wonder how the two would have met. An argument has been made that she was Margaret Greenfield, sister of Samuel Greenfield, but there seems to be no proof as to that marriage, either. So the most that we can say with confidence is that he married Margaret and that the six or seven children they are credited with were all born in England. Field Dalling, Norfolk, England is given as the birth place of some of the children, and Ipswich, Suffolk, England for others, but again, I don't find documentation.
However, we know that John and Margaret were in New England by 1637, when he is said to be at Charlestown (a frequent first stop for those who moved on). All of their children were born by then, and John would have been in his early 40s. Their oldest son, would have been 20 and their youngest, Hannah, perhaps eight years old.
John, a tailor, became a member of the church at Charlestown on March 10, 1639. He was an original proprietor of the town of Woburn in December of 1640, and three years later was a freeman and sergeant of the training band (militia) in Woburn. This wasn't just some show up one day a month and drill group. These men were responsible for protecting the town from any incursions from the native Americans, and the Pequot War had just ended in 1637. Training would have been serious business.
John acquired eight pieces of land in Charlestown, as well as part of the cow commons. When he moved to Woburn, he had minor town offices, most relating to taxes, besides the role of sergeant for the band. He was a courageous man, for he was one of those who, in 1653, signed a petition to the General Court called the "Woburn Memorial for Christian Liberty", earning himself the permanent label of "One of the bold petitioners." Apparently religious freedom was still frowned upon by the Court.
Margaret died about 1641. We don't have a cause of death but there were many illnesses prevalengt that took both women and men. John married Alice sometime after Margaret's death, but they had no children together.
John gave land to his son Samuel and possibly to his other sons before he died, which would explain why they are not mentioned in his will. He died April 24, 1656, leaving an estate of 163 pounds. One unusual feature of his will was that he left the house and orchards to his wife Alice, for as long as she lived or until six years after her re=marriage. Usually men left the use of the home, or part of it, until the widow remarried, so the six years grace period is a bit different.
John was another of our ancestors who had the courage to come to the New World under difficult conditions, and who apparently "made good". He coped with the new environment, with supporting and raising his family, and with the demands that the military placed on him. He and Margaret are good role models.
John Tidd gives us another ancestor in common with the two Presidents Bush, with Barbara Bush, and with Buckminster Fuller, among others.
The line of descent is:
John Tidd-Margaret possibly Greanleaf
John Tidd-Rebecca Wood
John Tidd-Elizabeth Fifield
Elizabeth Tidd-Joseph Stevens
Elizabeth Stevens-William Snow
Lucy Snow-Josiah Whittemore
Josiah Whittemore-Betsy Foster
Mary Elizabeth Whittemore-Joseph Holbrook
Fremont Holbrook-Phoebe Brown
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants
However, we know that John and Margaret were in New England by 1637, when he is said to be at Charlestown (a frequent first stop for those who moved on). All of their children were born by then, and John would have been in his early 40s. Their oldest son, would have been 20 and their youngest, Hannah, perhaps eight years old.
John, a tailor, became a member of the church at Charlestown on March 10, 1639. He was an original proprietor of the town of Woburn in December of 1640, and three years later was a freeman and sergeant of the training band (militia) in Woburn. This wasn't just some show up one day a month and drill group. These men were responsible for protecting the town from any incursions from the native Americans, and the Pequot War had just ended in 1637. Training would have been serious business.
John acquired eight pieces of land in Charlestown, as well as part of the cow commons. When he moved to Woburn, he had minor town offices, most relating to taxes, besides the role of sergeant for the band. He was a courageous man, for he was one of those who, in 1653, signed a petition to the General Court called the "Woburn Memorial for Christian Liberty", earning himself the permanent label of "One of the bold petitioners." Apparently religious freedom was still frowned upon by the Court.
Margaret died about 1641. We don't have a cause of death but there were many illnesses prevalengt that took both women and men. John married Alice sometime after Margaret's death, but they had no children together.
John gave land to his son Samuel and possibly to his other sons before he died, which would explain why they are not mentioned in his will. He died April 24, 1656, leaving an estate of 163 pounds. One unusual feature of his will was that he left the house and orchards to his wife Alice, for as long as she lived or until six years after her re=marriage. Usually men left the use of the home, or part of it, until the widow remarried, so the six years grace period is a bit different.
John was another of our ancestors who had the courage to come to the New World under difficult conditions, and who apparently "made good". He coped with the new environment, with supporting and raising his family, and with the demands that the military placed on him. He and Margaret are good role models.
John Tidd gives us another ancestor in common with the two Presidents Bush, with Barbara Bush, and with Buckminster Fuller, among others.
The line of descent is:
John Tidd-Margaret possibly Greanleaf
John Tidd-Rebecca Wood
John Tidd-Elizabeth Fifield
Elizabeth Tidd-Joseph Stevens
Elizabeth Stevens-William Snow
Lucy Snow-Josiah Whittemore
Josiah Whittemore-Betsy Foster
Mary Elizabeth Whittemore-Joseph Holbrook
Fremont Holbrook-Phoebe Brown
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Holbrook line: Henry Stevens, Immigrant
Henry Stevens is another man of mystery, prior to his immigration to Massachusetts Bay Colony on the Defiance in 1635. His age on the records is given as 24 at that time, so his birth date would be about 1611, and it's probably safe to say his origins were in England. The ship sailed from London, which may or may not mean he was from somewhere in the southeast section of the country. Alice Stevens, believed to be Henry's wife, came at the same time on a separate ship, the Abigail. We don't know why they sailed on separate ships and that is a mystery I'd like to solve. At any rate, it appears that they were married before they came to America, perhaps shortly before.
Their first home was in Lynn but they were in Boston by 1641. Alice was admitted to the Boston church on June 18, 1643, and Henry Stevens was admitted February 8, 1651/2. Sometime between April 11, 1649 and February 1651/52, Alice had died and Henry was married to Mary Buckmaster. Their first child was born May 28, 1652, so Henry wasn't a widow for long. Henry and Alice's first three children were baptized on the same day that Alice became a member of the church (having children baptized was sometimes a prime motivator in joining a church; at least one parent had to belong to the church.) John, James, Joseph, Deborah and Deliverance were the children of Henry and Alice. Henry's children with Mary were Joanna, Henry, Thomas, Joshua, John, Samuel, Silence, and Mary. This was quite a family to raise! Son John was nearly 33 years old when Mary, the last child, was born in 1670.
Fortunately, Henry had a good trade. He was a mason, and likely moved from Lynn to Boston when he realized there was more work available at Boston. (Robert Charles Anderson suggests that Henry was a servant to John Humfrey, who left to return permanently to England, about the time that Henry moved to Boston. He further suggests that Henry, as a servant to Humfrey, had burned down Humfrey's bar. My inference is that this was likely an accident, because years were added to Henry's servitude, rather than Henry being imprisoned or even sentenced to death, as would have happened if it were considered a crime.
Henry had at least some education because he signed his name on deeds, and when he died his estate included books. He became a freeman on May 26, 1652, and was appointed to committees to set boundaries between towns. He was also a constable at least twice, and a tithingman. One of the deeds refers to Henry Stevens as a husbandman, so he must have done some farming, or at least owned farmland, also.
When Henry died on June 11, 1690, James and Joseph had predeceased him, as Henry left small bequests to their children. His estate totaled 411 pounds 10 shillings, of which 381 pounds was real estate in several different locations.
I have not been able to find what became of Mary. Information on various genealogy web sites gives her death as 1684. If this is accurate, then Henry, who wrote his will in 1688, had remarried and his third wife was also Mary, for he mentions her by name in his will. This would be a mystery that a descendant of Henry and Mary might want to try to solve. Our tree comes through Henry and Alice, so my interest is in identifying Alice.
The line of descent is:
Henry Stevens-Alice
John Stevens-Elizabeth Hildreth
Joseph Stevens-Elizabeth Tidd
Elizabeth Stevens-William Snow
Lucy Snow-Josiah Whittemore
Josiah Whittemore-Betsy Foster
Mary Elizabeth Whittemore-Joseph Holbrook
Fremont Holbrook-Phoebe Brown
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants
Their first home was in Lynn but they were in Boston by 1641. Alice was admitted to the Boston church on June 18, 1643, and Henry Stevens was admitted February 8, 1651/2. Sometime between April 11, 1649 and February 1651/52, Alice had died and Henry was married to Mary Buckmaster. Their first child was born May 28, 1652, so Henry wasn't a widow for long. Henry and Alice's first three children were baptized on the same day that Alice became a member of the church (having children baptized was sometimes a prime motivator in joining a church; at least one parent had to belong to the church.) John, James, Joseph, Deborah and Deliverance were the children of Henry and Alice. Henry's children with Mary were Joanna, Henry, Thomas, Joshua, John, Samuel, Silence, and Mary. This was quite a family to raise! Son John was nearly 33 years old when Mary, the last child, was born in 1670.
Fortunately, Henry had a good trade. He was a mason, and likely moved from Lynn to Boston when he realized there was more work available at Boston. (Robert Charles Anderson suggests that Henry was a servant to John Humfrey, who left to return permanently to England, about the time that Henry moved to Boston. He further suggests that Henry, as a servant to Humfrey, had burned down Humfrey's bar. My inference is that this was likely an accident, because years were added to Henry's servitude, rather than Henry being imprisoned or even sentenced to death, as would have happened if it were considered a crime.
Henry had at least some education because he signed his name on deeds, and when he died his estate included books. He became a freeman on May 26, 1652, and was appointed to committees to set boundaries between towns. He was also a constable at least twice, and a tithingman. One of the deeds refers to Henry Stevens as a husbandman, so he must have done some farming, or at least owned farmland, also.
When Henry died on June 11, 1690, James and Joseph had predeceased him, as Henry left small bequests to their children. His estate totaled 411 pounds 10 shillings, of which 381 pounds was real estate in several different locations.
I have not been able to find what became of Mary. Information on various genealogy web sites gives her death as 1684. If this is accurate, then Henry, who wrote his will in 1688, had remarried and his third wife was also Mary, for he mentions her by name in his will. This would be a mystery that a descendant of Henry and Mary might want to try to solve. Our tree comes through Henry and Alice, so my interest is in identifying Alice.
The line of descent is:
Henry Stevens-Alice
John Stevens-Elizabeth Hildreth
Joseph Stevens-Elizabeth Tidd
Elizabeth Stevens-William Snow
Lucy Snow-Josiah Whittemore
Josiah Whittemore-Betsy Foster
Mary Elizabeth Whittemore-Joseph Holbrook
Fremont Holbrook-Phoebe Brown
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants
Friday, December 7, 2018
Holbrook line: William Fifield, newly found immigrant
William Fifield is a recent addition to our family tree. When I learned who the Lucy Snow was who married Josiah Whittemore, she came with quite a well researched genealogy. William Fifield was one of those finds. I love it when an ancestor has been written up by Robert Charles Anderson in The Great Migration series! What I don't love about William Fifield is that he lived in a state and county that I'm not familiar with. That means I not only have more research to do, but I have to learn how to do the research in New Hampshire. However, I digress.
William Fifield was born about 1614 somewhere in England. A case has been made that he is from Littleton, Hampshire, England, and some believe his ancestry can be traced back another four or five generations. I'm not convinced, but I'm sure going to look into it. His birthdate is approximated from various depositions he gave in his adult life, when he said that he was of a certain age at that time. It isn't known who his wife may have been, other than her given name of Mary. They likely married after each immigrated.
The first record we have of William is his oath of fidelity given when he immigrated on the Hercules, in 1634. It arrived at Ipswich, Massachusetts Bay Colony in April of that year. Since there were only 12 known passengers on this ship, either it was very small or it carried primarily cargo. In 1634, most of what the colony used would have been imported from "home". It was, after all, a colony. He lived at Ipswich for a short time, then at Newbury, and in 1639 went to Hampton, in what is now New Hampshire. It appears that he spent the rest of his life there.
Hampton would have been a good place to raise a family. It was on the Atlantic Ocean, so there was likely a maritime business. If not, at least it was pretty! Good water was available, and there were vast fields of timber nearby. William and Mary may have had as many as nine children, the last born in 1660/61. Two children did not survive infancy, but the others reached adulthood and married.
There is a possibility that William was somehow related to the Fifields of Barbados, but that needs more study. If it turns out to be true, one could wonder ships sailing to or from Hampton would have carried family members. It also makes one wonder whether there was any slave trade involved.
William acquired land both by grants and by purchase, but I don't know enough about land in New Hampshire at this time period to figure out whether he acquired more than the typical resident.
William had some amount of education, because he signed his name to deeds. He was made a freeman in 1641, which gave him the right to vote and to hold office. He held the office of timber surveyor, selectman, constable, and deputy constable at various times, and was frequently a petit juror. He also served on a committee to set the boundary between Portsmouth and Hampton.
This is what I know about William Fifield. I'd like to learn his origins and his wife's maiden name. I'd like to know about his military service (he had some, because he was excused from military training in the later years of his life), and how active he was in church. But, welcome to our family, William Fifield! I'm glad you made your presence known.
The line of descent is:
William Fifield-Mary
Elizabeth Fifield-John Tidd
Elizabeth Tidd-Joseph Stevens
Elizabeth Stevens-William Snow
Lucy Snow-Josiah Whittemore
Josiah Whittemore-Betsy Foster
Mary Elizabeth Whittemore-Joseph Holbrook
Fremont Holbrook-Phoebe Brown
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants
William Fifield was born about 1614 somewhere in England. A case has been made that he is from Littleton, Hampshire, England, and some believe his ancestry can be traced back another four or five generations. I'm not convinced, but I'm sure going to look into it. His birthdate is approximated from various depositions he gave in his adult life, when he said that he was of a certain age at that time. It isn't known who his wife may have been, other than her given name of Mary. They likely married after each immigrated.
The first record we have of William is his oath of fidelity given when he immigrated on the Hercules, in 1634. It arrived at Ipswich, Massachusetts Bay Colony in April of that year. Since there were only 12 known passengers on this ship, either it was very small or it carried primarily cargo. In 1634, most of what the colony used would have been imported from "home". It was, after all, a colony. He lived at Ipswich for a short time, then at Newbury, and in 1639 went to Hampton, in what is now New Hampshire. It appears that he spent the rest of his life there.
Hampton would have been a good place to raise a family. It was on the Atlantic Ocean, so there was likely a maritime business. If not, at least it was pretty! Good water was available, and there were vast fields of timber nearby. William and Mary may have had as many as nine children, the last born in 1660/61. Two children did not survive infancy, but the others reached adulthood and married.
There is a possibility that William was somehow related to the Fifields of Barbados, but that needs more study. If it turns out to be true, one could wonder ships sailing to or from Hampton would have carried family members. It also makes one wonder whether there was any slave trade involved.
William acquired land both by grants and by purchase, but I don't know enough about land in New Hampshire at this time period to figure out whether he acquired more than the typical resident.
William had some amount of education, because he signed his name to deeds. He was made a freeman in 1641, which gave him the right to vote and to hold office. He held the office of timber surveyor, selectman, constable, and deputy constable at various times, and was frequently a petit juror. He also served on a committee to set the boundary between Portsmouth and Hampton.
This is what I know about William Fifield. I'd like to learn his origins and his wife's maiden name. I'd like to know about his military service (he had some, because he was excused from military training in the later years of his life), and how active he was in church. But, welcome to our family, William Fifield! I'm glad you made your presence known.
The line of descent is:
William Fifield-Mary
Elizabeth Fifield-John Tidd
Elizabeth Tidd-Joseph Stevens
Elizabeth Stevens-William Snow
Lucy Snow-Josiah Whittemore
Josiah Whittemore-Betsy Foster
Mary Elizabeth Whittemore-Joseph Holbrook
Fremont Holbrook-Phoebe Brown
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants
Friday, November 16, 2018
Holbrook line: Richard Hildreth, Immigrant
The only reason I haven't written about Richard Hildreth before is that he is one of the recent funds I made when finally determining the identity of Lucy Snow Whittemore. That connection leads to several more immigrant families, and this is one of them. Much has been found about Richard Hildreth but much more needs to be found. Still, my view on writing these posts is that something is better than nothing.
Among the "minor" details we don't know about Richard are the names of his parents, his birthdate or location, and the maiden name of his first wife. We're not at all sure about the maiden name of his second wife, either. Other than that,,,
We do know that he was in Massachusetts Bay Colony at least by May 10, 1643, when he was made a freeman. At the time, he resided in Cambridge. Some records indicate that he lived at Woburn but had his children christened in Cambridge, so it's possible that he moved. The two towns are about eleven miles apart now, but I don't know where the boundaries were then. Richard had come to America with his first wife, Sarah, and their two children. Sarah died at Cambridge June 15, 1644. He must have married Elizabeth, who may have been a Hinchman or Henchman, (but I've found nothing to document that) very soon after Sarah's death, because second wife's first child, Elizabeth, was born on September 21, 1646. Sarah and Richard had at least seven children. Based on the ages reported on their gravestones, Elizabeth was about 20 years younger than Richard and was probably only about twenty years old when she married.
In Cambridge, Richard was well respected and was a selectman of the town. He was also referred to as "sergeant", and most likely would have had this title as part of the military training band. Sometime in his life, he lost the use of his right hand. Whether this was as part of a military expedition, a training accident, or some other kind of accident is not known, not is it known exactly when this loss occurred.
He acquired land in Chelmsford in 1653 and he and the family had moved there sometime before 1658, when his a son was born at Chelmsford. In 1664 the Court granted him 150 additional acres of land because of the loss of his right hand, so we know that the incident occurred before that date. There doesn't appear to be a skirmish or war to which we can attribute it, but as mentioned above, there are several explanations. The Court would likely not have given land to those who had suffered non-military injuries, as far as I can tell.
Richard was a member of the church at Chelmsford and must have also been a member earlier, when he attained freeman status.
Richard died at Chelmsford February 23, 1693 and Elizabeth followed him a few months later. He had disposed of most of his property by the time of his death, as his inventory shows a value of only about 17 pounds. However, it did include four books, which tells us something. His mind may have still been active even at such an advanced age. His son Ephraim had the use of Richard's estate while Richard lived, and was appointed executor of the estate. Oldest son James was to get 20 shillings more than the others when the estate was settled.
So we're left wondering...Was his wife a Hinchman? How did Richard support himself, before and after the incident that cost him his right hand? Where was he born, and who were his parents? The search goes on.
The line of descent is:
Richard Hildreth-Elizabeth
Elizabeth Hildreth-John Stevens
Joseph Stevens-Elizabeth Tidd
Elizabeth Stevens-William Snow
Lucy Snow-Josiah Whittemore
Josiah Whittemore-Betsy Foster
Mary Elizabeth Whittemore-Joseph R Holbrook
Fremont Holbrook-Phoebe Brown
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants
Among the "minor" details we don't know about Richard are the names of his parents, his birthdate or location, and the maiden name of his first wife. We're not at all sure about the maiden name of his second wife, either. Other than that,,,
We do know that he was in Massachusetts Bay Colony at least by May 10, 1643, when he was made a freeman. At the time, he resided in Cambridge. Some records indicate that he lived at Woburn but had his children christened in Cambridge, so it's possible that he moved. The two towns are about eleven miles apart now, but I don't know where the boundaries were then. Richard had come to America with his first wife, Sarah, and their two children. Sarah died at Cambridge June 15, 1644. He must have married Elizabeth, who may have been a Hinchman or Henchman, (but I've found nothing to document that) very soon after Sarah's death, because second wife's first child, Elizabeth, was born on September 21, 1646. Sarah and Richard had at least seven children. Based on the ages reported on their gravestones, Elizabeth was about 20 years younger than Richard and was probably only about twenty years old when she married.
In Cambridge, Richard was well respected and was a selectman of the town. He was also referred to as "sergeant", and most likely would have had this title as part of the military training band. Sometime in his life, he lost the use of his right hand. Whether this was as part of a military expedition, a training accident, or some other kind of accident is not known, not is it known exactly when this loss occurred.
He acquired land in Chelmsford in 1653 and he and the family had moved there sometime before 1658, when his a son was born at Chelmsford. In 1664 the Court granted him 150 additional acres of land because of the loss of his right hand, so we know that the incident occurred before that date. There doesn't appear to be a skirmish or war to which we can attribute it, but as mentioned above, there are several explanations. The Court would likely not have given land to those who had suffered non-military injuries, as far as I can tell.
Richard was a member of the church at Chelmsford and must have also been a member earlier, when he attained freeman status.
Richard died at Chelmsford February 23, 1693 and Elizabeth followed him a few months later. He had disposed of most of his property by the time of his death, as his inventory shows a value of only about 17 pounds. However, it did include four books, which tells us something. His mind may have still been active even at such an advanced age. His son Ephraim had the use of Richard's estate while Richard lived, and was appointed executor of the estate. Oldest son James was to get 20 shillings more than the others when the estate was settled.
So we're left wondering...Was his wife a Hinchman? How did Richard support himself, before and after the incident that cost him his right hand? Where was he born, and who were his parents? The search goes on.
The line of descent is:
Richard Hildreth-Elizabeth
Elizabeth Hildreth-John Stevens
Joseph Stevens-Elizabeth Tidd
Elizabeth Stevens-William Snow
Lucy Snow-Josiah Whittemore
Josiah Whittemore-Betsy Foster
Mary Elizabeth Whittemore-Joseph R Holbrook
Fremont Holbrook-Phoebe Brown
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants
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