John Briggs (ca 1679-1728) and His Wife Ruth Barrow of Plymouth, Sandwich and Rochester, Massachusetts

John Briggs was born about 1679 [based on age at death] at Sandwich on Cape Cod, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Ellis) Briggs. I wrote about Samuel and Elizabeth here.

John “Brigs” of Rochester married Ruth Barrow on 23 December 1701 at Plymouth [Plymouth VR p. 88]. Her maiden name is recorded as Barnes but the will of her husband as well as a deed prove her to have been Ruth Barrow/Barrows. Some sources have the year of marriage as 1703 but I believe that is a misreading of the record which has an unusual style “1.”

Ruth was born about 1677, the daughter of Robert and Ruth (Bonham) Barrow of Plymouth. Ruth and John are my 8th great-grandparents on my Grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family. I wrote about Ruth's parents here.

Children of John and Ruth (Barrow) Briggs, all born Rochester [Hannibal]:

1. Keziah born 6 Sept 1702; married 11 Jan 1727/8 John Jenne/Jenney 
2. Sarah born 12 March 1703
3. Cornelius born 16 Nov 1705
4. Silas born 8 Sept 1708
5. John born 7 July 1711
6. Samuel born 5 June 1718, twin, died young/not named father’s will
7. Elizabeth born 5 June 1718; married Rochester 25 Oct 1733 David Nye

I descend from Elizabeth who I wrote about here.

John was a large landowner and both he and Ruth were involved in multiple land transactions.

John Briggs received 20 acres next to house lots 3 and 4 from the share of Elizabeth Ellis on 25 May 1701. [Rochester Proprietor Records 1:109]

Samuel Briggs, grantor, to “dutiful son John,” grantee 1/2 upland meadows on 11 Feb 1714. [Ply Co LR 11:94]

John and Ruth Briggs (in her name) grantors to George Barrow, grantee, two parcels of land, one in Plymouth by the name of Newfield and one in Plympton beside Southern Brook on 19 July 1723. Witnesses: Arthur Hathaway, Sarah Briggs, Ruth Barrow. [Plym Co LR 30:168]

Samuel Barrow, Ruth Briggs, children of Ruth Barrow, wife of Robert, and the children of her eldest son John (Barrow), deceased, George, Mehitable and Samuel Barrow, grantors, to Robert Barrow of Mansfield, grantee, house, barn, house lot and corn grist mill on 3 Dec 1725. [Ply Co LR 26:55]

John Briggs received 37 acres at Sippican Great Neck (part of his father’s 200-acre share) on 28 Jan 1726/7. [Rochester Prop Rec 1:179]

John Briggs died Rochester 2 March 1727/8, age 49 years. [Rochester Vital Records p 355 citing grave record) He is buried at Little Neck Cemetery in Marion. [Find A Grave ID No. 126487224] 

Source: Find A Grave

John was well-to-do. His will and inventory are quite lengthy, and his bequests included a good deal of land, farm animals, and money. His inventory is four pages long and his real estate alone was valued at £2,420. 

John Briggs, yeoman of Rochester, wrote his will on 28 September 1727 and named his son Cornelius and brother-in-law Samuel Barrow of Middleborough executors. Witnessed by Dorothy Wing, Ichabod Nye, and Timothy Ruggles. It was proved 16 March 1727/8 when Ichabod Nye and Timothy Ruggles made oath to Judge of Probate Isaac Winslow; Dorothy Wing didn’t appear until 2 May 1728.

Bequests:

• Wife Ruth third part of the income of his homestead or for his son to maintain her “according to her rank” all things needful for her comfort while she is his widow.
• Eldest son Cornelius westerly side of his homestead at the Great Brook in the Calves Pastime Neck; one-third cedar & spruce swamps;  three quarters of a share of common right in Rochester being half of what belonged to his father Samuell Briggs; all remaining stock of cattle and other living creatures and building tools; he was to provide for his mother in her widowhood and for his sister Elizabeth until she comes to age of 14. 
• Son Silas remainder of his homestead on the Easterly side down tot he Great Neck at Joseph Benson’s land; salt meadow owned in partnership with Joseph Benson; one half of his Calf Island; 20 acres of the two hundred acre grant of his Honored Father Samuel Briggs; one-third cedar & spruce swamps; two oxen, two cows, three young cattle of one year, fifteen sheep and his young horse.  
• Youngest son John all his lands and meadow at Charles Neck, other land and marsh, half of Calves Island, half common undivided land, one-third cedar & spruce swamps,  £220 of money within a year of his decease, two oxen, two cows, ten sheep and colt for Cornelius to keep for him until he comes of age
• Daughter Keziah £120—half money and half in moveables within three months of his decease to be paid in full amount; chest of drawers valued at about  £6. 
• Daughter Sarah £120 —half money and half in moveables within six months of his decease; chest of drawers valued at about  £6.
• Daughter Elizabeth £8 money to b e put to interest for her within one year of his decease; chest of drawers valued at about  £6.
• Brother Samuel Briggs fresh meadow in Rochester he bought of James Winslow on condition he let his three sons’ cattle feed there each spring; land he bought of Capt Seth Pope Esqr of Dartmouth with all the housing and buildings upon it in Rochester; 14 acres of additional land he bought of John Mumford; one quarter of a share of undivided & common right in Rochester being part of John Perry’s share. I don’t recall seeing an ancestor with children leaving land to a sibling.
• Kinswoman Ruth Barrow unmarried and living with her grandmother Briggs shall continue to live there until her grandmother’s death or her own marriage; also a chest of drawers. [This would be John’s niece Ruth daughter of his sister Hannah Briggs and her husband John Barrows living with her grandmother Elizabeth (Ellis) Briggs]
• His three sons were to evenly divided any further land. 
• Any money and moveables remaining after his funeral expenses and debts should be equally divided between his six children.

He gives his executors permission to sell and buy land, if they see a good opportunity, on behalf of his minor son John until he comes of lawful age. 

John Briggs' signature

Benjamin Hammond and Timothy Ruggles swore to John Briggs of Rochester’s inventory on 30 April 1728.  

Some items in his inventory that indicate wealth: a looking glass, three Bibles, silver spoons, and a gilded trunk. 

I am by no means an expert on colonial occupations, but John’s inventory sheds light on how he made a living. He or his wife/daughters created fabric, presumably to sell. They owned a loom, three linen wheels, some 232 yards of cloth, and twenty double skeins of yarn. He also owned some leather for shoe making. 

Twenty gallons of molasses listed in his inventory perhaps indicates he imported this large quantity to sell. That he was involved in commerce is further supported by a pair of money scales and brass weights listed in his inventory, and that he kept more than £6 in cash in the house. 

That he farmed, and on a fairly large scale, is indicated by his owning three yoke of oxen, more than 50 bushels of corn, flax, five bushels of rye, tobacco tongs, ten cows with their calves, five other cows, 23 cattle [cattle are any bovine where cows are specifically mature female bovine], a bull, a mare and colt, two additional horses, sheep [number is smudged], ten swine, and many farming tools.

Apparently he manufactured building shingles as his inventory included 2,000 new shingles. Also included is 500 new deal boards and 22 board logs at the sawmill. 

Sadly John’s inventory also included the remaining years of indenture for an Indian boy and girl valued at 30 pounds. My understanding is that Native Americans who were captured during wars and other conflicts were sometimes entered into indentured servitude. This was against their will, so similar to slavery, but with an end date when the servants would gain freedom. 

An interesting item in the inventory is “the old house where the ancient widow lives.”  Clearly his wife is too young to be regarded as ancient and his mother-in-law was deceased by 1684. This must be his mother Elizabeth (Ellis) Briggs as in his will he mentions his niece Ruth Barrows living with her grandmother Briggs in a house that he clearly owned. So now I know his mother Elizabeth, my 10th great-grandmother, lived to the old age of at least 83. I love “aha” moments in genealogy!

On 2 May 1728 Samuel Barrow was appointed guardian of John Briggs, under 21 years, son of John Briggs, deceased, and of Elizabeth Briggs, under 14 years. [Plym Co Guardianships and Probate 5:383, no 2841]

John’s widow was likely the Ruth Briggs who married, as his 3rd wife, Samuel Winslow (son of Kenelm and Mercy (Worden) Winslow) on 15 Sept 1739. [Hannibal] I have not found Ruth’s death record, but Deacon Samuel Winslow died 9 November 1760 and is buried Petersham, Worcester County, Massachusetts. [Find A Grave ID No. 131898605] I should think Samuel, and perhaps Ruth, went to live with family as Samuel’s son Kenelm lived in Petersham.

Sources:

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

Martin E. Hollick, NEHGS Register, “John Barrows of Plymouth,” Volume 166, April 2012

John Briggs will and inventory: Plymouth County Probate Record 5:384, No. 2880 [available at ancestry.com “Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records 1635-1991”]

Mayflower Ancestor: Francis Cooke ca 1583 to 1663, of England, Leiden, and Plymouth and His Wife Hester Mahieu

Francis Cooke was born about 1583 in England [he was under 61 in 1643 but not much younger since he married in 1603]; his exact origins and parents are unknown. He came to Plymouth on the Mayflower. He is my 10th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family. I have written about Francis before, but this is an expanded sketch. My line to Francis has been approved by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants.

Francis was a religious dissenter who before 1603 moved to Leiden with other Separatists to practice their religion without fear of punishment by the English government. There he married Hester Mahieu. On 4 July 1603 “Franchoys Coucke” a woolcomber from England, and Esther Mahieu, an unmarried young woman from Canterbury, announced their betrothal at Leiden. Hester’s mother and sister, both named Jenne [Jeanne] accompanied Hester; Philip De Veau and Raphael Roelandt were with Francis. [Bangs] They may have married that day or soon afterward, likely at Vrouwekerk.  [MD Vol 8, 2011]

Vrouwekerk Church in Leiden Source: Wikipedia

Vrouwekerk Ruins in Leiden Source: Wikipedia

Hester was born between 1582-88, the daughter of Jacque and Jeanne [—?—] Mahieu who were Walloons; Protestants from France (now southern Belgium). In 1535 a French edict banned all heretics (non-Catholics), causing a wave of religious refugees to leave for England and elsewhere. Some moderate French Calvinist refugees were accepted in England—those who would establish churches that were largely in-step with the Church of England. They became known as Strangers and where they worshipped as "Strangers Churches." By1540 there were substantial settlements of French Protestants in Kent and in Sussex. The first congregation of French Protestants was established at Canterbury, Kent, in 1548, where Hester is noted in records as living. [Bangs]

In 1572 the Massacre of St. Bartholomew’s Day in France that targeted Huguenots (French Calvinist Protestants) led to more refugees coming to England.  The Huguenots generally joined together with the Walloons in worship. Many of these refugees were weavers and dyers who added diversification to towns that were already centers of the cloth trade. [Baker]

In Leiden Hester and Francis lived near the Levendaal Canal but they frequently crossed the English Channel. In 1606 the Cookes left Leiden for Norwich, England, another area with a large Walloon and Huguenot community that were welcome to help boost a sagging textile industry. They were back in Leiden in 1607 for their son John’s baptism, returned to Norwich, and were again in Leiden in 1608. [Bangs] 

At first the “Strangers” in Canterbury worshipped at St Alphege Church, and when they outgrew that they moved to Canterbury Cathedral. Hester's family may have known Separatist Robert Cushman who lived in Canterbury and was married at St. Alphege. Pilgrim James Chilton also was from Canterbury. Some of these refugees eventually went to Leiden, where they would have had extensive contact with the Pilgrims. [Bangs]

Edward Winslow wrote: "also the wife of Francis Cooke being a Walloone, holds communion with the Church at Plymouth, as she came from the French, to this day, by vertue of communion of Churches.” She became a member of the Walloon Reformed Church in Leiden, also known as the French Reformed Church in 1603. [Bangs]

There was a Francis Cocke and wife in London in 1611 on the list of resident aliens but unclear if Francis and Hester. [Bangs]

Hester and Francis had seven children, first five likely born in Leiden:

1. Jane born about 1604; married about May 1627 Experience Mitchell
2. John born before January 1607; married Sarah Warren (daughter of Richard of the Mayflower) in 1634; died Dartmouth 3 December 1695
3. An unnamed child who died May 1608 as an infant
4. Elizabeth born before 26 Dec 1611; died before 1623
5. Jacob born about 1618; m. 1st Damaris 2 Hopkins (daughter of Stephen of the Mayflower); 2nd Elizabeth (Lettice) Shurtleff
6. Hester born 1621-25, at Leiden or Plymouth; married in 1644 Richard Wright
7. Mary born Plymouth 1624-27; married in 1646 John Thompson/Tompson

I descend from Hester. I wrote about her here.

William Bradford wrote in 1651 that  "Francis Cooke is still living, a very old man and hath seen his children's children have children. After his wife came over with other of his children; he hath three still living by her, all married and have five children, so their increase is eighty. And his son John which came over with him is married, and hath four children living" (Bradford 442, 446). Francis Cooke signed the Mayflower Compact.

At Leiden, Francis was a woolcomber by trade. He must have been a strong man as the wool industry in Leiden required brute force. [Fraser] 

Francis brought his son John with him on the Mayflower, although they were originally on the ship Speedwell which had to turn back when it was proved unseaworthy. Both survived the deadly first winter. Francis signed the Mayflower Compact in November 1620 when the boat was anchored off Provincetown. [MD I:79] 

Francis and his family and other associates were included in the the Plymouth Division of Cattle in 1627 [Mayflower Descendant 1:149]: “Uppon wch agreement they were equally devided by lotts soe as the burthen of keeping the males then beeing should be borne for common use by those to whose lot the best cowes should fall & so the lotts fell as followeth. thirteene psonts being pportioned to one lot.”

1 The first lot fell to ffrancis Cooke & his Companie Joyned to him his wife Hester Cooke 

3 John Cooke

4 Jacob Cooke

5 Jane Cooke

6 Hester Cooke

7 Mary Cooke

8 Moses Simonson

9 Phillip Delanoy [later Delano]

10 Experience Michaell [Mitchell] [Jane was to marry Experience Mitchell about this time]

11 John ffance [Faunce]

2 Joshua Pratt

13 Phinihas Pratt

To this lot fell the least of the 4 black Heyfers Came in the Jacob, and two shee goats.

Moses Simonson, John Faunce, and Joshua Pratt are also my direct ancestors. 

Francis seems to have been a husbandman in Plymouth, not holding any positions of power. George Bowman wrote that his frequent service on the grand inquest and trial juries and as a surveyor of highways makes it clear that he was a man of sound judgment and had the respect and confidence of the community.

As a “First Comer” Francis received multiple land grants over the years.

Francis appears on diagram of "meersteads & garden plots of (those) which came first laid out 1620" between Isaac Allerton and Edward Winslow (PCR 12:3). In 1623 Plymouth land division received two acres as passenger on Mayflower, plus four acres for the rest of his family which came on the Anne in 1623 (PCR 12:4, 5); some of this land had apparently been sold to William Bradford by 1639 (PCR 12:51). In the 1627 Plymouth cattle division Francis Cooke, his wife Hester Cooke, John Cooke, Jacob Cooke, Jane Cooke, Hester Cooke and Mary Cooke were the first seven persons in the first company (PCR 12:9).

On 3 December 1638 a small parcel of land which had been previously granted to Francis Cooke was instead granted to Thomas Prence (PCR 1:103). On 4 Feb 1638/9 "a parcel of upland lying at the end of Goodman Shawe's land at Smilt River is granted to Francis Cooke" (PCR 1:112).

On 5 Oct 1640 Francis Cooke and John Cooke Jr. were granted a parcel of upland "provided it do not exceed two hundred acres of upland, and the meadow before it," along with a parcel of upland "containing about 10 or 12 acres" (PCR 1:163, 2:149, 164). On 9 April 1650 Francis Cooke gave "his son Jacob Cook" all his right in 100 acres at North River granted him 5 Oct 1640 (PCR 12:185). On 17 Oct 1642 Francis Cooke ws one of those who received six acres apiece "if it be there to be had" at North Meadow by Jones River (PCR 2:49). He is on the list of Purchasers (PCR 2:177).

On 3 June 1662 Francis Cooke was included in the lost of those who might "look out some accommodations of land, as being the first born children of this government" PCr 4:19.

On 1 March 1663/4, the court "taking notice of such evidence as hath been produced for the clearing of a controversy between John Tompson, plaitiff, and Richard Wright, in reference to a parcel of land at Namassakett, do allow an agreement between the said parties, which was ordered here to be entered, as followeth, viz: that the said parties shall have equal share of the land allotted to Francis Cooke at Namaskett aforesaid, provided that they be equal in bearing the charge about the said land" (PCR 4:54).

On 8 June 1666 John Cooke, Jacob Cooke, Hester Wright the wife of Richard Wright, and Mary Tompson the wife of John Tompson, in order to prevent dispute over the intent of their father Francis Cooke in his will with regard to the land at Rocky Nook, agreed to divide it into five shares, with John Cooke as the eldest son getting two shares (PCLR 3:73).

On 5 July 1670 "Whereas it is evident to the Court, that a certain tract or parcel of land, called Old Cooke's Holes, lying at Jonses River meadow, was formerly granted unto Francis Cooke, of Plymouth, deceased, in the lieu of some land which is supposed would have fallen within his line at the Smelt Brooke, but is not fully settled on the said Cooke and his heirs and assigns, this Court doth by these presents fully and absolutely settle, ratify, assure and confirm the said grant of land or tract of land, being threescore acres...unto the said Francis Cooke, his heirs and assigns forever, which said land wa given by the said Francis Cooke unto Richard Wright and Thomas Michell, commonly called Old Cooke's Holes, and since his decease ratified and confirmed unto the said Richard Wright and Thomas Michell by John Cooke, the heir unto the said Francis Cooke" (PCR 5:44).

He is on the "1633" Plymouth list of freemen ahead of those admitted on 1 Jan 1632/33 (PCR 1:3); in 7 March 1636/7 and 1639 lists of Plymouth freemen (PCR 1:52, 8:173). In Plymouth section of list of freemen of 1658 (PCR 8:197). In Plymouth section of 1643 Plymouth list of men able to bear arms so he was under 60 at that time.  (PCR 8:187)

On 24 Dec 1636 John Harmon contracted to become the apprentice of Francis Cooke for 7 years (PCR 1:46).

On 7 March 1636/7 Francis Cooke sued John Browne the elder and several others, and on 7 June 1637 Francis Cooke, having sued Mr. John Browne, was granted an execution against him (PCR 1:60, 7:5). "Take notice of our practice at Leyden, vis. that one Samuel Terry was received from the French Church there, into communion with us; also the wife of Francis Cooke being a Walloone, holds communion with the Church at Plymouth, as she came from the French, to this day, by virtue of communion of churches" 

Francis served the Colony by serving on various committees and juries:

Committee to lay out the 20 acre grants, 3 Jan 1627/8 (PCR 12:14)

Committee to lay out land 5 May 1640 and 5 Oct 1640 (PCR 1:152, 163)

Committee to lay out  highways 1 Oct 1634, 2 May 1637, 1 Feb 1640/1, 10 June 1650 (PCR 1:31, 58, 2:7, 160)

Plymouth petit jury 2 Jan 1637/8, 3 Sept 1639, 3 Dec 1639, 3 March 1639/40, 2 June 1640, 7 June 1642, 7 Sept 1642, 7 March 1642/3 (PCR 1:74, 7:7, 13, 15, 16, 31, 32, 34)

Plymouth grand jury 5 June 1638, 2 June 1640, 7 March 1642/3,  6 June 1643 (PCR 1:87, 155, 2:53, 56)

Surveyor of highways 1 March 1641/2, 7 June 1642, 4 June 1645 (PCR 2:34, 40,  84)

Coroner's jury 22 July 1648, on the body of a 4 year old daughter of Richard and Allis Bishop (PCR 2:132)

Arbitrator in land dispute between Thomas Pope and William Shurtleff, 2 Aug 1659 (PCR 3:169)

On 12 June 1646 Francis Cooke deeded by gift to his son Jacob Cooke on the condition of his marriage to Damaris Hopkins, 100 acres of land with meadow at the North River. Francis and Jacob were to build a huose upon the land Francis now owned at Rocky Nook. Francis would also given Jacob half the land that at any time should fall to Francis from any division of land due to the First Comers. Francis also gave Jacob one ox, one cow, one calf, and the next foal. Also at the time of Francis and Hester’s deaths, Jacob or his heirs would inherit the team [of horses?]. It was signed by Francis and Hester signed by her mark. I was witnessed by Miles Standish, James Hurst, and John Howland. [was this MD?]

In his will, dated 7 December 1659 and proved 5 June 1663, Francis Cooke “att prsent weake and Infeirme in body yett in prfect memory” bequeathed to "my dear and loving wife Hester" all moveables and cattle, horsekind, hseep and swine, and “...my lands both upland and meadow lands which at present I possess during her life"; "my dear wife and my son John Cooke" to be joint executors (MD 2:24-25, citing PCPR 2:2:1). The inventory of the estate was taken 1 May 1663 and totaled 86 pounds, 11s 1d "besides the housing and land," which was not included. His will and inventory are recorded Plymouth Colony Wills and Inventories, Volume II, Part II, folios 1 and 2.

Francis died at Plymouth on 7 April 1663. [PCR 8:23, MD 17:183, PVR 663].

His inventory was taken 1 May 1663 by Ephraim Tinkham and William Crow. It lists a Great Bible and four old books, so Francis had some education. The inventory did not include real estate. It listed a considerable amount of household and farming items, three horses, three cows, two heifers, 1t sheep, 5 lambs, 4 swine. clothing, and two old muskets. The personal estate totaled more than £86. It was presented at Plymouth Court on 5 June 1663 when it was attested to by widow Hester Cooke. 

Hester died after 8 June 1666 (PCLR 3:73) and before 18 Dec 1675 at Plymouth. 

Sources:

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, 1995

Caleb Johnson Editor, William Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation, 2006

George Ernest Bowman, The Mayflower Descendant, “Francis Cooke and His Descendants,” 3:95

Edward Winslow, Hypocrisie Unmasked, London, 1646

Jeremy Dupertuis Bangs, Strangers and Pilgrims, Travelers and Sojourners, Leiden and the Foundations of Plymouth Plantation, GSMD, 2009

Peggy Baker, Mayflower Quarterly, “Strange Saints and Saintly Strangers: The Cosmopolitan Cookes,” September 2014

George F. Willison, Saints and Strangers, 1945

Rebecca Fraser, The Mayflower: The Families, The Voyage, and the Founding of America, 2017

Eugene Stratton, Plymouth Colony, Its History and People 1620-1691, 1986

Ralph V. Wood Jr, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations Volume 12: Francis Cooke, Picton Press, Rockport, Maine, 1996