Holbrook line: John Perrin, Immigrant

John Perrin's origins are sketchy, but intriguing.  Family stories say that he was of French Huguenot descent.  His parents (but possibly these are grandparents, based on the birth date of "father John Perryn") were John Perryn and Anne Brunneau.  His wife was Anne Hubert, daughter of Richard Hubert of France.  The dates here almost work to say these families had likely escaped the French persecution of the Huguenots(Protestants) by fleeing to England.  It's an exciting story, but one which seems to lack documentation at present.  '

The first thing we know about John is that he was in Braintree, Massachusetts Bay Colony, in 1640.  Family experts dispute whether or not he came in the Safety in 1635, but he was in Braintree in 1640.  We don't know whether he had married Anne Hubert in England or whether they met on the ship or soon after arrival here.  We do know that their daughter Mary was born at Braintree February 22, 1640/1.  It's thought that she was the first born of their five known children, so that gives us an approximate marriage date of 1639, more or less. 

John must have been well thought of in Braintree because he was one of the first men chosen, or allowed, to settle in a new town, Rehoboth, Plymouth Colony, so close to what became Rhode Island that some of his land was actually located there.  He received several grants of land from the town, including home lot, woodland, fresh meadow, salt marsh, and new meadow.  At various times, he was surveyor of highways, constable, townsman, and juror, so I'm thinking he had freeman status. 

His estate was valued at 67 pounds in a 1643 settlement of town estates, but by the time of his death in 1674 his real estate was valued at 230 pounds and the total inventory at a little over 375 pounds.  John was apparently a hard worker and a thrifty man.  His will mentions his wife, two sons and two daughters.  The first of two "Mary's" born to the couple had probably died young. 

John died before King Philip's War, but the home he built in Rehoboth was apparently used as a garrison house during that conflict.  His son John lived there at the time it was needed.  A garrison house was generally built a little more stoutly than others in the vicinity, and usually had openings built into it that could be used to fire on any attackers.  It may also have had a cellar or other hiding place on the grounds.  I wonder if John built such a strong house with memories of the stories of his parents or grandparents and their trials in France in the back of his mind? 

I wish I had more to say about John.  Was he educated?  What church did he attend, if any?  Did he have a trade besides farming?  There are always more questions, no matter what we are able to learn of the lives of these ancestors!  Most of the material in this sketch came from Volume 96 of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, with bits and pieces found elsewhere.  And as always, some of it is speculation. 

The line of descent is:

John Perrin-Anne Hubert
John Perrin-Mary Polley
Samuel Perrin-Mehitable Child
John Perrin-Abigail Morris
Benjamin Perrin-Mary
Mary Perrin-David Fay
Luceba Fay-Libberus Stannard
Hiram Stanard-Susan Eddy
Louis Stanard-Mary Alice Hetrick
Etta Stanard-Loren Holbrook
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants

Holbrook line: John Polley 1618-1689

This is going to be a short post, because I'm unable to locate much information about John Polley.  He was born in about 1618, possibly in St Leonard, Shoreditch, Middlesex, England.  His parents may have been John Polley and Hannah, at least I'm finding that information on line.  Unfortunately, it's not documented, so it's a maybe at this point.. 

We know that he was in Roxbury, Massachusetts by 1650 when he had two daughters christened there on June 2.  This would mean he was married in 1649 or earlier.  He had four wives, the first of whom was Susannah Bacon, the daughter of George Bacon and Margaret.  Susannah came to America with her parents and two brothers in 1635, when she was ten years old.  John and Susannah had 7 children, all girls between the approximate date of 1650 and 1664, when Susanna died.  With seven daughters to care for, John needed a wife and this time he married Mary Ives, probably early in 1665. A child was born, but Mary died of smallpox about a year later, and once again John needed a wife.  This time, he married Hannah Cowdrey, in September of 1667.  John and Hannah had 6 children, five girls and a son named John. Their youngest daughter was named for her second oldest sister, Sarah, who had recently died as a married mother of four children.  Hannah died in 1684 and if the article I read is correct, John immediately (the same month) married Jane Metcalf Walker. 

John and Jane were married for not quite five years when John died in April of 1689.  He is a somewhat unusual ancestor not just for the number of his wives, but also because once he got to Roxbury, he stayed there, forty years or more in the same town.  Many of our ancestors left their original town to move onward, but not John.  Perhaps he wanted to stay near his older children, or perhaps the voyage across the ocean was enough for him.  Maybe his wives didn't wish to leave the area.  It's hard to say why men leave, and it's hard to say why they stay. 

It's also hard to say why there isn't more information available about John Polley.  Perhaps he was so busy supporting and raising his family that he made little mark in the town, but I'm not ready to settle for that explanation yet.  I will put this name on my "to do" list and work on finding out more about him. 

The line of descent is:

John Polley-Susannah Bacon
Mary Polley-John Perrin
Samuel Perrin-Mehitable Child
John Perrin-Abigail Morris
Benjamin Perrin-Mary
Mary or Mercy Perrin-David Fay
Luceba (Euzebia) Fay-Libbeus Stannard Jr
Hiram Stanard-Susan Eddy
Louis Stanard-Mary Alice Hetrick
Etta Stanard-Loren Holbrook
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants