Gabriel Whelden ca 1590-1654 of Nottingham, England and Yarmouth and Malden, Massachusetts

Gabriel Whelden was born ca 1590, possibly in Basford, Nottinghamshire, England, possibly the son of Henry Whelden. Baptismal records from that time period are missing. He is my 11^th great-grandfather on my grandmother Milly (Booth) Rollins’ side of the family. His last name is sometimes spelled Whilden, Wheldon or Whelding. He worked as a tailor, a miller, a highway surveyor and farmer. He signed his will with a mark and his inventory does not mention books, so it seems he was illiterate.

Gabriel was married by 1611, possibly in Basford, although no marriage record is found. In 1637 his wife’s name was Jane, but it is not known is she was his first wife and mother to all of his children. Gabriel and his wife had eight children baptized St. Leodegarius Church in Basford from 1612 to 1630:

Thomas who died young

Katharine

Henry

Martha
Mary

John who died young

Ruth

John

I descend from Katharine who married Mayflower passenger Giles Hopkins. I wrote about them here. 

St. Leodegarius Church in Basford  source: nottshistory.org.uk

 

On 4 April 1617, William Stanford, tailor of Somercotes, Derbyshire, England, leased a close of land in Basford to Gabriel Whelden, "blacksmith of Basford."  He served as church warden at Basford in 1622. His uncle Thomas Whelden held this position in 1603.Thomas's 8 March 1609/10 will contains left considerable land and personal items to his nephew Gabriel, as he apparently did not have children of his own. The will also mentions his brother Henry, presumably Gabriel's father.

In Aug 1637, John Hutchinson, gentleman of Basford, drew a deed of exchange of land in Basford and surrounding areas with Gabriel Whelden, "husbandman of Basford," and his wife Jane.

Half a year later, in February 1637/8, an inventory was made regarding a piece of Gabriel's property and included a kiln house, mill house, dwelling house, etc. to be leased by a Henry Boot if the property is purchased by John Holles 2nd Earl of Clare. Says: "his desire is to have an answer speedly that he may...prepare for New England," referring to Gabriel.

On 10 March 1637/8, Gabriel made two transactions. As "yeoman of Basford" he transferred his property for over 55 pounds to John, Earl of Clare (same property outlined in the inventory). The Earl then appointed an attorney to possess the lands in the tenure of Gabriel Whelden, with Gabriel receiving a bond of 120 pounds from the Earl. On 24 March 1637/8, Gabriel assigned to the Earl a lease of a close of arable land.

The "wife of Gabriell Wheeldon, miller" was one of two residents of Basford presented as religious sectarians before 1642. Persecution of those that failed to follow the tenets of the Church of England was a major reason for the Great Migration to New England from 1620 to 1640, and this record suggests Gabriel's immigration to New England may have been largely because of this religious persecution.

He immigrated to Massachusetts in 1638 or 39, settling first at Dedham, Norfolk County. Evidence he lived there is in the form of a 29 June 1639 letter his daughter Katharine wrote and sent home to England reporting the death of her sister, Martha "Weelden" of Dedham, drowned about 12 days before.

He received permission from Plymouth officials on 3 September 1638 to settle Yarmouth, Barnstable County (in an area that is now Dennis). Until then only Stephen Hopkins had been granted land there to grow hay but not to remove there. When he settled at Yarmouth he was about 60 years old. He lived in the Mayfair area on the north shore of the Bass River and near Follins Pond, very close to the present line between Dennis and Yarmouth sometimes called The Head of the Pond. He lived near his son-in-law Richard Taylor.

His business partnership with William Lumpkin and Hugh Tilley in owning a skiff was probably the first in town. In a 1641 court session Lumpkin and Tilley were ordered to pay him 15 shillings for the third part of the skiff. The loss of his part had made Wheldon unable to "fetch fish." Upon payment, the skiff was to belong to Lumpkin and Tilley.

Gabriel was a Highway Surveyor, but otherwise not active in Yarmouth affairs, perhaps because of his age.

Charles Pope, in The Pioneers of Massachusetts, mentions Gabriel went to Lynn in Essex County before Malden, but no documentation to support this has been found. Gabriel’s final home was in Malden, Middlesex County. He sold much of his Yarmouth land to Edward Sturgis but his sons retained the grant on the banks of Bass River, which stayed in the family until the 1960s. Several of his descendants were master mariners.

He may have been from Arnold, Nottinghamshire, since on 21 October 1653 he and his son John sold lands there to William Crofts of Lynn, Massachusetts [Essex County Deeds, i 24]. Basford, where Gabriel’s children were baptized, is three miles southwest of Arnold. Both parishes are in Sherwood Forest, just north of Nottingham.

The will of Gabriel Whelden of Malden dated "11. 12. 1653" (which Savage read as 11th month (e.g. January), 12^th day, 1653/54, gives 10 shillings to the Malden Church, and all the rest of his estate to his wife Margaret Whelding, including house, land, cattle, corn and  "what money is due unto mee from William Crofts of Linne." It was signed by mark and witnessed by John and Nathaniel Upham, James Laenard and ----- Matthews (Original will, docket #24, 387; copy in Middlesex Probates 1:113). The will was presented for probate, 4 (2) 1654, when the Uphams were sworn as witnesses.

An original, undated, inventory survives, and includes his house lot, house frame, cattle, pigs, corn, wheat, spinning wheel, farm equipment, and household items. Total estate value was a modest 40 pounds 11 shillings, 8 pence. The widow Margaret survived her husband but no probate or death date is found for her. It is unusual his will does not mention children, and the most likely explanation is that Gabriel gave them their portions of his estate either at marriage or by gifts of money or deeds to Barnstable County land.

Records show that the sons, Henry and John, and son-in-law Richard Taylor were not satisfied with the terms of the will.

From Middlesex County court records: To the Constable of maulden or his deputie. You are required to attach the body or goods of Margrett Weilden, late widdow of Gabriel Weilden, and to take bond of her to the value of fourscore plus tenn pounds with sufficient suerties for her appearance at the next Court holden at Cambrdge ye wd day of ye 8 mo. 55, then and there to anser ye complaynt of Henry Weilden John Weilden, and Rich: Taylor Taylor and Rich: Taylor husbandman, for withholding their parts or portions of an estate which their late father Gabriell Weilden was possessor or owner of in his life and soe make a true returne hereof under your hand. Dated the 28 of the 5th mo. 55. By the Court Tho: Starr.

That the name Richard Taylor is listed twice causes some confusion. Gabriel’s daughter Ruth married Richard Taylor and there are some who believe his daughter Mary married another Richard Taylor and that this is proof of that. I’d like that to be the case as I descend from Richard Taylor, but I’m not convinced. Others believe it is a clerk error that Richard Taylor is listed twice, but odd he is given two different occupations.

Gabriel died in Malden, Massachusetts between 11 February and 4 April 1654. It is likely he is buried at Bell Rock Cemetery in Malden, without a surviving headstone. At the time of his death his wife was Margaret, who seems to be his second wife and not the mother of his children.

I have seen other researchers claim that Margaret was a Native American, but I don’t believe this is valid.

Sources:

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

Eugene Stratton, Plymouth Colony, Its People and History, 1986

James W. Hawes, Cape Cod Library of Local History & Genealogy A Facsimile Edition of 108 Pamphlets Published in the Early 20th Century. Volumes I & II, edited by Leonard H. Smith, Genealogical Publishing, Baltimore, MD, Early Wheldens of Yarmouth, Pamphlet #43

Maclean W. McLean, John and Mary (Folland) Whelden of Yarmouth, Mass., The American Genealogist, vol. 48(Jan 1972)

Jan Porter and Daniel F. Stramara, Jr., The Origin of Gabriel Whelden of Yarmouth and Malden, Massachusetts, NEHGR, vol 163, October 2009

NEHGR, Vol. 165, July 2011, "The Two Richard Taylor Families of Early Yarmouth, Mass.," by Jillaine S. Smith

Robert Cushman's 1625 Burial Record Uncovered

Michael R. Paulick and Robert C. Cushman have discovered Robert Cushman's burial date and location. Their findings are presented in "The 1625 Death of Pilgrim Robert Cushman in Benenden, Kent," the NEHG Register, Volume 172, Winter 2018. So much of what I know about my 12th great-grandfather Robert Cushman is thanks to these two gentlemen, and I am extremely grateful to them. This latest article is a must read for Cushman descendants.

It has been thought by many researchers that Robert Cushman died in London in 1625, some saying from the plague. The authors found he was buried in Benenden, Kent, on 6 May 1625, which is near his birthplace of Rolvenden, Kent, and where he must have been visiting family and friends when he died unexpectedly.

In November 1624 Robert Cushman was a deponent in a lawsuit in the High Court of Admiralty, Stevens and Fell vs. the Little James, which indicates he was of Rosemary Lane, London. Rosemary Lane was in the parish of St. Botolph without Aldgate in the northeastern district of London.The records of this parish are well kept but there is no mention of his death using the many possible variations of his surname.

Robert's late brother Richard lived in Benenden and his late sister Silvester Evernden was from nearby Tenterden, so he had nieces and nephews living there.

In his account of the failed 1620 voyage of the Speedwell, Robert gives a description of having suffered a heart attack and although he didn't know what it was, he knew he was gravely ill. His last letter to good friend and Plymouth Colony Governor William Bradford, dated 22 December 1624, mentions he was coming on the next ship to Plymouth to live out his days. It would make perfect sense that he would be in the Benenden and Tenterden area to visit and say goodbye to his family and friends there. 

The Benenden Archdeacon's transcripts include a burial entry from May1625. "The 6 day Roberte couchman a stranger." The stranger reference would indicate he wasn't a member of the parish.

This is my third entry about my 12th great-grandfather Robert Cushman. He was baptized Rolvenden, Kent, and was an integral member of the Pilgrim's separatist congregation. You can see other posts about him here and here. 

Peter Worden 1569 to 1639, of Yarmouth (now Dennis), Mass.

Peter Worden was an early settler of Yarmouth, Mass., in an area that later became East Dennis. He was from Clayton, Lancaster County, England, and was born there in 1569 (date is from a memorial stone created by his descendants). Although his baptism record hasn’t been found, many genealogists believe he was the younger son of Robert and Isobel (Worthington) Worden. Douglas Richard states that in 1603-1605 Peter married Margaret (Grice) Wall, the daughter of Thomas and Alice (Holdworth) Grice and the widow of Anthony Wall. Peter is my 11^th great-grandfather.

Nancy Thacher Reid wrote that he probably came on the ship Little James in 1624 (this is according to family genealogist Leslie E. Worden), but I should think if he was in New England that early there would be some traces of him in records.

He was considered an elder when he "excepted to" by court in early 1639. Reid also wrote that the Worden family was already in Yarmouth when the official plantation began in 1638/39, as early as 1626. 

Peter and Margaret had a son Peter Worden and likely a daughter Elizabeth who married Hugh Swanzey and a daughter Bridget. Margaret died in 1612. There is much conflicting information on his daughters’ names and death dates. I wrote about Peter Jr. here.

On 7 January 1638/9 land granted at "Mattacheeset, now called Yarmouth," to Mr. Anthony Thacher, Mr. Thomas Howes, Mr. John Crow, and John Coite. (Coite may have been from Marblehead but did not move to Plymouth Colony.) Crowe, Thacher, Howes, along with Marmaduke Mathews, Philip Tabor, William Palmer, Samuel Rider, William Lumpkin and Thomas Hatch were named freemen of Yarmouth. It was noted that "Old Worden (dead)", Burnell, Wright and Wat Deville were "Psons there excepted against," probably meaning they were not eligible to be freemen and shows that some form of settlement had already been in existence. 

A letter from Peter R. Worden of Lancashire, England stated Peter died in February 1639 and would almost certainly have been buried on the 12 acre plot on which he and his family were possibly squatting before Yarmouth officially became a settlement. It was at the West Field, a piece of land already cleared by Indians, at Yarmouth Port, in the area of the present "disused" Railroad Station. There is a tradition that the Worden family came down from Lynn, Mass., but the letter writer believes this is a myth. Peter’s mother was Isabel Worthington of Blainscough Hall, a gentry home, between Standish and Chorley. Peter likely knew Miles Standish and that is how he came to New England as no other motivation for emigration seems to exist. Writer would guess they lodged first at Duxbury then went to Yarmouth. After his father's death, Peter the younger got married and their first child arrived around 1640. It is unclear from what sources the writer gathered this information. [Cape Cod Genealogical Society Bulletin, Spring 2002]

According to multiple sources including WikiTree [https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Worden-3#Noble_and_Royal_Ancestry:] Peter Worden is a recognized Gateway Ancestor, with a well-documented pedigree descending from the Emperor Charlemagne and at least one Magna Carta Surety Baron, Robert de Ros. I have not conducted this research myself.

Charles Swift wrote that when Peter died in 1639, he was probably the first white settler to die at Yarmouth. 

Peter Worden’s will was dated 9 February 1638/9, witnessed by Nicholas Simpkins, Hugh Tilley and Giles Hopkins (latter two were Mayflower passengers). No mention of his wife, so she must have predeceased him. It mentions only his son Peter Jr and John Lewis, who perhaps was a grandson.

His estate included land in the town of Clayton, Lancaster, England, as well as his Yarmouth land. His homestead was in the present village of East Dennis along Route 6A overlooking Sesuet Creek and extending south from 6A quite some distance. There is an ancient foundation that may have been his home. 

The last will and testament of Peter Werden, of Yarmouth, Ye elder deceased proved at ye General Court held at Plymouth, the 5th day of March, in  ye 13th year of ye reign of our sovereign Lord  Charles I, King of England, etc., 1638, by ye oathes of Mr. Nicholas Sympkins,  Hugh Tillie, & Giles Hopkins - as followeth. 

Be it known unto all men to whom this doth or may concerne, that I, Peter Werden, of  Yarmouth, in New England, in the Plymouth Patten being very sicke, in this yeare of  our Lord 1638, and on ye 9th day of February, do make my last will to testify unto all that I, Peter Werden, do give and bequeath unto Peter Werden, my only sonne and heir, and in the presence of Nicholas Sympkins, Hugh Tillie, and Giles Hopkins, I do make him my whole executor, to whom I do give all my lands, leases, tenements with goods moveable and unmoveable in the town of Clayton in the county of Lankester. Likewise do I give unto Peter, my sonne, all my goods which I have at this present in New England. My will is my sonne is to give to John Lewis one nat goat, also my will is my sonne is to give my grandchild such money as is due for the keeping of goates and calves until this day and that my sonne is with the money to buy John a kid to dispose it otherwise for his use. Also one bed or bolster, 3 blankets, also my sonne is to have the tuition of my grandchild until he be at the age of one and twenty years of age, also my will is he shall fynd him with meate, drink and clothes, and at the three last years of the 21 years also to have 40 shillings the year after and above, for to add to his stock with a sowe pigg when the sowe piggs. 

Peter [his seal] Werden

In witness we present set our hand 

Nicholas Sympkins 

Hugh Tilly A His Mark 

Giles Hopkins G His Mark 

Witnesses deposed 5th March 1638

Peter is buried near Worden Hall, Route 6A, East Dennis, in the Worden Family Cemetery (previously Homer Cemetery) but without a surviving stone. Peter’s son and daughter-in-law likely buried there as well. Worden Hall was a social center for the village in the 1800s, named after the Worden’s who first owned the land on which it sits. It is now privately owned. Worden is no longer a surname seen in Dennis [Nancy Thacher Reid]

There is a slate marker with bronze plaque that is a memorial to Peter, his son and daughter-in-law that was erected by descendants. Partial inscription: Peter Worden 1569-1639. 

There is a Worden Family Association that publishes a newsletter and maintains a database available to subscribers.

Sources:

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

Charles Swift, History of Old Yarmouth, 1884

Eugene Stratton, Plymouth Colony, Its History and People, 1986

Douglas Richardson. Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 4 vols., 2nd edition,  2011, vol. IV, page 369