Timothy Cole (ca 1684 to 1760) and his Wife Apphia Pepper of Eastham, Mass.

Timothy Cole was born between 1684-1688 [based on likely age at marriage], probably at Eastham on Cape Cod, to Timothy Cole and his wife whose name is not known, although some researchers make a case for her being Ruth Smith. I have more research to do on that.

Timothy married three times, with his first two wives dying young. He married, first, Apphia Pepper, daughter of Isaac and Apphia (Freeman) Pepper,  on 2 November 1709, at Eastham. She was born Eastham 24 Feb 1687. Apphia and Timothy are my 9th great-grandparents on my grandmother Milly Booth Rollins’ side of the family. I wrote about Apphia’s parents here.

Timothy and Apphia had five children born Eastham: 

Doritha/Dorothy born 22 September 1710; died 8 February 1710/11

Doritha/Dorothy born 15 May 1712, died after 1760

Isaac born 30 May 1714; died after 3 Sept 1781; m. Anne Doane 

Susanna born 15 July 1716; died after 17 July 1756; m. Joseph Brown 

Apphia born 20 March 1718; died 27 June 1718

I descend from Dorothy who married Thomas Freeman. I wrote about this couple here.

Apphia Freeman Cole died 6 April 1718 at Eastham at age 31. Seems likely she died of complications from childbirth as her daughter was born just two weeks before. 

Timothy married, second, Elizabeth Sparrow at Eastham on 4 May 1721. 

Timothy and Elizabeth had one son, Timothy, born Eastham, 27 August 1722; died 4 May 1722 [likely an error for 1723]. 

Elizabeth died soon after childbirth, on 31 August 1722, at Eastham. 

Timothy married, third, Martha Almony/Alemony, 4 September 1723 at Eastham. They had six children born Eastham: 

Apphia born 5 October 1724; died after 8 June 1761; m. Nathaniel Bacon 

Martha the daughter of Timothy and Martha Cole born ca 1726; died 25 April 1728

Timothy 23 May 1728 at Eastham; died in November 1752

Martha born 9 March 1729/30; m. Freeman Higgins 

Elizabeth born 12 July 1732; m Lemuel Higgins 

Jesse born 11 August 1735 and died 10 December 1753

I honestly don’t know how people could bear so much loss. Of Timothy’s twelve children who appear in Eastham vital records, only five survived him. 

Timothy was part owner of a grist mill in Eastham, a very important service to offer townspeople. At the time Simeon Deyo wrote his history of Barnstable County in 1890, the pilings of Timothy Cole’s water mill were still visible in Orleans. 

In 1733 Timothy Cole claimed land that was granted to his father in Gorham Maine for the latter’s service in King Philip's War. On 23 Oct 1751 Joseph Brown (Timothy's son-in-law) purchased his proprietary rights in Gorham.

Timothy Cole and Joseph Doane were appointed in 1738 to find a suitable replacement for Rev. Samuel Osborn who was dismissed by the church in the south of Eastham. They hired Joseph Crocker to replace him. 

Timothy's name is on a list of men from Eastham who were Narragansett grantees.

The settlement of Apphia’s father Isaac Pepper’s estate on 29 July 1740 included three children of his deceased daughter Apphia Cole: Isaac Cole, Dorothy Freeman and her husband Thomas Freeman, Susan Brown and her husband and Joseph Brown.  All but Joseph Brown acknowledged the settlement on 6 July 1743.

Mr. Timothy Cole died 24 April 1760; he would have been in his 70s. Being called Mr” was an honorific, used to address gentlemen, professional men, and substantial citizens. Martha outlived her husband. 

People named in the 2 April 1760 will of Timothy Cole, yeoman of Eastham;  proven 6 May 1760:

His loving wife Martha, one-third of his personal estate except for his wearing apparel and farming tackling, and improvement of one-third of his real estate, housing, land and meadow except for his part in the grist mill.

Son Isaac Cole to receive two-thirds of his land and buildings in Stage Neck north of Joshua Cole and Joseph Cole’s wall above the mud swamp and the remaining third after Martha ceases to improve it; Timothy’s part of the grist mill; all his wearing apparel and farming tackling; two-third parts of right in the fourteen Sh[ear] Pochet N[?eck]; and two-thirds of meadow at Town Flats owned in partnership with Thomas Snow; two-thirds part cedar swamp by Seth Knowles; third part of six meadows and swamp after Martha’s ceases to improve it.

Daughter Dorretha Freeman one quarter part of any land not disposed of with his wife receiving her thirds.

Daughter Apphia Bacon one-quarter part of any land not disposed of.

Daughter Elisabeth Higgins one-quarter part and to his grandchildren Timothy Higgins and Apphia Higgins one-quarter part.

Daughter Susannah Brown has already received her part.

“Trusty son” Isaac Cole named sole executor.

Land at Pochet Island he bought of Benjamin Cole and Rufus Cole and land where Theodor Hopkins house stands are to be sold to pay his debts and funeral expenses. 

Witnessed by Richard Sparrow, Joshua Cole, and Seth Young.

It looks like perhaps someone signed on his behalf, initialed L.S.

source: The Patriot Ledger

Inventory of Mr. Timothy Cole of Eastham was taken 19 May 1760, no total is given. Presented to court by Isaac Cole, Richard Sparrow, Jonathan Linnell, Joshua Cole on 23 May 1760.

It included:

Land to be sold worth more than 37 pounds 

Land and meadow given to his daughters and grandchild worth more than 37 pounds

Meadow and cedar swamp given to Isaac Cole worth 18 pounds

Horse, ox, two cows with their calves, one heifer, one steer, two swine, three sheep

Wearing apparel

Beds, furnishings, linen 

Two cranes, hangers, iron ware

Brass, pewter, earthenware, silver cup, and other kitchen ware 

Guns, sword, and “warlike stores”

Spinning wheels, looms

Chests, tables, chairs 

Looking glass

Flax and yarn

Corn and rye

Books worth 8 shillings

Farming tackling, horse tackling, lathe

Sources Not Listed Above:

Mayflower Descendant, “Transcription of Eastham and Oreans, Massachusetts Vital Records,” 15:233, 1913

Barnstable County Probate 9:437-8 

Barnstable County Probate 12:68-9

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

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, Leominster, MA, 1896

Susan E. Roser, Early Descendants of Daniel Cole of Eastham, Massachusetts, Friends of the Pilgrim Series Vol. 2, 2010

William Paine/Payne b. ca 1560, and His Wife Agnes/Ann Neves of Lavenham, Suffolk, England

William Paine was from Lavenham, Suffolk, England, likely born there about 1560, son of William Paine Jr. and his wife Joane/Joanna whose maiden name is not known. He is my 13th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Davis’ side of the family. His last name is often spelled Payne. Although he never lived in Massachusetts, at least five of his children did. I have not found William’s birth record (the Lavenham parish registers start in 1558 and perhaps they were spotty at first). This research is very much a work in progress; feedback is most welcome!

William married Agnes/Ann Neves on 28 December 1584 in Lavenham at the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul. I have read in various places, including WikiTree, that she was baptized 2 December 1565, at St. Mary’s Church, Nowton, Suffolk, the daughter of William and Agnes (Marberry) Neves, but I have not been able to confirm that with my own work yet. 

Agnes and William’s children, most baptized St. Peter and St. Paul in Lavenham:

1. Elizabeth baptized Lavenham 11 Sept 1586, married William Hammond there in 1605 and immigrated to Watertown, Massachusetts, where she died in 1670
2. Anne baptized Lavenham 17 December 1587, married Richard Neve at Lavenham on 2 Sept 1613, immigrated to Watertown where she died in 1676
3. Judith baptized Lavenham 22 June 1589 
4. Dorothy born about 1589, married Simon Eyre, migrated to Boston where she died in 1650;  unsure if she is also the Dorothy Payne who married Hugh Baker 31 [sic] Sept 1615
5. Susan baptized  Lavenham 1 January 1590, died there in October 1591
6. Susan baptized Lavenham 9 April 1592
7. Frances who died as a child in July 1594 at Lavenham
8. Jane born 1593; died Lavenham July 1594
9. Phebe baptized Lavenham 1 April 1594, married John Page there on 5 June 1621 and migrated to Watertown where she died in 1677 
10. William baptized Lavenham 20 Feb 1596/97, married a woman named Ann, migrated to Ipswich, Massachusetts and then to Boston where he died in 1660; became a very wealthy man
11. Richard baptized Lavenham 20 February 1596/97, also married a woman named Ann, died there in 1645
12. Frances born and died in 1600, Lavenham (baptized 20 July; buried 12 August)

I’m not certain, but they may have also had:

13. Thomas born about 1587; need to do more research 

14. Robert, born in Lavenham about 1601, married 1st Anne Whiting, 2nd, Dorcas ___?__, immigrated to Ipswich, Massachusetts and died there by 1684

I descend from Elizabeth who married William Hammond at Lavenham. They immigrated to Watertown, Massachusetts. I wrote about that couple here. 

William died in June 1621 and was buried at St. Peter and St. Paul churchyard in Lavenham, as William Payne the elder, on 9 June 1621.

William appears to have died intestate but Ann Payne of Lavenham, widow, wrote a will dated 7 December 1635. It was not proved until 25 April 1646. I have only seen excerpts from the will. She left her property and goods to her daughter Susan: the property was a capital messuage in the Lavenham market place “in the tenure of Thomas Dister and myself.” A messuage is a dwelling house with its outbuildings and adjacent land. She left son Richard 10 shillings, so it would seem he already received family land. She asked to be buried in Lavenham churchyard. Daughter Susan was to be executrix and residuary legatee.

Although Agnes/Ann had 12 or more children, only Richard and Susan were alive and in England at the time of her death, although Richard died that the same year. At least five of her children immigrated to Massachusetts, four or more died very young, and I’m not sure what became of Judith.

Agnes was buried at St. Peter and St. Paul Churchyard on 8 Oct 1645.

Lavenham was a market town, in the hundred of Babergh, and on the river Bret. It is 18.5 miles from Ipswich and 61 miles northeast of London. St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church is a notable “wool Church,” funded by wool merchants and farmers who made their fortunes in the medieval wool trade. The original parts of the stone building were built in the 14th century. 

There has been a great deal of confusion about William Paine's identity; many online trees have him as the son of Anthony and Martha (Bastell) from Bury St. Edmunds and Nowton. Much of this stems from Albert Paine's 1881 book, The Paine Family. 

See Jeanie Roberts' blog post about this mis-identification: http://www.jeaniesgenealogy.com/2013/05/english-ancestry-of-william-paine-and.html

Sources: 

G. Andrews Moriarty, The Register, “Genealogical Gleanings in New England,” Vol 79, 1925

William Paine WikiTree: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Paine-470

Henry F. Waters, The Register, “Genealogical Gleanings in England,” vol 69, 1915 [includes Payne records from the Parish Registers of Lavenham 1558-1653); has footnote that no wills of Lavenham Paynes were found 

Agnes/Ann Paine’s will: Achdeaconry of Sudbury, book 55, folio 291

The children of Isaac (1805-1890) and Amelia Benson (1803-1880) of Plymouth, Massachusetts

I’ve already written a sketch about Isaac and Amelia Benson, but wanted to learn more about their children and writing really helps me get the facts in order. Isaac was born Woodstock, Vermont, 3 July1805, to Moses and Experience (Gibbs) Benson. Around 1825 he married Amelia Benson who was born Woodstock 10 May 1803, the daughter of Elisha and Sophia (Nye) Benson. See Isaac's sketch here. Both of their Benson families were originally from the southern Massachusetts. The couple returned to their roots, raising their family in Plymouth, Massachusetts. I find this couple so interesting because I’ve always felt my family has salt water in our veins coming from  coastal towns in Plymouth County and Cape Cod. For generations we’ve also been drawn to boating. At least some Bensons must have felt otherwise and went to settle landlocked Woodstock, perhaps for the fertile land. I wondered if Isaac felt the ocean calling to him, but from records it seems he was a turkey farmer and a mason. However, all five sons earned their livelihoods from the sea at some point. Maybe that salt-water obsession skips a generation now and again!

Josiah Benson. I descend from Josiah, their eldest child who was born 24 July 1826 in Woodstock, Vermont (date and location from his death certificate). He married Aurilla West Nye in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, 10 March 1853 (MA VR 1841-1910, 70:335). She was born 12 April 1829 (as Orrilla) in the coastal town of Rochester (now Mattapoisett), Massachusetts, to William and Nancy (Snow) Nye (Rochester VR p 263; no maiden name for mother). June 1863 Civil War Draft Registration, Plymouth: Josiah Benson, age 34, married, seaman, at sea. Josiah was a fisherman and his home was not far from Plymouth Harbor. He once pulled in a net and found it filled with gold but the net broke from the weight and he only grabbed one gold coin (story re-told in his obituary in Old Colony Memorial). After he retired from the sea, he was a watchman at Hayden Mill on Eel River. He and Aurilla had at least seven children: Charles A. who died young, Nellie, Hattie, Lizzie, Charles W., Carrie C., Lydia F. 

Harlow House, Plymouth

Aurilla (as Aurelia) Nye Benson died Plymouth 24 March 1905 at age 75 (MA VR 1841-1910, 1905/77). Josiah died at this home in Plymouth on 26 Oct 1910, age 84 (MA VR 1841-1910, 1910/85:354). His cause of death was enlargement of the heart with valvular disease at his home at 119 Sandwich Street, now a house museum known as the Harlow House owned by the Plymouth Antiquarian Society. I wrote more about Josiah and Aurilla here.

Elvira A. Benson.  She was born 7 September 1828 in Carver, Plymouth County, Mass (calculated from her age at death). On 10 Apr 1864 she married Winslow Thomas at Plymouth (MA VR 1841-1910, 172:280); it was his third marriage and her first at age 35. Winslow had married first Ruth Shaw and they had at least three daughters: Ellen, Mercy, Emma. Mercy died as a newborn with Ruth dying soon afterward and Emma must have died young also. Winslow married second Mary Thomas and they had at least three daughters, Ruth, Emma and Alice. At the time of his marriage to Elvira, he had recently returned from serving in the Civil War where he was imprisoned in Brashear City, Louisiana.  

Elvira and Winslow had one daughter together, Janette/Jennie, born in 1865. Winslow was born Middleborough 4 May 1817 to Winslow and Charity Thomas. He was a moulder in the iron industry. Sadly Winslow died just two years after their marriage on 7 Jun 1866 of consumption at age 49.

Elvira was back in Plymouth in 1870 when she’s keeping house for Lorenzo and Susan Bennett, and daughter Jennie age 5 is with her. She’s in Plymouth in 1880 as head of household, with her daughter Jennie who is 15 and working in a well, and a boarder. Elvira died at Plymouth 18 Mar 1885 at age 56 of heart disease (MA VR 1840-1910, 365:348).

Benjamin H. Benson. Benjamin was born 10 May 1829 in Woodstock, Vermont (he couldn’t be born spring 1829 if Elvira was born fall 1828 so one or other date is wrong). He is listed with his family in 1850 census in Plymouth, age 19, a seaman. He married Saphronia Thomas on 14 March 1855 in Virginia, where she was from (Virginia, U.S., Select Marriages, 1785-1940, Ancestry database). In the 1860 census he and Sophronia are living in Plymouth with their young family, he’s 39, a mariner, born Vermont. They had children Joseph and Owen, born Virginia, and twins Harriet and Henry who both died in infancy. In 1870 Benjamin is a carpenter, living with his wife, two sons Joseph and Owen, as well as his brother Isaac and sister-in-law Mary, in the coastal town of Bristol, Rhode Island. In 1880, Benjamin is 48, a rubber worker, living in Bristol with his wife Saphronia. In 1900 Benjamin is 69, working for the National Rubber Company, with his wife Saphronia, age 61, living at 5 High Street in Bristol. They’ve been married for 45 years and both can read and write. 

Sophronia died by 1911 when Benjamin is 81, widowed, living with his sister-in-law Ellen Benson’s family in Plympton, Mass. Ellen was the widow of Benjamin’s brother Ezra. Benjamin H. Benson died Plympton, 25 May 1911, age 82 years, married of a cerebral hemorrhage, he was a box maker at the time of his death, born Plymouth to Isaac Benson who was born Woodstock, VT and Amelia Benson born Mattapoisett, Mass. He was buried Bristol RI on 29 May. This would give him a birth date of 1829, a bit off from the ca 1831/32 inferred by other records. He also would have been a widower, unless he married his sister-in-law!

George H. Benson. George was born ca 1833. He is listed with the family in 1850 census and 1855 state census at Plymouth. In 1855 he is listed as a mariner. I thought George died young as he disappeared from Massachusetts records, but his third great-grandson told me he moved to Buffalo, Erie, New York, and then the northern neck of Virginia where he married Elizabeth Wilson, and had 11 children. According to findagrave.com, George died 14 Aug 1895 in Richmond County, Virginia, and is buried at Farnham Baptist Church. I was surprised to find he served as a confederate soldier in the Civil War, in Company K in the 4th Virginia Infantry. I wonder what his family thought of that, especially his brother-in-law Winslow Thomas who was a prisoner of war in Louisiana. Elizabeth died 8 Feb 1923 of influenza at age 86, the daughter of William Wilson and Betsy Virginia Conley (Virginia Death records 1912-2014 Ancestry database, certificate no. 1923005728).

There was a George Benson born about 1832 who enlisted in the Union Army 26 Dec 1861 at Buffalo, NY, in Company B of the 12th infinity and deserted on 21 Jan 1862. This could be the correct George since his great-grandson said he lived in Buffalo, and if he sympathized with the southern cause, it would explain how he came to live in Virginia. 

Timothy Manter Benson. Timothy was born 12 March 1839 at Plymouth (gravestone reads 1838) (MA VR, Carver, 1: 17). He married Rebecca Sears at Carver on 19 October 1866. (MA VR 1841-1910, 190:381) Rebecca was born 3 July 1844 to Edmund and Lucetta (Thomas) Sears (Births, Marriages & Deaths on Ancestry). June 1863 Civil War Draft Registration, Plymouth: Timothy M. Benson, age 24, married, seaman, fishing.

They had had one daughter Clara who never married. They lived in Carver, MA, and he was a master mariner. He died 20 January 1890, at just age 50, of dropsy. (MA VR 1841-1910, 440:413) He is buried with an impressive stone with an anchor carving at Center Cemetery in Carver. Rebecca died 25 Sept 1921 (gs). 

Timothy’s family donated many of his maritime-related belongings to the Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut. There is a display including ship furnishings and portraits of the family and a treasure trove of his papers digitized and available online. It’s been fascinating to learn about and I became fairly obsessed for a while! I’ve visited his grave and hope to find the house where he lived but haven’t discovered that yet, only that he lived on Wenham Road in Carver. He was involved in the trans-Atlantic and oriental trade and often took his wife and daughter with him. What an adventurous life for the three of them! He was master of the British Bark Viking and the Bark Martha Davis.

Letters and Timothy’s log give a snapshot of what his life was like. He wrote from London saying when he arrived there he heard of his mother’s death. He sometimes mentions his brother Isaac Benson being on board. He writes of dangerous storms, crew member deserting, his vessel being damaged to the point of the crew’s lives being at risk, and places he visited including Hong Kong, Calcutta, Chile, Hawaii, Rotterdam, Java, Singapore, Philippines, Cuba, Scotland.

Timothy's sea chest; the charts have his hand-written notations

After Timothy’s death, Rebecca and her daughter Clara taught at American International College, Springfield. In the 1920 census Rebecca was 75 and still teaching—she must have been a remarkable woman!

Ezra F. Benson. Ezra was born 10 August 1840 in Middleborough (a few records state he was born Plymouth) (calculated from age at death). He married Ellen Thomas at Roxbury on 14 October1864 (MA VR to 1910, 172:226). Ellen was born 29 October 1844 at Carver, the daughter of Winslow Thomas and his first wife Ruth Shaw. (MA VR 1620-1850, Carver, 1:70) Interestingly, Ezra’s sister Elvira married Ellen’s father Winslow as his second wife. So Elvira was Ellen’s sister-in-law and step mother! 

They lived in Plymouth and had children Annie, Mary, Bertha, and Ezra. In 1870 Ezra and his family were living with his parents Isaac and Amelia and he’s called a train fireman. In 1880 he is the head of household in Plymouth, a train engineer, living with his wife, children Annie, Mary, Ezra, his 76 year old father Isaac, and a domestic servant. In 1900 he is living in Somerville, near Boston, with wife Ellen, grown children Ezra and Bertha. His daughter Mary had died 18 October 1898 at Somerville at age 30 of consumption. 

June 1863 Civil War Draft Registration, Plymouth: Ezra Benson, age 21, seaman, married, so even Ezra started out as a mariner. 

Ezra died 30 March 1907 at Plympton (MA VR 83:166). He was 66 years old, died from diabetes, and was a farmer. He’s buried Vine Hills Cemetery in Plymouth.

Isaac Benson. Isaac was born 6 April 1846 in Plymouth (Plymouth VR p 569). He married Mary Benson 8 December 1869 at Boston (MA VR 219:176). Mary was born Lowell, Massachusetts, to Samuel and Emily Benson. Marriage attentions were filed in Franklin New Hampshire where Mary lived. Impressively Isaac was already a sea captain at age 23.

They had daughters Emma, Annie, and Ida. In the 1870 census, Isaac and his wife Mary are living with his brother Benjamin’s family in Bristol, Rhode Island, a coastal town. Isaac is 24, a seaman; Mary is 24, working in a cotton mill. In the 1880 census he’s back in Plymouth, living near the Harbor on Court Street, with his wife Mary, daughters Emma 8 and Ida 6, and a sister [in law] whose name I can’t decipher, possibly Fannie.

Some letters he wrote to his brother Timothy are included in the digitized items of the older brother at Mystic Seaport. In 1867 he is paid 4 pounds 4 shillings at Scotland for 21 days of service on board his brother Timothy’s vessel The Viking. Also that year he is paid 34 pounds 4 shillings for service on The Viking at Greenock, also in Scotland. He often writes of things he’s dissatisfied with, such as family members not writing, and in 1869 he wrote “I will not go to sea for the rest of my lifetime if I can help it.” That year he mentions being in a gale off Hatteras and asks after his parents as well as Ez and Ellen. In 1875 Timothy writes in his log that “Benson” was off duty sick with a fever at two separate times in February and March, totaling over 20 days. 

Tragically he died at sea during a hurricane on 25 October 1897, south of Cape Hatteras. The brig Stacy Clarke of Boston was floundering so the crew had to abandon ship and spent 20 hours in a yawl boat before being rescue. As the crew was being picked up by the John Twohy, which was challenging because there was a gale and the Twohy was also damaged, the smaller boat capsized and the Captain (Isaac) and his mate drowned. The tragedy was written about in The Norfolk Virginian on 29 Oct 1897, The Wilmington Messenger, as well as a Boston paper. Some accounts omit his first name, but the Boston paper mentions it.

The Boston paper calls Isaac a well-known shipmaster who formerly commanded the barkentine Henry Warner, that he was about 50, and resided at Waltham where a widow and two grown daughters survive him. 

In 1900, Mary Benson is listed in the census, living in Waltham, Mass., as a widow. She lived to age 84, dying in Cranston, Rhode Island, at the home of her daughter Emily who was also a widow. Ida has died in 1903 at just 27 years of age.