Holbrook line: John Beal, Immigrant

I'd previously written about John Beal's father in law, Edmund Hobart.  There was just one thing wrong with that post.  Edmund Hobart was John's father in law, but he was not John's first father in law.  John was married prior to his marriage to Nazareth Hobart, and we come through a daughter from the first marriage.  Oops!  Actually, that is one reason I write these blog posts, to review my information and to see if new facts have emerged.  I'm usually hoping for new facts, not corrected ones that will force me to delete I don't know how many names from the tree, but facts, for the purposes of genealogy, are much to be preferred to mistakes/fiction. 

John's early origins are, as usual, hard to trace.  His father is believed to be Edmund Beal, (although none of his sons are named Edmund, so the father may not be correct) and John is thought to have been born about 1588 in Wymondham, Norfolk, England, although his christening record is thought to be the John Beal who was christened May 5, 1593 in the nearby town of Wramplingham.  Most of John's first 50 years were associated with Hingham, Norfolk, England so it may just be easier to remember that. 

John likely learned his trade, that of shoemaker, in or around Hingham.  He married Frances Ripley, daughter of William and Cicely Revell Ripley, on June 11, 1616 in Wymondham.  They had five children together, as well as a chold who did not survive, before Frances died shortly before March 16, 1630 (burial date), also in Wymondham.

John next married Nazareth Hobart, daughter of Edmund and Margaret Dewey Hobart, on July 13, 1630.  That was less than four months after the death of his first wife, but he had five young children who needed a mother.   John and Nazareth had three children in ENgland, and then two more after arriving in the New World.  John was Nazareth's second husband.  Nazareth died in Hingham, Massachusetts on September 23, 1658.

John still had two children who were considered minors at that time, so he married for the third and final time, Mary Gilman, who was the daughter of Edward and Mary Hawes Gilman. They were married on March 10, 1659. She died on Jun 15, 1681.

John, Nazareth, and eight children (five of Frances's and three of Nazareth's), as well as two servants, came to America in 1638, and settled in Hingham, where they stayed.  John is supposed to have died April 1, 1688 because he is called "The Centenarian".  If he was actually born closer to that christening date of 1593, then he didn't make it the full 100 years, but I suppose in those days, who counted?  He certainly did live to a very old age.

The records of John Beal aren't plentiful, but we do know he was granted land there in 1638, was admitted a freeman in 1639, and in 1649 and again ten years later represented the town at the General Court of the Colony. In 1680 and in 1682, his name is found on petitions, one regarding where the new meeting house should be constructed, and one asking for better training for the militia.  So his mind must have still been active, when he was in his 90's.  He must have been physically active up until his last moments, for his body was found in his yard.

Somewhere there is a will for John Beal, because it is reported that he left bequests to each of his children and grandchildren.  I have not yet located that document, nor his appraisal, although I would certainly like to do so!  I have great admiration for John Beal.  He came to the New World when he was 50 years old, with a large family to support.  For another fifty years, he helped to build America and took some part in its government.  He loved his family, as evidenced by his will (and genealogists love him, for apparently naming his descendants!).  He seems to have been a good man.

The line of descent is:

John Beal-Frances Ripley
Sarah Beal-Thomas Marsh
Thomas Marsh-Sarah Lincoln
Thomas Marsh-Mary Burr
Deborah Marsh-Isaac Lazell
Deborah Lazell-Levi Rockwood
Susasnnah Rockwood-Nahum Holbrook
Joseph Holbrook-Maary Elizabeth Whittemore
Fremont Holbrook-Phoebe Brown
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants