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, January 27, 2013

Jesse Pierce (1747-1824) and (Ruth Perkins 1752-ca 1799) of Middleborough, Mass.

Jesse Pierce was born Middleborough, Plymouth County, Mass., on 12 July 1747. He was the son of Richard and Mary (Simmons) Pierce. His last name is spelled in a variety of ways including Peirce and Pearce.

Jessie married Ruth Perkins in Middleborough on 26 January 1772 (recorded Middleborough and Freetown Vital Records). She was of Freetown at the time of their marriage. She was born 5 August 1752 in Wrentham, Norfolk Co., Mass., the daughter of Ignatius/Ignatious and Keziah/Kezia (Davis) Perkins. I wrote about her parents here.

Jessie and Ruth had seven children, only the birth record for their oldest son, David, has been found:
1.      David, born 22 June 1773, Middleborough, married Desire Nye and lived in Wareham, Plymouth Co., Mass.
2.      Keziah born 1770s, she married, first _____ Holmes; she married, second, Joseph Harris.
3.      Richard born 1770s, married Joannah Nye
4.      Ignatius born about 1785, married Betsey Besse.
5.      Branch born about 1788, married Rebecca Bates
6.      Jessie born about 1790, died in New Orleans, date unknown
7.      Mary born about 1794, married Joshua Douglass

I descend from their son David, whom I wrote about here.

The records on this family are sparce, so I haven’t found what Jesse did for a living or if he served in any public office.

The couple lived at Middleboro but at some time moved to Plymouth. Perhaps this occurred around the time of Ruth's unrecorded death as the last record found in vital records for either Ruth or Jesse is the second marriage of Jesse Pierce to Susannah (Harlow) King on 2 January 1799 in Plymouth.

Paul Bumpus of the Mayflower Society came across the Descendants of Abraham Perkins of Hampton, NH to the Eighth Generation, compiled by Carolyn C. Perkins. In Perkins work, only four children, all sons, were attributed to Ignatius and his wife Keziah Davis: David, Ignatius, Luke, and John.  Perkins work showed the connection between the family who lived at Freetown, later at Wrentham, and the Ruth Perkins who married Jesse Pierce at Middleboro. This led Paul to examine the Wrentham records, thus finding the birth of Ruth Perkins there on 5 August 1752, "d of Ignatius and Kezia." This discovery means that Ruth and her brother William are "new" Mayflower descendants, from John Howland, John Tilley, and Isaac Allerton. It is also now possible to have Mayflower lines approved from the female passengers in this line: Elizabeth (Tilley) Howland, Joan (Hurst) (Rogers) Tilley and Mary (Norris) Allerton.

Ruth died before before 2 January 1799 when Jesse married, second, Susannah (Harlow) King in Plymouth. Her death is unrecorded but likely took place in Middleborough or Plymouth.

Jesse Pierce died 30 September 1824, possibly in Plymouth. His death is found only on his 2nd wife's Revolutionary War pension application which she filed on 4 September 1837 as the widow of William King.

No Plymouth County probate for Jesse and Ruth has been located.

Sources Not Listed Above:
Ebenezer Peirce, The Peirce Family, printed in NEHGR in Jan., April, July 1867 and October 1868.
Paul Bumpus, Ruth Perkins, daughter of Ignatious of Freetown, Mass., printed in the Mayflower Quarterly, September 2006

Saturday, January 19, 2013

John Washburn (1699-1768) and Abigail Phillips (1699-1782), Plymouth, Mass.

John Washburn was born in Plymouth on 19 April 1699, the son of John and Lydia (Billington) Washburn. Lydia was the great-granddaughter of Mayflower passengers John Billington and his wife Eleanor.

John married Abigail Phillips in Kingston in 1727. Their marriage intentions were published in Kingston on Kingston on May 28, 1727.  

Abigail was born in Marshfield on 29 October 1699, the daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (Thomas) Phillips. Her first name is sometimes spelled Abigale.

Abigail married first Josiah Johnson of Scituate, at Marshfield on 8 February 1721/22. (Marshfield VR)  Josiah died there 18 May 1724 at age 25. He and Abigail had a son Josiah Johnson, b. Marshfield 17 Oct 1723.

John's brother Ichabod married Bethiah Phillips, who was Abigail’s sister.

John and Abigaile had seven children, all births recorded at Plymouth:
John born 8 May 1730, m. Lydia Prince
Abigail born 17 February 1731/32, may be the Abigail Washburn who married Abner Silvester
Mary born 21 November 1734, may be the Mary Washburn who married Abijah Fisher
Marcy/Mercy born 31 July 1736, died 4 March 1737/38, Plymouth
Seth born 17 April 1738, m. 1st, Fear Howard, 2nd Anna Fullerton, 3rd Deborah Churchill
Phillip born 5 September 1739, may be the Phillips Washburn who married Silence Davis
Thankfull born 14 August 1742

I descend from Seth and his third wife Deborah Churchill. I wrote about them here.

Rev. Robbins of the Congregational Church in Plymouth wrote that when he was ordained in January 1760 John Washburn and Abigail Washburn "Jnos. wife" were members of the church.
 
John Washburn died at age 69 in Plymouth on 22 May 1768.

Widow Abigail Washburn was appointed administratrix of the estate of John Washburn of Plymouth on 9 May 1769. The estate was declared insolvent on 14 May 1770, the inventory being almost the only document in the estate records. No heirs are named in the file. (Mayflower Descendant 14:242).

Abigale Washburn died 24 September 1782 at Plymouth. She was 82.

My research on this family is very much a work in progress. I would love to hear from fellow descendants of John and Abigail and welcome any corrections/additions.


Source Not Listed Above:
Harriet W. Hodge, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Volume Five, Edward Winslow and John Billington, published by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1997

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Thomas Burgess and Dorothy (?Waynes) of England and Sandwich, Mass.

Thomas Burgess was born in England about 1603, based on his age at death. This last name is spelled in a variety of ways including Burgis and Burge.

Thomas married Dorothy (Waynes?) in England about 1627, as they started having children ca 1628. This could be their marriage record: "Thomas Burgess and Dorothy Waynes (married at) Tanfield (co. York, England) in 1628" but more research is needed. (NEGHR 118 (1964):323)

Date of their migration is not certain, but land was assigned to Thomas in Duxbury on 3 July 1637. He left for Sandwich later the same year, forfeiting land to Nicholas Robbins on 5 November 1638. Some early works, including Torrey’s New England Marriages, state they arrived at Salem/Lynn in the early 1630s, but I don’t know if that’s accurate. Thomas settled in the part of town later to become part of Bourne, now called Sagamore. He also had a farm at Manomet.

I haven’t found a lot of primary records on Thomas and Dorothy’s children. I believe they had five children:

Thomas, married Elizabeth Bassett and Lydia Gaunt, moved to Rhode Island
John, m. Mary Worden and settled at Yarmouth, Mass.
Elizabeth, m. Ezra Perry, lived in Sandwich and is buried near her parents
Jacob m. Mary Nye, lived in Sandwich
Joseph, m. Patience Freeman, settled at Rochester, Mass.

I descend from their son John as well as their daughter Elizabeth.

Thomas Jr. was featured in one of the rare divorces of the Colony. After 13 years of marriage to Elizabeth Bassett, they were divorced and he married Lydia, daughter of Quaker Peter Gaunt and got a fresh start in Rhode Island.

In Sandwich Thomas was associated with some of my other ancestors including Henry Feake, Edward Dillingham and Edmund Freeman. "He was a chief man among them," says Dr. Savage. Thomas was an original member of the church instituted there in 1638. He became a large landholder in Sandwich.  The land was still in the family in 1863 when owned by by Benjamin Burgess.

Thomas served in a variety of public offices including road surveyor, Selectman and was Deputy to the Court at Plymouth for 11 years.  At the 22 May 1652 Town Meeting, a committee of four men named to have power to call a town meeting, including Goodman Burgess Sr.,

In 1657 there were many complaints from the court against Sandwich people who were punished for their Quaker leanings. William Newland, a prominent citizen, was called to court for encouraging Thomas Burges to "let Christopher Holder, a Quaker, occupy his house." He expressed sorrow for what he had done and was released. This may have been Thomas Junior since he was in other records, showing some Quaker sympathies and he later married a Quaker.

Mr. Percival Hall Lombard of Bourne stated that the Plymouth Court had given Thomas Burgess Senior the original Aptucxet Trading Post site in 1652. Grant record not found. However PCR May 1655 gives Burgess the right to take 10,000 herring a year at his land on the river in addition to his regular share as a citizen. Another reference in July 1655 says James Skiffe had land at Mannomett, a small neck of land directly against Thomas Burgis' land where the company formerly had a trading house.
Aptuxcet Trading Post, Bourne


The first reference to Mashpee lands occurs in Plymouth Colony Records in 1654. "The freemen of Sandwich viz Mr. John Vincent, Thomas Burgess, Thomas Tupper, Richard Bourne and James Skiffe desired some several parcels of land at the places following: viz some land by Marshpee Pond and 10 acres of meadow; some land by Santuit Pond to the value of one hundred acres; a neck of land by Cotuit River to keep cattle; certain meadow lying upon and about a place called Mannamuch Bay."

Thomas acquired land in Scusset (Sagamore) and also in the Aptucxet area of the old trading post. His four sons typified the very early spread from Sandwich to occupy land in new towns.

Land Transactions

The 10th of July 1663
Memorand: That Thomas Burge senr of the Towne of Sandwich in in the Jurisdiction of Plymouth in New England plantor Doth acknowlidg that for and in Consideration of a valluable sume; to him already payed by his son in law Named Esra Perrey of the Towne aforsaid in the Jurisdiction aforsaid plantor; hee hath bargained and sold enfeofed and Confeilmed and by these prsents Doth bargaine allianate sell enfeof and Confeirme unto the said Esra Perrey the one halfe of a Certaine tract of land lying and being att a place Called Mannomett in the Jurisdiction aforsaid; which said Tract of land was purchased by Captaine Standish by the appointment of the Court of Josias of Nausett an Indian Sachem; in the behalfe of the said Thomas Burge as appeers by a Deed bearing Date the third Day of march Anno Dom 1652 and is bounded to the southwards by the marked tree by the marsh and from that tree to a fresh brooke and from the said tree to another marked tree to the Nortwards; which said tree stands to the Eastward of the sad Esra Perreys house; to have and to hold the one halfe of the whole said Tract of land both upland and meddow with all and singulare the appurtenances belonging therunto; unto the said Esra Perrey to him and his heires and assignes for ever; The said halfe of the said Tract of land; both upland and meddow soe bounded as aforsaid with all the said Thomas Burge his right and Interest therin or belonging therunto or to any pte or pcell of the said halfe share; with all and singulare the appurtenances belonging therunto; to appertaine to the onely proper use and behoofe of the said Esra Perrey hee his heires and assignes for ever;


The 10th of July 1663
Memorand: That Thomas Burge senir: of Sandwich in the Jurisdiction of Plymouth in New England in America plantor Doth acknowlidge that for and in Consideration of a Considerable sume to him already payed by Leiftenant Josias Standish of Sandwich aforsaid in the Jurisdiction aforsaid hee hath freely and absolutely bargained and sold enfeofed and Confeirmed; and by these prsents Doth bargaine allianate sell enfeofe and Confeirme unto the said Leiftenant Standish one quarter pte or one pte of foure of a Certaine Tract of land lying and being att a place Called Mannomett in the Jurisdiction aforsaid which said Tract of land was purchased by Captaine Standish by the appointment of the Court of Josias of Nausett an Indian Sachem; in the behalfe of the said Thomas Burge, as appeers by a Deed bearing Date the third Day of March anno Dom: 1652 which said Tract is bounded to the Southward by the marked tree by the marsh; and from that tree to a ffresh brooke; and from the said tree to another marked tree Northward which said tree stands to the eastward of Esra Perreys house; To have and to hold the one quarter pte or one pte of four of the said whole tract of land both upland and meddow with all and singulare the appurtenances belonging therunto unto the said Leift: Josias Standish to him and his heires and assignes for ever; The said quarter pte or one pte of foure of the said tract of land bounded as aforsaid both of the upland & meddow with all the said Thomas Burge his Right title and Interst of and into the said quarter pte of the said tract of land; with all and singulare the appurtenances belonging therunto; To appertaine to the onely proper use and behoofe of the said Leift: Josias Standish to him and his heires and assignes for ever unto the onely proper use and behoof of him the said Leift: Josiah Standish to him and his heires and assignes for ever;

The 10th of July 1663
Memorand: That Thomas Burge senir of the Towne of Sandwich in the Jurisdiction of Plymouth in New England plantor Doth acknowlidge that hee hath & Doth by these prsents fully freely and absolutely give graunt allianate make over enfeofe and Confeirme unto his son Josepth Burge one quarter pte or one pte of foure of all that whole tract of land which Captaine Standish bought for him, by the appointment of the Court; of Josias the Indian Sachem of Nausett which said tract is lying and being att Mannomett in the Jurisdiction aforsaid; and is bounded as in the Deed of the sale therof bearing Date the third Day of March 1652 is expressed; To have and to hold all the said Thomas Burge his Right and title of and into one quarter pte or one pte of four of the said land; unto the said Josepth Burge to him and his heires and assignes for ever; the said one quarter pte or one pte of four of the aforsaid whole tract of land both upland and meddow with all and singular the appurtenances belonging therunto; and to appertane unto the onely proper use and behoofe of him the said Josepth Burge to him and his heires and assignes for ever;


Thomas died 23 February 1684/85 in Sandwich.  (Sandwich VR) He was 82 years old. His gravestone was imported from England. Amos Otis Esq wrote "this was the only monument set up for any pilgrim of first generation." His original, broken stone was replaced with a slate stone in 1917 by his descendants. It reads: "Thomas Burgess, Born in England, settled in 1637 in that part of Sandwich now called Sagamore. Dyed Feb. ye 13, 1685, aged 82 years." 
Thomas Burgess' gravestone at Sandwich
Thomas’s will was written 4 April 1684. After wife's death, son Thomas of Rhode Island was to receive 5 pounds, son Jacob the house lot, dwelling house, barn, outhouses, upland, "all that belongs to my homestead dwelling," and a meadow. After Jacob's disease, all to go to his son Thomas. Jacob to pay grandson Thomas, son of John, 10 pounds when 23 years old. To son Joseph: two lots that adjoin his land and give 5 pounds to his son John. If land refused, give to son Ezra Perry (Son- in- law). Also to Ezra, all other lands that lie above said two lots. To dear wife, all moveable estate. Sons Ezra and Jacob executors. Dated 4 April 1684, witnesses Thomas and Martha Tupper.

Dorothy died 27 February 1687 at Sandwich. (Sandwich VR) Thomas and Dorothy are buried together at the Old Burial Ground in Sandwich. Her stone reads: "Dorothy, widow of Thomas Burgess, dyed Feb. ye 27, 1687." I visited there in 2000 and it’s a very pretty cemetery, with a picturesque mill pond complete with a pair of swans.
Close up of Dorothy's gravestone

E. Burgess wrote that the first five generations of Thomas’s descendants were Congregationalists of the "Puritan stamp." His descendants settled from Maine to California, as well as Nova Scotia, and were mostly devoted to agriculture but some were seaman.


Sources Not Listed Above:

E. Burgess, Burgess Genealogy, Memorial of the Family of Thomas and Dorothy Burgess and were settled at Sandwich in the Plymouth Colony in 1637, 1865

Katharine Hiam, Burgess Genealogy, Descendants of the Four Sons of Thomas and Dorothy (Waynes) Burgess...Whose Parents Were Settled in Sandwich in 1637, 1997. This work updates the earlier volume above and I believe it does have some errors.

RA Lovell, Sandwich, A Cape Cod Town, 1984