Robert Wixon was born in England, his birth date and exact origins unknown.
Robert is my 9th great grandfather on my grandmother Milly (Booth)
Rollins’ side of the family. He came to Plymouth Colony in 1630 as an
indentured servant
to William Hedge. His services were transferred on 5 November 1638 to Gov.
Thomas Prence for 12 pounds, which is how he came to be familiar with Eastham
as Gov. Prence lived there as well as Plymouth. I
would imagine this means he was good at whatever he was doing if the governor
wanted him as a servant. I am also a direct descendant of Gov. Prence. I love that in early
America whether you came as a wealthy, educated man or a servant, you had a
chance to become successful, the beginning of the American Dream.
Robert married a woman named Alice before the birth of their first
child in 1655, likely in Eastham. Some descendants believe Alice was a Native American
and others that her maiden name was Titus, but I haven’t seen any proof of
either claims. Alice and Robert had four children, first three recorded
Eastham/Orleans Vital Records and all four named in will:
Jemima, born 30 Aug 1655, Eastham
Titus, born 02 Dec 1657, Eastham, died Yarmouth in 1718, no
marriage or children found for him in records
Elizabeth born 29 May 1660, Eastham, married Nathaniel Mayo, had a
large family, died Eastham Dec 1699
Barnabas born between 1660–1663, likely in Eastham, married Sarah
Remick.
I descend from Barnabas. The name Wixon is spelled in a myriad of
ways in records, including Wixam, Wickson, Vixon, Wixen, Waxam.
Robert Wixon was at Plymouth by1634
and from there lived in Eastham, where he is registered as one of the legal
inhabitants in 1665 but was there earlier.
He is listed in an Eastham agreement dated 16 July 1662 concerning
Lieutenant’s land with meadow to be used for public use and not disposed to any
one person.
He served his community in
a variety of ways. He was constable at Plymouth in 1647. On 8 June 1655, he
was named surveyor of highways at Eastham (Plym Col Vol III, p 79). On 5 June
1666 he was appointed constable of Eastham. He sat on a jury to hear a case
against John Williams by his wife Elizabeth, who claimed abuse. They found
against him and she was allowed to cease living with him (Vol IV, p. 123). On 2
July 1667 he sat on inquest jury of the death of a child of Daniel Doane's who
drowned in a well (Vol IV, p 169). On 1 Jan 1667/8 Robert Wixam was on inquest
jury concerning death of 5-6 year old child kept by John Smalley Jr., of
Eastham; found that the child got lost in the woods and died of exposure (Vol
IV, p 177). On 3 June 1674 he was again Surveyor of Highways (Vol V, p 146) and
again on 1 June 1675 (Vol V, p 167). On 7 June 1676 again Surveyor of Highways
(Vol V, p 197). On 1 Nov 1676 Robert Vixon appointed administrator of the
estate of Nathaniel Brewster, a highly respected family (Vol V, p 212).
Robte Wickson on the August 1643 list
of those able to bear arms in Plymouth, aged 16-60. On the Eastham list in
1665. On 3 March 1644/5 he posted bond for the good behavior of George Crispe.
At the June session of the Old
Colony court at Plymouth, in 1651, he was made a freeman, so he had completed
his term of service with Gov. Prence. On 29 May 1670 Robert was listed as a
freeman of Eastham (Vol V, p 278).
Robert Wixon sat on a jury which
convicted three Native Americans of the murder of John Sassamon, a Harvard
educated Native American who lived among the whites. Tobias, Wampapaum and Mattushamama
were found guilty of murdering him by laying violent hands on him and striking
him or twisting his neck until he was dead and to cover up the murder they pushed
his body through the ice of Assowamsett Pond on 29 Jan 1674. Natives and
English served on the jury that found them guilty and sentenced them to death
by hanging. On 8 June 1675 Tobias and Mattashamama were hanged, but Wampapaum
was reprieved for one month from that date, but was then shot dead. This event
angered other Native Americans who did not like being subjected to English
trials and is considered one of the triggers of King Phillip's War.
One of the roads he helped to lay
in 1668 was a road, referred to as an Indian Path, from Eastham through what is
now Brewster. It was the same Indian path further widened and used in the 1800s
as the main road in Brewster.
A 9 November 1666 deed refers to
Robert Wixon as an early purchaser in Eastham.
Easthamlibrary.org
has a transcription of his land transactions there, the first dated 1654. He
owned considerable land at Eastham, including low meadow on Pochet Flats,
meadow between the Bay and the Creek at the harbor mouth at Namskaket, 20 acres
at Pochet Island, meadow at Billingsgate, marsh at Rock Harbor, meadow at
Blackfish River, 40 acres at Little Namskaket, land at Little Billingsgate. The land owned by Robert Wixon described in these deeds
amounts to about 110 acres. Pretty amazing for someone who came here as a servant.
Robert
Wixon died Eastham in October 1686. He is most likely buried in an unmarked
grave at Cove Burying Ground.
His will was written 1 October
1686, proved ten days later. His widow Alice Wixam appeared before the court 18
October 1686 and testified that the inventory of her husband's estate was
correct, taking the oath before John Freeman, Assistant.
Will of Robert Wixam says he was
very weak of body but sound and mind and "but dayly expecting his
change" and includes references to God. It names his wife Alce (Alice) as
executrix, with son-in-law Nathaniel Mayo to offer her assistance.
Daughter Jemimah to receive one
browne cow with a star on its forehead, one hive of bees, room in the house and
privileges in the orchard as long as she is unmarried.
Grandchild Nathaniel Mayo: one
calf (this would be his late daughter Elizabeth’s child).
Rest of personal estate, after
debts paid, to loving wife Alice for her support during her natural life,
including part of house she lives in and orchard.
Son Titus Wixam: other part of
dwelling house and out housing and all land on that side of highway house
stands upon and all meadow adjoining it, half acre meadow in Rock Harbor, lying
between the house and Thomas Williams' meadow. Other part of house after wife's
decease, parcel of upland between mouth of Little Skaket and Rock Harbor and
small upland above the highway of 2 acres he now improves with.
Son Barnabas Wixam: remaining 30
acres above the highway with meadow and marsh in Namescakitt by the beach and
small parcel of meadow at Rock Harbor between Giles Hopkins and Daniel Cole.
