Francis Cooke ca 1583 to 1663, of England, Leiden, and Plymouth and His Wife Hester Mahieu

Francis Cooke was born about 1583 in England [he was under 61 in 1643 but not much younger since he married in 1603]; his exact origins and parents are unknown. He came to Plymouth on the Mayflower. He is my 10th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family. I have written about Francis before, but this is an expanded sketch.

Francis was a religious dissenter who before 1603 moved to Leiden with other Separatists to practice their religion without fear of punishment by the English government. There he married Hester Mahieu. On 4 July 1603 “Franchoys Coucke” a woolcomber from England, and Esther Mahieu, an unmarried young woman from Canterbury, announced their betrothal at Leiden. Hester’s mother and sister, both named Jenne [Jeanne] accompanied Hester; Philip De Veau and Raphael Roelandt were with Francis. [Bangs] They may have married that day or soon afterward, likely at Vrouwekerk.  [MD Vol 8, 2011]

Vrouwekerk Church in Leiden Source: Wikipedia

Vrouwekerk Ruins in Leiden Source: Wikipedia

Hester was born between 1582-88, the daughter of Jacque and Jeanne [—?—] Mahieu who were Walloons; Protestants from France (now southern Belgium). In 1535 a French edict banned all heretics (non-Catholics), causing a wave of religious refugees to leave for England and elsewhere. Some moderate French Calvinist refugees were accepted in England—those who would establish churches that were largely in-step with the Church of England. They became known as Strangers and where they worshipped as "Strangers Churches." By1540 there were substantial settlements of French Protestants in Kent and in Sussex. The first congregation of French Protestants was established at Canterbury, Kent, in 1548, where Hester is noted in records as living. [Bangs]

In 1572 the Massacre of St. Bartholomew’s Day in France that targeted Huguenots (French Calvinist Protestants) led to more refugees coming to England.  The Huguenots generally joined together with the Walloons in worship. Many of these refugees were weavers and dyers who added diversification to towns that were already centers of the cloth trade. [Baker]

In Leiden Hester and Francis lived near the Levendaal Canal but they frequently crossed the English Channel. In 1606 the Cookes left Leiden for Norwich, England, another area with a large Walloon and Huguenot community that were welcome to help boost a sagging textile industry. They were back in Leiden in 1607 for their son John’s baptism, returned to Norwich, and were again in Leiden in 1608. [Bangs] 

At first the “Strangers” in Canterbury worshipped at St Alphege Church, and when they outgrew that they moved to Canterbury Cathedral. Hester's family may have known Separatist Robert Cushman who lived in Canterbury and was married at St. Alphege. Pilgrim James Chilton also was from Canterbury. Some of these refugees eventually went to Leiden, where they would have had extensive contact with the Pilgrims. [Bangs]

Edward Winslow wrote: "also the wife of Francis Cooke being a Walloone, holds communion with the Church at Plymouth, as she came from the French, to this day, by vertue of communion of Churches.” She became a member of the Walloon Reformed Church in Leiden, also known as the French Reformed Church in 1603. [Bangs]

There was a Francis Cocke and wife in London in 1611 on the list of resident aliens but unclear if Francis and Hester. [Bangs]

Hester and Francis had seven children, first five likely born in Leiden:

1. Jane born about 1604; married about May 1627 Experience Mitchell
2. John born before January 1607; married Sarah Warren (daughter of Richard of the Mayflower) in 1634; died Dartmouth 3 December 1695
3. An unnamed child who died May 1608 as an infant
4. Elizabeth born before 26 Dec 1611; died before 1623
5. Jacob born about 1618; m. 1st Damaris 2 Hopkins (daughter of Stephen of the Mayflower); 2nd Elizabeth (Lettice) Shurtleff
6. Hester born 1621-25, at Leiden or Plymouth; married in 1644 Richard Wright
7. Mary born Plymouth 1624-27; married in 1646 John Thompson/Tompson

I descend from Hester. I wrote about her here.

William Bradford wrote in 1651 that  "Francis Cooke is still living, a very old man and hath seen his children's children have children. After his wife came over with other of his children; he hath three still living by her, all married and have five children, so their increase is eighty. And his son John which came over with him is married, and hath four children living" (Bradford 442, 446). Francis Cooke signed the Mayflower Compact.

At Leiden, Francis was a woolcomber by trade. He must have been a strong man as the wool industry in Leiden required brute force. [Fraser] 

Francis brought his son John with him on the Mayflower, although they were originally on the ship Speedwell which had to turn back when it was proved unseaworthy. Both survived the deadly first winter. Francis signed the Mayflower Compact in November 1620 when the boat was anchored off Provincetown. [MD I:79] 

Francis and his family and other associates were included in the the Plymouth Division of Cattle in 1627 [Mayflower Descendant 1:149]: “Uppon wch agreement they were equally devided by lotts soe as the burthen of keeping the males then beeing should be borne for common use by those to whose lot the best cowes should fall & so the lotts fell as followeth. thirteene psonts being pportioned to one lot.”

1 The first lot fell to ffrancis Cooke & his Companie Joyned to him his wife Hester Cooke 

3 John Cooke

4 Jacob Cooke

5 Jane Cooke

6 Hester Cooke

7 Mary Cooke

8 Moses Simonson

9 Phillip Delanoy [later Delano]

10 Experience Michaell [Mitchell] [Jane was to marry Experience Mitchell about this time]

11 John ffance [Faunce]

2 Joshua Pratt

13 Phinihas Pratt

To this lot fell the least of the 4 black Heyfers Came in the Jacob, and two shee goats.

Moses Simonson, John Faunce, and Joshua Pratt are also my direct ancestors. 

Francis seems to have been a husbandman in Plymouth, not holding any positions of power. George Bowman wrote that his frequent service on the grand inquest and trial juries and as a surveyor of highways makes it clear that he was a man of sound judgment and had the respect and confidence of the community.

As a “First Comer” Francis received multiple land grants over the years.

Francis appears on diagram of "meersteads & garden plots of (those) which came first laid out 1620" between Isaac Allerton and Edward Winslow (PCR 12:3). In 1623 Plymouth land division received two acres as passenger on Mayflower, plus four acres for the rest of his family which came on the Anne in 1623 (PCR 12:4, 5); some of this land had apparently been sold to William Bradford by 1639 (PCR 12:51). In the 1627 Plymouth cattle division Francis Cooke, his wife Hester Cooke, John Cooke, Jacob Cooke, Jane Cooke, Hester Cooke and Mary Cooke were the first seven persons in the first company (PCR 12:9).

On 3 December 1638 a small parcel of land which had been previously granted to Francis Cooke was instead granted to Thomas Prence (PCR 1:103). On 4 Feb 1638/9 "a parcel of upland lying at the end of Goodman Shawe's land at Smilt River is granted to Francis Cooke" (PCR 1:112).

On 5 Oct 1640 Francis Cooke and John Cooke Jr. were granted a parcel of upland "provided it do not exceed two hundred acres of upland, and the meadow before it," along with a parcel of upland "containing about 10 or 12 acres" (PCR 1:163, 2:149, 164). On 9 April 1650 Francis Cooke gave "his son Jacob Cook" all his right in 100 acres at North River granted him 5 Oct 1640 (PCR 12:185). On 17 Oct 1642 Francis Cooke ws one of those who received six acres apiece "if it be there to be had" at North Meadow by Jones River (PCR 2:49). He is on the list of Purchasers (PCR 2:177).

On 3 June 1662 Francis Cooke was included in the lost of those who might "look out some accommodations of land, as being the first born children of this government" PCr 4:19.

On 1 March 1663/4, the court "taking notice of such evidence as hath been produced for the clearing of a controversy between John Tompson, plaitiff, and Richard Wright, in reference to a parcel of land at Namassakett, do allow an agreement between the said parties, which was ordered here to be entered, as followeth, viz: that the said parties shall have equal share of the land allotted to Francis Cooke at Namaskett aforesaid, provided that they be equal in bearing the charge about the said land" (PCR 4:54).

On 8 June 1666 John Cooke, Jacob Cooke, Hester Wright the wife of Richard Wright, and Mary Tompson the wife of John Tompson, in order to prevent dispute over the intent of their father Francis Cooke in his will with regard to the land at Rocky Nook, agreed to divide it into five shares, with John Cooke as the eldest son getting two shares (PCLR 3:73).

On 5 July 1670 "Whereas it is evident to the Court, that a certain tract or parcel of land, called Old Cooke's Holes, lying at Jonses River meadow, was formerly granted unto Francis Cooke, of Plymouth, deceased, in the lieu of some land which is supposed would have fallen within his line at the Smelt Brooke, but is not fully settled on the said Cooke and his heirs and assigns, this Court doth by these presents fully and absolutely settle, ratify, assure and confirm the said grant of land or tract of land, being threescore acres...unto the said Francis Cooke, his heirs and assigns forever, which said land wa given by the said Francis Cooke unto Richard Wright and Thomas Michell, commonly called Old Cooke's Holes, and since his decease ratified and confirmed unto the said Richard Wright and Thomas Michell by John Cooke, the heir unto the said Francis Cooke" (PCR 5:44).

He is on the "1633" Plymouth list of freemen ahead of those admitted on 1 Jan 1632/33 (PCR 1:3); in 7 March 1636/7 and 1639 lists of Plymouth freemen (PCR 1:52, 8:173). In Plymouth section of list of freemen of 1658 (PCR 8:197). In Plymouth section of 1643 Plymouth list of men able to bear arms so he was under 60 at that time.  (PCR 8:187)

On 24 Dec 1636 John Harmon contracted to become the apprentice of Francis Cooke for 7 years (PCR 1:46).

On 7 March 1636/7 Francis Cooke sued John Browne the elder and several others, and on 7 June 1637 Francis Cooke, having sued Mr. John Browne, was granted an execution against him (PCR 1:60, 7:5). "Take notice of our practice at Leyden, vis. that one Samuel Terry was received from the French Church there, into communion with us; also the wife of Francis Cooke being a Walloone, holds communion with the Church at Plymouth, as she came from the French, to this day, by virtue of communion of churches" 

Francis served the Colony by serving on various committees and juries:

Committee to lay out the 20 acre grants, 3 Jan 1627/8 (PCR 12:14)

Committee to lay out land 5 May 1640 and 5 Oct 1640 (PCR 1:152, 163)

Committee to lay out  highways 1 Oct 1634, 2 May 1637, 1 Feb 1640/1, 10 June 1650 (PCR 1:31, 58, 2:7, 160)

Plymouth petit jury 2 Jan 1637/8, 3 Sept 1639, 3 Dec 1639, 3 March 1639/40, 2 June 1640, 7 June 1642, 7 Sept 1642, 7 March 1642/3 (PCR 1:74, 7:7, 13, 15, 16, 31, 32, 34)

Plymouth grand jury 5 June 1638, 2 June 1640, 7 March 1642/3,  6 June 1643 (PCR 1:87, 155, 2:53, 56)

Surveyor of highways 1 March 1641/2, 7 June 1642, 4 June 1645 (PCR 2:34, 40,  84)

Coroner's jury 22 July 1648, on the body of a 4 year old daughter of Richard and Allis Bishop (PCR 2:132)

Arbitrator in land dispute between Thomas Pope and William Shurtleff, 2 Aug 1659 (PCR 3:169)

On 12 June 1646 Francis Cooke deeded by gift to his son Jacob Cooke on the condition of his marriage to Damaris Hopkins, 100 acres of land with meadow at the North River. Francis and Jacob were to build a huose upon the land Francis now owned at Rocky Nook. Francis would also given Jacob half the land that at any time should fall to Francis from any division of land due to the First Comers. Francis also gave Jacob one ox, one cow, one calf, and the next foal. Also at the time of Francis and Hester’s deaths, Jacob or his heirs would inherit the team [of horses?]. It was signed by Francis and Hester signed by her mark. I was witnessed by Miles Standish, James Hurst, and John Howland. [was this MD?]

In his will, dated 7 December 1659 and proved 5 June 1663, Francis Cooke “att prsent weake and Infeirme in body yett in prfect memory” bequeathed to "my dear and loving wife Hester" all moveables and cattle, horsekind, hseep and swine, and “...my lands both upland and meadow lands which at present I possess during her life"; "my dear wife and my son John Cooke" to be joint executors (MD 2:24-25, citing PCPR 2:2:1). The inventory of the estate was taken 1 May 1663 and totaled 86 pounds, 11s 1d "besides the housing and land," which was not included. His will and inventory are recorded Plymouth Colony Wills and Inventories, Volume II, Part II, folios 1 and 2.

Francis died at Plymouth on 7 April 1663. [PCR 8:23, MD 17:183, PVR 663].

His inventory was taken 1 May 1663 by Ephraim Tinkham and William Crow. It lists a Great Bible and four old books, so Francis had some education. The inventory did not include real estate. It listed a considerable amount of household and farming items, three horses, three cows, two heifers, 1t sheep, 5 lambs, 4 swine. clothing, and two old muskets. The personal estate totaled more than £86. It was presented at Plymouth Court on 5 June 1663 when it was attested to by widow Hester Cooke. 

Hester died after 8 June 1666 (PCLR 3:73) and before 18 Dec 1675 at Plymouth. 

Sources:

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, 1995

Caleb Johnson Editor, William Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation, 2006

George Ernest Bowman, The Mayflower Descendant, “Francis Cooke and His Descendants,” 3:95

Edward Winslow, Hypocrisie Unmasked, London, 1646

Jeremy Dupertuis Bangs, Strangers and Pilgrims, Travelers and Sojourners, Leiden and the Foundations of Plymouth Plantation, GSMD, 2009

Peggy Baker, Mayflower Quarterly, “Strange Saints and Saintly Strangers: The Cosmopolitan Cookes,” September 2014

George F. Willison, Saints and Strangers, 1945

Rebecca Fraser, The Mayflower: The Families, The Voyage, and the Founding of America, 2017

Eugene Stratton, Plymouth Colony, Its History and People 1620-1691, 1986

Ralph V. Wood Jr, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations Volume 12: Francis Cooke, Picton Press, Rockport, Maine, 1996 

John Ryder/Rider 1636 to January 1706 of Northampton, England, and Yarmouth, Massachusetts

John Rider was baptized 4 December 1636 at All Saints, Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, the son of Samuel, maltster, and Anne Rider. His mother’s maiden name is Gamlett.  I wrote about his parents here.He is my 10th great-grandfather on my grandmother Milly (Booth) Rollins’ side of the family. His last name is seen as Rider and Ryder. 

All Saints in Northampton

John came to Massachusetts with his parents before January 1638/9. His father Samuel was almost certainly a religious dissenter, likely the reason for their migration. The family settled at Plymouth and then Yarmouth (in the area that later was Dennis) on Cape Cod. 

John married about 1663, probably at Yarmouth, a woman whose name sadly is unrecorded. 

John and his wife had at least seven children, born Yarmouth. Their order, with exception of Samuel, is as listed in John’s will [Hawes & Hollick]:

1. Ebenezer born about 1664; married Experience Hall, daughter of John and Priscilla (Bearse) Hall
2. John born about 1667; married Hester/Esther Hall, the sister of Experience 
3. Joseph born about 1670; no further record after father’s 1703 will 
4. Samuel born about 1676; died unmarried, at Yarmouth, 14 August 1702; his father John was paid £10 from his estate for caring for him during the three years he was sick and Benjamin Matthews was paid £1
5. Hannah born about 1679; married Benjamin Matthews in 1699; died 13 Jan 1751 at Yarmouth
6. Lydia born about 1682; no further record of her after her father’s 1703 will
7. Thankful born 1689; married Jehosophat Eldredge; died 13 April 1750 at Falmouth

The birth years are approximate; the Yarmouth Town Books were destroyed by fire in 1674. Given the gaps in the birth years, perhaps John and his wife had more children that died young.

I descend from John. I wrote about him here.

John Rider is called “Sr” in records, being the eldest of the name in town. [Hollick] He is mentioned as Yarmouth surveyor of highways on 5 June 1677. He was on a jury of inquest 21 Oct 1677 and on a grand jury 6 June 1682. In 1676 he was taxed towards King Philip’s War in the amount of £2 pounds, 14 shillings, 9 pence. He was among the freeman of Yarmouth in 1679 and 1684. [Stevens]

John received the planting land in the "prime field" in his father Samuel of Yarmouth’ss 20 November 1679 will. [Plymouth Colony Wills, 4:1:45]

His wife is said to have died on 23 October 1691 [Hawes], a time when there is a gap in Yarmouth records. I have not found documentation for this death date. 

“John Rider Senior of Yarmouth” wrote his will 6 March 1702/3. It was witnessed by John Thacher, Lydia Thacher, and Mary Thacher. It was proved 19 February 1705. [Barnstable County Probate Records, 2:220]

Bequests:

• Son Ebenezer all of his real estate including this home, barn and marsh at Gray’s Beach;  his orchard that lay between property of Nathaniel Bassett and son John Rider; two oxen and two cows
• Son John ten shillings
• Son Joseph five shillings, 
• Daughter Hannah four shillings
• Daughter Lydia four shillings
• Daughter Thankful 10 pounds

Ebenezer was named executor.

His inventory was taken 6 February 1706 by Peter Thacher and Joseph Hawes. It included a pair of looms, perhaps indicating his profession, and amounted to £199 13s. He owed debts of only £4 15s 3d. Debts were paid to Samuel Sturges, James Sturges, and Seth Taylor. The inventory was sworn to by Ebenezer Ryder, executor, 19 February 1705/6. [Barnstable County Probate Records 2: 221]

John Rider died 5 Jan 1705/6 at Yarmouth. [Yarmouth VR 1:131] He was 69 years old. 

Sources:

Martin E. Hollick, NEHGS Register, “The John Riders of Yarmouth, Massachusetts,” 80:128- 139 (2005)

James W. Hawes, Library of Cape Cod History and Genealogy, No. 98, "Ryder Genealogy,” 1912

Charles W Swift, Library of Cape Cod History and Genealogy, No. 66 "The Rider Family of Yarmouth," 1913

Robert Croll Stevens, Ancestry of the Children of Robert Croll Stevens and Jane Eleanor (Knauss) Stevens, Vol. II: “The Genealogy of John Christian Croll 1707-1758,” 1985

John Benson 1608-1679 of Caversham, England and Hull, Massachusetts, and His Wife Mary Williams

John Benson was born in 1608, possibly at Caversham, Oxfordshire, England, situated on the north side of the Thames River.  His parents are not known. He may have been from the parish of Shiplake, Oxfordshire, about three miles from Caversham, and was probably a grandson of Thomas Benson who died there in 1614. Shiplake registers do not survive from this period. [Benson]

On 14 October 1633 John Benson married Mary Williams at Caversham. [Caversham Parish Registers] I believe their wedding would have taken place at St. Peter’s. Mary was baptized at Caversham on 12 October 1606. She was the daughter of Robert and Agnes (Atkins) Williams. Her name is also seen as Marah. John and Mary are my 10th great-grandparents on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family.

St. Peter's Caversham (the original tower was destroyed in 1643

The name of John Benson’s wife is often given as Elizabeth Marsh, daughter of John Marsh and granddaughter of Rev. Samuel Skelton, first Minister of Salem, but Robert Charles Anderson in The Great Migration Begins states that is unsubstantiated. 

John “Binson” gave his age as 30 when he emigrated in 1638 to Boston, on the ship Confidence, with his wife Mary (no age given), son John and daughter Mary both under age 4. The ship sailed from Southampton the last of April 1638. [Banks]

Caversham at the time was densely populated, making it difficult for many to earn a living.  The times in England were uncertain given the persecution of those who practiced religion according to their own beliefs. [Croft]

Records are scarce in early Hingham and the first Town Book of Hull disappeared some time ago. Fortunately he left a will which names his sons and his daughters’ married but not first names.

John and Mary Benson’s children: [details from Richard H. Benson]: 

1. John born probably Caversham about 1634; married and had 11 children; lived at Hull and Rochester

2. Mary baptized Caversham 1 May 1637 [transcript of Caversham Parish Registers at the Oxfordshire Record Office]; probably married Robert Coomes 

3. Joseph born Hingham about 1640; married Sarah (—?—); they lived in Hull; served in King Philip’s War

4. Martha baptized Hingham 3 November 1644; probably married (—?—) Hall 

5. A daughter, possibly Abigail, born Hingham; probably married Sampson Shore; predeceased her father 

I descend from John whose wife’s name is unknown. I wrote about him here.

The family first settled in Hingham where he had his first grant of land by the bay in 1638. [NEHGR 12:251] John had a three-acre house lot at what is now the intersection of Main Street and South Pleasant Street. At that time Hingham townspeople, which numbered about 60 families, transported timber, planks, and masts to Boston, and cedar and pine boards as far as Barbados. [Benson]

It is likely John was a fisherman as well as a farmer since the initial lots at Hull were granted to people who agreed to engage in fishing. Hull was a distance from Boston by land but just nine miles by sea. Space for drying fish was set up on Great Brewster Island in Boston Harbor where he also owned land. He was also a proprietor of the gristmill at Hull in 1667. [Benson]

Great Brewster Island [source FBHI.org]

By 1657 Hull consisted of just 20 families. In 1841 it was still the least populous town in the state and after Newburyport the smallest in size. [Benson] Hull was initially part of Plymouth Colony but shifted to Mass Bay Colony in 1630. So its early records are ofter included in Suffolk County, but in 1803 it was annexed to Plymouth County.

In 1645 John Benson petitioned the General Court for permission to plant and build at White Head Hill, in the town of Hull, and was at first refused because of differences between the towns of Hingham and Hull. By 1652 however the family moved to Hull, where John was an early proprietor. [Smith] Rev. Hobart controversially ran the Hingham church without input from his congregants, which likely led to John’s leaving town.

John's lands were among the first recorded in the Hull Long Book p 11. He owned four home lots on Broad Bay, one and a half lots and two lots of meadow at Strait River, two lots on Allerton Hill, four acres on Peddock's Island (in Boston Harbor), a meadow on Spring Cove, two lots on Strawberry Hill, two on Sucamore (Sagamore) Hill, two on White Head, and one lot on Hogge Island. He also owned two adjoining 2 acre lots at Town Hill, and in 1676 he received lots no. 3 and 28 on Great Brewster Island, as recorded by Zechariah Whitman, town clerk. [Smith]

Peddock's Island (source: Wikipedia)

The earliest records of Hull in 1657 show John owning significant land there including four home lots on Broad Bay, 1.5 lots and 2 lots of meadow on Strait River, two lots on Allerton Hill [Point Allerton is at the entrance to Boston Harbor], 4 acres on Peddock’s Island, a meadow on Spring Cove, two lots on Strawberry Hill, two on Sagamore Hill, two on White Head, one on Hogg Island [now Spinnaker Island], two two-acre lots of Town Hill next to Thomas Jones. In 1676 he received two lots at Great Brewster Island. 

John served his community in a variety of ways. In 1662 John was a Selectman in Hull. On 22 March 1671/2 the townsmen of Hull agreed to divide the wood and timber and John Benson Sr was on a committee to make the division by valuation of wood. [Smith] In July 1673 John Benson of Hull was named to a Boston jury but was fined 10 shillings for not appearing. In October 1673 it was noted that he did appear at court so his fine was reduced to 5 shillings. John and his sons John and Joseph of Hull took the oath of allegiance to the King on 29 Oct 1678. [Benson]

John Benson died at Hull on 13 Jan 1678/9; the date is given in his inventory. He was about age 71.

John Benson wrote his will on 16 April 1678; it was proved 1 March 1679 [Suffolk Co. Probate File 1071] John Benson was “weake and decaying in bodily strength,” named his wife Marah executrix, and left her lifetime use of all his real and personal estate. Other bequests:

• Sons John and Joseph all his "lands and commons and orchard and barns also" with Joseph to have the home lot with the dwelling house on it and John to have the other lot. 
• "My house plott I have verbally given already to son [in law] Hall: he is not to sell it without first offering it to my son Joseph." 
• His meadows were to be divided equally and after death of his widow
• John was to have a double portion of all moveables and Joseph a single portion after their mother’s death.
• His two sons were to pay legacies equally to "my daughters or their children," 5 pounds to daughter Combs, 5 pounds to daughter Hall, and 5 pounds to the children of daughter Shore, deceased

He signed with is mark, perhaps because he was ill rather than an indication he was illiterate. Witnessed by pastor Zachariah Whitman and Abraham Jones. 

On 25 March 1679 Joseph Benson presented the inventory of the estate of his father, John Benson, who died 13 January 1678[/9]. He affirmed that his “mother was lame and unable to come abroad.” It totaled £295, 10 s, 6d. 

Administration was transferred to sons John and Joseph on 29 December 1681, as their mother, Marah Benson, died 14 December 1681. (Suffolk Co Probate 6:265)

An inventory of Marah’s movables was taken 3 Jan 1682, and presented to Court 12 Jan 1682 by Joseph Benson. It included 1/2 dozen napkins with broad work, 1/2 dozen napkins with narrow work, a silk grass bed, 7 pewter platters, a looking glass, 4 pewter porringers, 5 spoons, gun, sword, four cows, half a steer, heifer, calf, ten sheep, one horse, one yoke of oxen, 25 bushels Indian corn, 25 bushels barley. It totaled 64 pounds. [Suffolk Co Probate 9:70]

Imagine what a shock it would be it would be for John to discover what all that island and waterfront property would be worth today!

Spinnaker (previously Hog) Island

Sources:

Richard H. Benson, The Benson Family of Colonial Massachusetts, Newbury Street Press, 2003

William Richard Cutter (editor), New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial, 1914

Charles Edward Banks, The Planters of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1620-1640, Boston, 1930, Reprint c. 2006

Ethel Farrington Smith, NEHGS Register, “17th Century Hull, Massachusetts and Her People,” 142:117 (July 1988)

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, 1995

Grace Hildy Croft, The Benson family; descendants of Isaac Benson and Mary Bumpas, and allied families: Archer, Bumpas, Howard, Knapp, Lewis, Luce, Meech, Milks, Potter, Reynolds, Waite, Whipple, Williams, et al, 1973