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 in 52 WEEKS, #31: Mary FERNALD, Kittery.

Following the challenge of writing 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, issued by Amy Johnson Crow , here is my 31st installment, Mary FERNALD, continuing my research on early settlers, particularly the women - and finding so much still to do!  Mary is my 5th great-grandmother in my mother's lines.

Mary was one of 8 children of James FERNALD and Mary HINCKS, b. 14 May 1712. The FERNALD families were early Kittery ME settlers. James' father was the original immigrant, arriving about 1632.  I have no information at present about Mary HINCKS' family, other than her birthplace as New Castle NH in abt 1680.

On 15 Oct 1734, in Kittery, Mary FERNALD married John ADAMS, b. 29 Aug 1706 in Kittery. The couple appear to have stayed in Kittery, and had 7 children that we know of to date, all born in Kittery:
   1.  Mark, b. 4 Oct 1735
   2.  John Jr, b. 4 Feb 1735/7; on 22 Oct 1761, m. Mary Hill
   3.  Eleanor [ancestor], b. 4 Oct 1739;  m. Thomas PETTYGROVE 31 Aug 
           1764; d.1796, Calais ME; 5 children
   4.  Thomas, b. 24 Dec 1742
   5.  Joseph, b. 4 Jul 1744
   6.  Benjamin, b. 2 Feb 1745/6
   7.  Mary, b. 17 May 1752

As there is a 6 year gap from 1746-1752, one might suspect John was away on various skirmishes, or they had one or more infants who died young.  Both John Jr, and younger brother Joseph, were commissioned officers in the navy, fighting against the British in the Revolutionary War.  

Unfortunately, as happened much more often than now, Mary died soon after Mary Adams, her 7th child, was born in 1752.  I have not found records of a gravestone/cemetery, which means I need to do more research. Her husband, John, died about 1787 in Kittery, so I ought to be able to find his grave, but so far, I haven't been able to do so. John Adams is rather a common name and after wading through hundreds of names, I still haven't seen 'my' man. 

So once more, we have a 1700s ancestor, a woman who is known only by her parents, her marriage, her children, her untimely death - recorded, but no stone.

If you have further information about Mary or the Fernald/Adams families, I would be very pleased to hear from you via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments section below. Ditto if you have corrections to my information.  Thanks for stopping by.

52 ANCESTORS in 52 WEEKS, #12: James FERNALD

Following the challenge of writing 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, issued by Amy Johnson Crow, here is my 12th installment, for James FERNALD, my 6th great-grandfather, on my maternal line. James is the son of the Immigrant settler in the Kittery area, John FERNALD. 

James' father, John, is listed as one of the early settlers after 1632, on the Kittery Maine town website, under Historical Notes (halfway down the page).   I have more research to do in this Fernald line, and see that no mention of John's wife, James' mother, is made on records.  Several family trees give the name of Mary Norman, but no document/supports for that statement.

James was born in 1675 in Kittery, now York county, Maine, and married Mary HINCKS (possibly this surname is as a widow) in about 1700-1705. No marriage record is yet found.  I suspect that there are other siblings of James, but as yet I have not found clear proof of relationship.  

James and Mary had at least 8 children, b. Kittery, named in his will, dated 2 Apr 1739:
 - Elizabeth, named as his eldest, married James Fogg
 - Mary* [direct ancestor], b.14 May 1712, m. John ADAMS, 15 Oct 1734; 7 children
 - James (jr.)
 - Joanna, married George Rogers, 25 Dec 1736
 - Anne, unmarried at this time
 - Marget, unmarried
 - Dorcas, unmarried
 - Unice [Eunice], unmarried

In 1728/9 James' name is listed with a number of others in deeding land designated for a second church, on land between Kittery and Eliot, on "Gower's Hill", belonging to the Fernalds.  The link goes to a very attractive 1730 church - scroll down to the lower section where the second church is listed as a Congregational church, first served by Rev. John Eveleth (another important name in my family tree) from 1729-1734.  A timeline about Kittery and Eliot may be found here.

James will has been transcribed by others, from Maine Wills, 1640-1760 (pub 1887) p.444.  The value of his land and and goods was set at over 4160 pounds.  He states in his will a number of times that he is bequeathing "...besides what She has already had out of my Estate."  This seems to indicate that he had already given goods or lands to his daughters and one son before his decline. 

Two of the three Witnesses on the Will are unknown-to-me Fernalds: Lydia Fernald and Benjamin Fernald. More clues are here for researching the early Fernald history in Kittery and Eliot.  As early settlers in the Kittery area in Massachusetts, the Fernald family is likely written up in journals and books/histories of the region.  It is clear a trip to our BC Genealogical Society library is needed so I can search in the NEHGS databases online there! 

If you have questions or comments, please leave them below, or contact me via calewis at telus dot net.