Seth Pope was born 13 Jan 1648/49 in
Plymouth, Mass. (Plymouth VR p 656), the son of Thomas and his second wife Sarah (Jenny) Pope.
He is my 9th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn
Davis’ side of the family.
Seth married Deborah Perry ca 1675. Their
marriage record isn’t found but her father’s 16 Oct 1689 will mentions his
daughter Deborah as the wife of Seth Pope.
Deborah was born 28 Nov 1654 at
Sandwich, Barnstable Co., Mass., the daughter of Ezra and Elizabeth (Burgess)
Perry.
The booklet Cape Cod Legends tells the story of young Seth, son of Thomas Pope
of Plymouth and Dartmouth. He came to Sandwich about 1669 as a peddler,
probably with a pack containing needles, thread and other portable items. The
constable warned him out of town, perhaps fearing the stranger would become a
financial burden to the town. He left with an irritated promise to come back
and buy up the town. He married a daughter of Ezra Perry of Sandwich and became
a successful merchant in Dartmouth, owning a wharf and warehouse in New Bedford.
True to his promise, he came back to Sandwich in 1699 and bought the Dexter
grist mill, a fulling mill and weaving shop and other land on Grove Street and
built a house for each of his sons who married Sandwich women. He left his
eldest son John Pope in charge of the mill. He proclaimed he wouldn’t live in the
damned town and went off again. I’m sure this story is embellished a bit but I
love his drive and spirit!
 |
| Dexter Mill |
Seth was active in town affairs.
He was captain in the militia, a Selectman, Justice of the Peace, and
Representative to the General Court. He was a very successful business man. Besides
the businesses and land in Sandwich, he owned a wharf, warehouse, ships, saw mill,
gristmill, store, dwelling houses and farmland in Acushnet and Dartmouth. His
probate records reveal he was, unfortunately, a slave owner.
 |
| Seth Pope's signature on his 1720 will |
Seth and Deborah had nine children,
births recorded at Dartmouth:
John
Thomas
Susannah
Sarah
Mary
Seth
Hannah
Elnathan
Lemuel
I descend from Seth who married
Hannah Bourne.
Deborah Perry Pope died 19 February 1711. He married second Rebecca ___ who is mentioned in his 1720 will.
Seth Pope died 17 Mar 1727 in Dartmouth,
Bristol County, Mass. He is buried with Deborah and Rebecca at Acushnet
Cemetery.
 |
| Seth Pope's gravestone, Acushnet Cemetery |
Sources:
Ezra
Perry of Sandwich, Mass., NEHGR vol 115.
RA Lovell Jr, Sandwich, A Cape Cod Town, third edition, 1996, first printing 1984
Jeremiah Digges, Cape Cod
Pilot, 1937
Thanks for this information. I am working on my genealogy and have reached Seth Pope as my 9th Great Grandfather. I trace through his son John and Grandson Seth. Then to his great grand daughter Elizabeth. I am originally for Iowa and this is my mothers side of the family. It took five more generations to reach Iowa. I currently live in South Carolina. Thanks again Gene.
ReplyDeleteHi Gene, Thanks for sharing. I enjoy hearing where descendants of Plymouth Colony settlers are from! Chris
DeleteIf you enjoy hearing about where descendants now live, I live in northern Alberta, Canada. Seth Pope is my 8th gr grandfather. I am descended from his daughter, Mary, who married Charles Church. My ancestors eventually came to Nova Scotia in Canada, and my mother came to Alberta when she married my father. They met during WWII - my dad was in the Canadian Navy. Interestingly enough, I can also trace my father's family back to William Andrews, who fought with Capt Church in the Indian Wars. Isn't genealogy fun??
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing. Very interesting indeed! Chris
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