Peter Worden (1609-1681) and His Wife Mary (1610-1687) of Yarmouth (now Dennis), MA

Peter Warden was born in England about 1609 (based on age at death), to Peter and Margaret (Grice) Warden. It seems his mother died in England and he came with his father to Plymouth Colony and settled at Yarmouth on Cape Cod by 1636. They lived in the area that is now Quivet Neck in East Dennis on the north side of 6A opposite #1855. I wrote about his parents here.Peter Junior inherited his father’s land. Worden Hall, a former community meeting place which is now privately owned, situated on the family land. 

Worden Hall

 

About 1638 Peter married a woman named Mary whose maiden name is not known with certainty. They four children:

i.Mary born about 1639, married John Burge/Burgess

ii.Mercy born about 1641, married Kenelm Winslow

iii.Martha born about 1643, married Joseph Severance

iv.Samuel born about 1645, married Hopestill ——, became a doctor 

I descend through Mary.

Peter Worden first appears in records on 2 June 1640, when he and two other men were appointed to divide the goods of Philip Woodell. [Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. 1:156] He was on the 1643 list of men able to bear arms for Yarmouth. 

In 1643 Peter and 51 others of Yarmouth, all young men capable of performing military duties, were required to provide a place of defense against sudden assaults from Indian attacks. [Records of Plymouth Colony, 1976, Nathaniel Shurtleff ed.] He served on a grand jury in 1651. On 3 June 1652 Peter Worden and William Hailstone were fined for not appearing for jury duty. [PCR 3:11] In 1657 he took the oath of fidelity. [Shurtleff, 185]

Peter was taxed in 1676 toward King Philips War, 8:17:09, a sum much higher than most of the men in Yarmouth. In 1667 he and William Lumpkin were each fined 10 shillings “for creating a disturbance in the meeting house on the Lord’s day.” The men were sitting in a corner of the meeting house and conversing quietly about religious matters. [PCR 3/4:40]

Before 1648 he sold 12 acres of the west field to Robert Dennis. 

On 5 April 1669 Peter Worden purchased land in Yarmouth from William Twing of Eastham, the heirs of Stephen Deane, and transferred it to his son-in-law Kenelm Winslow on the same day, apparently as a dower for his daughter Mercy. Also in 1699 he purchased land in Harwich, now Brewster, from Nicholas Snow and in turn sold it to his son-in-law Kenelm Winslow. 

Peter Worden of Barnstable wrote his will 9 Jan 1679-80, codicil 23 July 1680, calling himself about 71 years old. 

To his son Samuel, he bequested his land at “Equinett Necke” [Quivet Neck] with eight acres at the South Sea. Also his homestead land, including upland, marsh and orchard after his mother’s decease, as well as any other land the town or government may give to him after the late war with the Indians. He also gave Samuel his best bedstead, trundle bedstead, his chest, cloak, and all of his cattle, excepting two oxen, and all his estate in old England both land and other estate that “came by my wife.” 

To his daughter Martha, wife of Joseph Severens, he gave a three acre piece of marsh and all the cattle and goods he had already given her as well as another cow. After her decease what is left of them shall be given to her two daughters. To his daughter Mary, the wife of John Burgis, he gave one half of his four acres of upland.

He gave to his loving wife Mary Worden his housing, lands and orchards and all the household goods and cattle for her to live upon during her life. All cattle left after her decease should be equally divided amongst their three daughters, Mary, Mercy and Martha.

Samuel was named sole executor. He signed the will which was witnessed by John Freeman Sr and Silas Sares [Sears].

Peter Worden died Yarmouth (now Dennis) 11 January 1680[/81]. [Yarmouth VR p 125] 

Mary survived her husband by six years, dying on 25 March 1687. Her will is dated 6 March 1686 was proved 31 May 1687 and states she was 77 years old. She mentions a previous agreement dated 2 May 1681. She left her wearing apparel to her daughters Mary Burge, Mercy Winslow and Martha Seaverns. The rest of her estate to her son-in-law John Burge, who was named executor, “excepting my Indian squaw servant which I bequeath to my son Samuel Worden." She signed by her mark. 

Inventory of widow Mary Worden, of Yarmouth, was taken by Paul Sears and John Hall. Sworn to by John Burge on 31 May, 1687; recorded 8 June, 1687. 

Some say Mary’s maiden name was Winslow. Her daughter Mercy is said to have married her cousin Kenelm Winslow, but I have found no proof of this. I have also seen her maiden name as Sears, again with no proof. 

Peter and Mary are buried at Worden Cemetery on the family land on Rt. 6A in East Dennis. There is a slate marker with bronze plaque that was added later. The burial ground is near the original homestead on a hill which is the site of Peter Sr.'s grave and probably that of Peter Jr. and his wife as well.

In a 12 Feb 1696/97 deed, his son Samuel Worden sold land in Yarmouth to Isaac Chapman "except one acre of land which I the said Samuel Werden except and reserve to myself and to my father's posterity forever, for a burying place for my father's posterity forever, lying square about the place where my father Werdenwas buried.”

Marker at the Worden Cemetery, Dennis (Source: capecodgravestones.com)

 

Close up of stone

  

Another descendant told me The Worden Family Society did an mt-DNA study of the female line which found Peter’s wife Mary was of a Native American haplogroup and European haplogroup H, but I have not investigated this study.

Sources:

Cape Cod Genealogical Society Bulletin, Spring 2002

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

Charles Swift, History of Old Yarmouth, 1884

Thomas Paine, History of Harwich, Massachusetts, 1937

Frederick Freeman, History of Cape Cod,1869

Peter’s will: "Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991", ancestry.com

Mary’s will: “Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967,” familysearch.org