Welcome! I really enjoy exchanging information with people and love that this blog helps with that. I consider much of my research as a work in progress, so please let me know if you have conflicting information. Some of the surnames I'm researching:

Many old Cape families including Kelley, Eldredge/idge, Howes, Baker, Mayo, Bangs, Snow, Chase, Ryder/Rider, Freeman, Cole, Sears, Wixon, Nickerson.
Many old Plymouth County families including Washburn, Bumpus, Lucas, Cobb, Benson.
Johnson (England to MA)
Corey (Correia?) (Azores to MA)
Booth, Jones, Taylor, Heatherington (N. Ireland to Quebec)
O'Connor (Ireland to MA)
My male Mayflower ancestors (only first two have been submitted/approved by the Mayflower Society):
Francis Cooke, William Brewster, George Soule, Isaac Allerton, John Billington, Richard Warren, Peter Browne, Francis Eaton, Samuel Fuller, James Chilton, John Tilley, Stephen Hopkins, and John Howland.
Female Mayflower ancestors: Mary Norris Allerton, Eleanor Billington, Mary Brewster, Mrs. James Chilton, Sarah Eaton, and Joan Hurst Tilley.
Child Mayflower ancestors: Giles Hopkins, (possibly) Constance Hopkins, Mary Allerton, Francis Billington, Love Brewster, Mary Chilton, Samuel Eaton, and Elizabeth Tilley.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Samuel Lucas 1661-1716 and Patience Warren of Plymouth, Mass.

Samuel Lucas was born Plymouth, Mass. on 15 December 1661, the son of Thomas Lucas and his wife whose name is not known.  His name is sometimes spelled Lucos in records.

Samuel married Patience Warren on 16 December 1686 in Plymouth. Patience was born 15 March 1659/60, the daughter of Joseph and Priscilla (Faunce) Warren and the granddaughter of Mayflower passenger Richard Warren and his wife Elizabeth (Walker).  Patience is mentioned in her father's 4 May 1689 will.

Samuel and Patience had four children born Plymouth:
John born 24 January 1687/88; died 31 January 1696/97
Joseph born 26 October 1689; married Persis Lewis and Melathiah Carey
William born 19 October 1692; married Mehitable Doty
Patience born 2 January 1695/96; married Nathaniel Harlow

I descend from Joseph and his second wife Melathiah down to my grandfather Arthur Washburn Davis. I wrote about Joseph here.

By 20 May 1690 the Plymouth Court was ordering that 62 men be raised to fight in the French-Indian war under command of Maj. John Walley, with each town filling quota of one to six men. Further attacks led to an increased number and Samuel Lucas is listed as an ensign. He participated in the expedition to Quebec in the fall of 1690, under the command of Sir William Phips, but they could not take Quebec and the campaign was a costly disaster.
Battle of Quebec source: Wikipedia

Samuel was involved in multiple land transactions.

On 8 January, 1689/90, "William Harlow sent John Gray Jonathan Shaw sent and Ephraim Morton junr all of the Town of Plimouth .... Agents for .... said Town Send Greeting &c Whereas at a Town meeting held at Plimouth" 2 June, 1689, "We the persons above named together with John Sturtevant and John Doten were .... Chosen .... agents with full power given to us or to any four of us agreeing to make sale of Certaine tracts of sd Towns Comon lands for the payment of Sundrey Debts Due to severall of the Inhabitant of sd Towne for their pains Charge and expences in Defence of the sd Towns Right to a Certain Island belonging to said Town Comonly Called and for many years past known by the name of Clarks Island as pr sd Towns Book more particularly may appear . Wherefore .... we the said William Harlow John Gray Jonathan Shaw and Ephraim Morton junr four of the said Agents", for Do "Currant money of New England aforesaid to us in hand for the use of sd Town By George Morton Elkanah Watson and Samuel Lucas all of Plimouth aforesaid .... paid .... Sell .... and Confirm unto them the said George Morton Elkanah Watson and Samuel Lucas .... all that the said Towns Island Comonly Called .... Clarks Island as abovesaid and is Scitute in Plimouth Bay and environed with the salt water of the bay aforesaid"
The deed was signed by William Harlow, John Gray, Jonathan Shaw and Ephraim Morton, Jr.; and was witnessed by Samuel Sprague and Thomas Faunce.
"Thomas Faunce and Saml Sprague the witnesses herein named made Oath in Plimouth" 5 June, 1690, "that they were present and saw the Subscribers to this Instrument Signe seale and Deliver the same to the bargainers above named", before Daniel Smith, Assistant. The deed was recorded 27 June, 1690, by Samuel Sprague, Recorder.

On 7 February, 1690/1, "Samuel Lucas of Plimouth" for £45, sold to "George Morton and Mercy Watson widdow both .... of Plimouth .... All that my one third part or one part of three of a Certain Island Comonly Called by the name of Clarks Island and is Scituate in Plimouth Bay and environed with the salt water of the Bay aforesaid which said Island I the Samuel Lucas hath together with the said George Morton and Elkanah Watson partners to said Island Lately bought of William Harlow Senr Jonathan Shaw Senr John Gray and Ephraim Morton junr four of the Agents of the Town of Plimouth as pi so Deed .... Bearing date the 8th Day of January 1689/90"
[p. 113] The witnesses were Jonathan Barnes and Thomas Faunce.
"This Deed was acknowledged by Samuel Lucas and Patience Lucas his wife" before Ephraim Morton, Associate, on 7 February, 1690/1. It was recorded 27 February, 1690/1.
Samuel Lucas died Plymouth, Mass. on 17 January 1715/16 at age 54.

Israel Grant of ...Sandwich..for and in consideration of...five pounds three shillings...paid by Samuel Lucas of...plimouth...sell...twenty five acres of land...at a place called monponset...and was formerly layd out to Alexander R(enedery?)...lands is lying...in...plimouth...bounded....at the westerly End thereof...with a swamp whitewood two from which the Line extends easterly to a red oak tree which is Edward Mays Boundmark...30 July 1696. Israel Grant.
Dinah Allin her mark
Wm Bassett
ack Sandwich 30 July 1696, rec. 27 April 1697

John Bradford of plimouth...yeoman...for and in concideration of...five pounds...Samuel Lucas of...plimouth...yeoman...sell...All that my one Quarter part of ye whole Tract of Land commonly called and known by ye name of ye Gurnet...which I the said John Bradford with my partners Isaac Cushman John Doten and John Nelson bought of William Harlow Senr Jonathan Shaw Senr John Doten Senr & Ephraim Morton junr four of ye Agenents of...plimouth...30 May 1691. John Bradford
Nathll Clarke, mark of Benoni Lucas
Memoranda...Saml Lucas...with...John Bradford...promise...that from year to year & everyyear for ever hereafter that from & Between the twentyeth day of Aprill and the twentyeth day of October he will not put keep nor cause or Suffer to be kept on...sd land any sort of Cattell swine Sheep or heifer kind other that what he shall keep within fence & Closure.
Samuel Lucas
Nathll Clark
The mark of Benoni Lucas
Ack 17 March 1696/7; rec. 26 April 1697.

Thomas Howland of Plymouth...for and in consideration of...six pounds...by Samuelll Lucas of Plymouth...sell...a parcel of upland in Estimation about half an Acre...10 December 1696. Thomas Howland
Nathanael Thomas junr
Elisha Thomas
Cornelius Waldo
Ack 16 Dec 1696, rec 27 April 1697

Thomas Howland of...Plymouth...yeoman for and in consideration of .... forty shillings...paid by Samuel Lucas of...Plymouth...selll...All that my Little Plot or portion of land...19 March 1696/97. Thomas Howland
the Mark of Abraham Jackson Senr
Nathll Clarke
Ack 31 March 1697; rec. 27 Aprill 1697

In October 1686 Samuel Lucas was fined 5 shillings by the court for refusing to assist the constable when requested.

Samuel Lucas and John Cole, both Plymouth fishermen, were both found guilty by a jury for playing cards on the Sabbath at the home of Jonathan Barnes (Plymouth Inn Keeper) on 14 March 1688. They were fined 15 shillings each, to be divided between the prosecutor and the King.

During the September 1698 court Samuel Lucas was licensed as an Inn Keeper for a year. Licensed again in 1701.

Samuel Lucas died Plymouth on 17 January 1715/16 at age 54.

Samuel’s will was transcribed and printed in the Mayflower Descendant.

Samuel Lucas, Sr., of Plymouth, made his will on 4 July 1715, leaving his estate to his wife; to his sons Joseph and William; and to his daughter Patience, at that time unmarried.
Especial attention is here called to the fact that the daughter Patience was mentioned in the will, because an article in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume LV, page 78, states that this will "names wife Patience and sons Joseph and William", entirely overlooking the legacy to the daughter Patience, who was to receive one third of the moveable estate, as part of a legacy of £50.

Bequests were as follows:
To "my sone josepe all my landes and madow to the Southerd and west ward of his house and allso my lot of Seder Swomp in the fist lot and [*] lot of madow in Swan hole Upon Condetiones joseph gives william a deed of his at Swan hole"
To "my wife my homested dwelling house and out housing and all my landes that I have not giveen to joseph and my lot of Seder Swamp in the Sixt lot duering hare life or wedohod and I doe give her leve to Sell my therty acer lot of land to the norward of Darbyes pond if She Standeth In ned and I give her the best bed for ever and at her desese or marrage I do give to my Sone willliame all my housinge and landes that I have not giveen to joseph and allso one therd part of the moveabeles I give to willliam both with in dores and with out and one therd part of them to joseph both with in dores and with out with what he hath had all racy and one therd part to patience both within dores and with out and what that wantes of fifty pounces willliam to make it up when he Comes upone
I the land and my wife to have all the moveabeles tell She pleseth her Cheldren Shall have them or during her wedowhod"
"my Sone willliam shall take Care of his mother"
"my beloveed wife to adminester upon the estate"
The will was signed "Samuel lucas Siner "
The witnesses were "John doten" and "Abraham jackson Sener" both of whom made oath to the will "on the 8th day of March 1715/16.
"on the 9th day of March 1715—16 .... The Will of Samuel Lucas" was probated, and administration granted "unto Patience Lucas his Relict widow & Executor therin Named".

[From original inventory] "plimouth march 2 on 1716 then a true inventory" was made by "Bennony Lucas" and "Benjamen Warren". No real estate was mentioned. The total of the personal estate was £169, 6s., 5d. The estate was indebted £27, 13s., and £3, 10s., 3d. was due the estate.
Patience Lucas, executrix, made oath to the inventory, "on the 8th day of March 1715—16."

* Two or three words here are illegible, and were not copied into the record.

The deed of 1719 furnishes conclusive evidence of the parentage of the widow Patience (Warren) Lucas and of Elizabeth, wife of Josiah Finney.
Exhaustive abstracts are here given of all records, and original documents on file, in the Plymouth County, Mass., Probate Registry, relating to the settlement of the estate of Samuel Lucas, Sr., of Plymouth; also an exhaustive abstract of the deed referred to

I haven’t found Patience’s death date but she died after 9 March 1718/19 when she deeded land to Joseph Warren.

On 9 March, 1719, "Josiah Finney & Elizabeth my Wife & Patience Lucas all of Plymouth," for £80, sold to "Joseph Warren of Plymouth .... Yeoman .... All our Right .... whatsoever, That we or either of us now have or of Right ought to Have of in & unto all or any Part of the Upland Swamps & Meadows in Aggawam in the Township of Plymouth aforesd which belonged to ye Share or Right of our Father Joseph Warren late of sd Plymouth Deceased, in sd Purchase, Together with the quarter Part of the Premises which we have Improved"

The deed was signed by Josiah Finney, Patience Lucas (by a mark) and Elizabeth Finney (by a mark), and was witnessed by Samuel Bates and Israel Fearing. The three grantors acknowledged the deed, at Plymouth, the day of its date, before Josiah Cotton, Justice of the Peace, and it was recorded the same day.

Sources Not Listed Above:
Susan Roser, Mayflower Increasings, 1996

Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Vol. 18, Richard Warren,"  published by the GSMD, 1999

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Joseph Howes ca 1630-1695 and Elizabeth Mayo 1630-1700, England to Yarmouth, Mass.




Joseph Howes was born ca 1630 in England, the eldest of the three sons of Thomas and Mary (?Burr) Howes. He was a young boy when his parents left England, first settling at Salem and then coming to Yarmouth with the first group of white settlers.  The area of Yarmouth where they lived later became Dennis. I wrote about Thomas and Mary here.

Joseph married Elizabeth Mayo in Yarmouth likely between 1653 – 1656. Elizabeth was born 1630, the daughter of Rev. John Mayo and his wife Thomasine Brike.Joseph and Elizabeth had nine children, likely all born Yarmouth. Their births are not recorded there, but they are all named in Joseph’s will.

Samuel born about 1653, married his first cousin Rebecca Howes
Mary born 1659, married John Hallett
Joseph born 1660, married Mary Vincent and Hannah Snow
John born 1664, married Elizabeth Paddock and Mary Matthews
Nathaniel born 1671, married Esther Ryder
Amos born about 1672, married Susannah Hedge
Elizabeth born about 1675, married Joseph Merrick
Hannah born about 1676, married William Matthews
Thomas born about 1680, married Content Smith

I descend from Thomas as well as Samuel.

Joseph Howes and 13 other men were listed as Yarmouth freeman in 1658. In 1676, Joseph was taxed 7 pounds, 11 shillings towards the late war. He served on a jury in 1681 and grand juries in 1661 and 1681. On 7 June 1665 Joseph was named constable of Yarmouth. On that same date he was appointed one of three people to lay out the 100 acres of land granted to William Nickerson at Monomoy/Chatham and nine other grantees.

On 6 March 1665/6 Thomas complained that Thomas Starr had opposed him and used threatening language against him in the execution of his office of Constable. Starr was found guilty by a jury and fined five pounds.

He served as a Selectman in Yarmouth beginning in 1666. At that time, the Selectmen would hear cases under 40 shillings, observe townspeople who do not attend public worship, provide for the poor, encourage enducation, as well as hear and determine difficulties between English and Indians about damage done to cornfields by cows, swine or other beasts.

On 30 June 1667 Thomas Howes signed a paper to the General Court in favor of the Rev. Thomas Thornton against an attack by Nicholas Nickerson. On 5 June 1671 he was appointed surveyor of highways and served again in 1672. In 1679 Joseph Howes and two others were appointed to collect the residue of the salary due the minister.

In February 1680 the town agreed that Joseph, Samuel and Jeremiah Howes would secure for the town all whales that cast up between Sawsuit Harbor mouth and Yarmouth Harbor, for four pounds a whale. To learn more about shore whaling, I recommend Cape Cod Shore Whaling: America's First Whalemen by John Braginton-Smith and Duncan Oliver.
Image showing the use of a windlass to bring a whale on shore from above mentioned book

Joseph was a cooper by trade, making him an important person in the village as he made the wooden barrels and buckets that stored so much of the colonists’ goods. I recently visited the Harlow Old Fort House in Plymouth and learned about the cooper’s work which was very interesting.

Joseph’s death is recorded in Yarmouth Vital Records: Mr. Joseph Howes Sr. of Yarmouth died upon the 19th day of Jan 1694/5 and was buried upon the 21st day of said Jan 1694/5. “Mr.” as a title was rarely used at that time, indicating he was a well-respected man. It is likely he is buried in an unmarked grave at the Howes Burial Ground in Dennis.
Howes Burial Ground, Dennis, MA

The will of Joseph Howes of Yarmouth was transcribed in the Mayflower Descendant. On 17 January, 1694/5, Joseph Howes, of Yarmouth, made his will. Bequests were as follows:
To "Son Samuel Howes all those Lands I have formerly given him as his Childs portion"
To "Son Joseph Howes all those Lands both upland and meddow which I have formerly given him as his Childs portion"
To "Son John Howes I do confirm all those Lands which formerly gave unto him both upland and meddow"
"To my other three Sons Nathaniel Thomas and Amos Howes I do give All ye Rest of my lands to be Equally divided between them .... with this provizo that if my Loving wife Elizabeth Shall have occasion for it Shee Shall have liberty during her widdow hood to make use of one third part of it and if Eather of these my three Sons Shall dy before they Come of Age Such part Shall be divided Equaly between all my Surviving Sons And as they come to ye Age of twenty one years So they Shall possess their part only Except as here after Excepted"
"To my Daughter Mary Hallett" 20 shillings "in houshold goods
"To my Daughter Elizabeth mirrick" 20 shillings "in houshold goods"
"To my Daughter Hannah Howse" £30, "to be paid her by my Executors on her marriage or at ye age of twenty one years"
To ever one of my Grand Children which I now have A Bibble to be paid them by my Executors Soone after my Death"
"I do give my house and home Stead Lands Chattels plate money and all other my Estate .... to .... wife Elizabeth .... During her widdowhood And If Shee Live and dye a widdow to be by her disposed to my Children as Shee Shall See meet but if Shee Shall marry againe .... then one third part of it to be her own proper Estate: and ye Rest to be Equally divided between all my Children

"wife Elizabeth" and "Son Joseph Howse" were appointed executors, and "my Loving brother Jeremiah Howse and John mayo to be overseers".
The witnesses were Jonathan Russell, Thomas Sturgis and John Paddock. "The Reveernd" Jonathan Russell, Thomas Sturgis and John Paddock made oath to the will, 7 February 1694/5.

The inventory was taken at Yarmouth, 30 January, 1694/5, by Joseph Hall and Samuel Eldred. The real estate was "the Dwelling house" £40; "the Barne" £30; "ye home Lott" £32; "the great field in ye Neck and ye meadow Adjoyning" £140; "ye Land and meadow at Simkinses Neck" £30; "meadow at Grays Beach 6 pounds and at South Sea 10 pound".
"ms Elizabeth Howse" made oath to the inventory, 7 February, 1694/5.
[p. 110] On 12 February, 1694/5, administration was granted to "ms Elizabeth Howse Relict of sd deceased And mr Joseph Howse Son of sd deceased"

Elizabeth Mayo Howes died 12 March 1700/01 and was buried 16 March. The will of widow Elizabeth Howes dated 7 Feb 1694/5, proved 1 April 1701, gave her dwelling house, barn and homestead to her sons Nathaniel, Thomas and Amos, and the rest of her estate to be divided between all her surviving children. She made her sons Samuel and Joseph executors. Inventory dated 26 March 1701, by her sons Lieut. Samuel Howes, Joseph Howes, Thomas Howes, and Amos Howes, amounted to 125 pounds 19s 10d in personal property. Items included:

One pair oxen 7 16 0
Other cattle 27 17 0
Four horses 5 15 0
16 sheep 6 10 0
8 swine 2 2 0
a silver cup 3 15 0
a gun 0 15 0
a cutlas 0 8 0
a rapier 0 6 0
a bible 0 5 0
other books 0 7 6


Sources Not Listed Above:
Robert Howes, Genealogy of the Howes Family in America, Descendants of Thomas Howes of Yarmouth, Mass., 1637-2004, 2006

Charles Swift, History of Old Yarmouth, 1884

Reid, Nancy Thacher, Dennis, Cape Cod from Firstcomers to Newcomers, 1639 – 1993, 1996

James Hawes, Thomas 1 Howes of Yarmouth, Mass., and Some of His Descendants, Together with the Rev. John Mayo, Allied to Him by Marriage, pamphlet in the series called Library of Cape Cod History and Genealogy, No. 31, 1917

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Joseph Lucas (1689-1742) of Plymouth and Plympton (now Carver), Mass.





Joseph Lucas was born 26 October 1689 in Plymouth, Mass., the son of Samuel and Patience (Warren) Lucas. His mother was the granddaughter of Mayflower passenger Richard Warren.

Joseph married, first, 10 March 1714/15 at Plympton, Mass., Persis Shaw. Persis was born in Plymouth on 10 March 1691/92, the daughter of Lt. Jonathan and Mehitable (Pratt) Shaw.

Plymouth and Plympton Vital Records show the births of five children for Joseph and Persis:

John, born 14 December 1715, married Lydia Doty and had 8 children
Hannah, born 10 November 1717, died age 27, unmarried
Samuel, born about 1720, m. Abigail Shaw and had 13 children, church Deacon
Barnabas, b. 17 December 1721, d. 20 May 1726, Carver
Patience, b. 17 January 1723/24, she married Joshua Perry

Joseph and Persis raised their family in an area of Plympton that is now in Carver.

Persis died 6 June 1726 in Plympton (now Carver) at age 34. She is buried at Lakenham Cemetery. Her son Benjamin died a few weeks before her, so perhaps an illness struck the family.
Persis Shaw Lucas' gravestone

Joseph married, second, on 9 November 1727 in Bridgewater, Melatiah Carey. Melatiah is spelled in a variety of ways including Malathiah, Meletiah and Melethiah. She was born ca 1685, the daughter of Francis and Lydia (Brett) Carey/Cary. Her birth is not recorded, but the will of Francis Cary, dated 2 Jan 1723/4, names daughter Malethiah.

Plymouth and Plympton Vital records show the birth of one child for Joseph and Melatiah:
Barnabas, born 30 October 1729 in Plympton. He married Joanna Pierce. I descend from this couple and wrote about them here.

Joseph was a blacksmith by trade and was Deacon at the First Church, Plympton. He also served as a Selectman and was a land surveyor. He owned part of a furnace and land at Pope's Point on John’s Pond and was half owner of a grist mill.

Joseph was named in his father Samuel’s 4 July 1715 will. He received land adjacent to his home and also land at the Cedar Swamp and meadow at Swan Hole.

In the December 1719 court session, a stranger to Plympton, Willis Fitshughs was sentenced to be whipped if he didn’t pay a fine for striking and kicking Joseph Vaughan. Joseph Lucas wrote two bonds for Fitshughs.

In the June 1721 court session, Abigail Tomson who accused Jonathan Inglee of being the father of her bastard child. Inglee appealed the court decision that he support the child; Joseph Lucas of Plympton was one of two men who gave him sureties.

In the May 1723 court session, Joseph Lucas was one of a group that accused John Bumpus of Rochester of obstructing the Wewan Tick River so that the alewives could not go up river.

I’m not certain of the date, but I think it is the 1730s, at another court session, Joseph Lucas, Plympton retailer, was given permission to sell liquor for one year.

On 5 August 1731, Selectmen Joseph Lucas and Joseph Thomas warned widow Hannah Wood of Middleborough, being poor and indigent, to leave town.

1736 court records state that Joseph Lucas (Plympton) was appointed to survey land in question in a case and return a “true and exact Platt.” After Joseph's report, jury verdict for appellant, reversing the judgement, for 10 pounds and costs.

Joseph died 4 September 1742 in Carver, at age 52. He is buried at the Lakenham Cemetery, North Carver. His slate stone is engraved with an unusual skull. He is buried next to his first wife Persis.

Joseph Lucas' gravestone

Lucas family plot

The will of Joseph Lucas of Plympton, yeoman, dated 23 February 1741, proved 22 September 1742, states that he had infirmities of the body that were "symptoms of approaching mortality." He names his wife Meletiah; sons John, Samuel and Barnabas (who was under 21); daughters Hannah and Patience. Inventory was taken 18 February 1743.

Joseph's will mentions his homestead with a large amount of land, meadow at Little Cove, land adjoining John's Pond that belonged to his father, six acres of meadow at Donham's Cove in Plympton, seven acres of land bought of Joseph Cole in Plympton, cedar swamp at Beaver Dam Swamp, land adjoining Crane Brook, South Meadow cedar swamp, Plympton farmland purchased from Edward Cole.  It also mentions his smith's shop, part ownership of a furnace, half a grist mill, yoke of oxen, farming utensils, cart tackling, wearing apparel, guns and swords. His daughters Hannah and Patience each  received $110 pounds, a substantial amount for that time.

Melatiah died after 25 February 1745/46, when she was named guardian of her son Barnabas. I have not found when she died or if she remarried.



Sources Not Listed Above:
Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Vol. 18, Richard Warren,  published by the GSMD, 1999

The Mayflower Descendant, "The Will of Samuel Lucas, Senior, and a Deed of His Widow," Vol 27, 1925