John Butler, 1624-1658 and Mary Lynde of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

John Butler was baptized 2 January 1624/5 at St. Mary the Virgin Church, Ashford, Kent, England, the son of Nicholas Butler, so he was likely born in very late December 1624. [Church Register] His mother is not named in the baptism record but she is Joyce Baker, his father’s second wife. [Banks]

St. Mary the Virgin Church, Ashford

John was 12 when he came to New England in 1637 with his parents Nicholas and “Joice” of Eastwell, Kent, sister Lydia, brother Henry, and five servants. [NEHGR  75:221] Butler and others write that he came on the Hercules, but Robert Charles Anderson’s more recent research in The Great Migration Newsletter states the ship is unknown. The list of passengers "for the American Plantation" in the corporation records of Sandwich, England, is "certified under the seal of the office of Mayoralty 9 June 1637" but exactly when it sailed is not known. It may have been the ship that Gov. Winthrop mentioned arriving June 3rd of that year. [The Planters of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts] 

John’s father Nicholas Butler was a man of consequence as he is identified with the honorifics of “Gentleman” and “Mr.” in records. Other indications of his stature: he came to New England with five servants, he became a magistrate soon after arriving in Massachusetts Bay, his son Henry went to Harvard College, he was a substantial land owner, and his estate inventory included items of value including silver. The family was first at Dorchester, a Boston neighborhood. [NEHGR 5:391] 

The family removed to Edgartown on the island of Martha’s Vineyard in 1651 where they were early settlers. Because he was going to Martha’s Vineyard, Nicholas Butler gave his son John power of attorney in 1651 to make decisions regarding land transactions. [NEHGR 5:397] John was soon to follow his father. This rugged island must have suited the cultured Englishmen as father and son  lived out their days on the island.  They resided at Edgartown, near Swimming Place Point, across from Chappaquiddick Island. [Butler]

About 1648 John married, at Dorchester or Charlestown, Mary Lynde. [Torrey] She was baptized as Mary Line, daughter of Thomas Line on 24 February 1629/30 in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England. [Bedfordshire Parish Registers] Their last name is seen as Lynde and Line. Thomas Lynde emigrated to Charlestown, Massachusetts, where he owned an inn and held important positions including Deputy to the Massachusetts Bay Court. Mary’s mother was Hannah whose maiden name is unknown.

Mary was quite possibly the Mary Lyne who migrated in 1635 on the ship Abigail from London. She was age 6 and was in the custody of John Winthrop Jr. [Hotten 100] There is no other independent record in New England of another Mary Lyne/Lynde. [Anderson]  

Children of Mary and John, order uncertain:

1. John born Dorchester about 1651; married Priscilla Norton; died Edgartown 1738
2. Mary born about 1652; married Simon Athearn 4 October 1665 in Tisbury
3. Thomas born about 1654; married Jemima Daggett 27 November 1682 
4. Joseph born about 1656 at Edgartown; died 7 Sept 1689 at Edgartown 
5. Hannah born about 1658; married James Chadwick in February 1676/7 in Malden

I descend from John. I wrote a brief sketch about him here.

The Butler family removed to Edgartown on the island of Martha’s Vineyard in 1651 where they were early settlers. Because he was going to Martha’s Vineyard, Nicholas Butler gave his son John power of attorney to make decisions regarding land transactions. [NEHGR 5:397] John was soon to follow his father. This desolate place must have suited them as both men lived out their days on the island off the south coast of Massachusetts. They lived at Edgartown, near Swimming Place Point, across from Chappaquiddick Island. [Butler]

John was the first known whaler of Martha’s Vineyard, well before whaling became a predominant business in the 1800s. [Butler] He is also referred to as husbandman in records. He owned land at Dorchester, Roxbury and Edgartown.

On “ye 6th of January 1652 it is ordered by ye town and promised by ye town yt John Butler shall have his Lott reserved for him until ye beginning of May next, provided he be here by that time and inhabit with his family. Dec 16, 1652, Farther it is ordered by ye town yt ye said John Butler shall have all ye land yt is betweene ye highway and Hiacomes his Lott. November 1, 1652, ordered by ye town yt William Case hath given him a home Lott between John Butler and Hiacomes etc. March 8 1653 ordered that ye meadow by ye Pond is to be divided into twenty equal parts, etc. John Butler hath share No. 5.” Hiacoomes must have been an interesting neighbor: he was an American Indian who in 1643 was the first Christian convert from his Wampanoag tribe. 

On 6 June 1654, Captain John Butler was “chosen leader for this year of the [Edgartown] Company.” In 1655 he was again chosen leader of the Military Company. In 1658 he was constable. [Butler]

John Butler died, at Edgartown, before 21 July 1658 when his inventory was taken. [Banks] He was only about 33 years old. The inventory amounted to over £219. It was to be divided among his heirs when the children reached their majority. On “July ye last 1658, Thomas Birchard, John Daggett, John Pease, John Birchard” were the men chosen by Mr. Mayhew for “ordering of the estate of John Butler” deceased.  His widow Mary was administratrix of his estate. [Butler, citing Edgartown Records]

John’s widowed mother Joyce Butler wrote her will 13 March 1679/80 and mentioned her grandsons John and Thomas Butler and granddaughter Mary Athearn, all children of John. They received cattle, sheep, a variety of household items. Thomas was to receive her dwelling house. John was named executor. 

Mary (Lynde) Butler married, second, William Weeks. [Torrey] I have not found any indication of her death date but it was after 3 October 1693 when “Thomas Lind of Maldon, senior,” included bequests in his will to “my loving sister Mary Weeks” and to “my cousin John Butler to pay unto his mother Mary Weeks.” [Anderson]

John and Mary are the ancestors of the Vineyard Butlers as his brother Henry returned to England. 

From my bit of research on the Martha’s Vineyard government, Thomas Mayhew was essentially an autocratic leader of the independent, self-governing entity of Martha’s Vineyard, which in 1641 he purchased from the Wampanoag tribe. Later it was under the jurisdiction of the New York Colony. The lack of a democratic government led to dissension among the European settlers with people picking sides. Nicholas Butler, who was once an Assistant to the Governor, along with his son John, grandsons Thomas and John, were against Mayhew’s reign. John’s son-in-law Simon Athearn was accused of High Crimes for his stance against Mayhew. Initially this didn’t work out for them: Mayhew, after being summoned to New York, was named Governor for life, chief justice of the courts of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, and Lord of the Manor of Tisbury. His grandson Matthew Mayhew was collector and receiver of customs, and took over leadership of the island in 1682. Arrests, lawsuits and threats became a regular occurrence. Finally in 1691 Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket were transferred to the Province of Massachusetts Bay and a more democratic government followed.

Usually in my research of ancestors from small communities they repeatedly intermarry with other notable families, but I none of my Butlers married Mayhews. Now I know why!

Sources:

John’s Baptism: St. Mary the Virgin Church Register of Christenings, Marriages and Burials, Towne of Asheford, beginning in the 12th year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1570

Mary’s Baptism: F.G. Emmison, editor, Bedfordshire Parish Registers, Vol XLII Dunstable, page 12

Henry Langdon Butler, The Story of Our Butler Ancestors for Ten Generations from 1602 to 1919, published 1919

George Sherwood, American Colonists in English Records,1961

Torrey’s New England Marriages to 1700

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, 2008

The Great Migration Newsletter, “Editor’s Effusions,” vol 21-25, page 23 (July-Sept 2012):

Charles Edward Banks, The Planters of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1620-1640, Boston, 1930, Reprint c. 2006

Charles Edward Banks, The History of Martha's Vineyard, Dukes County, Massachusetts, Vol. III, 1911

Eben Putnam (communicated by), NEHGS Register, ”Two Early Passenger Lists 1635-1637“ 75:221 (July 1921)

NEHGS Register, “Old Dorchester,: 5:39, 397 (1851)

John Camden Hotten, ed., The Original Lists of Persons of Quality 1600-1700, published 2012

Henry Howland ca 1603-1671 of Fenstanton, England and Duxbury, Mass.

Henry was born about 1603 (based on estimated age at marriage), probably in Fenstanton, Huntingdonshire, the son of Henry and Margaret Howland. His brother, John Howland, whom I also descend from, was a Mayflower passenger. I wrote about John Howland here and here.Henry is my 9th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family. 

On 1 October 1623, Henry was apprenticed to his brother Humphrey, a master cloth maker at The Drapers Company on Thames Street, London. The term of the apprenticeship was seven years but the company records show no completion date for the apprenticeship so perhaps he did not finish. [Torrey]

About 1628, likely in England, Henry married a woman named Mary, whose maiden name is unknown. Some genealogists identify her maiden name as Newland but without providing proof. Wakefield and Sherman found no evidence supporting this claim.

Early Years in Plymouth Colony

Henry likely migrated in 1632. He was on the 1633 list of Plymouth Freeman, listed immediately before those admitted on 1 January 1632/33. [PCR 1:4] He was on the 6 March 1636/7 list of Plymouth Colony freeman. [PCR 1:52] In the 1639 list of Freeman he appears in the Duxbury section where he was living by January 1635/6 when he was named constable there. [Shurtleff] His name is erased from the 1658 list.  [PCR 8:174, 198]

Henry was taxed 9 shillings on the 25 March 1633 tax list and 18 shillings on the 27 March 1634 list, indicating how quickly he improved his financial situation.. [PCR 1:11, 28]

Henry was on the 1643 list of Men Able to Bear Arms for Duxbury. 

Children of Henry and Mary

In this sketch I assume Mary was Henry’s only wife and mother to all his children, but it is possible she was his second wife and an unknown first wife was mother to Abigail and Zoeth. Henry had eight children, births not recorded so birth years are estimates but all are mentioned in their parents’ wills:

1. Abigail born say 1628 probably in England; married Plymouth 13 Dec 1648 John Young [PCR 8:5]; died 7 April 1692 at Eastham on Cape Cod [MD 6:203]
2. Zoeth born say 1631 probably in England; married by 1657 Abigail ___ ; lived in Dartmouth, Bristol Co., where a land record states he is eldest son of Henry Howland [BCLR 1:48]; in March 1676 he was tortured and slain by the Indians at what is now Tiverton, Rhode Island, some say while on his way to the Quaker meeting in Newport and others while going to visit his son Daniel who operated a Pocaset Ferry. [Howland, citing records of the Friends Meeting of Newport]
3. John born say 1636; died Freetown, Bristol Co., before 8 Aug 1687 [BCPR 1:2]; some genealogists believe he never married, [Howland, Wakefield] but Anderson states he married Mary Walker at Duxbury 29 Jan 1684/5
4. Samuel born about 1638; described as “near 70 years old” on 8 July 1707 [Wakefield 75:112]; married, probably by 1673, Mary Sampson daughter of Abraham 
5. Mary born say 1643; married by 1665 James Cudworth; died at Scituate 1699-1700
6. Sarah born about 1645; m. Portsmouth Rhode Island 19 Nov 1672 Robert Dennis [Wakefield 75:216]; died Portsmouth 2 Oct 1712 aged about sixty-seven years [ibid]
7. Elizabeth born say 1647; married by about 1669 Jedidiah Allen 
8. Joseph born say 1649; married Rebecca Hussey at Hampton NH on 4 May 1683

I descend from Abigail as well as Mary. I wrote about Abigail and her husband John Young here.

Work and Community Service

It appears Henry was primarily a farmer. His inventory included a considerable number of farm animals and foodstuffs such as cider and wheat. He paid for a 1640 land purchase with Indian corn. He also briefly held additional occupations including constable and surveyor. 

Henry was literate as he signed his will and his inventory included books.

At Plymouth Court held 5 January 1635, Henry Howland was chosen constable for Duxberry. [Howland, citing Plymouth Colony Court Records] I should think Henry’s interest in the Quaker faith must have happened after this time as he would not have wanted to collect taxes from people which included the ministerial tax. 

In March 1636/7 Henry Howland was named to a committee to view the hay grounds of “Ducksbury,” from the river beyond Phillip Delanoy’s to the South River. [Howland]

In 1656 and 1668 he was Duxbury surveyor of highways. [PCR 3:100, 4:181] He served on many petit and grand juries from 1636 to 1656. In 1657 he notably refused to serve on a grand jury.  [Various Plymouth Court Records]

Land Transactions

Henry was a substantial land owner. His homestead was on the bay side of Duxbury near the property of Love Brewster. [Winsor] A map depicting the early settlement of Duxbury shows Henry and Mary Howland living near what was then called the Duxborough Path. 

Source: Lamont Healy "Duxbury, Our Pilgrim Story"

On 27 July 1640 William Renolds acknowledged the sale to Henry Howland of Duxbury of five acres of upland in Duxbury and one acre of marsh meadow lying at the east end thereof, with all rights. The price paid was 12 bushels of Indian corn. [PCR 12:60-61] 

On 6 June 1650 Henry Howland granted to Experience Mitchell and his heirs access to a spring on the border of his property. [MD 1:97-8, citing PCLR 2:1:9]

In 1652 Mr. Howland was assigned one share of the original purchase of Dartmouth. He likely didn’t lived there but kept some horses and cattle on the property.  Until 1787 Dartmouth was quite large, comprising what is now the city of New Bedford and towns of Dartmouth, Westport, Fairhaven, and Acushnet.  [Howland]

He was one of the original proprietors at Bridgewater in 1645 but it does not appear he took up residence. Many of the proprietors stayed where they were and left the Bridgewater land to their heirs.

On 2 April 1659 Henry, with 26 others, bought of Wamsutta and Pattapanum what was then called Assonet and is now Freetown. The price was 20 coats, 2 rugs, 2 iron pots, 2 kettles, 1  little kettle, 8 pairs shoes, 6 pairs stockings, 1 dozen hats, 2 dozen hatchets, and 2 yards broadcloth. [Howland]

At the 1660 division, Henry received the sixth lot of freeman’s land at Taunton River, which was inherited by his son Samuel.  In 1664 he bought a large tract of land in Mattapoisett (later Swansea). [Howland]

Henry provided home lots for three of his sons: Samuel settled on Henry’s land at Freetown as early as 1665,  Zoeth made a homestead on his parents’ Dartmouth land as early as 1662, and Joseph lived on the old homestead at Duxbury. He would have taken care of his mother after his father’s death. 

Religious Beliefs

I have enjoyed researching Henry, particularly because of his Quaker beliefs. I have great respect for my ancestors who had the courage and conviction to go against the grain in their religious practices. I have also long admired qualities that many Quakers possessed: anti-slavery stance, belief in pacifism, willingness to take in refugees, and allowing women to hold church roles.

Henry’s Quaker beliefs got him noticed by the colony’s Separatist leaders. On 22 December 1657 he was called to court for entertaining Quakers at his house. [PCR 3:126]  On 2 March 1657/8 he was fined 10s for entertaining a meeting at his house contrary to the order of the court. [PCR 3:129]

At the 1 March 1659 court, Goodwife Howland wife of Henery Howland, Zoeth Howland and his wife, Arthur Howland and his wife of Marshfield and two others were presented for frequently absenting themselves from public worship of God and were fined 10 shillings each.  Interesting that Henry himself is not on this list. [Howland]

On 7 June 1659 “Henry Howland of Duxburrow” as a Quaker “or manifest encourager of such” was on a list to lose freemanship and was ordered to appear in August to be convicted and censured. [PCR 3:167] At court on 6 October 1659 Henry Howland was disenfranchised for being an “Abettor and entertainer of Quakers.” [PCR 3:176] 

On 1 May 1660 Henry was accused of entertaining another man’s wife in his house after complaint was made to him by the husband, for permitting a Quaker meeting in his house, and for entertaining a foreign Quaker contrary to the order of the court. The first charge he “stiffly denied,” but he was convicted of the other two and fined. [PCR 3:186] He was twice fined on 2 Oct 1660 for entertaining Quaker meetings. [PCR 3:201] I would guess entertaining another man’s wife concerned religious matters that the husband did not support.

Henry’s brother Arthur Howland of Duxbury and Marshfield was also a Quaker and many of the children of both brothers followed the religion as adults.

Henry & Mary’s Deaths and Legacies

Henry Howland of Duxburrow’s will was dated 28 Nov 1670 and proved 8 March 1670/1. He names his wife Mary, sons Zoeth, Joseph, John, and Samuel, and daughters, Sarah, Elizabeth, Mary, and Abigail. His son Joseph received the homestead. 

Henry Howland bequeathed “all my housing both dwelling house and barn, with all my lands both upland and meadow…within the township of Duxburrow…unto my son Joseph Howland only during my wife’s life she shall have and enjoy the new room to herself for her own use;” to “my son Joseph Howland four oxen and two heifers and one horse with all the tackling…also a bed with things belonging therunto, as also my fowling piece;” “my son Joseph Howland out of the forementioned houses and lands and cattle shall pay or cause to be paid unto my son Zoeth Howland £20…as also 12d apiece to all his brothers and sisters and their children now surviving;” to “my daughter Sarah two heifers and two steers and one mare now running at Ponaganset, as also one bed and bedding thereunto belonging;” to “my son John one musket’” to “my daughter Elizabeth one cow;” “my old mare now running at Ponagansett unto my son Samuell Howland;” to “my son Joseph Howland two acres of meadowland…at…Gurnett’s Nose Marsh;” to “my daughter Mary 10s;” to “my daughter Abigaill 10s to be paid by my son Joseph who is to sell a barrel of cider and to pay it out of that;” “my two sons John and Samuell each of them a barrel of cider;” to “my loving wife Mary Howland” the residue. The will as witnessed by Samuel Nash and John Sprague. [PCPR 3:26]

Henry died at Duxbury 1 “leventh month” [January] 1670/1 [The Pilgrim Migration and Pembroke Friends] He was likely in his late 60s.

Henry Howland of Duxburrow’s inventory was taken 14 January 1670/71 by Constant Southworth, Samuel Nash and John Soule. It was presented at court on 8 March 1670 by his son Joseph Howland. The estate was valued at over £141 and did not include real estate. It contained 29 farm animals (horses, cows, oxen, pigs, and a mule) and farm equipment; furniture and other household items; wearing apparel; silk and buttons to make him a new coat; handmade cloth; 20 pounds of feathers; books; two guns; 10 barrels of cider; bushels of malt, wheat, peas, Indian corn; beef, pork and bacon; a canoe. [PCPR 3:27] 

That Henry owned silk that was to be made into clothing for him hints that his illness was likely fairly brief, probably prompting him to write his will in November, and also that he was a man of means. I am always struck by how intertwined these early families were—all of the men who took Henry’s inventory are my direct ancestors. 

In her will, dated 8 May 1674 and proved first 26 April 1674 and second 8 April 1675, Mary Howland “sometimes the wife of Hennery Howland now deceased” bequeathed to “my daughter Abigaill Young” £1; to “my son Zoeth Howland” £1; to “my son John Howland my horse at Ponagansett;” to “my daughter Mary Cudworth” £1; to “my son Samuel Howland” £1; to “my daughter Sarah Denis” £1; to “my daughter Elizabeth Allin” £1; and to “my son Joseph Howland” the residue. Mary signed the will with her mark. [PCPR 3:2:10] Note that some researchers misread the will and state that Mary left John a bequest of a house at Ponagansett, but Wakefield believes it reads horse. 

Note that Ponagansett mentioned in both Henry and Mary’s wills refers to the early Native American name of Dartmouth.

“Mary Howland who had bin the wife of Hennery” died at Duxbury 16 6m [June] 1674. [Pembroke Friends]

The family homestead in Duxbury was sold out of the family to Samuel Sprague in 1708. One notable "exception" to the sale was "so much of the upland of the house lot as contains the graves of Henry Howland and Joseph Howland ye grandfather and father of ye grantor with others related to him.” The location of these graves is not currently known. Sprague purchased adjoining parcels of land and his property became known as Sprague’s Neck which started at Sprague’s Wharf. Henry’s land is currently the site of the Duxbury Yacht Club clubhouse and a golf course. [Healy]

Sources:

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, 1995

Robert Charles Anderson, The Pilgrim Migration, 2004

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

Will: MD 19:32

Justin Winsor, History of the Town of Duxbury, Massachusetts with Genealogical Registers, 1849

Lamont “Monty” Healy,  Duxbury Clipper, “Duxbury’s Early Settlers: The Henry Howland Grant,” July 21, 2010

Franklyn Howland, A Brief Genealogical and Biographical History of Arthur, Henry, and John Howland and their Descendants, 1880

Clarence A Torrey, The American Genealogist, “The Howland Ancestry,” 14:214 (1937)

Robert S. Wakefield and Robert M. Sherman, National Genealogical Society Quarterly (NGSQ), “Henry Howland of Duxbury, Massachusetts, 1633, His Children and Grandchildren,” 75:2:105-116 (June 1987)

Franklin Howland, A Brief Genealogical and Biographical History of Arthur, Henry, and John Howland and Their Descendants of the United States and Canada, 1885

Gary Boyd Roberts, The American Genealogist, “American Presidential Ancestry,” 55:51 (Jan 1979)

Clarence Almon Torrey, The American Genealogist, “The Howland Ancestry,” 14:214-15 (April 1938)

Pembroke Friends Monthly Meeting 1676-1776, LDS Microfilm No. LH 2173-74, RI Historical Society Library in Providence [includes some vital records of Duxbury, Scituate and Freetown members]

William T. Davis, Ancient Landmarks of Plymouth, Part II, 1899

Nathaniel Shurtleff and David Pulsifier, editors, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, 1:4, 11, 28, 36, 74, 87, 155; 2:84, 140, 155, 160, 162; 3:32, 48, 100, 129, 167, 176, 186, 201, 224; 4:181; 8:184, 188, 189; 12:60, 1855-1861

Records of the Town of Plymouth, 3 vols, 1:4 (1889)

George Ernest Bowman, Mayflower Descendant, “Plymouth Colony Wills and Inventories,” 19:32-33 (Jan 1917) [Henry’s probate]

Plymouth Colony Probate Records 3:2:10 [Mary’s probate]

Charles F. Washburn Pt. 2: Manter's Cranberry Bog

Charles F. Washburn, born Plymouth 7 October 1857 to Seth and Mary (Bumpus) Washburn, is my great-great-grandfather. He married Hattie Maria Benson in 1878 and they had eight children, including my great-grandmother Carrie Washburn. 

I like to find where my ancestors lived and worked. When Charles' wife Hattie died in 1914, her obituary stated that Charles was a superintendent at Manter's Cranberry Bog in Plymouth. I couldn't find anything only about this specific bog.

I asked on the “Plymouth Remembering When” Facebook group if anyone knew the location of Manter’s Cranberry Bog. A knowledgeable man named Skip said it was “located at Warren's Wells... Today it would be in the center of Camelot Park... Warren's Wells was a huge spring and it sat in the middle of the Bog. It was among the first land grants given out by the Pilgrims in 1627. It is also the head waters for Warren Wells Brook, which is a tributary of the Eel River.” 

I did more research and found it was near what is now 130 Camelot Drive, so I drove by and took photos. It is hard to envision this industrial park as a pastoral place, although there is a river that would be pretty in different surroundings. 

Charles moved around a lot but always rented in Plymouth. It must have been challening to find an affordable rental to accommodate such a large family. They lived in the Chiltonville area of town, which is the most rural part of Plymouth, and also downtown. At about the time he is noted as working at Manter’s Cranberry Bog (1914), he was likely living on Jordan Road in Chiltonville (address in 1910 census.) This is about 4 miles from the bog via modern roadways; perhaps there was a shorter route if on foot or horseback.

I wrote a biographical sketch about Charles here.

Samuel Briggs (ca 1640-after Feb 1714) and His Wife Elizabeth Ellis of Sandwich and Rochester, Massachusetts

Samuel Briggs was born about 1640, probably at Sandwich on Cape Cod, to John and Katherine (——) Briggs. He is my 9th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family.

Samuel married Elizabeth Ellis about 1664 at Sandwich.  Elizabeth was born Sandwich about 1645, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Freeman) Ellis. I wrote about John and Elizabeth here. Elizabeth’s grandfather Edmund Freeman was an original Sandwich settler. Torrey has it as questionable that Samuel married Bennet Freeman (Elizabeth’s sister), but I believe that is incorrect. Because of a lack of records, Elizabeth’s identification as daughter of John and Elizabeth Ellis as well as wife of Samuel Briggs is based on circumstantial evidence. Much of that evidence is surrounding their removal to Rochester (originally called Sippican). Elizabeth Freeman Ellis removed there along with Samuel and Elizabeth Briggs; her son William Ellis held land in common with his brother-in-law Samuel Briggs. [McLean & Brownson]

Elizabeth and Samuel had six known children, first four with surname Briggs recorded Sandwich VR 1: 26 and in MD 14:174 as children of “Samuell Bridgs;” Hannah is recorded Sandwich VR 1:13 as daughter of “Samuell Briggs.”

1.Elizabeth born 3 April 1665, married John Benson 

2. Benit/Bennett born 14 Oct 1667; died before 6 June 1694; married 20 Aug 1687 James Stuard

3. Ebenezer born 9 June 1671; he likely died young as his father did not grant him land

4. Samuel born 12 Dec 1673

5. Hannah born 14 Feb 1675/6; married John Barrow in 1698 

6. John, birth not recorded; married Ruth Barrow; died Rochester 1727/28  [grave record, buried Little Neck Cemetery. Marion]; relationship shown when Samuel Briggs deeded land to dutiful son John

I descend from their daughter Elizabeth as well as their son John. I wrote about John and Elizabeth (Briggs) Benson here.

At Sandwich Samuel served on a grand inquest in June 1674 and was surveyor of highways in 1678. [Hannibal] He is on the 1675 list of men allowed to vote at Sandwich Town Meetings. [Deyo]

R.A. Lovell’s book features a map depicting the 1667 homestead locations in Scusset and Town Neck area of Sandwich. Samuel Briggs is listed on Tupper Road, then referred to as the Back Street, next to Thomas Burgess, another of my direct ancestors. The map also shows a block of planting fields in three rows between Cross Street (Old Main Street at the Dillingham House) across to Town Neck. Nearby there were nine abutters including Samuel Briggs and Thomas Tupper Jr.

Map showing location of Samuel's homestead from Sandwich A Cape Cod Town

His house on Tupper Road was probably built circa 1637 and inherited from his parents. Samuel sold it about 1682 to move with his family and mother-in-law to Rochester.

In Rochester Proprietor’s Records, Samuel Briggs’ name appears in the list of Sandwich residents who were at the first meeting of the Sippican purchasers. 

Samuel Briggs received a many land grants at Rochester and was involved in other land transactions.

• Samuel Briggs of Sandwich, grantor, to John Wing Sr of Sandwich “my 1/2 share of lands at Sepican” 2 Aug 1681. (Recorded 1718 Ply Co LR 14:68)
• On 31 March 1685 Samuel Briggs received lot 29 at Sippican by the sea and lot 29 in the woods. [Recorded 1685, Ply Co, Rochester Prop R. Vol 1, p 14]
• Samuel Briggs received the first lot at Cromset and lot 28 at Sippican Neck 10 Feb 1694. (Recorded 1694, Ply Co., Rochester Prop R., 1:21)
• Granted Lot 22 at Salt Meadow and lot 15 at Fresh Meadow on 13 July 1697. (Recorded 1697, Ply Co Rochester Prop R., 1:25)
• Received 40 acres of Ministry land in exchange for a cartway through his lands to the town’s General Landing Place on the north side of the harbor in 1697. (Recorded 1697, Rochester Prop Rec 1:25)
• Samuel Briggs, grantor, to William Ellis, grantee, of “Middleberry” 1/2 lot no 22 of Fresh Meadow 21 May 1701. (Recorded 1714, Ply Co LR 11:85) 
• Samuel Briggs received 40 acres next to meadow lot 19, 30 March 1702. (Recorded 1702 Rochester Prop Rec 1:11)
• William Shurtleff of Plymouth, grantor, to Samuel Briggs Sr grantee, 1/2 of upland meadow on Sampson’s Brook in Plymouth 13 Dec 1701 (Recorded Ply Co LR 4:90)
• Samuel Briggs received lot 25 at Dartmouth Gore, 27 June 1704. (Recorded 1704, Roch Prop Rec 1:56)
• Samuel Briggs received lot 32 in cedar and spruce swamps 11 Feb 1706/7. (Recorded 1706/7, Rochester Prop Rec 1:91) (Ply Co LR 14:68)
• John Benson Jr grantor “to my honored father Samuel Briggs” grantee, “my sea lot no 7 of 40 acres, 21 March 1704/5. (Recorded Ply Co LR 14:42)
• On 11 Feb 1713/14 Samuel Briggs Sr of Rochester to “dutiful son John Briggs of Rochester,” 1/2 upland meadows, numerous house lots and other pieces in Rochester,” witnesses Joseph and Stephen Wing. This deed establishes John, whose birth is not recorded in Sandwich, as the son of Samuel Briggs Sr of Rochester. (Recorded 2 Jan 1715/6 Ply Co LR 11:94)

No probate or death records found for Elizabeth and Samuel. Samuel died after the 11 February 1713/14 deed, likely at Rochester.

Sources: 

Edna Anne Hannibal, John Briggs of Sandwich, Massachusetts and His Descendants, 1962

R.A. Lovell Jr, Sandwich, A Cape Cod Town, third edition, 1996, first printing 1984

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

Lydia B (Phinney) Brownson and Maclean W. McLean, NEHGS Register, “Lt. John 1 and Elizabeth (Freeman) Ellis of Sandwich, Mass.,” 119:161 (July 1965)