52 ANCESTORS, 52 THEMES, No. 47: Elizabeth MARSHALL 1602-1641

This year's challenge by Amy Crow is another weekly blog based on Themes, although it seems not always relevant for me to use!  This week the theme is "Sporting" and yet again, I'm not using the theme. But I continue to write about the original settlers in New England, in my mother's family lines. Last week I wrote about Christopher ADAMS & Margaret HUNKING, who settled first in Braintree MA, then to Kittery, (which was officially in Massachusetts not Maine, at this early time).

Here is Elizabeth MARSHALL,the wife of well-known gentleman, Thomas TROWBRIDGE. She was the 5th of 12 children of John MARSHALL & Alice BEVYS, from Exeter, Devonshire, England. John MARSHALL was a well-known and wealthy merchant in Exeter, as were the Bevys family. Alice BEVYS' father, Richard, was Sheriff of Exeter in 1591, Governor of the Guild Merchant Adventurers (1594) [I love this name!], Mayor in 1602, dying later that same year.

Elizabeth was baptised 24 Mar 1602 in Exeter Cathedral, Exeter, Devonshire. Her parents are known to be John MARSHALL & Alice BEVYS.  However there is an apparent contradiction in the St. Mary Arches parish register of her 1627 marriage to Thomas Trobrige where she is called "the daughter of Mr. Alec Marshall widow".  This is a mis-transcribing of Alys Marshall (i.e., Mrs. Alice BEVYS Marshall), widowed several years prior to Elizabeth's marriage).

Elizabeth and Thomas had the following children, the first four born in Exeter, Devon, England:

1. Elizabeth, bap 6 Mar 1627/28, buried 10 May 1630
2. John, bap 5 Nov 1629, d. 1653 in Taunton, Eng.
3. Thomas, bap 11 Dec 1631, d. 22 Aug 1702 in New Haven CT; m. 24 Jun 1657 to Sarah Rutherford, 8 children; m. 2nd abt 1688 to Hannah Nash Ball, 1 dau.
4. William [direct ancestor], bap. 3 Sep 1633, d. Nov 1690 West Haven CT; m. 9 Mar 1654/55 in Milford CT to Elizabeth LAMBERTON Selivant [widow]; 10 children
5. James, b. 1636 in Dorchester MA, d. May 1717 

With sons Thomas and William, Elizabeth and Thomas immigrated to Dorchester Massachusetts in 1634.  They had their 5th child, James, in 1636. They moved to New Haven Connecticut in 1639. 

Elizabeth died unexpectedly in 1641 in New Haven CT.  

Thomas left soon afterwards, likely because of serious political unrest in England including around Taunton, leading to English Civil War, and seiges of Taunton. He left his three young sons, Thomas, William & James, in the care of a fellow Taunton immigrant, Sgt. Thomas Jeffries.  The house, goods, lots, estates and chattel were left in trust with his steward, Henry Gibbons. There were significant problems with the steward's care of the properties, and the three sons finally obtained power of attorney from their father in 1662 - making his property over to them, which gave them the power to lay suit for possession.  Thomas married a second time shortly after returning to Taunton, marrying a first cousin, Francis Godsall, in Feb 1642. 

Once again we know very little about Elizabeth, but have quite a lot of information on her wealthy merchant husband.  From the bequests of her father (1624) and her mother, Elizabeth seemed to be favoured with larger bequests than were provided to her sisters.  Some readers of these wills have made the assumption it was because she was unusually helpful, kind or generous.  

It is clear that these families -  MARSHALL, TROWBRIDGE, and BEVYS - were relatively wealthy merchants, with active political roles.  Histories of these families are relatively easy to find, and details from the NEHGS provide additional analysis and commentary on the immigrant, Thomas TROWBRIDGE. 

If any of you have watched the Who Do You Think You Are television show of model, Cindy Crawford, you would have seen her Trowbridge marvellous long detailed ancestral lines - or at least, you would have seen the small part shown on the show!  This is where she is seen to be related from Thomas TROWBRIDGE up through various gentility to various Counts/Dukes etc., up to the Emperor Charlemagne.  

If you know anything more about Elizabeth MARSHALL, I would be so pleased for more details. Contact me at my address at the bottom of the page, or in the Comments section.

Sometimes my Blogger account seems not to allow me to "reply" to your comments. Do know that I value your comments immensely. You make my day! Thanks for stopping by to read my personal genealogy posts.

52 ANCESTORS, 52 THEMES, No.46: Christopher ADAMS, Margaret HUNKING

This year's challenge by Amy Crow is another weekly blog based on Themes. Last week's theme was "Free" but I chose to write about my son-in-law's 3rd great-grandparents This week's theme is "Changes" and I'm stymied once more.  Back to my lines to look for another early settler to North America: Christopher ADAMS, and wife Margaret HUNKING or HAMBURG, both likely b. in England.  These are my 7th great-grandparents on my mother's lines - KUHN-TERWILLIGER.

Christopher ADAMS appears to have settled in Braintree, Massachusetts before 1645. A marriage is listed in Torrey's book on New England Marriages Prior to 1700 as having taken place between 1655 and 1662.  That is, they don't know when!  It seems most likely to be the latter date, however.  His wife's surname has been listed as either HUNKING  or  HAMBURG, forename, Margaret. Her surname still needs to be clarified.

An ADAMS man was involved with a group arguing to be granted a separate town from Boston, first in 1640 - Henry ADAMS. This could have been Christopher's father or other relative, but is not yet proven.  Again, a few years later, in 1645 an additional petition was denied as to building a new plantation where "Gorton and his companie had erected two or more houses," Gorton having left the colony, and the various other adventureres having left also.  In that second petition group were six ADAMS men:  Christopher, Henry Sr., Henry Jr., John, Samuel, and Thomas. This would seem to indicate that Christopher was of age by that date, e.g., born in the early or mid 1620s.  Again, more research is needed to clarify these names and relationships.

The ADAMS couple moved to Kittery, at some point after the above Braintree petitions, and remained there until their deaths. Christopher and Margaret appear to have had the following children, listed on Christopher's will of 13 Jan 1686/7, born in either Braintree or Kittery:

1. Mark, b. estimated ? 1665?; not listed in mother's will of 1722
2. Anne, b. estimated ? 1668?; m. ___ Weeks, children
3. Mary, b. estimated ? 1671?, m. also, children
4. John Sr. [ancestor], b. ?1675, possibly in Kittery; m. abt 1700 to Anna ___; children including ancestor John ADAMS Jr.

Christopher had a fairly large acreage of land, and his will inventory includes several distinct pieces; total inventory was £621:7:00.  He lists the above children on his will, but no grandchildren. He also provides for his wife, Margaret with house, lands, orchard, etc. There is an attestation on another page with more inventory, by Margaret, agreeing it is a true/accurate inventory. 

Margaret continued to live in Kittery after Christopher's death. On 30 Jun 1720, she made out a will in detail, listing her children, but not Mark.  She also listed many grandchildren, with surnames... Ah yes, more research to complete.  Probate was 23 Jan 1722/23.  The final inventory was returned 30 Jun 1723, totalling £818.  While Christopher's will was the original image, Margaret's is a transcribed/typed published account. Easier to read this, but I would love to see the original handwritten will.  [Both wills are availabe to view on Ancestry, in Massachusetts Wills.]

As you can see, I have a great deal more research to do to flesh out this ADAMS couple and their children.  Land records have yet to be clarified... there are several of the same forenames living in both MA and ME.  However, it is always a treasure to find wills and probates with children's names and grandchildren.

If you know anything about Christopher & Margaret ADAMS, in early Braintree and Kittery, I would be so pleased for more details. Contact me at my address at the bottom of the page, or in the Comments section.

Sometimes my Blogger account seems not to allow me to "reply" to your comments. Do know that I value your comments immensely. You make my day! Thanks for stopping by to read my weekly post.

52 ANCESTORS, 52 THEMES, No.45: Thomas PICKTON & Mary SAVAGE,

This year's challenge by Amy Crow is another weekly blog based on Themes. Last week's theme was "Frightening" and I wrote about another very early settler to New England, Edmund TAPP & wife, Anne.  This week's theme is "Free", in whatever way one wishes to take it.  Fine, I headed over to my son-in-law's family lines, and picked his 3rd greatgrandparents:  Thomas PICKTON & Mary SAVAGE, from Cuddington, Cheshire, England.

Thomas PICKTON & Mary SAVAGE, both born approximately 1791. On the 1851 Census of Cuddington, Thomas lists his birthplace in Weaverham, and Mary lists her birthplace as Frodham Parish, about 7 miles apart.

They were married 6 Aug 1811 in Weaverham as seen on the Marriage Register, as well as in the Bishop's Register for the Diocese. Weaverham's history is detailed and summarized by the Weaverham History Society.  "The Weaverham of 1801 was a sleepy rural Cheshire village where only 1040 people followed largely agricultural employment."   
The church in the village is still standing:  St Mary's Church of England, built early in the 15th Century and added to in following centuries - A Grade 1 listed heritage building.  It has six bells, several from the 1700s, several from the 1800s. The first Parish Registers begin in 1576.  The photograph of this church, found on Wikipedia, is attributed to "Lizzie" from geograph.org.uk,, 11 Jun 2005.

The young PICKTON couple appear to have settled about 2 miles away, in Cuddington, where at least 4 of their children are known to have been born.  There is a 5 year gap between the first and second child; I could not find another birth for this couple in those years. 

1. Mary, bap 30 May 1813; m. 1849 to William Podmore in Whitegate, Cheshire
2. Elizabeth, bap 12 Jul 1818
3. Hannah/Ann [ancestor],  bap 11 Feb 1821 Cuddington; m. abt 1841 to George BOSTOCK; 7 children [all boys]; husband George d. 1870 Aug 9.
4. Thomas, bap 8 Jun 1823, poss. burial reg, 1861 1st Quarter, Weaverham Cheshire. [aged 37]
5. Sarah, abt 1826 [est by age on 1841 Census]
6. Ellen, bap 14 Feb 1830  [listed as Helen on 1851 Census]

Thomas's occupation was Farmer on both the 1841 and 1851 Censuses for Cuddington. On the 1851 Census, it states "Farmer of 9 acres." They do not seem to be listed on a 1861 Census for Cheshire. 

I have not yet firmly identified a burial or death for either Thomas or Mary. There is a possible death register date of Sep 1853, and burial register place in the region, but not proven to be this Thomas. My to-do research list includes searching for more information on Hannah's siblings, and additional details on both Thomas' and Mary's families, likely both in Cheshire,  With such common first names, this could be somewhat challenging. 

If you know anything about Thomas PICTON & Mary SAVAGE, I would be so pleased for more details. Contact me at my address at the bottom of the page, or in the Comments section.

Sometimes my Blogger account seems not to allow me to "reply" to your comments. Do know that I value your comments immensely. You make my day! Thanks for stopping by to read my weekly post.

52 ANCESTORS, 52 THEMES, No.44: Edmund TAPP, 1590-1653

This year's challenge by Amy Crow is another weekly blog based on Themes. The previous week's theme was "Oops" - which I did not follow - I wrote about an original immigrant who arrived in 1630 to Massachusetts.  I'm late this week - and the theme fits as I try to catch up! This week, the theme is "Frightening!"  Hmm, frightening. Every very early settler who sailed over the Atlantic Ocean, taking from 45 to 70 days to travel to the New England shores - they all had FRIGHTENING trips. And yet, here we are. I decided to write about one of those early ancestors, Edmund TAPP and wife, Anne HIRTS, my 8th great-grandparents.

Edmund TAPP is estimated to have been born about 1580 -1590, possibly near Felmersham, Bedfordshire, England. He married Anne HIRTS in approximately 1614 in Bedfordshire, and appears to have settled in Benington, Hertfordshire by approximately 1623/24.  The first few children may have been born in Great Haddam and Ware in Bedfordshire.  The later children would have been born in Benington, Hertfordshire. These small towns are not far north of London.  Photo at right attributed to "St Peter, Benington, Herts - geograph.org.uk - 355401" by John Salmon. 

The family emigrated with a group of other Hertfordshire families in 1637, arriving in Massachusetts Bay Colony, and within a year or so, moving to Connecticut. The TAPP family settled in Milford, CT before 1639.  Edmund is known to have been given Home Lot #35 - 7 acres 2 rods, on 12 Feb 1638/39, about a year after they moved to Connecticut. This lot is apparently located at the present corner of Governors Avenue and North Street in Milford.  See #35 lot near the top right in this map.

Children of Edmund and Anne, are the following, and note only one son, 5 daughters:

1. Elizabeth, b. est 1616, d. 1 May 1676 New Haven CT; m. Major John Nash [who d. 3 Jul 1687]
2. Anna, b. abt 1620, d. 1701, CT; m. William Gibbard [who d. bef 1665]
3. Mary, b. abt 1622; m. abt 1645 to William Fowler [son of Wm Fowler Sr., immigrant]
4. Sarah, b. abt 1624/25
5. Edmund jr., bap 20 Jul 1626, Benington
6. Jane [ancestor], bap 14 Feb 1626/27 Benington, d. 8 Apr 1703 Milford CT; m. 25 Dec 1646 to [Gov.] Robert TREAT; 8 children

Note that I have seen several articles stating Jane was born in Connecticut. However the family did not emigrate until 1637, when Jane would already be approximately 8-10 years of age.  I also need to do more research on all her siblings and their families. I have no information on Edmund Jr., nor Sarah, the 4th child. 

Edmund TAPP was admitted to Church Membership at Milford, CT, on the date of its founding, 22 Aug 1639. He was considered "one of the seven pillars" of the Milford Church, with 6 other gentlemen.  His wife, Anne, was admitted to Church Membership June 25, 1642, and there is no explanations as to why it took 3 years for her to be admitted. This is a puzzle to me.  I would appreciate any explanation anyone has about this gap.

After arriving in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, several families left for New Haven; others, including Edward TAPP and his family, left for the Milford area as indicated above.  Edmund TAPP was appointed one of the Judges for Civil Affairs in Milford, Connecticut (a church body).  He was one of the founders of Milford, CT,  which was founded 20 Nov 1639.  He also was Assistant to the Governor of Connecticut. His youngest daughter, Jane married Robert TREAT, who was active politically in Connecticut, as Assistant Governor and Governor. Note that Edmund TAPP had the prefix "Mr." attached to his name, which at that time meant a great deal, and showed he was considered an important man in the community.

We know his will was proven 1 April 1653, but do not have his exact death date; likely about a month or so before that date.  We do know his wife was living at the time of his death.  Edmund's actual will has unfortunately been lost, with only a few guesses as to names of married daughters and grandchildren only possible from other documents.   The inventory is known, however, and was taken on 26 Apr 1643, showing a total value of £713 1s. 4d.

He is buried in the Milford Cemetery, which was opened in 1642, as an expansion of the Rev. Peter Prudden's garden, and the blackened lettered stone may be seen on FindAGrave. Note that most of the TAPP families shown on FindAGrave are Memorial stones detailed for an anniversary celebration of Milford, long after the time,  and may well contain errors of various sorts.

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If you know anything about the immigrant Edmund TAPP and his family, I would be so pleased for more details. Contact me at my address at the bottom of the page, or in the Comments section. Our line goes through Jane TAPP, several generations of TREAT, GRAVES, TERWILLIGER, and KUHN.

Sometimes my Blogger account seems not to allow me to "reply" to your comments. Do know that I value your comments immensely. You make my day! Thanks for stopping by to read my weekly post.

52 ANCESTORS, 52 THEMES, No.43: Nathaniel BOWMAN 1608-1682

This year's challenge by Amy Crow is another weekly blog based on Themes. The previous week's theme was "Proud."  I'm late this week - and the theme fits as I try to catch up! This week, the theme is "Oops"! Nothing/no one comes to mind... there's a few early-1st babies in our lines, and a grandmother who told lies about her husband in particular; nothing very exciting!  Instead, I've decided to write about the Massachusetts Bay Colony immigrant I was researching lately: Nathaniel BOWMAN, 1607/8 - 1681/2.  Nathaniel is my ex-husband's 8th great-grandfather on his mother's RICE lines.

Nathaniel BOWMAN's birth date and place are still under some speculation, but it is thought he was born 9 Feb 1607/8 near Leek, Stafford, England.  We do know he and his wife, Anna arrived together, on one of the ships of the Winthrop Fleet of 1630, arriving before the fall of 1630.  No children were listed with the Bowmans, although children were listed with others, so we may assume all their Bowman children were born in Watertown, Massachusetts.  The Winthrop Fleet comprised eleven ships, 4 of them used for livestock and provisions, and held a total of approximately 700 passengers. Note that a sailing trip could take as much as seventy days, crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

The passages from England were not without tragedy, as evidenced by the following, taken from an online article:
Winthrop wrote to his wife just before they set sail that there were seven hundred passengers.  Six months after their arrival, Thomas Dudley wrote to Bridget Fiennes, Countess of Lincoln and mother of Lady Arbella and Charles Fiennes, that over two hundred passengers had died between their landing April 30 and the following December, 1630.  That letter traveled via the Lyon April 1, 1631 and reached England four weeks later.   
[my bolded words above]

Nathaniel likely married Anna in approximately 1629, in England.  Her surname has been listed as Barnard in several sources, but this seems unlikely to several genealogists, looking for possible Barnard ancestors.  Another surname, BERESFORD, appears much more likely, and is given as her maiden name in details of the Massachusetts Bay Colony settlers.  Details may be found in several places, including in the book: The Great Migration Begins [etc.] by Robert C. Anderson (pub. by NEHGS, but also available on Ancestry, and available perhaps at a library near you!).

Arriving in 1630 and settling in Watertown, MA, the BOWMANs had the following seven children, born in Watertown, of which the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th children - three girls - died before 1639:

1. Francis [ancestor], b. 16 Dec 1630, d. 16 Dec 1687 Cambridge MA; m. 26 Jul 1661 to Martha SHERMAN (b.21 Dec 1640, Watertown MA); 10 children
2. Mary, b. 1633, d. bef 1 Jan 1637/38, aged 5
3. Joanna, b. bef 20 Nov 1638, d. bef 20 Nov 1638 [burial date] as infant.
4. Dorcas, b. 31 Jan 1638/39, d. 1 week later 6 Feb 1638/9 as infant
5. Nathaniel [jr.], b. 6 Mar 1640/41, d. 1707 Wethersfield, CT; unmarried, no children
6. Joanna, b. 20 Nov 1642, d. after 1682; m. to an unknown Turner; one dau Hannah
7. Dorcas, b. after 1643; m. bef 1665 to Benjamin Blackleach; 2 sons Nathaniel, Benjamin jr.

I can't begin to imagine the heartache of these parents, watching three of their children die. As you can see, there would have been 10 years between the eldest, Francis, and the next living child, Nathaniel Jr.  So sad.

Nathaniel applied to be admitted as a Freeman to Watertown, on 19 Oct 1630; however, there is no record of him being on the list of approved Freemen. He was listed on the earliest list of proprietors of Watertown, MA. 

By 1651, Nathaniel and his family had removed from Watertown to Cambridge (actually on the edge of Watertown), 

Nathaniel's wife, Anna, seems to have died in 1679 - no date is found in the records, however.  He wrote his will on 21 Oct 1679, and I might assume he wrote it when she was either sick or dying.  He died 26 Jan 1681/82 in Cambridge, and his will was proved on 4 Apr 1682.  

Here is an abstracted copy of  his will, which, as usual, confirms children's names, married names for the women, several grandchildren's names, and inventories his goods at time of death.  Apparently he had already given away much of his land and goods before he died.

Will of "Nathaniel Bowman, of Camb., gentleman," dated Oct. 21, 1679, proved Ap. 4, 1682, gives to son Francis the "farm in Camb., where I now dwell, which farm I purchased of Edward Goffe [Gosse]," &c., with dwelling-house, &c.; said Francis to pay the other legacies, viz.: to son Nathaniel £25, "to be paid four years after my death;" if he die without lawful issue, to revert to the children of Francis. To Dorcas March, and her heirs, £50; to g.children, Nathaniel and Benjamin Blackleach, £25 each, to be paid when 21 years old;  to gr.daughter, Hannah Turner, £15 at 18 yrs. old, or at marriage, which, with what her parents had had, would make a full share.  In each case, on fialure of heirs, the legacies to revert to the children of son Francis, who was sole executor.  The following inventory indicates that he had no wife, and that he had previously disposed of nearly all his personal property, viz.:  house and 10 A. land, £120,7;  20 A. meadow, £60;  70A upland, unfenced, £70;  mare and cow, £3,1;  bedstead, bed, bolster, and old green rugg, £3;  table and chairs, £1;  cross-cut saw and 4 wedges, £0,10.  

His eldest son, Francis, was the sole executor of his father's remaining estates. I'm not sure why Nathaniel the father decided to have his 2nd son, Nathaniel, not be paid for four years. Nathaniel Jr. was likely already living in Wethersfield CT at this time. 

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If you know anything about the immigrant Nathaniel BOWMAN and his family, I would be so pleased for more details. Contact me at my address at the bottom of the page, or in the Comments section.

Sometimes my Blogger account seems not to allow me to "reply" to your comments. Do know that I value your comments immensely. You make my day! Thanks for stopping by to read my weekly post.