Richard Wright and Hester Cooke of 17th Century Plymouth, Mass.

On this Memorial Day, I’m thinking of the brave people who served and died for our country. One family that immediately came to mind is that of Richard and Hester (Cooke) Wright. It is believed they lost three sons during King Philip’s War. All three were young men—not yet married. I can’t even imagine what heartache this tremendous loss brought to the family.

Richard Wright was born 9 June1608 (from age at death). He is my 9^th great-grandfather through my grandfather Arthur Washburn Davis. Where and to whom he was born in England are not yet known. He was a tailor by trade. He seemed to have minimal education as he signed documents with his mark and had just one book listed in his inventory. He did, however, serve his community in multiple capacities. The first mention of him in Plymouth records is a 1636 land grant.

Richard is mentioned in many Plymouth Colony land grants. On 6 October 1636 Richard Wright was appointed land "5 acres to a pson, at the fishing point next Slowly Field." On 7 November 1636 "The landes at the fishing point, neer Slowly Field, being viewed & fownd too little for Tho. Pope, Rich. Clough, & Rich. Wright, at five acres p pson, by consent was equally devided between them." On 5 February 1637/8 "six acrees of landes are graunted unto Richard Wright, lying at the west end of Mr Dones landes, towardes the Fresh Lake." On 5 March 1637/8 "A garden place is graunted to Richard Wright in the meadow by Thomas Atkinsons."

Fresh Pond in Manomet section of Plymouth

Genealogist Robert Wakefield believed Richard was related to William Wright or another early settler as the amount of land he was granted was unusual for a “stranger.” William did not mention any children in his 1633 will, and Richard was too old to be his son, so perhaps a brother or cousin.

On 24 March 1637 Richard Wright sold five acres of land at "fishing poynt towards the Eele River together wth the fences." A deed to George Russell, 17 November 1637, for the sale of 4 or 5 acres upon "Oulbery Playne" calls Richard Wright of New Plymouth "Taylor." On 25 August 1638 Peter Maycock sold for 40 shillings sterling to Richard Wright "xxv acrees of land due to him for his service."

Richard was on the 1643 Plymouth list of Men Able to Bear Arms.

In 1644 Richard married at Plymouth Hester (sometimes seen as Esther) Cooke. The exact date of their union is not given in Plymouth Vital Records but if marriages are listed in order it would be between 2 and 6 November 1644. Richard was about 36 years old and had been in the Colony for about 8 years. Hester was born between1621-1625, the daughter of Francis and Hester (Mahieu) Cooke. She may have been born in Leiden and come to Plymouth on the Anne with her mother in 1623 or been born in Plymouth after their arrival. Francis came to Plymouth on the Mayflower.

Although only the births of two children were recorded, George Bowman, editor of the Mayflower Descendant, sorted out the family.

Richard and Hester had six children:

1. Adam, born about 1645, married first Sarah Soule (granddaughter of George Soule of the Mayflower); second Mehitable Barrows. He had six children by the first wife and four by the second.

2. John, predeceased his father, unmarried and without issue.

3. Esther, born Plymouth in 1649 (only year given in Vital Records), married Ephraim Tinkham, grandson of Peter Brown of the Mayflower, had six children.

4. Isaac, born at Plymouth 26 August 1652, died in 1675 or 76, without issue and apparently unmarried.

5. Samuel, died before his father, unmarried and without issue.

6. Mary, married Hugh Price and had two children.

Birth records for Esther and Isaac are the only ones found. John, Isaac and Samuel likely died in King Philip’s War, although their names aren’t included in Bodge’s Soldiers in King Philip’s War.

John wrote a will on 7 December 1675, probated 7 July 1676, that mentions his going to war and names his father Richard Wright, his brothers Adam, Isaac and Samuel and his sisters Esther and Mary Wright.

I descend through Adam Wright and his first wife Sarah Soule. I wrote about them here.

On 5 June 1644 and 4 June 1645 Richard was propounded as Freeman.

Richard Wright is on several committees and held several offices as follows: Jury 2 March 1646/7; jury 6 March 1648/9, 7 June 1649, 5 March 1649/50, 2 Oct 1650, 4 March 1650/1, 7 June 1651, 2 March 1651/2 4 October 1653, 6 December 1653, and 4 October 1655; Petty jury 1 June 1647, coroner's jury on the sudden death of John Bond, 23 July 1661; constable of Plymouth 6 June 1652.

On 7 June 1659 he was given liberty to look for land. He was granted land as an ancient freeman "on the northerly bounds of Taunton" on 3 June 1662. He was again given liberty to look for land on 8 June 1664. Land Richard Wright had received earlier from Francis Cooke was ratified by John Cooke on 5 July 1670. Following a request for land in the right of Peter Maycocke, sometimes a servant, the Court determined no right to his claim but allowed him to search for land 1 June 1675. Land was granted Richard Wright, 50 acres out of land that was Tatamamuck’s land, on 7 July 1680.

In another deed, dated 9 May 1669, Richard Wright, with wife Esther releasing dower, gave land in Plymouth to his son John. On 7 June 1676 Richard Wright received four pounds from the estate of his son Isacke Wright, deceased.

Richard was sued by his brother-in-law John Tomson on 1 March 1663 to receive half of the land at Manassakett allotted to Francis Cooke that was granted to Hester Cooke. Tomson argue his wife Mary Cooke should have received half of the land and was so granted by the court.

The heirs of Francis Cooke signed an agreement dated 8 June 1666: "The marke R: of Richard Wright in the behalfe of hester his wife."

Hester’s date of death is not known but she predeceased her husband. She likely died between 8 June 1666, when she signed an agreement of heirs of Francis Cooke, and before 7 December 1675, the date of her son John’s will.

Richard died in Plymouth on 9 June1691 "about two hours after being about 83 yeares old."

Richard wrote a will on 8 June 1691, the day before he died.  He mentioned only his son Adam, his daughter Esther, and his widowed daughter Mary Price.

His will and inventory are transcribed in the Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 4, pg 165-67.

Originals are found in the Plymouth County Probate Records, Volume 1, pages 101 - 103.

I Richard Wright of ye Town of Plimouth in ye County and Colony of New Plimouth in New England being at Present of Sound and disposing mind and memory under bodily weaknesses not knowing when the hour of my death shall Come do make this my last Will and Testament in maner and forme following hereby Revoaking all former Wills First I comitt my soul to God that made it Resting on ye onely merrits of Christ my Redeemer for Eternall Salvation and my body to ye earth to be buried in a decent maner. My worldly Estate that God hath lent me I thus dispose: my will is that all my Estate Real and Personall House lands money or any  moveables & Chattels in what kind soever be equally and faithfully divided betwixt my three Children Adam Esther and Mary Also my Will is that my daughter Mary have her living in my house During her Widowhoode and in as much as my son Adam hath heretofore had a full double portion in lands my will & desire is that my sd Son deal kindly in Carefull providing what in him lies for my daughter Mary price Also I Make my son and two daughters Executors of this my last Will & Testament Also I do hereby appoint & desire my loving friends John Nelson & Isaac Cushman to be Overseers of this my Will and I Intreate their care to se it faithfully prformed in a just distribution of my estate to my Children as is above Expressed In Attestation yt this is my last Will and Testament I Set to my hand & seal This Eigth day of june 1691 I desire also & Impower John Sturtevant to be on of ye overseers of this my will.

Signed Sealed & declared by    The mark of

Richard Wright to be his           Richard Wright

last will and Testament

In presence of

John Cotton

Nathll Southworth

ye mark M of Martha Cobb:

june 24th 1691 Mr John Cotton and Nathll Southworth two Of ye witnesses here named made oath in Plimouth before ye Magistrates of ye County of Plimouth that they were present and Saw ye above named Richard Wright Sign & Seal & heard him declare this above written to be his last will & Testament & yt to ye best of yr judgment he was of a disposing mind & memory when he so did

Attest Sam Sprague Clerk

June ye 19th day 1691 An Inventory of ye Estate of Richard Wright late deceased taken by us whose names are under written.

Item one Bed and Boulster        03 00 00

One Rugg and one Blanket       00 05 00

One Pillow       00 02 00

One Silkgrass Bed and Boulster            00 08 00

One Curtaine & two Cushions  00 01 06

One Trammill    00 03 00

One pair of Tongs         00 02 00

4 hooks            00 02 00

One Spade       00 02 00

One Ax

More: Old Iron 00 02 00

4 hinges            00 01 00

2 Iron Kittles    00 06 00

One Iron Skillet            00 02 06

One Iron Pot and Pott hookes  00 04 00

One ffrying Pan 00 00 06

One Warming Pan        00 08 00

One Brass Kettle          00 10 00

One Gun          00 18 00

One Sword      00 03 00

More Wooden Dishes  00 01 00

two Earthen Potts         00 00 04

One Barbours Bason    00 00 09

One Glass Bottle          00 00 04

One Book        00 01 06

One pair of sheers        00 00 06

One pair of Pillowbeers            00 03 00

3 sheetes          00 10 00

One Pewter      00 03 06

One Boul          00 02 00

One Pewter Bottle        00 01 06

One Pewter Pot            00 01 06

1 Pewter Bason and Sawcer     00 01 00

One chamber Pott        00 02 00

One Candlestick           00 00 04

One Pail           00 00 06

One chest         00 07 00

One chest         00 02 06

More old Cask 00 03 00

One Box          02 02 02

One Chaire       00 01 00

More Cloathing            02 04 04

One shirt          00 06 09

One shirt          00 04 06

One pair of Drawers     0 01 0

More in Small linnen     0 02 6

More in woollen Cloathing shoose & stockings & hat    0 14 0

One pewter platter        0 24 6

One Pewter Platter       0 02 6

One Pewter Platter       0 03 0

3 Porrengers     0 23 0

one Pewter Bason and Sawcer 0 24 0

one Bagg          0 26 0

one yearling in ye hand of Adam Wright            0 15 0

one ox & one Cow in ye hand of Ephraim Tinkam         4 10 0

More in ye hand of Ephraim Tinkam      0 24 6

one Blanket a Box & a Band    0 12 6

More in ye hand of Caleb Cooke          4 00 0

More in ye hand Mr Jno Cotton senr     1 01 11

More in Silver Money   5 18 24

More in ye hand of Joseph Sturtevant    0 02 6

More in ye hand of John Gray   0 27 11

One Table        0 01 0

More in ye hand of Ephraim Tinkam      1 10 0

Item the land both of upland and meddow         21 00 0

Item Charge for ye ffunerall       1 0 0

More due to William Shirtliff     0 1 4

More due to John Sturtevant     0 2 0

More due to Adam Wright        0 3 0

Isaac Cushman

John Sturtevant

June 24th 1691 Adam Wright made Oath in Plimouth before ye Magistrates of ye County of Plimouth That the before written is a True Inventory of ye estate of his ffather Richard Wright late of Plimouth deceased So far as he knoweth & that if more shall come to his knowledge he will discover it

Attest     Samll Sprague Clerk

Note: There was a different Richard Wright, called Captain in records, who lived at Hingham and Rehoboth.

Sources Not Listed Above:

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

Ralph V. Wood, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Francis Cooke, 1996

Robert S. Wakefield, Richard Wright of Plymouth Mass., The American Genealogist, Vol 59, July 1983

George Ernest Bowman, Adam Wright’s Wives and Their Children, Mayflower Descendant, Volume 11, 1909

George Ernest Bowman, Richard and Hester Wright’s Children, Mayflower Descendant, Volume 24, 1922

John Tinkham and Anne Gray of Plymouth and Kingston, Mass.

My apologies for my long absence.  Our daughter was married last weekend, so life has been busy but so incredibly joyful! Happy Mother's Day!

 

John Tinkham was born Plymouth 27 March 1689, the son of Helkiah Tinkham and his wife Ruth whose maiden name is unknown (some have given it as Cooke but that seems to be incorrect). Tinkham is spelled in a variety of ways including Tinkam and Tinckum. John was a direct descendant of Peter Brown of the Mayflower.

On 30 December 1714, John married Anne (sometimes seen as Anna) Gray. Anne was born at Plymouth on 5 August 1691, the daughter of John and Joanna (Morton) Gray.  Anne was a direct descendant of Mayflower passengers Mary Chilton and her father James.

John and Ann had six children born in Plymouth:

Mary born 25 June 1718

Edward born 2 February 1719/20

John born 17 November 1721

Ephraim born 25 March 1724

Ann born 6 August 1726

Joseph born 14 May 1728

I descend from their daughter Ann who married Samuel Fuller, a direct descendant of Mayflower passengers Samuel Fuller, Francis Eaton and John Billington.  

John and Anne removed to Kingston, Mass. They are buried there, at the Old Burying Ground which is behind the First Parish Church on Main Street. 

First Parish Church (current building), Kingston

John died on 12 May 1730 at age 41. Ann died later that year, on 6 September at just 39 years of age. I have yet to visit the cemetery to photograph their gravestones, but I hope they are still intact and legible. They left their five children, ages two to ten, as orphans. Their daughter, Mary, died in July 1730, at age 12. It seems likely a terrible illness had befallen the young family. I know smallpox was an epidemic at the time, but do not know if it struck the small town of Kingston. On my list of things to do is to search court records to see if they shed any light on who became guardians to the children. My Tinkham research is relatively new and a definite work in progress! I’d love to hear from other descendants with an resource suggestions. Most of my limited information is from Plymouth and Kingston Vital Records and the Mayflower Quarterly.