Samuel Sturtevant (ca 1620-1669) of England and Plymouth, Mass., and his wife Anne

Samuel Sturtevant was likely born in England about 1620, based on his estimated age at the birth of eldest child. I have not found his origins. His last name is spelled in a variety of ways including Sturdevant. He was at Plymouth by 1640 when he was on a list of townsmen that was submitted decades later at the18 May 1688 Town Meeting. [Sturtevant] He is my 9th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family.

Samuel married, about 1647, Anne whose maiden name is not recorded. [Davis] Some researchers believe she was Anne Lee, daughter of Robert Lee, but I have not found proof. The births of the nine children of Samuel Sturtevant are published in Plymouth Vital Records:

1. Ann born 4 June 1648 [p 654]; married Deacon John Waterman; died Plympton 9 February 1719/20 [MD 2:140]
2. John born 17 October 1650 [p 658]; died 30 October 1650 [Plymouth Colony Records 9:316]
3. Mary born 7 December 1651 [p 659]; married Ephraim Little a descendant of Mayflower passenger Richard Warren [Anderson p 1191]; she died 10 February 1718 at Scituate [NEHGR 55:73]
4. Samuel born 19 April 1654 [p 661]; married Elizabeth Smith 12 August 1715 [NEHGR 115:244]; Deacon Samuel died Halifax 21 April 1736 age 82 years [MD 10:10]
5. Hannah born 4 September 1656 [MD 17:72]
6. John born 6 September 1658 [p 662]; married 1st Hannah Winslow; married 2nd Mary (Smith) Hascall/Haskall 12 July 1711; he died Plymouth 4 February 1752 age 93 years 5 months [NEHGR 115:241]
7. Lydia born 13 December 1660 [p 663]
8. James 11 Feb 1663 [p 665]
9. Joseph 16 July 1666 [p 666]; married Anna Jones, a descendant of Mayflower passenger Richard Warren, on 5 December 1693; died before and likely close to 25 October 1723 at Plymouth when David Sturdevant was appointed administrator of his estate [Massachusetts Probate Records 1717-1724 and 1854-1862 vol 4-4Q]

I descend from Joseph as well as Ann. I wrote about Joseph here and Ann here.

Anne was pregnant in August 1669 when Samuel wrote his will, but I haven’t found a record of a 1669/70 birth of a tenth child. 

Samuell Stertevant is on the August 1643 list of Plymouth men able to bear arms who were between the ages of 16 to 60. [NEHGR 4:255]

Samuel was dedicated to serving the Colony, was a man of some education as he signed his name, and held positions indicating he was well-regarded and trustworthy. He did business with, and his children married into, influential families of the colony.

He was constable, highway surveyor, set land boundaries, witnessed legal documents, and frequently served on juries:

• Record of the bounds of land granted unto John Cook Jr at Rocky Nook in the year 1641 and since viewed and laid forth to order by Mr. John Howland, Joshua Pratt, and Samuell Sturtivant. [PCR 12:206]
• At 10 June 1650 Court, a group of 12 men including Samuell Sturtivant, signed as witnesses that “wee have found out and marked a new way from Joaneses River to the Massachusetts Path through John Rogers his ground, and are all agreed the said way by us marked out to bee most convenient and least providential.” The men included Mayflower passengers John Howland and Francis Cooke and Francis’ brother Henry Howland. [PCR 2:160]
• Samuel was selected as a Plymouth Surveyor of Highways  in 1651 [PCR 2:168] and 1652 [PCR 3:9].
• At 8 June 1664 Court, Samuell Sturtivant was named Constable for Plymouth. [PCR 4:61]
• He frequently served on juries: 4 March 1650/51 [PCR 8:53], 5 October 1656 [8:81], 2 March 1657/8 [PCR 8:87], 3 October 1659 [PCR 8:94], 1 October 1661 [PCR 8:101], 5 October 1663 [PCR 8:112] 7 March 1664/5 [PCR 8:123], 6 March 1665/6 [PCR 8:128], 5 March 1667/8 [PCR 8:143], 6 July 1669 [8:156]; Grand inquest 7 June 1653 [3:32], 5 June 1666 [PCR 4:123]; coroner’s inquest 15 July 1660 [PCR 3:196], petit jury 5 March 1660/1 [3:205] and 2 October 1660 [PCR 3:200].
• Samuel was often called upon to witness legal documents, including wills and deeds.

Many court cases Samuel heard were concerned with trespass, unpaid debt, broken agreements, defamation/slander, property damage, and fornication. But Samuel also sat on juries deciding the outcome of people accused of murder and incest. One of the more interesting cases was the 15 July 1660 coroner’s inquest jury concerning the sudden death of James Peirse of Boston. He was fishing in a shallop with two other men coming into Plymouth Harbour on the rainy morning of 15 June 1660, when a great storm of thunder, lightening, and rain arose, and a stroke of thunder and lightening “by Gods ordering hand,” immediately took the life of James Peirse. The jury viewed his corpse, made diligent inquiries about his death, and found that he died by an immediate hand of God by thunder and lightening. His body was burnt on the right side down to the calf of his leg, his shirt was burnt on his stomach and other parts of it, his waistcoat being laced closed with fishing line was not burnt, only with a scorch mark inside. The mainmast of the shallop was broken about two thirds from candelens upward, and the foremast broken about two feet of it off. Peirse was on the fore cuddy and was “stooke” overboard. Samuell signed the 15 July 1660 document, although I have not seen the original containing his signature. My ancestors Thomas Lucas and Thomas Lettice were also on jury.  [PCR 3:196]

Samuel was a farmer, as most Colony land holders were at the time. His inventory shows he owned quite a bit of fabric, so perhaps his family were weavers, and also tobacco and feathers which he may have used in trade. Other documents I reference in this sketch show he once bought property in exchange for beaver skins, so he likely trapped animals; he was in partnership with miller John Jenney concerning sale of corn; he was sometimes in debt to townsmen’s estates or the estates were indebted to him (he was owed £2 3 shillings in Governor William Bradford’s May 1657 inventory)—further confirming he was in trade.  His inventory mentions iron works, but I’m unsure if that indicates he was part owner. 

At the 3 May 1642 Court, difference between Mr John Jenney, Samuell Stertevaunt, & Joseph Ramsden, about their corn in partnership, the Court doth order, with consent of all parties, that the five bushels and half of corn which Mr Jenney should pay to the said Dotey for Thurston Clark, and also eight bushel which the said Joseph Ramsden should pay Edward Dotey, shall be paid to John Jenney, by Joseph, which said five bushels and. Half and the said eight bushels do make up the 13 bushels & half which Edward Dotey was to pay the said Samuell for his part of the said crop, and so the said Edward Dotey to be freed from any further encumbrance therein. [PCR 2:38, 57]

 On 6 December 1653, “Mrs. Ann Atwood” sued “Samuell Sturtivant and Edward Gray” over “non-performance of covenants concerning a farm the said Mrs. Atwood did set and let unto the said Samuell & Edward.” [PCR 7:67-8]

After 15 years of regular duty as a juryman, James Hurst came into court on 7 March 1653/4 and, along with three other men, sued Samuell Sturtevant and Edward Gray “in an action of trespass on the case, to the damage of ten pounds, for destroying a certain parcel of hay,” belonging to the four plaintiffs, the source found for the plaintiffs. [PCR 7:68]

As an early settler and active member of the colony, Samuel likely was a substantial landholder. A few mentions of his land holdings:

• 26 Dec 1638, Lt William Holmes sold by deed unto Mr John Howland one lot of land in Duxborrow containing 30 acres between land of Joseph Biddle and Constant Southworth with three acres of marsh meadow. John Howland since exchanged said land at Joanes River Bridge with Joseph Rogers of Duxborrow. Joseph Rogers since exchanged the said lot of land first sold by said Willm Holmes with Abraham Pearse (the latter is also my ancestor). Rogers also sold land to William Bradford for £10 on the last day of March next ensuing, with the additions exchanged with Abraham Pearse. Memorand—said Abraham letten the said upland unto Steeven Bryan and Samuell Stertevant for the term of three years for 50 shillings. Abraham would receive first year’s rent and Wm Bradford the second and third years. [PCR 12:136]
• On the xvijth [17th] of July 1645 John Shawe Jr for £4 10 shillings paid him by Samuell Stertevaunt in good merchantable Beaver at or before the last day of October next ensuing sold unto said Samuell all that his lot of land purchased of Edward Dotey containing 20 acres lying on the high cliff betwixt the land of Samuell Cutbert on Southside and John Shawe Sr on the Northside. [PCR 12:111]
• At 26 October 1647 Court, Mr. Hatherley acknowledgeth that Helene, wife of Kenelme Winslow, acknowledged her free assent and consent to ye sale of all such lands as her said husband had sold unto Samuell Sturdevant. Capt Miles Standish acknowledged likewise. [PCR 2:118]
• In 1655 Samuel had four acres of meadow on north side on a branch of Jones River. In 1660 was given 50 acres on north side of Jones River on the southeast side of his meadow. [Melville]

Samuel and Anne lived in the High Cliff/ North Plymouth part of town, presumably on the 20 acres he purchased in 1645. [Sturtevant]

Samuel died in 1669 between 1 August (date of will) and 22 October (date of inventory). He was about 49 years old. It would seem likely Samuel died of an illness, prompting him to write his will, but it must have been fairly brief as he served on a jury in July 1669.

Samuel Sturtivant of Plymouth made his will 1 August 1669 and it was probated 29 October 1669. [Mayflower Descendant, vol 18, page 188 citing Plymouth Colony Wills 3:10] Samuel left the following bequests:

• Son-in-law John Waterman received “one halfe of that my share of Land that I bought of Edward Gray which lyeth neare Namassakeesett ponds called the Majors purchase.”
• Sons Samuell, James, John and Joseph and “to the Child my wife now goeth with (if a boy) after my wifes decease all my house and lands that I now dwell upon: and all other Lands and meddowes; with all Rightes belonging thereunto; That I have in any place whatsoever; To be equally Devided to all or soe many of my aforsaid sonnes as shalbe alive att my wifes Decease: and incase my wife thinketh it meet; to settle and give my son Samuell a Doubble share of the said housing and lands; then it is my will that hee shall have it; incase any of my sonnes are minded to sell it to one of his brothers incase any of them will give as may bee thought meet by two Indifferent men.”
• To wife all cattle, goods, and estate and she is to be sole executrix.

His will was witnessed by William Crow and John Smith, the latter signing by mark.

Inventory of his estate was taken 22 October 1669 by Sgt Ephraim Tinkham (also my ancestor), Joseph Howland and William Crow and exhibited to the court at Plymouth 29 October 1669. The only mention of real estate: "As for his housing and lands wee leave the valluation thereof.” It included: farm animals; wearing apparel; a lengthy list of household goods including items typically indicating wealth such as cloth napkins, a tablecloth and brass items; cotton and sheep’s wool, a significant amount of fabric, a spinning wheel, parcel of tobacco, bag of feathers; farming implements and 3 bushels of barley, parcel of flax, 20 bushels of Indian corn, 8 bushels of rye, 1 bushel of wheat, 15 loads of hay; “the iron works belong to A Waine.” It is untotaled but amounts to over £116. It does not include value of his real estate.

The estate was indebted for a total of £23 18 shillings 4 pence to John Rogers of Duxbury, John Dunham, Jabez Howland, John Moses, James Cole Sr., James Barnaby, Edward Gray, William Nelson, the widow Dunham, John Shaw of Boston, Elizabeth Combes of Boston, Mistress Sarah Paine, Mr. Thomas Clarke of Boston, John Wood, Sgt William Harlow, Andrew Ring, John Hubbard, Thomas Lucas, and John Smith. [Plymouth Book of Wills and Inventories folio 11:12]

On 21 September 1675 Anne married (as Hannah Stirdephant), second, John Bass at Braintree. [Braintree VR p 718]

Anne’s first name and that she was the mother of all of Samuel’s children is shown in a 1681 deed. Anne Bass the wife of John Bass Senr of Braintree “Know ye that whereas my first Husband Samuel Sturtevant Senr of…New Plymouth…deceased, did by his last will & testament bearing date the first Day of august [1669] give me the said Anne his wife Power Liberty & Leave if I thought meet to Give & confirm in my Life time unto his eldest son Samuel Sturtevant a double Portion…I the said Anne Bass…have given…unto my eldest Son Samuel Sturtevant Two Shares of all those Lands that were his Father’s.” Dated 15 April 1681. [MD 44:80 citing Plymouth County deeds 1:366]

Anne died between 15 April 1681 (date of the above deed) and 25 June 1716 (when she is not mentioned in her second husband John Bass’s will). [Suffolk Probate 1:63, case 3785] 

I always find it interesting how interconnected the early Plymouth Colony families were. People mentioned in this sketch who are also my direct ancestors include: John Howland (Mayflower passenger), Joshua Pratt, Francis Cooke (Mayflower passenger), Henry Howland, Thomas Lucas, Thomas Lettice, John Jenney, Edward Gray, William Holmes, Constant Southworth, Abraham Pierce, James Hurst, Edward Gray, John Dunham, possibly widow Dunham, and William Nelson.

Sources:

William T. Davis, Genealogical Register of Plymouth Families, 1889

Doris Johnson Melville, Major Bradford’s Town: A History of Kingston 1726-1976, 1976, p 31

Nathaniel B. Shurtleff and David Pulsifer, eds., Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, in New England, 12 vols. (New York: AMS Press, 1968)

Robert Hunter Sturtevant, Descendants of Samuel Sturtevant, privately printed, 1986

Torrey’s New England Marriages to 1700, 2:1472

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, 1992