I started researching the
ancestry of my grandfather, Arthur Washburn Davis, much later than the rest of
my grandparents because I knew very little about him. My grandmother Milly’s
maiden name was Booth, so I was surprised to find Booth’s in her first husband
Arthur’s ancestry as well. My great-grandfather Wallace Booth grew up in Quebec
and was from a Booth line of anglo-Irish. Arthur’s Booths came from England to
Plymouth Colony.
John Booth was born about 1634
probably in England. I have not searched for his parents or county of origin.
Much of what I know about him is thanks to the excellent work of Macolm “Mac”
Young.
He married, probably at
Marshfield in November 1656, Elizabeth Granger, the daughter of Thomas and Grace
(Hasse) Granger of Scituate. Elizabeth was born 1636 in England. The first page
of the Marshfield town records reads: (worn)th & Elizabeth (worn) were
maryed (worn) november 1656.
Mac Young found "Elizabeth"
yields no possible matches of names, location and time (birth of child) except
for John Booth and Elizabeth Granger.
Sadly, Elizabeth’s brother
Thomas Granger Jr. was 16 or 17 years old in 1642 when he was sentenced to death
by hanging for buggery with a mare, a cow, two goats, "divers sheep," two calves
and a turkey.
John and Elizabeth’s children
were all recorded at Scituate, but the first three born probably at Marshfield:
Elizabeth, b. 5 October
1657
Joseph, b. 27 March 1659, m.
Elinor Hethard and Frances Cowdrey
John, b. 1 January 1661/62, m.
Mary Dodson
Benjamin, b. 4 July 1667, m.
Mary Sutton and Hannah Stoughton
Mary, b. 6 June 1669, m.
Abraham Barden
Abraham, b. 07 February
1673/74, m. Abigail Howland
Grace, b. 04 July 1677, m.
Ephraim Pray
Judith, b. 13 March 1680/81, m.
Isaac Pierce
I descend from Benjamin and his
first wife Mary Sutton. Mary was the mother of Joseph’s illeginiate child.
Interesting that Joseph fled the state, but his brother Benjamin married the
poor woman who had been humiliated by being brought to court for fornication.
John likely turned 21 shortly
before 18 May 1655 when Josiah Winslow (son of Governor Edward) sponsored him
for a land grant in Marshfield. "At the said town meeting the inhabitants have
granted at the request of Mr. Josias Winslow, Jr. thirty acres of land to John
Booth which was his servant and for the said John to have and to hold for him
and his heirs forever; and the said land is to be laid out next to the mill
lands which is three score acres if that thirty acres be found there and if not
then the said John Booth is to have it elsewhere in the township as the town see
convenient." John has finished his term as servant in the household of Governor
Edward Winslow or that of his son Josiah. He probably remained Marshfield until
about 1663.
Josiah/Josias is likely acting
for his absent father, Governor Edward Winslow, who made trips back to England
and he would at times bring servants back with him to replace those that had
come of age in the Colony. It is possible he returned from his 1644 trip with
replacements which might have included John Booth as a boy of about 10 years of
age, a typical age to be a servant then. No records show anyone with the surname
Booth in Plymouth Colony before 1655 and no likely candidates appear elsewhere
in New England to be John’s parents.
In 1657 John Booth took the
Oath of Fidelity in Marshfield. Some claim he was a Quaker because he was not a
member of the First Parish Church of Scituate, but his taking the loyalty oath
contradicts this as Quakers at the time refused to do so. He also witnessed or
acknowledged by oath several legal documents during his lifetime and he would
need to be a citizen in good standing to do that.
When John married Elizabeth he
inherited her family’s Scituate land as her father and both her brothers had
died. In May 1659, they sold the inherited Granger dwelling on the North River
in Scituate to Walter Hatch of Scituate. John Booth, described as a "Planter"
and "of Marshfield" signed by mark, with Humphrey Johnson and James Torrey as
witnesses. Elizabeth Booth, in a separate acknowledgement before the magistrate,
gave her "free consent to the selling of ‘this’ land...that formerly had been
John Granger's," her signature witnessed by John Whiston and Gowen White.
Timothy Hatherly the magistrate at Scituate and Elizabeth's recent guardian,
swore the witnesses. All eight parties to this transaction were Conihasset Grant
proprietors or spouse of one, an area comprising most of the northern part of
Scituate. John Granger was Elizabeth’s brother who died in 1655.
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| North River in Scituate Source: Onthenorthriver.com |
On 6 July 1663 Marshfield
finally laid out the land for John Booth that was requested in 1655: "At the
said towns meeting the inhabitants have granted to John Booth, thirty acres of
land as beareth date 18th of May 1655, now so it is they have appointed Maj
Josias Winslow, Serjeant Beadle and John Dingley to lay out the said lands near
unto lands of Francis Crooker by the brook-side.”
By 8 November 1655 he had sold
this grant to Thomas Little of Marshfield as revealed by a boundary reference in
Marshfield Town Records of that date and confirmed by the 1764 will of Thomas
Little's grandson John Little, who left the "Booth lot" to his sons.
The earliest record of John
Booth in Scituate is in the Conihasset Grant proprietors’ record, which
discusses a 1662 division of land. If John Booth was eligible to draw lots for
order of choice in March, he was certainly a proprietor, but perhaps not a
resident, by the 27 February Meeting 1661(/2). Scituate historian Harvey H.
Pratt reported that "John Booth obtained the first choice and took a tract of
land on the hill over which Blossom Street now extends from Ganett's
Corner." He initially held a full share that had been Joseph
Tilden's and obtained a one half share in the original rights of John Woodfield.
Pratt states the John Booth "early persuaded his partners that a highway was
needed over his hill to reach Accord Pond. It was called Booth Hill Road, which
still exists today.
John remained an active
proprietor for some 40 years until 1699 when he gifted his property to his sons
and retired to their care. Over the life of the Conihasset proprietary which
ended about 1767, Booth and his heirs acquired several hundred acres of land,
including about 150 acres from his 1 1/2 share of 8 division layouts, a nearly
equal amount from the Three Mile Accord Pond Grant divisions, and others by
purchase, not including small land grants from the town of Scituate.
Conihasset partners were also eligible with other citizens for
land grants from the town's undivided common lands.
Rights to land division and the
use of town "commons" were based on the "ancient inhabitants from 1647" rule for
eligibility: "All male children born or living in Scituate, children of ratable
inhabitants in 1647 or their successors, have rights of common; female heirs who
dwell in Scituate have the same rights. Rights of common are associated with a
parcel of land on which there is a dwelling house in use."
This indicates that John Booth
was eligibility because his father-in-law was was a ratable inhabitant prior to
1647. Commons rights included grazing cattle and horses plus cutting wood for
personal use. John was the recipient of five acres of swamp land in 1697.
He sold the inherited Granger property to Joseph Coleman prior to 4 May
1694, sale evidenced only by a boundary reference in a deed recorded on that
date by Thomas White.
John Booth’s name is
occasionally found in Plymouth Colony court records, mostly performing a civic
duty for the court. The earliest entry is 31 October 1666, when he was warned by
the court to be ready to serve on a jury scheduled to hear a property dispute
concerning Conihasset land. He also served on a coroner's inquest
in 1678. In June 1680 he witnessed a deed by his neighbor John Sutton, regarding
a disputed sale of Conihasset Land. Some ten years later, he witnessed the will
of John Sutton Sr, dated 12 November 1691 (he signed by mark) and made oath to
the will 16 March 1691/2.
Marshfield Town Meeting minutes
show John Booth as absent from town meeting, an offense that was fined 6 pence
for lateness and 18 pence for absense, on 3 November 1656, 18 May 1657, 13
August 1657, 10 February 1657/(8), and 15 March 1657/(8).
John Booth is mentioned three
times in records of judicial acts. One as an abutter in a deed dispute, and on 6
March 1682/3 and 6 July 1686 as one of numerous Conihasset partners sued by a
smaller group of partners. The plaintiffs claimed the defendants "refuseth,
neglecteth, and not complyeth, to devide the aforsesaid undevided land." Bangs
states this was not a serious matter but rather impatience by a minority group
of partners with the slow pace of surveying and laying out of lots.
No records show him admitted a
freeman of the colony. Often freemanship was required for court appointed
duties, but apparently not always as on 14 May 1685 John Booth was chosen
surveyor for the town of Scituate for a one year term.
From Scituate town records for
17th century earmarks:
"John Booth Senior on horse a
Whitish gray Two wall Ies (eyes?) the Top of the neare cut of a halfpeny cut out
of the Right Eare. John Booth Senior on horse of whitish gray Culler with a
halfe peny cutout of the Right Eare with peace cut of(f) from the Top Left
Eare." “John Booth Senior one blacke mare A halfepeny Cut out of
her left Eare; John Booth (Sr.?) one mouse Colered mare with a hole in the right
Eare."
John Booth left no will,
instead conveying his land to his sons. On 21 February 1698/99, John made deeds
of gift to each of his three younger sons, John Jr, Benjamin and Abraham (all of
whom resided in Scituate), while omitting his first-born son Joseph, who had
been living in Delware for a decade. Perhaps John disenfranchised Joseph because
of his court conviction in 1687 for fathering an illegitimate child and maybe
also for moving to Delaware afterward, possibly not returning to Massachusetts
until 1709 after the death of his father.
John treated John Jr as his
oldest son, granting him approximately a double portion (which was half) of his
land, with Benjamin and Abraham receiving the remainder. He gave John Jr "for
natural love and fatherly affection" some 54 1/2 acres of Conihasset land (in
five parcels), plus "one moiety and a half" of all his meadowland. John was to
pay each of his four sisters "seven pounds silver money...either before or
within one year after the decease of me & my wife," naming the daughters as
"Elizabeth Booth, Mary Barden, Grace Booth and Judith Booth." The deed was
signed 21 February 169(8/)9, acknowledged 22 March 1703(/4), recorded 20 June
1704, and witnessed by Abraham Barden (mark), Eunice Dodson (mark) and Jonathan
Dodson. The year is based on Benjamin's deed, signed 21 February 1698/9.
Despited the careless dating (or clerk making copying errors at recording),
these three deeds were almost certainly executed the same year (1698/9),
although Abraham's and John Jr.'s deeds were dated "1699." All dates of all
three deeds were dated as "twenty first day of February" and show identical
names and order of witnesses.
With similar wording, Benjamin
was deeded 25 acres in Conihasset land with no meadowland rights and was to pay
his sisters 2 pounds 10 shillings each, under the same conditions as his brother
John Jr. It was signed 21 February 1698/9, witnessed by Abraham Barden (mark),
Eunice Dodson (mark) and Jonathan Dodson, acknowledged 2 August 1704, and
recorded 12 June 1705.
Abraham was deeded the "house
and barns and all my home lot" of 20 1/2 acres plus the "one moiety and a half"
of all his meadowland (being the other half of that deeded to John Jr) and he
must pay his sisters 5 pounds each under same conditions as brothers. In
addition, Abraham was to "covenant," to house, clothe, feed and otherwise care
for both of his parents for the remainder of their lives. Signed 21 February
1699, same witnesses, acknowledged 2 August 1704, recorded 12 June
1706.
A later deed further identifies
the children. On 21 October 1709 Joseph Booth of the County of Kent, Territory
of Pennsylvania, Benjamin Booth of Scituate, Abraham Booth of "Duxborough,"
Abraham Barden of Middleborough and Mary his wife, Ephraim Pray of Scituate and
Grace his wife, Isaas Pearse of Scituate and Judith his wife, all received 7
pounds 2 shillings 6 pence from John Booth of Scituate in exchange for their
right to two parcels of land at Conihasset that had been laid out on 3 July 1699
"unto our father John Booth now deceased" in the right of Joseph Tilden.
It was acknowledge the same day and recorded 17 December 1718. All signed
except Isaac Pearse, the Bardens and Ephraim Pray who used their marks. Joseph
Booth acknowledged the deed on the same day as his siblings so he must have
returned to Scituate for the event. Note that Delaware was part of Pennsylvania
at the time.
Each of John's three deeds to
his sons carried the usual phrase "the aforesaid John Booth, Sr., does covenant
to and with his son...that his wife (Elizabeth) acknowledges this
instrument...before some one of his Majesty's justice of the peace." Some ten
years later, at about 85 years of age, a feisty, determined Elizabeth Booth
spoke out on this matter. About one year after the death of her son John Jr
(when Mary Booth, his widow, was administratrix of his estate) Elizabeth
executed a dramatic quitclaim deed to correct that she believed to be errors in
the gift deeds written without her approval:
"(I) Elizabeth Booth now of
Pembroke in ye County of Plymouth formerly of Scituate in County, Widow &
Relict of John Booth Senr of Scittuate in County of Plymouth Yeoman Decd Sendeth
Greetings - Whereas my aforesaid Husband John Booth Senr (had deeded the entire
Scituate homestead to) my son Abraham Booth then of Scittuate in County of
Plymouth and now of Pembroke (Farmer) Excepting one moiety or half of meadow lot
which he gave to my son John Booth Which (latter) conveyance was not with my
Consent or was I then of Capacity; However seeing God in his mercy & good
Providence has now restored me in some good measure to my under standing again
(I agree to the deed of my husband to my son, John Booth, Jr., excepting the
Half (of the aforesaid) Recited meadow Land -- And Whereas my...Son Abraham
Booth has for a long time been at great Charge in & hath been kind &
careful in maintaining & providing for my...Husband in his Lifetime &
for myself since his Death. Know...also that in Consideration of same and for my
further maintenance I (give to my) son Abraham Booth...all other Lands or
Parcels of Lands Divided or Undivided in township of Scituate Excepting what is
mentioned in Deed to my son Benjamin Booth...And also other half of lot of
meadow above specified to be granted to my son John Booth in his Deed by my
Husband, I by these presents Give Grant Assign Release & Confirm to my...son
Abraham Booth to him His Heirs & assigns forever. Signed 7 February
1718(/9), witnessed by Jonathan Bryant, John Ford, acknowledged 11 February
1718(/9) and recorded 22 June 1720. Elizabeth signed by mark which
suggests either that she was too aged to sign her name or that the 1659 deed she
signed was transcribed by a clerk who omitted her mark.
On 1 May 1721 Abraham Booth
signed a quitclaim deed to his widowed sister-in-law Mary (Dodson) Booth,
restoring to her all rights in property originally bequeathed to John Booth Jr
by his father and reversed by his mother. It was signed and acknowledged 1 May
1721, recorded 17 May 1721. Abraham almost certainly waited to do this until
after his mother's death.
John Booth died between 2
August 1704 (deed acknowledged) and 21 October 1709 (settlement deed by heirs),
probably at his son Abraham’s home in Duxbury.
Elizabeth died between 11
February 1718/19 and 1 May 1721 in Pembroke, Mass, likely also at her son
Abraham’s home.
Sources Not Listed
Above:
Malcolm A. Young, John 1
Booth of Marshfield and Scituate, Massachusetts: Servant and Planter,
NEHGR, Vol 159, July 2005
Robert Charles Anderson,
Elizabeth Granger, Probable Wife of John Booth of Scituate, Mayflower
Descendant, Vol 42, 1992
Jeremy Dupertuis Bangs, The
Seventeenth-Century Town Records of Scituate, Mass, 3 volumes
Harvey Hunter Pratt, The
Early Planters of Scituate: A History of the Town of Scituate, Mass,
1929
