I'm writing about this ancestor because a very distant cousin recently asked for more information on the family line of GOODENOW. Which immediately stimulated me to do more research on the line, of course. Does that happen to you as well? Here's the bit of information I've been able to find so far on John GOODENOW (Capt.) - who wasn't quite as "good enough" as he should have been!
p. 100 ...Captain John Goodenow was forced to resign all offices because of his adultery, in 1697.
p. 172 ...Publicly Goodenow had monopolized town offices and corruptly misused his power. Privately, he had cheated at horse trading, been censured for drunkenness by his fellow church members, and attended only half the services. What he did during the other services is implied in the complaint: "When he is absent from meeting the wife of John Brooks is absent also."
p. 172 ...John Brooks, economically vulnerable as a tenant of Goodenow, had complained that his landlord "had as much to do with his wife as himself and he wold beeer it no longer... he asked some of the company to go with him to demand his house from Capt Goodenow" but found no volunteers. Another Sudbury housewife deposed that the man who was concurrently militia captain, town clerk, town assessor, first selectman, and moderator of the town meeting had lustfully "tempted me with the command of his estate... to committ adultery with him."
Above excerpts taken from the book: Sex in Middlesex: Popular Mores in a Massachusetts County, 1649-1699, Roger Thompson, 1986, Univ of Massachusetts Press.
John GOODENOW immigrated (aged 3) to Massachusetts on the ship, Confidence, in 1638, with his parents, Edmund and Anne, with younger brother Thomas (1 yr old). The family were from Dunhead, Wiltshire, England, and came over with several other Goodenow families from other areas.
John GOODENOW married (1) Mary AXTELL on 19 Sep 1656 in Sudbury, MA. Mary was bap 25 Sep 1639 in Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire, England. She apparently had a very lengthy illness, before she died 14 Apr 1704. John & Mary had the following 12 children, all born in Sudbury, MA:
- Hannah, b. 15 Dec 1657, d. 22 Nov 1691
- Mary, b. 19 Oct 1659, d. 2 Aug 1687
- Edmund, b. 16 Oct 1661, d. 31 May 1727
- Sarah, b. 26 Feb 1664, d. 1724
- Dorothy, b. abt 1668, m. John Peckham 9 Dec 1687
- John [jr], b. 9 Sep 1670, d. 24 Feb 1736
- Elizabeth, b. 18 Nov 1672, d. 9 May 1736
- *Joseph [ancestor], b. 1 Dec 1674, d. 3 Sep 1758; m. abt 1700 to Patience BENT 1700, 6 children known
- Ebenezar, b. 6 Jun 1677
- Lydia, b. 18 Oct 1678, d. 21 Apr 1679
- Mary/Mercy, b. 8 Nov 1680, d. 1 Sep 1710
John married for a second time to Mary Stone Walker (wid) in Dec 1705. Mary (2nd wife), b. 22 Mar 1644 in Cambridge, MA, died in Sudbury, MA, aged 87, on 4 Nov 1731; this was 10 years after her husband's death.
On 6 Aug 1721, John GOODENOW, died 6 Aug 1721, aged 86, in Sudbury, MA. Eventually this GOODENOW line joins up with our RICE-LEWIS line.
I think I'd like to do more research on this black sheep, although I'm also distracted at looking at the origin of the surname GOODENOW, plus his 1st wife's unusual surname of AXTELL. So many bright shiny objects to distract me with this couple!
If any of these people are your ancestors as well, please contact me via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below. I would love to learn more about my children's ancestors, and appreciate any corrections or comments.
Blogger is still not letting me "reply" to your comments, for some unknown reason. If I don't reply to your Comment, please know that I'm totally thrilled you came to read my post and commented! You make my day.
4 comments:
I enjoyed reading your entry for 52 Ancestors. Looks like John Goodenow liked to get himself into quite a bit of trouble.
I just found your delightful blog while searching for info about John Goodenow, who seems to be an ancestor of mine. And so, your children nay be very distant cousins! You also cleared up a mystery for me by giving Patience, wife of Joseph, a maiden name! May I ask what your source was for that? Thanks!
Jaque Schmidt
Hi Jaque,
My early research didn't put in the sources, and I'm now doing a "Do-Over" for my genealogy! I would have put Patience Bent (dau of Petter & Ellizabeth Bent) as Joseph's wife due to finding a record linking the two families. But I clearly did not save that record, or article, or whatever it was!
On my Research To-Do list, are two places I noted to search or write to for more information:
1. The Goodnow Library in Sudbury, as they have various files and folders of information
2. The Goodenow Family Association, for whatever assistance they may be able to provide.
Either or both of these groups may be able to confirm or detail out the marriage of Joseph Goodenow and Patience Bent.
I have not yet been able to find a will of Joseph Goodenow, nor of Pet(t)er Bent - either of which would be useful if children are listed with spouses.
All the best - I will be looking further into this family soon, now that I'm embarrassed at my sloppy bookkeeping/citations! :)
- Celia
PS you can email me directly as indicated on my blog pages, and I can discuss this further with you if you wish!
Thank you, Celia. The last name, Bent gave me enough of a hint that I was able to find more info. I will email you soon!
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