Thomas Prence Gov. of Plymouth Colony b. ca 1600, d. 1673

Thomas Prence came to Plymouth on the ship Fortune in 1621. He was about age 21 and was born in England ca 1600. He grew to be a successful and powerful man in the Colony, eventually becoming Governor. He served as Governor from 1634 to 1635, 1638 to 1639 and again from 1657 until his death in 1673. He was Assistant Governor for a time as well. He was even given special permission to live at Duxbury and then at Eastham while serving as the Governor of Plymouth. He was also one of the “Undertakers,” a group of the Colony’s leaders who took on the debt owed to the Adventurers in England.

Thomas also served as President of the Council of War during the time of the Pequot Indian War and was sometimes referred to as “Captain” and was involved in foreign trade with England.

He was the son of Thomas Prence, carriage-maker, of Lechdale, Gloucestershire. In the will of Thomas (Senior), dated 31 July 1630 and proved 14 Aug 1630, Thomas Prence, carriage-maker, of Lechdale, Gloucestershire, left a legacy (a silver bowl and a seal ring of gold) to his son Thomas Prence "now remaining in New England in the parts beyond the seas."

His last name is sometimes seen as Prince and that was a fairly common first name among his descendants.

In 1624 he married first Patience Brewster, daughter of the Pilgrim William Brewster. They had four children, three daughters and a son. I descend from their daughter Mercy Prence who married John Freeman.

Patience died before April 1635 of a “pestilent fever” that gripped the Colony. Thomas married second Mary Collier and they had two daughters. Thomas married third Apphia Quick and they had three daughters together. When Thomas was well into his 60s he married fourth Mary (?Burr) Howes, the widow of Thomas Howes. Thomas and Mary Howes are also in my direct line.

Thomas, along with Jonathan Brewster, John Alden, Thomas Prence, and Miles Standish had moved across the bay to what would become Duxbury. In a 2 April 1632 document, these men were asked to come to live in towne (Plymouth) in the winter "that they better repair to the worship of God." It was a losing battle for Bradford, as a Church was established at Duxbury ca 1634 and it became a township in 1637. Thomas was one of the first settlers of Eastham ca 1644.

He lived near Fort Hill and on his property was a stream that ran from Cedar Swamp. A pear tree he planted lived for several hundred years. From Henry David Thoreau’s 19^th century book, Cape Cod:  There was recently standing, on what was once his [Prence's] farm, in this town, a pear tree which is said to have been brought from England, and planted there by him, about two hundred years ago. It was blown down a few months before we were there. A late account says that it was recently in a vigorous state; the fruit small, but excellent; and it yielded on an average fifteen bushels. Legend has it that a shoot was taken from this tree and it was planted next to the ruined tree and flourished.

The stone doorstep was taken from Thomas Prence’s Eastham home and used at the base of the Pilgrim Memorial at Provincetown.

Thomas Prence Chair at Pilgrim Hall Museum

The Great Migration Begins, by Robert Charles Anderson, states he was from All Saints Barking, London. He was an educated man as his inventory included a long list of books including two great bibles and 100 books of Psalms.

In RA Lovell Jr’s Sandwich, A Cape Cod Town, he states that Thomas was known for his intolerance of the Quakers and was a terror to evil doers. Much is made about his treatment of the Quakers but Eugene Stratton in Plymouth Colony, Its History and People 1620-1691, mentions some of his more positive contributions: He presided over the court in the very reasonable handling of Plymouth's first witchcraft trial in 1661; he dealt in a humane way with the Indians (Missionary Thomas Mayhew wrote of his "gentle and kind dealing" with them); he presided over the court as governor in 1638 when the momentous decision was made to execute the white men who had murdered an Indian; he showed wisdom in 1637 when he negotiated with the Massachusetts men who unjustly demanded much of the land on the Connecticut River that Plymouth had purchased from the Indians; he advocated and brought about a free school system. He gave to Wamsutta and Pometacom, the sons of Massasoit, the names Alexander and Philip as a compliment to their warlike character. The relationship between the Indians and the English settlers disintegrated, leading to King Philip’s War.

I see this captioned as the Prence Homestead all over the internet; would love to know the source

After many years at Eastham, he returned to Plymouth circa 1665, which is where he died in 1673 in his 73^rd year.

Thomas had amassed a large amount of land in Plymouth and the Cape (some 11 tracts of land with at least two being of 100 acres; he was said to own the best land in Eastham) during his lifetime and he left a large estate. His inventory totaled 422 pounds 10s 7d. His will was written 13 March 1672/3. He was generous to his wife Mary, leaving her many things including “the court cupboard that now stands in the new parlor with the cloth and cushion that is on it.” This cupboard was purchased by Wallace Nutting and is now owned by the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, Connecticut. It was unusual for a woman to keep the things she brought into a marriage. You can see a drawing of the cupboard and additional information here.

The Wadsworth Atheneum also has a photograph of the cupboard on its website here.

He left land at Middleborough to grandson Theophilus Mayo and granddaughter Susannah Prence (daughter of his deceased son Thomas). The rest of his estate was divided equally between his seven daughters Hannah, Marcy, Jane, Mary, Elizabeth, Sarah, and Judith and to granddaughter Susanna Prence. His fourth wife Mary was named executrix. His estate included part ownership of a mill at Satucket (present day Brewster) and many pieces of silver.

On 10 June 1673, five days after his will was probated seven of his sons-in-law signed a receipt to Mary Prence for the legacies given to their respective wives. The original receipt and agreement are at Pilgrim Hall Museum in Plymouth. The seven were: John Freeman husband of Mercy Prence; Jonathan Sparrow, whose second wife was Hannah Prence Mayo widow of Nathaniel Mayo; John Tracy who married Mary Prence; Mark Snow whose second wife was Jane Prence; Jeremiah Howes who married Sarah Prence; Arthur Howland who m. Elizabeth Prence; Isaac Barker who m. Judith Prence (who m. William Tubbs after Isaac’s death). The receipt says that each received 21 pounds, 16 shillings.

From Plymouth Court Records, 8:34: Thomas Prence, Esquire, Governor of the jurisdiction of New Plymouth, died the 29th of March, 1673, and was interred the 8th of April following. After he had served God in the office of Governor sixteen years, or near thereunto, he finished his course in the 73 years of his life. He was a worthy gentleman, very pious, and very able for his office, and faithful in the discharge thereof, studious of peace, a wellwiller to all that feared God, and a terror to the wicked.  His death was much lamented, and his body honorably buried at Plymouth the day and year above mentioned."

He is buried at Burial Hill in Plymouth without a surviving gravestone.

Madness Monday--Angeline (Baker) Kelley wife of Oliver Kelley

Angeline (Baker) Kelley

Died 12 May 1872, Harwich, MA

Angeline Baker, daughter of Joseph and Jane Baker, married Oliver Kelley (1817-1878), my third-great granduncle, on 5 August 1838 at Harwich, MA. Oliver was the son of Oliver Kelley and Priscilla Chase of Harwich.

In searching for information on Valentine Kelley, Oliver’s brother, I stumbled across this tragic article in the Barnstable Patriot, 21 May 1872:

Harwich

The Independent states that the wife of Oliver Kelley, Jr., who for some years has shown symptoms of insanity, was missed from her home on Monday, 13^th, and search being made her body was found in Flax Pond the following Wednesday. A hood was on her head and two veils tied over her face. Her skirts were tied to her ankles, and dress pulled up and tied around her waist and rubbers secured to her feet. She had on her hands a pair of mittens, and one hand was secured to a walking cane which she held in a perpendicular manner, in front of her, the top being just below water. In her bosom was found a Bible, and in her pocket a note stating that when her body was found that it might be immediately buried. She leaves a large family and many friends to mourn her loss.

Even though her own name isn’t given, it didn’t take me long to uncover her identity. I can’t imagine how difficult her life was, living at a time when there weren’t many options for people with mental illness. I do admire, though, that Oliver must have opted to care for her at home, rather than commit her to a state hospital.

She did get her wish in that she received a proper burial. She is buried at the Kelley Cemetery in North Harwich: Angeline, wife of Oliver Kelley Jr. 12 May 1872, age 51-5-7. This age at death gives her a birth date of 5 December 1820.

Gravestone of Angeline (Baker) Kelley, Kelley Cemetery (source: findagrave.com)

Angeline and Oliver had nine children, born from 1839-1859: Oliver, Cyrus, Caleb, Priscilla, Richard, three daughters named Angeline, and Joseph. According to Eunice Kelley Randall’s Kelley Genealogy, two of the daughters named Angeline died as infants. According to MA Vital Records sons Richard and Joseph died one day apart, ages 8 and 3 respectively, of scarlet fever.Perhaps these losses contributed to her state of mind. At the time of her suicide, most of her children were grown, but daughter Angeline was just 13 years of age.

Henry Cobb ca 1605-1679, England to Barnstable MA

Henry Cobb was of Plymouth in 1632, of Scituate in 1633, and of Barnstable in 1639, where he likely remained until his death in 1679. His last name is sometimes spelled Cob.

Henry was a follower of Rev. John Lothrop, who split from the Church of England to become part of an independent movement. Lothrop and 24 of his followers were jailed in London for refusing to take the oath of fidelity to the Church of England. They believed the word of God flows not through the king but through the Bible. Sturgis Library in Barnstable owns Lothrop’s 1605 Bible.

Rev. Lothrop's Bible     Source: Sturgis Library

Lothrop’s followers stayed together in Scituate and then split and only some followed Lothrop to Barnstable. Henry continued to follow Lothrop and was one of the first settlers of Barnstable, where he became an Elder in the church and an important person in the community.

He married Patience Hurst, probably by late summer 1631, as their first child was born June 1632. Patience was the daughter of James Hurst and Gertrude Bennister, and probably born Holland. Henry’s parents and birthplace have not been discovered, but it is often stated that he was from Kent, England.

The will of James Hurst, dated 10 Dec 1657, names (among others) grandchildren John Cobb, James Cobb, Gershom Cobb, Eliezer Cobb, Mary Dunham, Hannah Cobb and Patience Cobb. Susan Roser (author of  Early Descendants of Henry Cobb of Barnstable, Massachusetts) has a copy of a 1964 letter from the Municipal Archives in Leiden: "The only record in which James Hurst is mentioned is in the Poll-tax register. He lived in the alley next to the garden of John Robinson, with his wife Geertgen (=Margareth) and two children Jan (=John) and Passchyntgen (=Patience)." John Robinson was the Pilgrims' minister. James Hurst was a deacon of the Plymouth church and died December 1657.

Henry is not mentioned in the 1627 cattle division, so he came to the colony between 1627 and 1632, when the birth of his first child was recorded at Plymouth. The Hurst family arrived at the same time.

Henry is listed on the 1633 freeman list, although he appears to have removed to Scituate soon after. A plaque of this early settlement by the "men of Kent" can be seen in Scituate today. In the Men of Kent Cemetery there, he is mentioned as one of the original settlers on a plaque. On 11 Oct 1639, the Cobb family removed with Lothrop and the Church to Barnstable.

Men of Kent Memorial in Scituate

The Scituate Church was organized 8 Jan 1634/5, with 13 initial members, including Henry. He was a man given substantial respect as he is often called “Goodman Cobb” in records.

Plaque marking the location of the First Church in Scituate

From Samuel Deane: He was one of the “Men of Kent” and settled on Kent Street in Scituate, on North River. There was division among the early Scituate settlers in support of their first minister, Lothrop, who appealed to Gov Thomas Prence to move him and his supporters to a new settlement, first to be Seipican (Rochester), but later changed to Barnstable. Deane believed major reason for the split amongst the church was that some wanted full body immersion baptisms while Lothrop did not.

Men of Kent Cemetery Sign, Scituate

Amos Otis wrote that Henry’s house lot was not desirable land, but other lots he owned had much better soil. He noted that the three Barnstable deacons all had stone or fortified homes, so that they took care of the people's spiritual needs as well as their safety in the event of an Indian attack.

Patience died at Barnstable and was buried there 4 May 1648. Barnstable church records say she was "the first that was buryed in our new burying place by our meeting house." Lothrop's diary states she was age 38 when she died, which gives her a birth year of ca 1610.

Henry married second, at Barnstable, 12 December 1649, Sarah Hinckley, daughter of Samuel and sister of Governor Hinckley.

Children (all births from PCR 8:42):

With Patience:

1. John who m. Martha Nelson  (I descend from John)

2. James  who m. Sarah Lewis

3. Mary who m. as second wife Jonathan Dunham

4. Hannah m. Edward Lewis

5. Patience m. Robert Parker as his second wife; she m. 2nd William Crocker

6. Gershom died unmarried

7. Eliezer apparently died unmarried

With second wife Sarah:

8. Mehitable, died young

9. Samuel m.  Elizabeth ____, said to be Elizabeth Taylor dau of Richard Taylor

10. Sarah, died young

11. Jonathan m. Hope (Chipman) Huckins, dau of John Chipman and widow of John Huckins

12. Sarah m. Samuel Chipman

13. Henry m. Lois Hallet

14. Ephraim; no further record beyond his 1671 birth

Henry was a tavernkeeper, a deacon at the church and later a ruling elder of the church. He served as deputy for Barnstable many times, served on juries and was also the excise tax officer.

He received some education as evidenced by the positions he held, that he signed his name to a report and that his inventory included books.

Signatures of Henry Cobb and Thomas Huckins

Date of Henry’s death not found; codicil dated 28 Feb 1678/9, will proved 3 June 1679, so he died likely at Barnstable, between March-May 1679. He was buried on Lothrop’s Hill in Barnstable, where a memorial stone was erected by a descendant in 1871. 

Henry Cobb Memorial Stone source: Findagrave.com

In his will he bequeathed to "my son James Cobb" my great lot in Barnstable; to "my sons John, James, Gershom and Eliezer" half my lands at Suconeesett equally divided between them and 40s being in the hand of my son James for my son Eliezer's part"; to "Sarah my dear and loving wife during her natural life" my new dwelling house and all the rest of my lands; at Sarah's decease, to "my son Samuel" my dwelling house and two acres of upland, and an acres and a half of my marsh which I bought with his stock in partnership with my son James; to "my sons Samuel, Jonathan and Henry" residue of lands equally; to "my sons John, Gershom and Eliezer" one shillling each; to "my daughters Mary, Hannah and Patience" one shilling each; to "my daughter Sarah" my second best bed and furniture; residue to Sarah "my loving wife and sole executrix." Codicil dated 22 Feb 1678/9: "my son Samuel" shall have only two acres of my upland after my wife's decease and all the rest of my lands equally divided between my "three sons Samuel, Jonathan and Henry"; Henry to have my house after my wife's decease and his part of the land to lie most convenient to the house, only my lands at the Island equally divided between my three sons; "my son James to dry thratch on half an acre of the Island when the English corn is taken off..." (PCPR 4:1:22-23). His inventory is undated and the value not totaled but includes a house, land, meadow and a thatchboat.

Stone at the foot of the larger memorial stone   source: Capecodgravestones.com

 Henry Cobb strikes me as a very religious man who put his love of God and family before amassing wordly possessions. Many of the first settlers became very wealthy men who owned large amounts of land, but that didn't seem to be Henry's motivation. He served his community, but not in any high level offices. There's something unsettling about men like Isaac Allerton, who came to Plymouth for religious freedom but then went about becoming very rich men and weren't always honest in their business dealings. I admire the way Henry Cobb seems to have led his life.

Sources:

Susan Roser, Early Descendants of Henry Cobb of Barnstable, Massachusetts, Friends of the Pilgrim Series, Volume 1, 2008

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633, Boston, MA, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995.

Samuel Deane, History of Scituate, From Its First Settlement to 1831, orig. published 1831, reprinted by Clearfield Publishing, Baltimore, MD, 1993, 1995

Amos Otis, Genealogical Notes of Barnstable Families, being a reprint of the Amos Otis Papers, originally published in the Barnstable Patriot, revised by CF Swift, Volume 1 and 2, Barnstable, MA, The Patriot Press, 1888