John Waterman (1642-1718) and Ann Sturtevant (1647-1720) of Marshfield and Plympton

John Waterman was born 19 April 1642 in Marshfield, Mass. (Marshfield VR). He was the son of Robert 1 and Elizabeth (Bourne) Waterman.

Map of Plymouth County

John married Ann Sturtevant on 7 December 1665 in Plymouth. (Plymouth VR) Her birth was recorded as December 7 with no year recorded, but Mayflower Descendant lists it as probably 1647. She was the daughter of Samuel and Ann (____) Sturtevant. (Plymouth VR) Her name is also seen as Anna.

Thomas Bourne, John’s maternal grandfather, left John two pounds in cattle, corn or goods in his 2 June 1664 will, although he does not name him as a grandchild in the will. His brothers Thomas, Joseph and Robert Waterman also received bequests.

On 29 July 1669, John Waterman and Stephen Bryant were appointed in Plymouth to view land and report to the town.

Samuel Sturtevant of Plymouth wrote his will 1 August 1669. He names his son-in-law John Sturtevant, bequesting him one half of his share of land he bought of Edward Gray called Major’s Purchase, near Namassakeesett Pond. Namasakeesett was an early name for Duxbury.

Thomas Little’s 17 May 1671 will mentions Plymouth land he bought of John Waterman.

John Waterman was a witness to the will of Thomas Little Sr., on 19 February 1675.

John witnessed a Marshfield land transaction between his grandfather Thomas Bourne and Josiah Snow on 22 July 1687. He also witnessed a Dartmouth land transaction between John Cooke (son of Francis) and Arthur Hathway on 24 March 1670 before Gov. Thomas Prence.

One 1 April 1689 Joseph Waterman of Marshfield deeded land to Samuel Little, “Always excepting out of sd fifty acres of land which I sold to John Waterman lying between the high way and the sd brooke …and is now in the tenure and occupation of Samuel Holmes.”

Ann and John had six children, all births recorded Marshfield:

Samuel born 16 October 1666

Elizabeth born 15 January 1669

Anna born 18 October 1671

Lydia born 9 May 1678

Robert born 9 February 1681

John born 23 September 1685

I descend from their son Samuel who married Mercy Ransome.

John was a Deacon in the church. William Cutter wrote that he moved to Warwick, Rhode Island between 1685-1692. He gives them six more children born there, with the last born in 1703, but that seems unlikely that Ann would still be bearing children. I would imagine this is another John Waterman.

On 19 December, 1687, "John Waterman of Marshfeld," for £30, sold to "John Carver of Marshfeild .... all that my Dwelling house barn upland & Marsh or meadow which I now have within the Township of Marshfeild .... more perticulerly My house barn & field .... bounded as followeth. viz Northward with the land of John Sawyer Eastward by a brook of Water Southward with a marked birch tree standing by said brooke thence Runing Eastward on a Straight line to a great oake Stump with a head of Stones about it being the Southermost Corner of said field near the Town Road or high way & bounded eastward by the said High Way & also that my two acres of marsh or salt meadow .... in Said township & bounded Southward by a ditch that adjoynes to the marsh of John Barker & westward by the upland of Said barker & extends northward about twelve Rods or Perches according as the same is taked forth & bounded & to extend eastward to a ditch there Cast up or made.  And also that my Small percell of Marsh which I had of Thomas Tilden lying neare to a Certaine Island formerly Called Hatches Island & is bounded easterly by the North River & northerly by the Middle of a ditch & thence on [p. 66] On a straight line to a stake that is a Corner bounds standing near the upland & westerly as it is staked forth being nine Rods in width & Southerly by Certain stakes till it Come to said River & is about twenty Rods in length"

The deed was signed by John Waterman, and witnessed by Thomas Delano and Samuel Sprague.

On 10 February, 1688, John Waterman acknowledged the deed, "And Ann his Wife Acknoleged her Consent to the sale", before Nathaniel Thomas, Justice of the Peace, and Nathaniel Thomas, Clerk of the Peace.  It was recorded 14 February, 1688.

In 1688 and 1689, John Waterman served on a grand jury. He served on a petit jury in 1698 and the regular jury in 1700. In 1704 he was surety for Thankful Bearse, daughter of James, who was found guilty of having a bastard child.

At a Plymouth church meeting in 1698, John and Anna Waterman were among a group of congregants dismissed from the church. Perhaps this was to worship in Plympton?

First Congregational Church in Plympton, across from the cemetery

John died 14 September 1718 at Plympton. Plympton Vital Records list his death as: Deacon John Waterman deceast Sept 14 1718 on Sabth at 12 o’clock at night (in the 77^th year of his age; buried near the northwest corner of the burying place at Plympton was added to the transcription).

Ann is buried at Old Cemetery in Plympton. Her stone reads: Here Lyes ye body of Anna Watterman, wife of Deacon John Watterman, dc’d  February ye 9, 1719/20, in the 71st yr of her age. This isn’t an exact match with a 1647 birth year, but she may have been born in 1648.

Sources Not Listed Above:

Genealogical Dictionary of New England by Savage

Davis' Genealogical Register of Plymouth Families

William Richard Cutter, New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial, Volume 2, 1913

Plymouth court, church and land records

Merry Christmas Everyone!

It's my favorite time of year and despite always vowing not to, I get carried away with decorating, crafting, buying presents, and cooking and making a "perfect" Christmas for my family. So, my posts haven't been very frequent over the last month.

I had a nice Christmas present in the mail on Friday. The Cape Cod Genealogy Society Journal published a story I wrote on Valentine Kelley of Dennis Port. It's similar to the post I wrote about him here.

I hope all my blogging friends and cousins have a wonderful Christmas,
Chris 

Thomas Howes (1711-1768) and Hope Sears (1731-1816) of Chatham, Mass.

Thomas Howes was born in Chatham on 13 March 1710/11, the son of Thomas (Joseph2, Thomas1) and Content (Smith) Howes. 

Thomas married, first, Rebecca Sears in 1730 at Chatham. Rebecca was born 19 March 1710/11, the daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Howes) Sears.

Thomas and Rebecca had four children born Chatham:

David, born 9 May 1736 and died 17 January 1752

Thomas, born 31 October 1738, married Priscilla Baker

Richard, born 14 April 1742

Rebecca, born Abt. 1745, married George Godfrey and 2^nd Thomas Taylor

It seems Thomas did not know how to write as he and his wife Rebecca signed with their marks to receive a portion of her father's estate on 10 June 1758.

Rebecca died of small pox in 1765 in her 56^th year. A total of 61 Chatham residents were stricken during the small pox epidemic and 24 of them recovered. Funerals were omitted so they could be buried quickly, often at the back of family farms. She is buried at the Old Burial Ground in Chatham.

Rebecca Sears Howes' stone, Old Burial Ground, Chatham source: capecodgravestones.com

Thomas married, second, Hope (Sears) Doane on 10 September 1767 in Chatham. She was born 11 February 1730/31, one of the 10 daughters of Paul and Anna (Atkins) Sears. Thomas and Hope had one son, David, born about July 1768.

Hope had married, first, Nehemiah Doane and had Reuben and Samuel. Some sources also give them children Paul, Sarah, and Mercy but I'm not certain about that. Nehemiah died of small pox in 1766.

Hope was 20 years younger than Thomas, but they had both lost their spouses to small pox and had children to raise so perhaps that is what prompted their union, but Hope was to face more grief. Fourteen months after their marriage, Thomas died 4 December 1768 at Chatham in his 57^th year. He is buried at the Oldest Burying Ground in Chatham, although when I visited there I could not find his stone. Perhaps it does not survive or is unreadable.

The birth of Thomas and Hope’s son David’s is not recorded but he is shown to be their son through probate records. Thomas’ son David from his first marriage died in 1752 and even if he was still living, he would not have been a minor.

Barnstable Probate Records, vol 14, page 230, has Thomas’ probate, dated 26 Dec 1768, which names his son Richard Howes of Chatham "guardian of David Howes, " a miner" [ as spelled in document] son of Thomas Howes, late of Chatham deceased.

Barnstable Probate Records vol 15, p. 1: "To Hope Howes of Chatham widow's greetings" & judge appoints her as well as guardian unto David Howes “Miner" to Thomas Howes, late of Chatham, aforesaid Yeoman deceased."

Barnstable Probate Records, vol 13, page 496, 5 January 1770: Division of the estate of Capt Thomas Howes with portion to David Howes a miner son. 

Thomas died intestate, but the probate files also have a division of his estate and a difficult-to-read inventory.

5 January 1779 Chatham- Division of property

We the subscribers being directed and empowered by the Honorable James OTIS, Esquire, Judge of Probate for the County of Barnstable to divide 2/3rds of the real estate of Mr Thomas HOWES, late of Chatham and county, deceased; to and among his children by virtue of said power and according to the directions as have sett off and divided said estate as followeth: Viz: First to Thomas HOWES as the eldest son of the said deceased for his 2/5ths of estate- one parcel of land & here the deceased house stood from a stake of stone by Seth SMITH'S fence in the midway of the northerly line of the house lott and set southerly to the middle of the chimney brick and on thro the house lott a --- and so on to the publick road all the easterly part from this line to Capt HOWES lane with the part of the house here in compre? this a piece of land and swamp on the southward of the road about 3-- & only allowing to kitchen a privilege as hereafter mentioned and also 2/3rds of the deceased s ------ pond in partnership with Capt HOWES; also 1/2 of the --- old barn with liberty to take it off the land it now stands on and 1/4th of the estate in partnership with Joseph HOWES
Secondly- to Richard HOWES for his 4/5ths part of the westerly part of the house lott from the aforesaid lines ran thro the chimney to Joseph HOWES and the westerly part of the house and the other half of the barn and 1/3rd part of the - meadow at the Oyster Pond aforesaid with - part of the wood lots aforesaid. and also privileges to fetch water from the well on Thomas his part and to drive creatures to the watering place as these maybe ---
Thirdly- To the -- as in all the land adjoyning Matthew TAYLOR'S lane and all the half-- meadow, and  the 1/3rd part of the -- eleventh of the meadow called the Red River marsh which is in partnership with Zachariah SMALLEY and others and a 1/3rd of the land within the meadows fence belonging to -- 2/11ths and 1/4th part of the other land in partnership
Fourthly- To David HOWES a miner, all that parcel of land near David COLLINGS, his house to the southward containing about 11 acres more or less and 1/3rd part of the aforesaid 2/11ths of the meadow and land at the Red River and 1/4th part of the other wood lands and this we give in as our report thereon under our hands the 5th day of January in the 10th year of his majesties reign 1770 James COVELL Reuben RIDER Joshua ATKINS

An Inventory was conducted in January 1769 (words that could not be deciphered are indicated by a ------]:
Barnstable-
A true inventory of the goods and estate of Capt. Thomas HOWES late of Chatham in---- yeoman deceased---- January A Dom. 1769 by us the subscribers
Imprimis- His wearing apparel---- 10-11-00 

Item-----------------------06-12-07??
Item 5 beds and furniture------   -- -- 08
Item 2 silver spoons-1-1-0
Item- the remainder of the personal estate exclusive of the -----    61-7-4
Livestock       86-16-0
Real estate    68-10-0
--------------------    403-7-8
                                403-13-8 

signed Joseph DOANE Joshua ATKINS James COVELL

Thanks to Marge Howes Perry for the excerpts from Thomas’ probate records; I have not yet seen the documents myself.

Old Postcard of Oyster Pond, Chatham

I descend from Thomas and Hope’s son David Howes who married Rebecca Baker. I wrote about them here.

Hope married, third, Job Chase, the son of William and Dorcas (Baker) Chase on 17 February 1774. They had a son, Job, born Harwich on 8 August 1776.

Hope Sears Doane Howes Chase died 2 May 1816 at Harwich. She was 85 years old. She is buried in the North Harwich cemetery, also called the Old Baptist Cemetery, with the inscription reading 24 May rather than 2 May:

"In memory of Hope Chase wife of Job Chase who departed this life May 24 1816 in the 86 year of her age". By I.C. Esq.

Sources Not Included Above:

William C. Smith, A History of Chatham, Massachusetts, 1909

 Samuel P May, The Descendants of Richard Sares (Sears) of Yarmouth, Mass. 1638-1888, 1890

James W. Hawes, Thomas 1 Howes of Yarmouth, Mass., and Some of His Descendants, Together with the Rev. John Mayo, Allied to Him by Marriage, Library of Cape Cod History and Genealogy, No. 31, 1917

The Sears Family Association database: http://www.searsr.com/index.htm

Jonathan Bangs, ca 1640 – 1728 and Mary Mayo 1642-1711 of Eastham and Harwich/Brewster, MA

Jonathan Bangs was born in Eastham ca 1640, the eldest son of Edward and Rebecca (possibly Hobart) Bangs. His last name is sometimes spelled Banges. Jonathan grew up in Eastham, one of nine children. His father was an important member of the community—he was an Inn Keeper, served the community in many ways and was a large landholder. Jonathan was named executor of his father’s estate and received multiple parcels of land in his father’s 19 October 1677 will.

I wrote about Edward and Rebecca Bangs here.

Jonathan married, first, on 16 July 1664 in Eastham, Mary Mayo, the daughter of Samuel and Tamsin (Lumpkin) Mayo and granddaughter of Rev. John Mayo. Jonathan and Mary raised their large family in Eastham.

Jonathan and Mary had 12 children born Eastham:

Edward born 30 September 1665, married Ruth Allen

Rebecca born 1 February 1666/67

Jonathan born 30 April 1670, died 11 May 1670

Mary born 14 April 1671, married Thomas Nickerson

Jonathan born 4 May 1673, married Elizabeth _____

Hannah born 14 March 1675/76, who married John Crosby

Tamsin born 5 May 1678, married Joseph Burgess

Samuel born 12 July 1680, married Mary Hinckley

Mercy born 7 January 1681/82, married Thomas Hinckley, second Joseph Cole

Elizabeth born 16 May 1685

Sarah born August 1687, married Benjamin Collins

Lydia b. 2 October 1689, married Shubael Hinckley

I descend from their daughter Tamsin.

Jonathan served in the Eastham Militia, where he was an Ensign and later a Captain. He served in King Philip’s War.

He served his community in a variety of ways. He was a Selectman for three years, Deputy to the Old Colony Court, Representative to the General Court at Boston, and Town Treasurer of Eastham. 

Jonathan served on the Jury that sentenced three Indians to death for the murder of John Sassamon, a Christianized Native who was a liaison between the English and the Indians. It is believed the trial and executions were the tipping point for Metacom to start the war against the colonists, known as King Philip's War. 

After 1694, Jonathan and Mary removed to Harwich, in an area that is now Brewster.

Mary died in her 69^th year on 26 January 1710/11 and is buried at the Old Burial Ground in Brewster, also know as the First Parish Cemetery which is on Rt. 6A behind the Unitarian Church.

Mary Mayo Bangs' stone at Brewster

HERE LYES Ye BODY OF
MARY BANGES WIFE
TO JONATHAN BANGES
DEC'D JANU'ARY Ye 26th 1711
IN THE 66 YEAR
OF HER AGE

Jonathan married, second, a woman named Sarah whose last name is unknown. Sarah died June 1719, aged 77, and is also buried in Brewster.

On 23 July 1720 Jonathan married third Mrs. Ruth Young, daughter of Daniel Cole. He would have been about 80 years old, so apparently he was both an optimist and loved being married!

On 18 April 1721 Jonathan, as Administrator, swore to the accuracy of the inventory of the estate of his son Samuel of Harwich

Jonathan died at age 88 on 9 November 1728 and is buried at the Old Burial Ground in Brewster.

HERE LYES BURIED

ye BODY OF CAP't

JONATHAN BANGS

AGED 88 YEARS

DEC'D NOVEMBER ye

19th 1728

The original gravestone is set in a large granite monument along with similar gravestones for Jonathan's two wives Mary Banges and Sarah Banges (1719). The 'e' was dropped from Banges for Capt. Bangs.

Jonathan's gravestone at Old Burial Ground in Brewster

Sources Not Listed Above:

Andrew P. Langlois, Descendants of John Young of Plymouth and Eastham, Mayflower Descendant, Vol 54, no. 2, Summer 2005

Glade Ian Nelson, Identifying Mercy, wife of Thomas 4 Hinckley of Harwich, MA, as Mercy (Bangs) (Hinckley) Cole, NEHGR, Volume 162, July 2008

Deyo, Simeon L., editor, History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1890

Rev. Enoch Pratt, A Comprehensive History, Ecclesiastical and Civil, of Eastham, Wellfleet and Orleans, County of Barnstable, Mass. from 1644 to 1844, 1844

Ancestors Who Served in King Philip’s War

In honor of Veterans’ Day, I’m writing about my ancestors who served in King Philip’s War. I have such mixed emotions about their service, as I empathize with the Native Americans. I believe both sides included many brave men who were fighting for what they believed in and required the support and sacrifice of many women as well. But both sides also commited unthinkable atrocities during the war, particulary killing innocent women and children and selling people into slavery. I’m by no means an expert on the war but do enjoy learning about it. I believe I also have Native American ancestry from the 17^th century but cannot prove that.  

Depiction of King Philip/Metacom

King Philip was the name given to Metacom (or Metacomet), son of Chief Massasoit of the Wampanoags. Massasoit had lived peacefully with the Plymouth settlers, although tensions existed. After his death, his son Wamsutta was chief/sachem and after his death Metacom ascended to power. 

Massasoit Statue, Plymouth

As more settlers arrived in New England, they continually encroached on the land occupied by the Native Americans, the very people who had helped the Pilgrims learn to survive in their new land. One major issue was cattle trampling Native’s corn fields.

The colonists also brought with them many diseases that decimated some Native American tribes. Metacom felt his brother’s death was suspicious—in an attempt to gain control the Plymouth court summosed Wamsutta by gunpoint. He was released, but he sickened and died soon after.

 Metacom also grew increasingly angry at the Colonists’ refusal to stop buying land from the Natives. It was common for white settlers to ply Native Americans with alcohol to get them to sign (using a symbol) land deeds or to give them items of comparatively low value in exchange for land. Many Native Americans sold land to fund their increasing dependency on English goods.

The tipping point for Metacom was the execution of three Native Americans for the 1674 murder of Harvard-educated Indian John Sassamon who was a liaison between the two groups. His body was found in a pond near Middleborough. Many Native Americans did not want their own people tried in English courts. My ancestors Robert Wixon and Jonathan Bangs were members of the jury, which also included Natives.

King Philip’s War lasted from 1675-76. It started in Swansea and spread from there to include much of New England.  It effectively ended with the death at Mount Hope of Metacom/Philip in August 1676 at the hands of a Wampanoag soldier. Mount Hope is in present day Bristol, RI. Not all Native Americans sided with Metacom—some fought with the Colonists and others remained neutral. Many of the neutral Natives were interned in inhumane conditions. Many other Natives were sold abroad as slaves (including Philip’s wife and children) or forced to become servants.

Stone marking the spot where King Philip fell at Mt. Hope

King Philip's Seat, where King Philip held meetings, Mt. Hope

It was one of the bloodiest wars to occur on what is now U.S. soil. Nearly half of New England’s 90 towns were assaulted by native warriors; twelve towns were completely destroyed and one in eleven families were left homeless. Large numbers of people on both sides were killed, including 600-800 of the colony’s military (one in eleven men) and many women and children. For each colonist killed, three or more Indians died—in battles but also from starvation, exposure and disease.

When comparing total populations, the death rate was nearly twice that of the Civil War and more than seven times that of World War II. The colony’s economy lay in ruins as it was a very expensive war to fund—it exceeded the value of all the personal property in New England. Some 1,200 homes were burned, 8,000 head of cattle lost and stores of food destroy. Many white settlers were captured and taken to Canada where they were sold or ransomed.

Depiction of the attack on Sudbury

Some of the ancestors in my direct line who served in King Philip’s War:

·         William 2 Nickerson b. 1646, born Yarmouth, of Chatham, son of William and Anne (Busby). He served on the fourth expedition with Capt. Pierce and also under the command of Capt. Henry Gold.

·         John Chase, b. 1649, Yarmouth, son of William 2 and husband of Elizabeth Baker who was a Quaker. Served on the first expedition in 1675.

·         Despite their pacificistic Quaker religion, it seems that at least some of Elizabeth Baker Chases’s brothers (Daniel, William, Thomas and Samuel Baker and possibly others) all served in the war. They were the sons of Francis 1 and Isabel (Twining) Baker of Yarmouth. I descend from Daniel andWilliam. It seems that Quakers during this time had to reconcile their religious beliefs with the need to defend their towns and families.

·         Isaac Pierce, born abt 1641, probably in Duxbury, of Middleborough, son of Abraham 1 and Alice (___) Pierce/Peirce,

·         Luke Perkins, son Abraham, b. about 1640, in Hampton (now New Hampshire), son of Abraham 1 and Mary (____) Perkins. He served in Capt. Thomas Prentice's Company, listed on a treasurer's report dated 24 April 1676, under the command of Lt. Edward Oakes. Luke was of Charlestown.

·         Jonathan Bangs b. 1640, probably in Eastham, son of Edward 1 and Rebecca (___) Bangs. He was a Captain.

·         Thomas Howes b. abt. 1634, of Yarmouth, son of Thomas 1 and Mary (?Burr) Howes. In 1675 Captain Thomas Howes led nine men from Yarmouth on the third expedition; he led 21 men in fifth expedition. On third expedition Captain Thomas Howes took the place of their fallen leader Capt. Gorham* for which he was paid 6 pounds.

·         Samuel Howes, son Joseph 2 Howes, b. ca 1653, Yarmouth, served as Corporal in 1675 and in Capt. Nathaniel Davenport’s company in 1676. He was later called a Captain.

·         Daniel Cole b. abt 1615 in England, of Eastham. Bodge wrote that Daniel Cole's heir (son-in-law Jonathan Grew -- maybe a mistake for Jonathan Bangs), claimed land in 1733 at Gorham Maine, that was given to Daniel for his service in King Philip's War. This is the only source I’ve seen giving Daniel as serving in the war and I wonder if he was confused with his son.

·         Daniel’s son, Timothy Cole, b. 1646, Eastham, did serve.  In 1675 he served under Capt. John Gorham and fought in the Narragansett Expedition.  After the war he was granted land at Narragansett Township (Gorham, Maine).  Timothy, or his descendants, was granted lot 41, about 30 acres.

·         John 2 Davis b. 1623, of Haverhill and later of Oyster River (now Durham, NH), son of James and Cicely (?Thayer). Was an Ensign and later a Captain. Served in later Indian/Colonial wars as well. He built a garrison house in Oyster River. His wife, Jane (Peasley), and other members of his family were killed by Indians during King William’s War.

·         John Freeman, b. ca 1627, Eastham, son of Edmund 1 and Bennet (Hodsoll). Was a Major and granted land at Gorham, Maine.

·         Benjamin 1 Nye, b. 1620, England, of Sandwich. Benjamin was in Capt. Michael Peirse's Company. On 25 Feb 1676, Indians attacked Weymouth. On 12 March 1676, they attacked Plymouth and destroyed Clark's garrison house and plundered the area. Plymouth Colony ordered a company of men to be impressed on 8 Feb 1675/76, under Peirse's command. On 25 March, there was a skirmish with Indians at Seekonk. Despite warnings from Indian allies, Peirse continued on and the company was ambushed. All were killed, including Benjamin Nye of Sandwich.

·         Jonathan Sparrow, Capt, b. abt 1629, Eastham, son of Richard 1 and Pandora (____) Sparrow. He served as an Ensign in the war and later was a Captain in the French Indian War.

·         Paul Sears, b. about 1637 in Marblehead, son of Richard 1 and Dorothy (Jones) Sears. Captain in the Yarmouth militia; made claim for horse lost in the Narragansett War (i.e. King Philip’s War), although there are no records of his service.

*John Gorham is my 10^th great granduncle.

I would imagine there is even more as men were required to be members of the local Militia and it is sometimes difficult to know with more common names whether the person who served is my ancestor.

An example of what one of the soldiers, Luke Perkins, may have experienced:

The Middlesex Troop was commanded by Capt. Thomas Prentice, who was born in England about 1620 and lived at Cambridge. He was appointed captain 24 June 1675 of a special Troop and went out with Capt. Henchman. They arrived at Swansey, at Miles' garrison, and were fired upon by Indians. Mr. Church was also with them.** Several were wounded, so they withdrew. Next day they were fortified by Capt. Mosely's volunteers, and they charged across a bridge and drove the Indians from the "Neck." On June 30 they rode to Rehoboth. The next day the troop was divided, with one division serving under Lt Edward Oakes. It seems both troops rode back by the same route. Prentice's men came upon Indians burning a house, but could not get at them, because of a delay caused by having to tear down fences that were in the way, giving the Indians time to retreat to a swamp. Lt Oakes' forces discovered them and chased them over a plain, killing two of Philip's top men and losing one of their own men. Capt Prentice's men spent the next few days searching the swamps, but then went with the army to Narraganset. After they returned to Swansey and learned that Philip was hiding in Pocasset Swamp, the main body of Massachusetts troops was sent to Boston. Capt. Prentice and his troop were ordered to scout towards Mendon, where the Indians had lately made an assault upon the people, killing several. The troops met Capt. Johnson's company at Mendon. On 3 Dec 1675, Capt. Prentice was appointed to command a troop of horse in the Narraganset campaign, seeing much action, including battle at Bull's garrison and scouting raids.

** Captain Benjamin Church, who was a prominent figure in the war, was my first cousin 10 x removed. He was friendly with many Indians, so he understood them well and recruited some to fight with him. They helped the English learn to fight the way the Indians did, a form of guerilla warfare. He was injured in the Great Swamp Fight and it was one of his Indian allies that killed Philip.

Thomas Howes’ will that he prepared before going to war shows how the soldiers knew dying was a distinct possibility:

"To all Christian people to whom these presents shall come Thomas Howes of the Towne of Yarmouth in the Collony of Plymouth in New England sendeth Greeting and further know yee that I the said Thomas Howes being called and desired to Goe forth to warr in the present expedition: against the Indians Called Narragansetts; and forasmuch as such servis exposeth a person to Danger of line I doe therfore make and Declare my last will as followeth..." He then lists his wishes, that his land be divided between his two sons Thomas and Jonathan 'but in case the Child which my wife is bigg withall be a sonne, then my will is that the whole of my land and housing to be equally divided betwixt the three brothers..." To each of his children, including Thomas, Jonathan, Rebekah, and Sarah, as well as the unborn chid, he leaves 20 pounds. To his motherless niece who lives in their household, Elizabeth Sparrow, whose father will accompany him on this dangerous expedition, he leaves 15 pounds.*** He mentions his mother Prence (widow Mary Howes) who had been married for a second time to Thomas Prence. He forgives her for a small debt to him and asks that she "Injoy without molestation during her Naturall life the house shee Now lives in with the orchyard belonging thereunto...:”

Thomas went to Wickford (Rhode Island) with six other Yarmouth men where others were stationed. They left there and searched but did not find Indians, suffering from cold and wet conditions. Supplies were inadequate and several of the horses were eaten to prevent starvation. They were led by General Winslow and ended at Boston on February 5th, known as the "Hungry March." All the men returned alive although somewhat weakened in health. Thomas Howes died of an unnamed epidemic which cut down many of the town's young citizens, perhaps something brought home from the pursuit of the Indians. He was buried on the 20th of November 1676, per Yarmouth records, identified as Captain Howes.

***Elizabeth was the daughter of Jonathan Sparrow

Sources Not Listed Above:

George Madison Bodge, Soldiers in King Philip's War, A Critical Accounting of That War with a Concise History of the Indian Wars of New England from 1620-1677, 1896

James W. Hawes, Thomas 1 Howes of Yarmouth, Mass., and Some of His Descendants, Together with the Rev. John Mayo, Allied to Him by Marriage, Library of Cape Cod History and Genealogy, No. 31, 1917

Various town histories, including Swift’s History of Old Yarmouth, Nancy Thacher Reid’s history of Dennis, Deyo’s history of Barnstable County.

Eric Schultz and Michael Tougias, King Philip’s War: The History and Legacy of America’s Forgotten Conflict, 2000

John Ryder/Rider (ca 1663-1719) and Esther Hall (1672-before 1719) of Yarmouth, Mass.

John Ryder (also spelled Rider) was born in Yarmouth, Mass. about 1663 (based on age given in a court deposition), the son of John Ryder whose wife’s name is not known (Fremont Ryder has her as Ann ____ with no source). 

Note that CW Swift has John as the son of Zachary Ryder and married to Patience Eldredge, but I believe this is an error. There is a lot of confusion between the two John Ryder's, but descendant Richard Eldridge helped me sort it out a few years back. If anyone has further information or newer references, I’d love to hear from you.

John married Esther (or Hester) Hall about 1691, probably in Yarmouth. She was born 12 April 1672 in Yarmouth, the daughter of John Hall and Priscilla Bearse.

The births of John and Esther’s children are recorded in Yarmouth Vital Records:

yarmouth A regester of the names and Beirths of [worn] John and Heester Rider as ffolloweth

John Rider the son of John and Heester Rider was Boorn upon the : 28th : day of may : 1692 :

Samuell Rider the son of the above said John and Heester Rider was Boorn in feburary 169[worn]

Beathiah Rider the daughtur of said John and Heester Rider was boorn in may: 1697

Hester Rider was borne in aprell 1699:

Marcy Rider was borne in Jun 1701

Zurviah Rider was borne in aprell 1703:

Nathanall Rider was borne in Jun 1705

thankfull Rider : the daughter of the abovesaid John and Ester Rider she was borne the first day of aprill in the yeare : 1709 :

John: & Hester Rider had a daughtur bourn in Aprell : 1694 : Bo[worn] and the said child did dey sudingly after it was borne recorded by me John miller Clarke

I descend through Nathaniel and his wife Desire Godfrey who lived in Chatham.

John was named in Plymouth Court records, which gives his age:

The testemony of James Clarke aged 51 or there abouts testefieth and saith that when the Cunstabel Came to attach the whalle I was att my son thomas Clarks when he Came in & he warned me to goe with him to the bluber & we found two pec: a lettle distanc one from another and then we followed the Rutt of the wheles northre quarte of a mil where we found a other percell then said was two load and Robert bartlet Carried a load to his fathers house

"James Clarke made oath i Court to what is above written March 20th 1689/90: Attest Saml Sprague Clerk"

"The Testemony of John Rider aged 26 yeares or there abouts Testefieth and saith that ye Whale in Contreversy Came on shoare agains a pastur fence belonging to James and Tho: Clarke and farther saith not

"John rider abovesd made Oath in Court march 20th 1689/90 to what is above written Attest Saml Sprague Clerk"

John was named in his father’s 6 March 1702/03 will, with a bequest of 10 shillings. His older brother Ebenezer was to receive his father’s land, but the land is mentioned as abutting John Jr.’s land, so perhaps his father had deeded him land earlier.

John died intestate in Yarmouth but Barnstable County Probate has information on the administration of his estate, dated 11 February 1718/19, naming Samuel Rider (his son) and Ebenezer Rider (his brother) as administrators.

The division of John’s estate was made 7 July 1721, estimated at a value of over 416 pounds. It names his second eldest son, Samuel Ryder, as the administrator. Eldest son John Ryder was to get a double share, believed to be given to him in land during his father's lifetime.  Son Samuel was to receive land named in his inventory (dwelling house, barn, swamp and meadow land), except for the quarter part of the windmill. Remaining personal estate and the share of the windmill were divided between children: Bethyah Eldredge, Esther Smith, Mercy Ryder, Zerviah Ryder, Nathanll Ryder, Hannah Ryder, Thankfull Ryder and Martha Ryder. Each was also to receive 39 Pounds 3 shillings 4 pence.

Example of a Cape Cod Windmill: the Judah Baker mill in South Yarmouth

I have not found Esther’s death date, but she died before John as she is not mentioned in the settling of his estate but after the birth of her youngest child in 1709.

Sources Not Listed Above:

CW Swift, Library of Cape Cod History and Genealogy, No. 66 "The Rider Family of Yarmouth," 1913

James W. Hawes, Library of Cape Cod History and Genealogy, No. 98, "Ryder Genealogy" 1912

Fremont Rider, Genealogy of Rider (Ryder) Families, 1959

Samuel Lucas 1661-1716 and Patience Warren of Plymouth, Mass.

Samuel Lucas was born Plymouth, Mass. on 15 December 1661, the son of Thomas Lucas and his wife whose name is not known.  His name is sometimes spelled Lucos in records.

Samuel married Patience Warren on 16 December 1686 in Plymouth. Patience was born 15 March 1659/60, the daughter of Joseph and Priscilla (Faunce) Warren and the granddaughter of Mayflower passenger Richard Warren and his wife Elizabeth (Walker).  Patience is mentioned in her father's 4 May 1689 will.

Samuel and Patience had four children born Plymouth:

John born 24 January 1687/88; died 31 January 1696/97

Joseph born 26 October 1689; married Persis Lewis and Melathiah Carey

William born 19 October 1692; married Mehitable Doty

Patience born 2 January 1695/96; married Nathaniel Harlow

I descend from Joseph and his second wife Melathiah down to my grandfather Arthur Washburn Davis. I wrote about Joseph here.

By 20 May 1690 the Plymouth Court was ordering that 62 men be raised to fight in the French-Indian war under command of Maj. John Walley, with each town filling quota of one to six men. Further attacks led to an increased number and Samuel Lucas is listed as an ensign. He participated in the expedition to Quebec in the fall of 1690, under the command of Sir William Phips, but they could not take Quebec and the campaign was a costly disaster.

Battle of Quebec source: Wikipedia

Samuel was involved in multiple land transactions.

On 8 January, 1689/90, "William Harlow sent John Gray Jonathan Shaw sent and Ephraim Morton junr all of the Town of Plimouth .... Agents for .... said Town Send Greeting &c Whereas at a Town meeting held at Plimouth" 2 June, 1689, "We the persons above named together with John Sturtevant and John Doten were .... Chosen .... agents with full power given to us or to any four of us agreeing to make sale of Certaine tracts of sd Towns Comon lands for the payment of Sundrey Debts Due to severall of the Inhabitant of sd Towne for their pains Charge and expences in Defence of the sd Towns Right to a Certain Island belonging to said Town Comonly Called and for many years past known by the name of Clarks Island as pr sd Towns Book more particularly may appear . Wherefore .... we the said William Harlow John Gray Jonathan Shaw and Ephraim Morton junr four of the said Agents", for Do "Currant money of New England aforesaid to us in hand for the use of sd Town By George Morton Elkanah Watson and Samuel Lucas all of Plimouth aforesaid .... paid .... Sell .... and Confirm unto them the said George Morton Elkanah Watson and Samuel Lucas .... all that the said Towns Island Comonly Called .... Clarks Island as abovesaid and is Scitute in Plimouth Bay and environed with the salt water of the bay aforesaid"

The deed was signed by William Harlow, John Gray, Jonathan Shaw and Ephraim Morton, Jr.; and was witnessed by Samuel Sprague and Thomas Faunce.

"Thomas Faunce and Saml Sprague the witnesses herein named made Oath in Plimouth" 5 June, 1690, "that they were present and saw the Subscribers to this Instrument Signe seale and Deliver the same to the bargainers above named", before Daniel Smith, Assistant. The deed was recorded 27 June, 1690, by Samuel Sprague, Recorder.

On 7 February, 1690/1, "Samuel Lucas of Plimouth" for £45, sold to "George Morton and Mercy Watson widdow both .... of Plimouth .... All that my one third part or one part of three of a Certain Island Comonly Called by the name of Clarks Island and is Scituate in Plimouth Bay and environed with the salt water of the Bay aforesaid which said Island I the Samuel Lucas hath together with the said George Morton and Elkanah Watson partners to said Island Lately bought of William Harlow Senr Jonathan Shaw Senr John Gray and Ephraim Morton junr four of the Agents of the Town of Plimouth as pi so Deed .... Bearing date the 8th Day of January 1689/90"

[p. 113] The witnesses were Jonathan Barnes and Thomas Faunce.

"This Deed was acknowledged by Samuel Lucas and Patience Lucas his wife" before Ephraim Morton, Associate, on 7 February, 1690/1. It was recorded 27 February, 1690/1.

Samuel Lucas died Plymouth, Mass. on 17 January 1715/16 at age 54.

Israel Grant of ...Sandwich..for and in consideration of...five pounds three shillings...paid by Samuel Lucas of...plimouth...sell...twenty five acres of land...at a place called monponset...and was formerly layd out to Alexander R(enedery?)...lands is lying...in...plimouth...bounded....at the westerly End thereof...with a swamp whitewood two from which the Line extends easterly to a red oak tree which is Edward Mays Boundmark...30 July 1696. Israel Grant.

Dinah Allin her mark

Wm Bassett

ack Sandwich 30 July 1696, rec. 27 April 1697

John Bradford of plimouth...yeoman...for and in concideration of...five pounds...Samuel Lucas of...plimouth...yeoman...sell...All that my one Quarter part of ye whole Tract of Land commonly called and known by ye name of ye Gurnet...which I the said John Bradford with my partners Isaac Cushman John Doten and John Nelson bought of William Harlow Senr Jonathan Shaw Senr John Doten Senr & Ephraim Morton junr four of ye Agenents of...plimouth...30 May 1691. John Bradford

Nathll Clarke, mark of Benoni Lucas

Memoranda...Saml Lucas...with...John Bradford...promise...that from year to year & everyyear for ever hereafter that from & Between the twentyeth day of Aprill and the twentyeth day of October he will not put keep nor cause or Suffer to be kept on...sd land any sort of Cattell swine Sheep or heifer kind other that what he shall keep within fence & Closure.

Samuel Lucas

Nathll Clark

The mark of Benoni Lucas

Ack 17 March 1696/7; rec. 26 April 1697.

Thomas Howland of Plymouth...for and in consideration of...six pounds...by Samuelll Lucas of Plymouth...sell...a parcel of upland in Estimation about half an Acre...10 December 1696. Thomas Howland

Nathanael Thomas junr

Elisha Thomas

Cornelius Waldo

Ack 16 Dec 1696, rec 27 April 1697

Thomas Howland of...Plymouth...yeoman for and in consideration of .... forty shillings...paid by Samuel Lucas of...Plymouth...selll...All that my Little Plot or portion of land...19 March 1696/97. Thomas Howland

the Mark of Abraham Jackson Senr

Nathll Clarke

Ack 31 March 1697; rec. 27 Aprill 1697

In October 1686 Samuel Lucas was fined 5 shillings by the court for refusing to assist the constable when requested.

Samuel Lucas and John Cole, both Plymouth fishermen, were both found guilty by a jury for playing cards on the Sabbath at the home of Jonathan Barnes (Plymouth Inn Keeper) on 14 March 1688. They were fined 15 shillings each, to be divided between the prosecutor and the King.

During the September 1698 court Samuel Lucas was licensed as an Inn Keeper for a year. Licensed again in 1701.

Samuel Lucas died Plymouth on 17 January 1715/16 at age 54.

Samuel’s will was transcribed and printed in the Mayflower Descendant.

Samuel Lucas, Sr., of Plymouth, made his will on 4 July 1715, leaving his estate to his wife; to his sons Joseph and William; and to his daughter Patience, at that time unmarried.

Especial attention is here called to the fact that the daughter Patience was mentioned in the will, because an article in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume LV, page 78, states that this will "names wife Patience and sons Joseph and William", entirely overlooking the legacy to the daughter Patience, who was to receive one third of the moveable estate, as part of a legacy of £50.

Bequests were as follows:

To "my sone josepe all my landes and madow to the Southerd and west ward of his house and allso my lot of Seder Swomp in the fist lot and [*] lot of madow in Swan hole Upon Condetiones joseph gives william a deed of his at Swan hole"

To "my wife my homested dwelling house and out housing and all my landes that I have not giveen to joseph and my lot of Seder Swamp in the Sixt lot duering hare life or wedohod and I doe give her leve to Sell my therty acer lot of land to the norward of Darbyes pond if She Standeth In ned and I give her the best bed for ever and at her desese or marrage I do give to my Sone willliame all my housinge and landes that I have not giveen to joseph and allso one therd part of the moveabeles I give to willliam both with in dores and with out and one therd part of them to joseph both with in dores and with out with what he hath had all racy and one therd part to patience both within dores and with out and what that wantes of fifty pounces willliam to make it up when he Comes upone

I the land and my wife to have all the moveabeles tell She pleseth her Cheldren Shall have them or during her wedowhod"

"my Sone willliam shall take Care of his mother"

"my beloveed wife to adminester upon the estate"

The will was signed "Samuel lucas Siner "

The witnesses were "John doten" and "Abraham jackson Sener" both of whom made oath to the will "on the 8th day of March 1715/16.

"on the 9th day of March 1715—16 .... The Will of Samuel Lucas" was probated, and administration granted "unto Patience Lucas his Relict widow & Executor therin Named".

[From original inventory] "plimouth march 2 on 1716 then a true inventory" was made by "Bennony Lucas" and "Benjamen Warren". No real estate was mentioned. The total of the personal estate was £169, 6s., 5d. The estate was indebted £27, 13s., and £3, 10s., 3d. was due the estate.

Patience Lucas, executrix, made oath to the inventory, "on the 8th day of March 1715—16."

* Two or three words here are illegible, and were not copied into the record.

The deed of 1719 furnishes conclusive evidence of the parentage of the widow Patience (Warren) Lucas and of Elizabeth, wife of Josiah Finney.

Exhaustive abstracts are here given of all records, and original documents on file, in the Plymouth County, Mass., Probate Registry, relating to the settlement of the estate of Samuel Lucas, Sr., of Plymouth; also an exhaustive abstract of the deed referred to

I haven’t found Patience’s death date but she died after 9 March 1718/19 when she deeded land to Joseph Warren.

On 9 March, 1719, "Josiah Finney & Elizabeth my Wife & Patience Lucas all of Plymouth," for £80, sold to "Joseph Warren of Plymouth .... Yeoman .... All our Right .... whatsoever, That we or either of us now have or of Right ought to Have of in & unto all or any Part of the Upland Swamps & Meadows in Aggawam in the Township of Plymouth aforesd which belonged to ye Share or Right of our Father Joseph Warren late of sd Plymouth Deceased, in sd Purchase, Together with the quarter Part of the Premises which we have Improved"

The deed was signed by Josiah Finney, Patience Lucas (by a mark) and Elizabeth Finney (by a mark), and was witnessed by Samuel Bates and Israel Fearing. The three grantors acknowledged the deed, at Plymouth, the day of its date, before Josiah Cotton, Justice of the Peace, and it was recorded the same day.

Sources Not Listed Above:

Susan Roser, Mayflower Increasings, 1996

Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Vol. 18, Richard Warren,"  published by the GSMD, 1999

Joseph Howes ca 1630-1695 and Elizabeth Mayo 1630-1700, England to Yarmouth, Mass.

Joseph Howes was born ca 1630 in England, the eldest of the three sons of Thomas and Mary (?Burr) Howes. He was a young boy when his parents left England, first settling at Salem and then coming to Yarmouth with the first group of white settlers.  The area of Yarmouth where they lived later became Dennis. I wrote about Thomas and Mary here.

Joseph married Elizabeth Mayo in Yarmouth likely between 1653 – 1656. Elizabeth was born 1630, the daughter of Rev. John Mayo and his wife Thomasine Brike.Joseph and Elizabeth had nine children, likely all born Yarmouth. Their births are not recorded there, but they are all named in Joseph’s will.

Samuel born about 1653, married his first cousin Rebecca Howes

Mary born 1659, married John Hallett

Joseph born 1660, married Mary Vincent and Hannah Snow

John born 1664, married Elizabeth Paddock and Mary Matthews

Nathaniel born 1671, married Esther Ryder

Amos born about 1672, married Susannah Hedge

Elizabeth born about 1675, married Joseph Merrick

Hannah born about 1676, married William Matthews

Thomas born about 1680, married Content Smith

I descend from Thomas as well as Samuel.

Joseph Howes and 13 other men were listed as Yarmouth freeman in 1658. In 1676, Joseph was taxed 7 pounds, 11 shillings towards the late war. He served on a jury in 1681 and grand juries in 1661 and 1681. On 7 June 1665 Joseph was named constable of Yarmouth. On that same date he was appointed one of three people to lay out the 100 acres of land granted to William Nickerson at Monomoy/Chatham and nine other grantees.

On 6 March 1665/6 Thomas complained that Thomas Starr had opposed him and used threatening language against him in the execution of his office of Constable. Starr was found guilty by a jury and fined five pounds.

He served as a Selectman in Yarmouth beginning in 1666. At that time, the Selectmen would hear cases under 40 shillings, observe townspeople who do not attend public worship, provide for the poor, encourage enducation, as well as hear and determine difficulties between English and Indians about damage done to cornfields by cows, swine or other beasts.

On 30 June 1667 Thomas Howes signed a paper to the General Court in favor of the Rev. Thomas Thornton against an attack by Nicholas Nickerson. On 5 June 1671 he was appointed surveyor of highways and served again in 1672. In 1679 Joseph Howes and two others were appointed to collect the residue of the salary due the minister.

In February 1680 the town agreed that Joseph, Samuel and Jeremiah Howes would secure for the town all whales that cast up between Sawsuit Harbor mouth and Yarmouth Harbor, for four pounds a whale. To learn more about shore whaling, I recommend Cape Cod Shore Whaling: America's First Whalemen by John Braginton-Smith and Duncan Oliver.

Image showing the use of a windlass to bring a whale on shore from above mentioned book

Joseph was a cooper by trade, making him an important person in the village as he made the wooden barrels and buckets that stored so much of the colonists’ goods. I recently visited the Harlow Old Fort House in Plymouth and learned about the cooper’s work which was very interesting.

Joseph’s death is recorded in Yarmouth Vital Records: Mr. Joseph Howes Sr. of Yarmouth died upon the 19th day of Jan 1694/5 and was buried upon the 21st day of said Jan 1694/5. “Mr.” as a title was rarely used at that time, indicating he was a well-respected man. It is likely he is buried in an unmarked grave at the Howes Burial Ground in Dennis.

Howes Burial Ground, Dennis, MA

The will of Joseph Howes of Yarmouth was transcribed in the Mayflower Descendant. On 17 January, 1694/5, Joseph Howes, of Yarmouth, made his will. Bequests were as follows:

To "Son Samuel Howes all those Lands I have formerly given him as his Childs portion"

To "Son Joseph Howes all those Lands both upland and meddow which I have formerly given him as his Childs portion"

To "Son John Howes I do confirm all those Lands which formerly gave unto him both upland and meddow"

"To my other three Sons Nathaniel Thomas and Amos Howes I do give All ye Rest of my lands to be Equally divided between them .... with this provizo that if my Loving wife Elizabeth Shall have occasion for it Shee Shall have liberty during her widdow hood to make use of one third part of it and if Eather of these my three Sons Shall dy before they Come of Age Such part Shall be divided Equaly between all my Surviving Sons And as they come to ye Age of twenty one years So they Shall possess their part only Except as here after Excepted"

"To my Daughter Mary Hallett" 20 shillings "in houshold goods

"To my Daughter Elizabeth mirrick" 20 shillings "in houshold goods"

"To my Daughter Hannah Howse" £30, "to be paid her by my Executors on her marriage or at ye age of twenty one years"

To ever one of my Grand Children which I now have A Bibble to be paid them by my Executors Soone after my Death"

"I do give my house and home Stead Lands Chattels plate money and all other my Estate .... to .... wife Elizabeth .... During her widdowhood And If Shee Live and dye a widdow to be by her disposed to my Children as Shee Shall See meet but if Shee Shall marry againe .... then one third part of it to be her own proper Estate: and ye Rest to be Equally divided between all my Children

"wife Elizabeth" and "Son Joseph Howse" were appointed executors, and "my Loving brother Jeremiah Howse and John mayo to be overseers".

The witnesses were Jonathan Russell, Thomas Sturgis and John Paddock. "The Reveernd" Jonathan Russell, Thomas Sturgis and John Paddock made oath to the will, 7 February 1694/5.

The inventory was taken at Yarmouth, 30 January, 1694/5, by Joseph Hall and Samuel Eldred. The real estate was "the Dwelling house" £40; "the Barne" £30; "ye home Lott" £32; "the great field in ye Neck and ye meadow Adjoyning" £140; "ye Land and meadow at Simkinses Neck" £30; "meadow at Grays Beach 6 pounds and at South Sea 10 pound".

"ms Elizabeth Howse" made oath to the inventory, 7 February, 1694/5.

[p. 110] On 12 February, 1694/5, administration was granted to "ms Elizabeth Howse Relict of sd deceased And mr Joseph Howse Son of sd deceased"

Elizabeth Mayo Howes died 12 March 1700/01 and was buried 16 March. The will of widow Elizabeth Howes dated 7 Feb 1694/5, proved 1 April 1701, gave her dwelling house, barn and homestead to her sons Nathaniel, Thomas and Amos, and the rest of her estate to be divided between all her surviving children. She made her sons Samuel and Joseph executors. Inventory dated 26 March 1701, by her sons Lieut. Samuel Howes, Joseph Howes, Thomas Howes, and Amos Howes, amounted to 125 pounds 19s 10d in personal property. Items included:

One pair oxen 7 16 0

Other cattle 27 17 0

Four horses 5 15 0

16 sheep 6 10 0

8 swine 2 2 0

a silver cup 3 15 0

a gun 0 15 0

a cutlas 0 8 0

a rapier 0 6 0

a bible 0 5 0

other books 0 7 6

Sources Not Listed Above:

Robert Howes, Genealogy of the Howes Family in America, Descendants of Thomas Howes of Yarmouth, Mass., 1637-2004, 2006

Charles Swift, History of Old Yarmouth, 1884

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

James Hawes, Thomas 1 Howes of Yarmouth, Mass., and Some of His Descendants, Together with the Rev. John Mayo, Allied to Him by Marriage, pamphlet in the series called Library of Cape Cod History and Genealogy, No. 31, 1917

Joseph Lucas (1689-1742) of Plymouth and Plympton (now Carver), Mass.

Joseph Lucas was born 26 October 1689 in Plymouth, Mass., the son of Samuel and Patience (Warren) Lucas. His mother was the granddaughter of Mayflower passenger Richard Warren.

Joseph married, first, 10 March 1714/15 at Plympton, Mass., Persis Shaw. Persis was born in Plymouth on 10 March 1691/92, the daughter of Lt. Jonathan and Mehitable (Pratt) Shaw.

Plymouth and Plympton Vital Records show the births of five children for Joseph and Persis:

John, born 14 December 1715, married Lydia Doty and had 8 children

Hannah, born 10 November 1717, died age 27, unmarried

Samuel, born about 1720, m. Abigail Shaw and had 13 children, church Deacon

Barnabas, b. 17 December 1721, d. 20 May 1726, Carver

Patience, b. 17 January 1723/24, she married Joshua Perry

Joseph and Persis raised their family in an area of Plympton that is now in Carver.

Persis died 6 June 1726 in Plympton (now Carver) at age 34. She is buried at Lakenham Cemetery. Her son Benjamin died a few weeks before her, so perhaps an illness struck the family.

Persis Shaw Lucas' gravestone

Joseph married, second, on 9 November 1727 in Bridgewater, Melatiah Carey. Melatiah is spelled in a variety of ways including Malathiah, Meletiah and Melethiah. She was born ca 1685, the daughter of Francis and Lydia (Brett) Carey/Cary. Her birth is not recorded, but the will of Francis Cary, dated 2 Jan 1723/4, names daughter Malethiah.

Plymouth and Plympton Vital records show the birth of one child for Joseph and Melatiah:

Barnabas, born 30 October 1729 in Plympton. He married Joanna Pierce. I descend from this couple and wrote about them here.

Joseph was a blacksmith by trade and was Deacon at the First Church, Plympton. He also served as a Selectman and was a land surveyor. He owned part of a furnace and land at Pope's Point on John’s Pond and was half owner of a grist mill.

Joseph was named in his father Samuel’s 4 July 1715 will. He received land adjacent to his home and also land at the Cedar Swamp and meadow at Swan Hole.

In the December 1719 court session, a stranger to Plympton, Willis Fitshughs was sentenced to be whipped if he didn’t pay a fine for striking and kicking Joseph Vaughan. Joseph Lucas wrote two bonds for Fitshughs.

In the June 1721 court session, Abigail Tomson who accused Jonathan Inglee of being the father of her bastard child. Inglee appealed the court decision that he support the child; Joseph Lucas of Plympton was one of two men who gave him sureties.

In the May 1723 court session, Joseph Lucas was one of a group that accused John Bumpus of Rochester of obstructing the Wewan Tick River so that the alewives could not go up river.

I’m not certain of the date, but I think it is the 1730s, at another court session, Joseph Lucas, Plympton retailer, was given permission to sell liquor for one year.

On 5 August 1731, Selectmen Joseph Lucas and Joseph Thomas warned widow Hannah Wood of Middleborough, being poor and indigent, to leave town.

1736 court records state that Joseph Lucas (Plympton) was appointed to survey land in question in a case and return a “true and exact Platt.” After Joseph's report, jury verdict for appellant, reversing the judgement, for 10 pounds and costs.

Joseph died 4 September 1742 in Carver, at age 52. He is buried at the Lakenham Cemetery, North Carver. His slate stone is engraved with an unusual skull. He is buried next to his first wife Persis.

Joseph Lucas' gravestone

Lucas family plot

The will of Joseph Lucas of Plympton, yeoman, dated 23 February 1741, proved 22 September 1742, states that he had infirmities of the body that were "symptoms of approaching mortality." He names his wife Meletiah; sons John, Samuel and Barnabas (who was under 21); daughters Hannah and Patience. Inventory was taken 18 February 1743.

Joseph's will mentions his homestead with a large amount of land, meadow at Little Cove, land adjoining John's Pond that belonged to his father, six acres of meadow at Donham's Cove in Plympton, seven acres of land bought of Joseph Cole in Plympton, cedar swamp at Beaver Dam Swamp, land adjoining Crane Brook, South Meadow cedar swamp, Plympton farmland purchased from Edward Cole.  It also mentions his smith's shop, part ownership of a furnace, half a grist mill, yoke of oxen, farming utensils, cart tackling, wearing apparel, guns and swords. His daughters Hannah and Patience each  received $110 pounds, a substantial amount for that time.

Melatiah died after 25 February 1745/46, when she was named guardian of her son Barnabas. I have not found when she died or if she remarried.

Sources Not Listed Above:

Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Vol. 18, Richard Warren,  published by the GSMD, 1999

The Mayflower Descendant, "The Will of Samuel Lucas, Senior, and a Deed of His Widow," Vol 27, 1925