Thomas Cushman (1637-1726) and Ruth Howland (about 1646-before 1675), Plymouth and Plympton, MA

Thomas Cushman was born about September 1637 in Plymouth, Mass., the son of Thomas Cushman and Mary Allerton. His mother Mary and grandfather Isaac came to Plymouth on the Mayflower. His birth was not recorded, but his father Thomas named him in his 22 October 1690 will. I wrote about Thomas and Mary Cushman here.

On 7 March 1664/5 Thomas Cushman was fined by the Plymouth Court for committing "carnal coppulation" with his now wife before marriage, but after contract.

Thomas married Ruth Howland on 17 November 1664 in Plymouth. Ruth was born circa1646 in Rocky Nook, now Kingston, Mass., the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Tilley) Howland. Both of Ruth’s parents came to Plymouth on the Mayflower.

Recently I toured the Jabez Howland house at Plymouth. Jabez was Ruth’s brother and she certainly would have visited him there. The historic house has a collection of items excavated from the Rocky Nook, Kingston, home of Ruth’s parents. Does anyone else get chills to see items that your ancestors used hundreds of years ago? Thankfully there are organizations like the Pilgrim John Howland Society that do so much work to preserve the memory of our ancestors.

Jabez Howland house in Plymouth

Thomas and Ruth had three children:

Robert born 4 October 1664; m. 1^st Persis Lewis and 2^nd Prudence Sherman; lived Kingston, MA

Desire born about 1668; m. Samuel Kent; lived Barrington, RI (Desire Cushman was named in her     grandmother Elizabeth Howland’s 17 December 1686 will)

Thomas born about 1670; m. Sarah Strong; lived Lebanon, CT

I descend through Robert and his first wife Persis.

Ruth died before 16 October 1675 when Thomas remarried.  I would guess she is buried at Old Burial Ground (aka Hillcrest Cemetery), Plympton, but her stone has not survived. There is a stone erected to the memory of Ruth and the rest of her siblings at Burial Hill in Plymouth, which I also visited recently.

Memorial marker in memory of Ruth and her siblings, Burial Hill, Plymouth

Thomas married, second, Abigail (Titus) Fuller on 16 October 1675 at Rehoboth, Mass.  They had four children: Job, Bartholomew, Samuel, and Benjamin.

On 16 April 1679 Elder Mr. Fuller and Brother Thomas Cushman were chosen to attend the ordination of Mr. Samuel Angier at the Rehoboth Church. On 24 October 1694 Thomas again went with the pastor to the ordination of Mr. Thomas Greenwood at the Rehoboth Church. On 11 September 1692 the church met to consider names of men who could read the psalms during Deacon Faunce’s illness, and Thomas Cushman was one of the men chosen. It seems that Thomas's earlier misstep did not hurt his standing in the church, although he did not reach the level of his father as Ruling Elder of the Church or his brother Isaac who was a minister.

Thomas Cushman was on the list of members of the Plymouth Church on 10 March 1703 with a notation he was dismissed, but does not say to what church.

On 1 March 1714/15 Thomas Cushman of Plympton sold land to his son Robert Cushman. On 22 June 1715 Thomas Cushman of Plympton, yeoman, sold land to son Job Cushman.

 

On 21 May 1721 Thomas Cushman of Plimpton, yeoman, deeded to son Benjamin the house and land where Benjamin was living. On the same day he deeded to son Samuel the land where Samuel was living. On 25 Dec 1721 he deeded the land where he himself was living to sons Benjamin and Samuel.

 Thomas died 23 August 1726 at Plympton, Mass. He was age 80 “wanting a month.”  He is buried at the Old Burial Ground in Plympton, but his gravestone is worn and difficult to read. 

.

Here Lies ye Body of Mr. Thomas Cushman

Dec Augst ye 23rd ______________________

No Plymouth County probate has been found for Thomas.

Sources Not Listed Above:

Eugene Stratton, Plymouth Colony, It's History and People, 1986

Robert S. Wakefield and Margaret Harris Stover, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Isaac Allerton, Volume 17, compiled by, Published by GSMD, 1998

Ann Smith Lainart and Robert Wakefield, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, John Howland, Vol 23, Part 1, GSMD, 2006

Eleazer Kelley (1697-1775) and Sarah Browning (1694-?), Yarmouth, Mass.

 Eleazer Kelley, my sixth great-grandfather, was born in Yarmouth (now Dennis), Mass., on 5 March 1696/97, the son of Jeremiah and Sarah (Chase?) Kelley. I wrote about Jeremiah here. Eleazer is spelled in a variety of ways including Eliezer and Eleaser. Kelley is seen spelled as Killey, O’Kelley, O’Killey, O’Kelia and O’Celley.

Eleazer married on 6 October 1721 in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, Sarah Browning. Sarah was born April 1694, probably in North Kingstown, RI, the daughter of William and Sarah (Wilbore) Browning. North Kingstown was the home to early Quakers.

North Kingstown, RI

Eleazer and Sarah had four children (first two recorded Yarmouth VR; rest named in father’s will):

Patrick, born 20 February 1722/23; married Bethia Baker and Betsey Nickerson

Eleazer, born 1 November 1728; married Hannah Baker

Sarah, born 1730; m. Abner Crowell who served in the Rev War and died a prisoner of war

Benjamin, born about 1735; m. Susannah Davis

I descend through Eleazer as well as Patrick (and his first wife Bethia).

Sarah died before 20 August 1748, when Eleazer’s intentions to marry Phebe Baker were recorded at Yarmouth. He and Phebe were married on 8 September 1748.

Eleazer and Phebe had one child, Phebe, born about 1749 who married Ebenezer Chase.

I don't know exactly where Eleazer's homestead was located, but since his father owned a large amount of current day West Dennis, I would think Eleazer lived there. His will mentioned woodland near Bass River as well as pond rights. He may have been referring to Kelley's Pond in West Dennis. Something I need to investigate further.  

A beautiful old postcard showing Kelley's Pond

Old snapshot of Bass River

Eleazer died 5 October 1775 at Yarmouth (now Dennis), Mass. In his death record, he is listed as “Frend,” referring to his being a member of the Society of Friends (aka Quaker). I don't know where Eleazer and his wives were buried, but perhaps they are interred at the Quaker Cemetery on Mayfair Road in Dennis where there are very few gravestones.

Quaker Cemetery

“Eleaser Okilly” of Yarmouth wrote his will on 4 July 1775.  Misspellings and grammatical mistakes as per original: "Debts & funeral charges to be paid out of money and not land. To wife, Phebe: east most room in my house and pond rights as long as she remain my widow, all indoor moveables given to her by her father for her to have forever, following household moveables while she remain my widow; twelve bushels Indian corn, four of rye, four gallons malasses, eight cord wood fit for fireing, red spotted cow, half of my swine, my best iron pot, iron pudding glass, tea kettle, two pewter spoons, two forks, two knives, frying pan. To son, Paddrick: two silver spoons, six shillings. To son, Eleaser, six shillings. To son, Benjamin: twelve acres of woodland that adjoins to his wood land on the West side of Bass River so called, two silver spoons, six shillings. To daughter, Sarah Crowel: half of my indoor moveables not before disposed of excepting one bed for my grandson Browning that he lodges on now, six shillings. To daughter, Phebe Chase: remainder of indoor moveables, one cow, three pounds, if my wife takes up with what I gave her in lieu of her thirds, if wife refused, then my daughter Sarah Crowell shall have the whole of my daughter Phebe Chase's portion except six shillings. To grandson, Eleaser Killey: half my farm where I now dwell with half buildings on the same, the true meaning is that he is to have half of all buildings, woodland, cleared land, meadow, swamp, swampy ground, which has not been previously disposed of, my house, all my wearing apparell, great Bible, walking cane, two silver spoons, as to the real estate I give to my grandson Eleaser Killey to improve during his lifetime and after his decease my will is that his eldest living son may have the real estate during his life to improve, then to his heirs forever. To grandson, Browning Killey: the other half of my farm whereon I now dwell and half of all buildings on the same, half of all buildings, woodland, cleared land, meadow, swamp, swampy ground, which has not been previously disposed of, half swine, privilege of lodging on one bed so long as he is single, as to the real estate I give to my grandson Browning Killey to improve during his lifetime and after his decease my will is that his eldest living son may have the real estate during his life to improve, then to his heirs forever. If either of my two grandsons, namely, Eleaser & Browning decease without heirs then his part according to my will must return to his living brother; both grandsons to provide for my wife so long as she remain my widow. To son-in-law, Abner Crowel's children, namely: Abner Crowell, Silvanus Crowell, Heman Crowell, Eleaser Crowell, Judah Crowel & Sarah Crowel, 7 pounds:1:6, to be equally divided between them." Executor was to be Benjamin Killy. Witnesses were Hattil Killy, Edward Crowel Jr, and Michael Crowel. The will was proved 6 Dec 1775 (Barnst Co. Probate 17:309-12). The inventory was taken by Timothy Baker, Judah Baker and David Killey Jur, and recorded 8 Dec 1775, totaling 354:19:5 (same as above, p 326).

 

Sources Not Listed Above:

R. Dudley Kelley, David O’Killea of Yarmouth, Massachusetts and some of his Descendants, NEGHR April 1997

Edward Franklin Browning, Genealogy of the Brownings in America from 1621 to 1908, 1908

Francis Billington 1606-1684, England>Plymouth>Middleboro Mass.

Francis Billington was born ca 1606 in England, possibly the Lincolnshire area, the son of John and Eleanor (______) Billington. He was a boy of about 14 when he came to America on the Mayflower with his parents and younger brother John. I’m quite taken by the Billingtons’ colorful ways—they were a raucous family by Pilgrim standards, sometimes referred to as America’s first dysfunctional family, and caused a lot of headaches for the leaders. Every group needs some rabble rousers to question authority!

Gov. William Bradford referred to them as profane and father John was often at odds with the settlement leaders. He was obviously one of the “strangers” on the voyage—rather than part of the “saints” who settled Plymouth for religious freedom. John’s journey to the new world ended when he was executed for murder in 1630. I wrote about John here.

Site where the John Billington family lived in Plymouth

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, as Francis developed an early reputation as a troublemaker. When the Mayflower was anchored off Provincetown, he fired off a musket in his family's cabin that nearly ignited a barrel of gunpowder which would have destroyed the ship and everyone aboard.

When the group landed at Plymouth, Francis Billington climbed a tree on Fort Hill and saw what appeared to be a great sea. No one seemed to take his claim seriously, but eventually one of the ship's crew accompanied him to take a look. What they found wasn’t the sea, but a lake of about five miles in circumference, which to this day is called the Billington Sea.  The lake, with its vast amount of fish and fowl, must have been a great help to the settlement.

Billington Sea Postcard

Francis’s brother John also gave the Pilgrim leaders some headaches. In July 1621, the 16 year old lost his way in the woods. For five days he wandered aimlessly until he stumbled on the Indian village of Manomet, some 20 miles from Plymouth. He was passed onto the Nausets of Cape Cod, who had attacked the Pilgrims during the first encounter back in December and from whom the Pilgrims had taken corn and disturbed graves. When he heard of the news, Bradford ordered a party of 10 men to go for the boy with Squanto and another Indian as guides. They met with the Nausets in present day Eastham and promised to replenish their corn. More than 100 warriors armed with bows and arrows watched the discussion and John was carried in one of the men's arms, looking none the worse for wear, wearing a string of shell beads around his neck. The Nauset sachem Aspinet was presented with a knife and peace was declared.

 Francis married at Plymouth, in July 1634, Christian (Penn) Eaton (widow of Francis Eaton of the Mayflower). Christian was born in England about 1607, the daughter of George and Elizabeth (_____) Penn. She came to Plymouth in 1623 on the ship Anne.

Plaque at First Encounter Beach

Their children were all born at Plymouth:

Elizabeth b. 10 July 1635, married Richard Bullock, Robert Beere (killed during King Philip’s War), Thomas Patey (drowned on Seekonk River).

Joseph b. before 2 Feb 1636/7, married Grace _____.

Martha b ca 1638, m. Samuel Eaton, Robert Crossman.

 Mary b. ca 1640, m. Samuel Sabin.

Isaac b. ca 1644, m. Hannah Glass.

 Child b. ___ and died young.

 Rebecca b. 8 June 1648 and evidently died young.

Dorcas b. ca 1650, m. Edward May.

Mercy prob. as an unnamed daughter 25 Feb 1651/2, m. John Martin.

I have two Billington lines, one through their daughter Martha (and first husband Samuel Eaton) and another through son Isaac.

When Francis married Christian, he took responsibility for the three Eaton children, one of whom Gov. Bradford described as "an idiot," but who lived until 1651, presumably at home.

Francis was not made a Freeman at Plymouth. Possibly he never joined the church or paid the price for his family’s undesirability.

In 1642 Francis and Christian Billington "put Elizabeth, their daughter, apprentice to John Barnes and Mary, his wife, to dwell with them and to do their services until she shall accomplish the age of twenty-three years (she being now seven years of age...)" Their son Joseph was already living with John Cooke and in trouble with the court because he kept running away and going home. The court ordered that for every time he did this, Francis and Christian would be put in the stocks. Also, if 14 year old Benjamin Eaton (Christian's child from first marriage) enticed Joseph to run away, he would be put in stocks also. Their daughters Mary and Martha may have also been put out to other families.

This practice of putting out children occurred on a fairly regular basis in Plymouth. In part it may have roots in an English custom that dated back at least to the 16th century, when children were brought up in families other then their own due to the belief that they would learn better manners than at home. It also may have had to do with economic hardship of many families and the shortage of cheap labor. Children were apprenticed to learn a trade, obtain a general education in the household, or were simply servants. Some children put out were from reasonably well-off, educated famlies, some were orphans, others from homes where economic hardship necessitated it.

Francis received land from his mother, Eleanor Billington, widow, on 8 Jan 1637/8 for "natural love I bear unto Francis Billington my natural son." She conveyed to him all her land at Plain Dealing in New Plymouth, reserving enough of the land for her own use during her lifetime.

Francis and Christian lived at Plymouth until 1669, when they moved to Middleboro and occupied land granted to Francis as one of the "First Comers." They lived there until their deaths, except for a few years during King Philip's War when the family fled to Plymouth for safety.

Francis died at Middleborough in Plymouth Colony on 3 December 1684. The Middleborough records state he was 80 years of age, but an earlier deposition gives him a birth year of 1606, so he would have died at 78.  Christian likely died the same year.

In his old age Francis was dependent on his son Isaac for support and died intestate. No probate record appears, although son Isaac petitioned the court in 1703/4 for title to all his father's Middleboro lands, stating he had, for seven years, sole care of his parents in their old age, which indicates Francis and Christian died around the same time.

A Plymouth County Court case of Sept 1722 brought by Isaac's daughter Desire (Billington) Bonney and her husband, James, shows that Francis died leaving issue of two sons and five daughters, viz sons Joseph and Isaac, daughters Elizabeth, Mary, Dorcas, Mercy and Martha. There was a total of 8 shares in the estate, with a double portion for Joseph as the eldest son. A 1719 quitclaim deed from Francis's grandson Francis Billington, reading "my father Francis and grandfather (unnamed) Billington" seems to imply a son Francis Jr, but in the absence of any mention of such a son in Plymouth records, it appears the deed was a clerical error. Original must have read "my father Joseph and grandfather Francis Billington." Indications are that the seven children named in the Bonney suit and their progeny were the only survivors of Francis.

Sources Not Listed Above:

Eugene Stratton, Plymouth Colony, It's People and History, 1986

Mourt’s Relation, 1622

James and Patricia Scott Deetz , The Times of Their Lives: Life, Love and Death in Plymouth Colony, 2001

Harriet Hodge, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations," Volume Five, Edward Winslow and John Billington, published by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1997

Nathaniel Philbrick, Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community and War, 2006

Nicholas and Constance (Hopkins) Snow of 17th c. Plymouth and Eastham, MA

Nicholas Snow and Constance Hopkins were married by 1627 in Plymouth, Mass. Nicholas  may be the Nicholas Snow baptized 25 Jan 1599, St. Leonard's, Shoreditch, London, son of Nicholas Snow of Hoxton, Middlesex.

Nicholas came to Plymouth in 1623 on board the ship Anne.

Constance Hopkins was baptized at Hursley, Hampshire, England 11 May 1606, the daughter of Stephen  Hopkins. I wrote about Stephen Hopkins here. Constance came to Plymouth on the Mayflower with her father, stepmother Elizabeth, her brother Giles and half-sister Damaris. Her half-brother Oceanus was born on the voyage. She is sometimes called Constant or Constanta in records.

Constance Hopkins Snow beaver hat at Pilgrim Hall

Nicholas was a carpenter by trade (his inventory included carpenter and coopers tools). He was made freeman at Plymouth 1633. He was named in 1634 to lay out highways at Plymouth, and he served there as an arbitrator, surveyor of highways and on various juries. 

As an aside, I recently toured the Harlow Old Fort House in Plymouth, and the docent gave a nice description/demo of the job of a 17th century cooper. 

By 1645 Nicholas and Constance had settled at Eastham where he served as Town Clerk, selectman, deputy, constable, highway surveyor, excise collector, and on various court committees. He was among the first seven English settlers there.

In the 1627 Plymouth Cattle division "Nickolas Snow" and Constance Snow were the sixth and seventh persons in the seventh company (headed by Stephen Hopkins).

On 6 July 1638 Nicholas Snow acknowledged that he sold to Samuell Eddy his house and garden in Plymouth where he "now dwelleth."

Nicholas was granted ten acres meadow in the South Meadows 2 Nov 1640.

About March 1645/6 Nicholas Snow sold his house and buildings and upland, with two acres of meadow at High Pines and ten acres of upland meadow at Colebrook meadows, totalling 52 acres to Thomas Morton. On 10 March 1645(/6) Nicholas Snow sold one acre to Nathaniel Morton. 

In an account of liquors brought into Eastham, 28 Nov 1664, Nicholas Snow was responsible for one and a half gallons of liquor.

On 15 June 1653 Giles Hopkins and Nicholas laid out 20 acres of meadow for Eastham settlers. Nicholas received two acres. He held the lot until his death in 1676, then it passed to sons Mark and Joseph, called his "great lott.”

Children:

Mark married Anna Pierce and Jane Prence

Mary married Thomas Paine

Sarah married William Walker

Joseph married Mary ____

Stephen married Susannah Deane and Mary Cottle

John married Mary Smalley

Elizabeth married Thomas Rogers

Jabez married Elizabeth Smith

Ruth married John Cole

Plus three whose names are unknown.

Last three may be sons who predeceased their father without issue, thus not mentioned in his will, or may be daughters whom he did not call by name in will. William Bradford's 1651 acccount said Constance (he called her Constanta) had 12 children, all living.

I descend through their son John. I also have a possible line through their son Joseph, but it would be difficult to prove. I found out about this line through the Nickerson Family Association, but it is not included in the Hopkins “Silver Book.”

Nicholas Snow died at Eastham 15 November 1676.

His wife Constant and sons Mark and John administered his estate. Will dated 14 November 1676. Witnessed by Samuell Treate and Thomas Paine Sr. Asked Deacon Samuel Freeman and John Mayo to oversee. He left son Mark 20 acres upland at Namskekitt where his house now stands, 2 acres of meadow, broken marsh there, two thirds of his great lot at Satuckett lying next to the Indian's Ground, and what else he can purchase from the Indians there. To son Joseph gave other third part of great lot and 2 1\2 acres of meadow at Namscekett next to William Twinings. To son Steven 20 acres on southside of great lot at Pochett, 10 acres of little lot at Satuckett between Daniel Cole and Edward Bangs' land by the side of a litte pond, 1 1/2 acres of meadow between Thomas Williams' and Samuel Freeman's land and part of his meadow at the great meadow that is between Josiah Cooke's and the Eelcreek.

To son John all land at Paomett and all rights and titles there, including meadow and upland.

To son Jabez all land lying between Nicholas' house and son Thomas Paines' house and 7 acres at the Bass Pond between Daniel Cole and Wm Browne's and half acre of marsh and 6 acres upland at Herring Pond and 1 1/2 acres of meadow at Silver Spring near Wm Walkers, and adjacent upland near Ephraime Doane and part of Nicholas' house that he now lives in. Also 2 acres of meadow at the Great Meadow between Eel Creek and Joseph Hardings and 4 acres meadow at Billignsgate and meadow about his house.

To loving wife Constant all stock of cattle, sheep, horses, swine, to support her, as well as all the moveable goods, which should be divided among all the children at her decease. Also part of house she now dwells in, which will go to Jabez at her death. Also 10 acres of upland at Pochett to leave to son Steven and 20 on Billingsgate Island, to leave to son Jabez.

He gave to Church of Eastham for the furniture of the Table of The Lord, with pewter or other nessesaries, 10 shillings after wife's death.

His household inventory totaled 102 pounds, 10 shillings, 9 pence was very long and detailed. It includes three hives of bees, coopers tools, carpenter tools, pewter, brass, iron and earthenware items, homemade cloth, woolen yarn, cows, oxen, sheep, pigs, silver money, looking glass, beer barrel, barrel of beef, deer skins, leather, spinning wheel, sheeps wool, bullets and powder, wheet, rye, a cart and wheels.

Nicholas could read as his inventory included "a parcel of old books,” a psalm book and 1 book.

On 6 March 1676/7 letters of administration were granted to Constant Snow, Mark Snow and John Snow, on the estate of Nicholas Snow deceased (PCR 5:220).

Constant Snow The Relict of Nicholas Snow late Deceased of Eastham made oath to the truth of this Inventory, before Mee John ffreeman Assistant this 22cond of March 1676/77.

Constance Snow died at Eastham in the middle of October 1677.

I recently visited Cove Burying Ground in Eastham where descendants have placed a stone to honor Constance’s memory. 

Cove Burying Ground, Eastham

CONSTANCE HOPKINS SNOW

1605-1677

MAYFLOWER PASSENGER

WIFE OF NICHOLAS SNOW, EASTHAM'S

FIRST TOWN CLERK 1646-1662

Sources Not Listed Above:

Eugene Stratton, Plymouth Colony, It's History and People, 1986

John Austin, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Stephen Hopkins, 1992

Caleb Johnson, The American Genealogist, "The True Origin of Stephen 1 Hopkins of the Mayflower," July 1998:

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, 1995

Simeon Deyo, editor, "History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts," HW Blake & Co., New York, 1890

James W. Hawes, Nicholas 1 Snow of Eastham and Some of His Descendants, Library of Cape Cod History & Genealogy, 1916

Leonard Smith, Early Settlers of Eastham, Library of Cape Cod History & Genealogy, 1916