Nathaniel Covell is my 9th
great-grandfather on my Grandmother Millie (Booth) Rollins’ side of the family.
Nathaniel’s father, also Nathaniel, was of Chelmsford, Essex Co., England, so that
could be where Nathaniel was born. He died when Nathaniel was a boy. Nathaniel the
younger came to Boston on 26 August 1653.
He was a saddler by trade. He was an indentured servant to Edward
Winslow of Marshfield for seven years after arriving in New England. Part of
that time he spent in service of Winslow's son-in-law Peregrine White. For his servitude
he received his passage over, his support during his indenture and 10 pounds in
goods and commodities, 13 bushels of Indian corn, and a “double good apparel”
at end of his time. He came to Yarmouth, Mass., soon after his end of service.There is a lack of records for early Chatham, so Nathaniel's story is incomplete.
I have read that this
Covell family was among the early merchant adventurers, being on the list of
share-holders in the Virginia Company 1608-1624, but it’s not something I have
looked into.
Transcription of
Nathaniel’s indenture:
An Indenture appointed
to bee Recorded
This Indenture made the
eighteenth Day of Aprill in the yeare of our Lord God one Thousand six hundred
fifty and three Between Nathaniell Covell sonne of Nathaniell Covell late of
Chelmesford in the County of Essex yeoman Deceased on the one pte; And Edward
Winslow of Marshfeild in New England gentleman in New England on the other pte
Witnesseth that the said Nathaniell Covell the son of Nathaniell Covell Doth
heerby covenant promise and graunt to and with the said Edward Winslow his
exequitors and assignes from the
Day of the Date heerof
untill his first and Next arivall in New England aforsaid and after for and
During the tearme of seaven yeares to serve in such service and Imployment as
hee the said Edward Winslow or his assignes shall there Imploy him according to
the Costome of the Countrey in like kind; In Consideration wherof the said
Edward Winslow Doth heerby for him selfe his exequitors and assignee Covenant
and graunt to and with the said Nathaniell Covell to pay for his passage and to
find and allow him meat Drinke apparrell and lodging with other nessesaries
During the said Tearme and att the end of the said Tearme to pay unto the said
Nathaniell Covell the sonne the vallue or worth of ten pounds of lawfull money
of England in such goods and Comodities as the Countrey affords and alsoe
thirteen bushels of good Indian Corn; and then alsoe to provide for and Deliver
unto him the said Nathaniell Covell good Double apparrell in Witnesse wherof
the said pties above mencioned to these Indentures have Interchangaby sett
theire hands and seales the Day and yeare first abovewritten
Sealed and Delivered Nathaniel Covell (seale)
in the prsence of us
Thomas hewitt
Edw: Wolrich Scr:
These are to signify
that Mr Edward Winslow by a letter sent to mee bearing Date the 2cond of May
1653 gave mee power in his name to assigne over the pty within Named
(Nathaniell Covell) to Mr Perigrine White his sonneinlaw to serve him according
to this Indenture and the full time therof the which I have now Donne this 16th
of September 1653 they both appeering before mee at this time;
By mee Willam Bradford
Governor
Alsoe the said Mr
Perigrine White Doth heerby bind himselfe his heires exequitors and assignes to
pforme the Covenants within specifyed to this his servant mencioned in this
Indenture and Discharge Mr Edward Winslow of the same and for that end hath
heerunto put his hand;
Perigrine White;
Nathaniell Covell Arived
Att Boston 26 of August 1653
Nathaniel married Sarah
Nickerson between 15 Jan 1662 and 4 July 1663 at Yarmouth, Barnstable Co.,
Mass.. Sarah was born about 1644, the daughter of William and Anne (Busby)
Nickerson. One to two years later they moved to Monomoit, now Chatham, near
Alewife River and Ryder's Cove. Sarah
was given land by her father who was the founder of Chatham.
 |
| Map showing early settler's homes in Chatham |
Children, births not
recorded so not all a sure thing:
Elizabeth
Nathaniel
William
Joseph
Ephraim
Daughter whose first
name unknown, possibly Sarah who married Benjamin Phillips/Phelps
I descend through
Elizabeth who married Jehosophat Eldredge (one of my favorite ancestor names!)
Nathaniel served as
deputy constable for Chatham in 1674,to serve under Eastham constable.
Sarah received 50
acres of land by deed from her father 11 Feb 1673/4. An April 1677 deed shows
William Nickerson sold parcel of woodland to Nathaniel Covell on the east side
of Great Hill. William Nickerson purchased Monomoit lands from Indians in 1656
(PC Records IV, 51).
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| Nathaniel is listed on the pioneers of Chatham plaque |
Nathaniel died before 1687 when Sarah is mentioned as a widow when her father
deeded her all of his land. Unfortunately Nathaniel died in the prime of life,
leaving a large family.
In 1699 Sarah Covell
divided her property between her four sons, so she died after that time.
Sources:
Nickerson
Family Assoc.,The Nickerson Family: The
Desc. of Wm. Nick. 1604-89, First Settler of Chatham, MA, Part 1, first Four
Generations with vital statistics of 5th Generation, 1973
William
C. Smith, A History of Chatham, Mass.
Formerly the Constablewick or village of Monomoit," 1909
James Hawes, Library of Cape Cod History and Genealogy,
No. 90, Covel, 1912
Vernon R. Nickerson,
From Pilgrims and Indians... manuscript