Jonathan Nye (born 1649) and Patience Burgess (born about 1662) of Sandwich, Massachusetts

Jonathan Nye was born 20 November 1649 at Sandwich on Cape Cod, the son of Benjamin and Katherine (Tupper) Nye. [Sandwich Vital Records, p 4] I wrote about Benjamin and Katherine here.

Jonathan married, first, say 1680, Hannah (——). They had four, or perhaps five, children [two youngest recorded Sandwich Vital Records, p. 67 and first two mentioned in father’s will): 

1. Jabez born say 1682; married Ruth Bonum 31 May 1711; resided in Plymouth where he died in 1745

2. Sarah born say 1684; married John Bodfish 24 May 1704 

3. Joanna born 16 Jan 1686/87; was living in 1744 when she is called “Jonah” in father’s will

4. Ichabod born May 1689; married Elizabeth Bonum 16 Feb 1709/10; lived at Middleborough and then Rochester, Massachusetts; died 28 July 1735

Hannah died probably not long after Ichabod’s birth. 

Jonathan married, second, Patience Burgess, about 1690 at Sandwich. Patience was born Yarmouth about 1662, the daughter of John and Mary (Worden) Burgess. I wrote about John and Mary here. Patience and Jonathan had nine children recorded Sandwich with perhaps a tenth, Mary [Sandwich Vital Records, p. 67]:

5. Jonathan born Nov 1691, married Deborah Blackwell and Remember (Crocker?); moved to Hardwick in Worcester County where he died about 1770

6. Patience born November 1693; married Lt. Benjamin Freeman; died 8 Aug 1767 at Sandwich 

7. Joseph born 16 Nov 1695; married Mary Bodfish; died 21 March 1749/50 at Sandwich

8. Benjamin born 16 Oct 1697; married Lydia Freeman and Rachel (Foster?); died 13 June 1790 at Sandwich 

9. Thomas born August 1699; married Deborah Peckham

10. Abigail, twin born 2 Sept 1702; married Jonathan Hathaway 15 June 1721; died 30 Dec 1776 at Dartmouth

11. Isaac, twin born 2 Sept 1702; married Sarah Freeman; lived in Plympton

12. David, twin born 1 July 1706; married Elizabeth Briggs; lived in Rochester and Douglas Mass.; died 17 April 1796 at Douglas [haven’t found primary source for his death date/location]

13. Zerviah, twin born 1 July 1706; married Ebenezer Burgess; died 13 Nov 1787 at Wareham 

14. Mary who married John Fuller; not sure if her mother is Patience or Hannah or where she falls in the birth order; her birth is not recorded but she is mentioned in her father’s will

The appropriately named Patience certainly would have been a busy woman raising as many as 14 children, including two successive sets of twins!

Patience and Jonathan are my 8th great-grandparents. I descend from their son David who became a tavern keeper in Douglas, Worcester County, Massachusetts. 

Jonathan received the Old County Road house, grist mill and fulling mill from his father Benjamin Nye who was an early Sandwich settler. The property operates as a museum and is owned by the Nye Family Association of America. I visited in the summer of 2024 and the house has been beautifully restored. 

Nye family homestead

A later mill that was moved to the Nye property

Jonathan and his brothers Caleb and Benjamin all lived near one another on Old County Road. 

Jonathan Nye took the oath of fidelity on 4 July 1678. Perhaps his work kept him too busy to be officially involved in town affairs, but millers typically knew everyone’s business! He served on a grand jury in 1681 and as Selectman in 1698. 

Patience’s father John “Burg” wrote his will on 14 August 1700 with a codicil dated 19 Feb 1700/01. He mentions that his five daughters would receive his moveable estate after the decease of their mother, but the only daughter mentioned by name is Martha as she is unmarried and he wants her to be able to continue to live at home until she is married. The codicil orders that anything that is left of his estate after his wife’s decease or remarriage would be split evenly amongst his five daughters. 

Patience’s mother, the widow Mary Burgess, died intestate and administration of her estate was granted to her son Jacob on 11 May 1724. In the 10 July 1727 final disposition, Jacob noted that all legacies had been distributed except to his sisters Patience Nye and her heirs and Mary Ellis. [MD 53:2, Summer 2005] I wonder why Jacob was unable to reach Patience—she was living and it seems unlikely she was living out of the area unless temporarily staying with one of her sons in Worcester County.

On 7 August 1724 Jonathan deeded property to his son Joseph which consisted of the house, corn mill, fulling mill, pond and stream, six acres of upland and swampy ground, and half his lot of 10 acres of marsh in Barnstable, half upland lying southerly from the mill pond,  two small lots from the last division in Sandwich, and other land at Sandwich. It mentions land he already gave to son Benjamin Nye and land he bought from his son Jonathan. In return for the gift, Joseph was to take care of Jonathan and Patience. 

The deed for land he gave to son Jonathan dated last day of February 1717/18, requires that in return for the gift of land that the younger Jonathan was to "provide & allow unto Mercy Nye my sister (who is a p(er)son infirm both in Body & Mind) a Competant & Comfortable maintenance both in sickness & health.” 

Jonathan Nye of Sandwich wrote his will on 7 July 1744. As a businessman it is not surprising he had some education—he signed deeds and his will.  

Family mentioned in his will are beloved wife Patience, three daughters Patience, Abigail and Zerviah; rest of children Mary, Sarah, Jabez, Jonah, Ichabod, Jonathan, Joseph, Benjamin, Thomas, and David. Patience and son Joseph named executors. Only child not mentioned is Isaac.

Jonathan’s will:  In the name of God, Amen, I Jonathan Nye of the Town of Sandwich in the County of Barnstable in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England being grown into years & knowing it is appointed for all men once to die and being now of perfect mind and memory blessed be God do make and Ordain this my Last Will and Testament principally and first of all I give my Soul to God that gave it and touching my worldly Estate having heretofore disposed of my Real Estate there Remains only the Personal Estate to be Disposed of.

Imprimis. I will that all my Just Debts due to any person in might of Conscience be first paid.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my well Beloved wife Patience Nye the use and improvement of all my Personal Estate of what kind nature of quality whatsoever, both within doors and without for her comfort support and maintenance during the term of her natural life and what and so much of said Estate as shall be and Remain upon Expiration of her Term of Life, my will is that it be equally divided between my three daughters viz Patience Abigail and Zerviah The rest of my children viz Mary Sarah Jabez Jonah Ichabod Jonathan Joseph Benjamin Thomas and David I have already given such portions unto as I judge sufficient for them.

And lastly, I do constitute and appoint my well beloved wife Patience and my son Joseph Nye to be Executors to the my last Will and Testament. Hereby revoking and disannulling all other and former wills by me made and do ratify allow this and no other to be my last will in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the seventh day of July Anno Domino 1744

Jonathan Nye [seal]

Signed sealed pronounced and declared to be his last will and testament in presence of us

John Otis

Silvanus Bourn

Nathaniel Otis

The will of Jonathan Nye "of the Town of Sandwich' was proved 13 May 1747. The inventory taken 29 June 1750 amounted to just over 6 pounds. 

As his son Joseph and presumably his wife Patience had died, Mary Nye was executrix of Jonathan's estate. She was likely his daughter-in-law, Joseph’s widow. Inventory included bed and bolster, a rug (heavy blanket) with a coverlet, a coat and jacket, a chest, a chamber pot -- all appropriate for a man of about 97 years of age. [Barnstable County Probate, 8:206-08 and 8:371]

Jonathan died between 7 July 1744 when he wrote his will and 13 May 1747 when it was proved. 

Patience Nye died between 7 Jul 1744 when she is mentioned in her husband’s will and 29 Jun 1750 when she did not swear to her late husband’s inventory or perhaps before 13 May 1747 when she did not act as executrix of his estate. 

The Nye homestead bed chamber

Sources Not Mentioned Above:

RA Lovell, Jr., Sandwich, A Cape Cod Town, third edition published by the Sandwich Archives and Historical Center, 1996

George Hyatt and Frank Best, Benjamin Nye of Sandwich, His Ancestors and Descendants, A Genealogy of the Nye Family,, Nye Family Association of America, 1907

Tupper Family Association, communicated by, NEHGS Register, “Thomas Tupper and His Descendants,” vol 99, January 1945

Bernard Peterson, “The Nye House at Sandwich,” Cape Cod Library of Local History and Genealogy Pamphlet Series, No. 12, 1925

Ian Hilder, George R. Nye, Jonathan A. Shaw, NEGHS Register, “The Origins of Benjamin Nye: Examining the Sources,” 159:77 (January 2005)

Lucius R. Paige, History of Hardwick, Massachusetts with a Genealogical Register,1883

Torrey’s New England Marriages to 1700, Volume 2, pg 1107

Edna Anne Hannibal, John Briggs of Sandwich, Massachusetts and His Descendants, 1962

Abishai Marchant (b. 1651) and His Wife Mary Taylor of Yarmouth, Massachusetts

Abishai Marchant was born 10 January 1650/51 in Yarmouth on Cape Cod. He was the son of John Marchant and unfortunately his mother’s name is not known. [Yarmouth Vital Records, p 842] His last name is sometimes seen as Merchant; his first name is spelled in a variety of ways including Abisha and Abijah.

Abishai was a bit of a rogue by 17th century Plymouth Colony standards. ”Abishi Marchant, for being found in bed with Mary the wife of Morgan Jones, was fined the sum of 40 shillings to the use of the colony.” [Plymouth Colony Records 1672-5, p 43, 5 July 1670]

About 1673 Abishai married Mary Taylor who was born about 1650, the daughter of Richard “The Tailor” Taylor and possibly Mary Whelden of Yarmouth (later Dennis). I wrote about Richard Taylor here. Mary and Abishai’s marriage was not without controversy. On 4 March 1672/73 "Abishi Marchant and Mary Taylor, for committing fornication with each other," each were fined five pounds. [Plymouth Colony Records 1672-3, p 112]

None of the birth’s of Mary and Abishai’s children were recorded and he did not leave a will, but these are their seven children according to historian Charles Banks; birth years are estimated:

1. Samuel born about 1673; buried 8 August 1676

2. Jabez born about 1675; buried 21 August 1676

3. Hannah born about 1677; living unmarried in Edgartown in 1710

4. John born about 1679; m Hepsibah Huxford and Elizabeth Daggett; moved to Edgartown; he’s the ancestor of Martha’s Vineyard Marchants

5. Elizabeth born about 1681; m. Thomas Whelden 

6. Samuel born about 1683; m. Joanna [Gage?] and died 1757 at Yarmouth; he’s the ancestor of Cape Cod Marchants

7. Ebenezer born about 1685; m Bethiah (Day) Willet

I’ve also seen a second son named Jabez attributed to the couple, born about 1687, who married Mary Babson, as well as a son William. 

I descend from Hannah who was a chip off the old block as she had two children out of wedlock by two men and she did not marry either of them. I wrote about Hannah and the father of her first child here.

Mary Taylor Marchant was named in the March 1674 probate records of her father simply as “Mary,” so perhaps she married after that date. In 1695, she is called Mary Marchant [Taylor written first and crossed out] in her sister Sarah Taylor’s probate record. Mary and her six siblings were to equally divide their sister’s estate, which totaled over 36 pounds. [Mayflower Descendant, 24:63-64]

In 1676 Abishai Marchant had Yarmouth taxable property of 1 pound, 15 shillings, 3 pence in a rate made towards charges of King Philip’s War. 

Abisha Marchant received 18 shares in the 1712 division of common land at Yarmouth. His son Samuel also received 18 shares and son Ebenezer 7 1/2 shares. The division was made by lot, and the drawings were completed and choice made during the summer of 1712.

On 14 July 1715 his property is mentioned in a description of land reserved for the Indians: A piece of land laid out in Yarmouth for our Indians to live upon, belonging to this town, beginneth at Bass River at the West end of Joseph Eldredge's land, leaving an open way from said river two rods wide, between said land and said Eldredge’s field to the way, and so over the way to a small oak tree marked, thence from said oak tree sets N.N.W. as trees are marked, 180 rods to the E. end of the Long Pond, thence sets by said pond on the S. Side 136 rods to maple tree marked, thence sets S.S.E. as trees are marked about 212 rods to the bank of the river to a pine tree marked, thence it sets Easterly by said river to the first mentioned way between said Eldridge’s land and said piece of land laid out to said Indians, only reserving a way along said river below the bank upon the flats, for the convenience of the inhabitants of said town, wholly open. Also reserving the way wholly open that leads from Abisha Merchants to Nathaniel Baker’s.” According to Charles Swift in 1883 this area was known as "Friends' Village" in South Yarmouth.

He was also at times from Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard. Banks wrote he was there in 1693 when on 6 December he, as son of John Marchant, sold land to Lt. John Coffin. 

Mary died 01 Feb 1718 at Yarmouth. [Yarmouth VR 1:152] She was called the widow Mary Marchant. 

Abishai likely after July 1715, when his land is referenced in the Native American grant, and before 01 February 1718 when Mary is called a widow.

Sources Not Mentioned Above:

Charles Swift, History of Old Yarmouth Comprising the Present Towns of Yarmouth and Dennis, 1884

Jillaine S. Smith, NEHGS Register, “The Two Richard Taylor Families of Yarmouth,” 165:197 (2011)

Charles Edward Banks, The History of Martha's Vineyard, Dukes County Massachusetts, Vol III 1966

Torrey’s New England Marriages to 1700, vol 2, p 1026

William Davis (1688-1757) and Keziah Cudworth of Freetown, Massachusetts

William Davis was born 11 June 1688 at Freetown, Bristol County, Massachusetts to William and Mary (Makepeace) Davis. [Freetown Vital Records on Ancestry] 

On 24 July 1712 William married Keziah Cudworth. [Taunton Vital Records p 137] Keziah was born Scituate about 1694, the daughter of James and Elizabeth “Betty”  (Hatch) Cudworth. I have not found Keziah’s birth record but she did, as Kathiah Davis, receive a 25 pound bequest, in addition to what she had already been given, in her father James Cudworth of Freetown’s 11 March 1729 will. [Bristol County Probate Probates, Vol 5-7, 1724-1733, available on Ancestry] Keziah is the great-granddaughter of James 1 Cudworth, an influential man in the colony, a General in the military, and a believer in religious tolerance. William and Keziah are my 8th great-grandparents on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family.

Births of the ten children of William and Keziah Davis are recorded in Freetown Vital Records [Ancestry, “Massachusetts US Town and Vital Records 1620-1988]: 

1. William born 21 Feb 1712/3; m. Elizabeth Paine

2. Mary born 25 February 1714/5; m. Benjamin Hathaway

3. James born 13 Sept 1716; m. Susanna Gage

4. Lydia born 25 March 1719; m. Nathan Simmons

5. David born 9 January 1720/21;  m. Remember Terry

6. Hezekiah born 25 Feb 1722/23; m. Margaret Parker

7. Keziah born 9 March 1724/5; m. Ignatius Perkins

8. Elizabeth born 27 May 1727

9. Abiel born 21 Oct 1729; m. Susannah Gage

10. Ichabod born 1 April 1732;  m. Sylvia Chase

I descend from daughter Keziah. I wrote about her and husband Ignatius Perkins here.

William was active in Freetown town affairs. He was constable in 1724, grand juryman in 1726 and tithingman in 1721 and 1726. [Ebenezer Peirce; see Sources]

Some researchers have William marrying, second, Zerviah Hatch of Scituate, intentions 8 February 1753. He is called “Junior” in the record, so I don’t believe it is this William. And although Zerviah and Keziah are similar it does look like Keziah is the wife named in William’s will.

William Davis died in 1757, sometime between 6 July, when he wrote his will, and 1 November, when he will was proven. He was 69 years old. Keziah survived her husband, but I have not found her death record. 

William’s will was written 6 July 1757 at Freetown. He mentions wife Keziah; sons Ichabod, James, William, Heze[k]iah, Abiel; daughter Mary Hathaway; son-in-law Nathan Simmons; unnamed children of daughter Lidiah; unnamed children of son David; daughter Keziah Perkins. Son Ichabod and second son William received his land, with wife Keziah having use of half of the northerly end of the Freetown house and one cow and its calf during her lifetime. Ichabod and James were to pay their father’s funeral expenses and other debts and pay bequests to their siblings/nieces/nephews in specific amounts from $1 to $2 within 6 to 12 months of their father’s death. Ichabod is named executor. Proved 1 November 1757.

William’s inventory was taken 25 Jan 1758[?/9] by Philip Hathaway, George Winslow, and

Ambrose Barnaby; presented 1 May 1759. It does not contain real estate and totaled 28  pounds 9 shillings 3 pence. It contained household items, books, farming supplies, and eight head of livestock. It also contained a button mould, spoon mould and shot mould valued at 9 shillings, things I haven’t seen in any other ancestor’s inventories. 

Sources Not Mentioned Above:

Gen. Ebenezer W. Peirce (communicated by), NEHGS Register,"The Posterity of William Davis of Freetown," 20: 212-217 (July 1866)

NEHGS Register, “The Settlers of the Beekman Patent,” Vol 4:38

NEHGS/American Ancestors website, “Bristol County, MA: Probate File Papers 1686-1880,” case no. 7837, pages 1-12 [William’s probate record]

Ethel (Aldrich) Gallotta/indexer, Freetown, Massachusetts Vital Records: Births, Marriage Intentions, and Deaths 1686-1793, (Providence RI) 1969 Copied from City Clerk’s office records in Fall River, Mass.

Pilgrim Isaac Allerton's Kingston Homestead Location

Mayflower passenger Isaac Allerton (ca 1587-1659) is my 12th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family. I find him interesting to research as he became the wealthiest and one of the most prominent Pilgrims. He was an assistant Governor who was integral in the business side of the Plymouth settlement, but this lead to conflict with the leaders of the colony as he may have primarily looked out for his own interests. Serving as the Pilgrim’s agent, he made at least four voyages to England and ran a trading post in what is now Maine. 

His first wife Mary (Norris) passed away the first winter at Plymouth after delivering a stillborn child while the Mayflower was anchored off Provincetown. Isaac married, second, Fear Brewster, the daughter of church elder William Brewster. After Fear’s death in 1634, Isaac married Joanna Swinnerton.

Isaac owned ships and was heavily involved in trade that included fur, tobacco, wampum, tools, and cloth. He started the cod fishing industry in Marblehead, a town on the north shore of Massachusetts. He owned a wharf and warehouse in what is now Manhattan. He lived in an impressive home in New Haven, Connecticut, and owned land in Virginia. He also became a diplomat, first in his work on behalf of the Pilgrims and later he hosted a summit conference between officials of New Sweden and New Haven colonies to avert a war.

Plaque in New Haven honoring Allerton

Before he met with such incredible success, Isaac lived at Rocky Nook, then part of Plymouth but now in Kingston. His homestead was near the Jones River bank at what is 17 Spring Street today. When he left the area, his daughter Mary and her husband Elder Thomas Cushman (my 11th great-grandparents) lived at the Rocky Nook house, which served as a garrison for “north end” neighbors during times of unrest with Native Americans. 

Traces of the dwelling were found in 1972 when a house was being built and it was used to build a facsimile at Plimoth Plantation. It had approximately 440 square feet of floor space and consisted of two rooms and a loft area. Pilgrim-era artifacts were unearthed which are at Plimoth Patuxet and Kingston Library (in 1976).

I’m always interested in seeing where my ancestors lived, so I took a drive to Spring Street and snapped a few photos of the land where Isaac lived. Because of the number of trees, I could not see Jones River.

Aerial View (Source: Google Earth)

David Furlow is working on a biography of Isaac Allerton. A recording of his presentation with NEHGS is available on YouTube here. He discusses and has great visuals about the location of Isaac Allerton’s NYC wharf and warehouse and an archaeological dig going on there. 

A previous biographical sketch I wrote about Isaac Allerton can be see here.

Source: 

Doris Johnson Melville, Major Bradford’s Town: A History of Kingston 1726-1976, published 1976, p 13