George Knott ca 1600-1648 and His Wife Martha of England and Sandwich, Massachusetts

George Knott was born in England about 1600, a rough estimate, and migrated to New England before 1637. He was one of the founders of Sandwich, then in Plymouth Colony and now in Barnstable County on Cape Cod. His is my 11th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family.

By about 1628 George married Martha whose maiden name is not recorded. They had two children, birth order uncertain:

1. Martha Knott born say 1630 in England; married Thomas Tobey 18 November 1650 at Sandwich [Sandwich VR 1:5 and Sandwich Town Records 1:221]
2. Samuel Knott born say 1633 in England; died after March 1710 when he is mentioned in Thomas Tobey’s will

I descend from Martha whom I wrote about here.

On 3 April 1637, it was agreed by the Court that those “tenn men of Saugust, viz Edmond Freeman, Henry Feake, Thomas Dexter, Edward Dillingham, William Wood, John Carman, Richard Chadwell, William Almey, Thomas Tupper, & George Knott shall have liberty to view a place to sitt downe & have sufficient lands for three score famylies, upon the condicons appounded to them by the Govnor and Mr. Winslowe.”  [Records of New Plymouth Colony, hereafter PCR, 1:57] I am uncertain how long he was at Saugus (later Lynn) before going to Sandwich. Some of the “Ten Men” were from Sandwich, Kent, so that would be a place to look for George’s birth but I have not yet done so.

The August 1643 list of men able to bear arms in Plymouth Colony includes Georg Knott of Sandwich. [PCR 7:193 ] His will and inventory give a few clues about George’s life: he was a farmer, his household perhaps produced yarn, fabric and clothing, he was literate as he owned a Bible and other “small books,” and weaponry indicates he served in the militia.

List of the men of Sandwich who have taken the oath of fidelity includes Georg Knott, but no year given. Other lists by town are are dated 1657 and 1644; George was already deceased by 1657 so would likely be 1644. [PCR 7:184]

A fire at the Barnstable Courthouse destroyed many land records. However at the 16 April 1640 Court, the names and persons to whom the dividend of meadow land at Sandwich between Moonoonenuscusett [later Scusset] and Shawme was made to about 60 men including “Georg Knott” who received 4 acres. [PCR 1:149] The approximate location of his homestead and land is also known based on a 1667 land survey: Widow Knott lived on Water Street, next door to her daughter Martha and son-in-law Thomas Tobey. [Lovell] The house currently on the property where the Tobey’s lived is now known as the Deacon Eldred house and was featured on the HGTV show Houses with History.

Map created by RA Lovell

Unlike many of the other Sandwich founders, George was not overly involved in public service. I have only found these references:

• At 7 March 1642/3 Court, Georg Knott was chosen constable at Sandwich [PCR 2:53)
• At 2 June 1646, Georg Knott was chosen juror for the grand inquest [PCR 2:102]
• His inventory included a musket, sword and bandolier, indicating he was a member of the town’s militia

On 20 September 1647 , “Gorg Knott” was one of six Sandwich men who approved Thomas Dexter the younger [he was a miller] having land lying near his marsh. [PCR 12:210]

George died at Sandwich on May 1 or 2 1648—he was buried on May 3. “Gorg Knot was buried the third of May” 1648 “p me William Wood.” [Sandwich VRs 1:4 citing PCR 8:6] He was about 55 years old. 

George’s will is dated about the first of  May 1648. He left bequests to his wife,  son Samuel and daughter Martha. His bequest to daughter Martha was contingent on “if she Maries and lives in Sandwich.”  He also left his leather suit to Thomas Dunham “in case he Maries my daughter.”  He mentions livestock to be given to his wife, Samuel and Martha; house, meadow and other land to his wife; house and meadow to son Samuel after his mother’s death; half the above mentioned meadow to daughter Martha if she marries and lives in Sandwich; land at Scusset to his wife. 

His “well beloved wife” Martha is named executrix with William Leveridge and William Newland as overseers. Mr William Leveridg was deposed to this will before Thomas Prence [no date shown].  [Plymouth Colony Wills 1:82] 

It was a nuncupative will, meaning it was an dictated orally because death was imminent. Not surprisingly it appears he did not sign his will by hand or mark as there is no indication of either in the document. He must have been very sick. I find the handwriting of the will and inventory very challenging to decipher.

The inventory of the estate of Gorg Knot was taken 1 June 1648 by Edward Dillingham and William Newland. It does not contain real estate and totals £69 10s. Some items include wearing apparel, cash, livestock, wheat, rye, Indian corn, oatmeal, malt, pewter items, Bible and other small books, musket, bandolier, & sword, yarn, and various fabric. 

Martha Knot “the older” was deposed to this inventory before the court held at New Plymouth the 7th of month 1648 [likely June since inventory was taken 1 June]

In a plot twist, daughter Martha did not marry Thomas Dunham. On 4 October 1648 “the Court have ordered, concerning Thomas Dunham, that hee abstaine from coming atte or sending unto Martha Knote of Sandwidge from this prsent day untell the first Tusday of Desember next, untell the Court can better deserne the treuth of his pretended contracte with the sd Martha Knot, unles the Governer, uppon clearing of thinges, shall give him leave.” [PCR 2:136] They did not marry and two years later she married Thomas Tobey with whom she had seven children. 

After George’s death Martha did not remarry and lived as a widowed head of household in Sandwich. In 1650 there were 60 families in Sandwich and only four households functioned with women at the head: Bridget Bodfish, Katherine Briggs, Martha Knott, Joan Swift. [Lovell] I descend from Katherine and Joan as well.

It appears Martha was a Quaker: “Widdow Knott” was one of 12 Sandwich citizens brought to court on 7 October 1651 on the charge of ‘not frequenting the publick worship of God, contrarye to order made the 6th of June 1651.” The law read the abusers would be fined ten shillings or publicly whipped for each offense. [PCR 2:173]

Widow Martha Knott of Sandwich  wrote her will 27 October 1673 which she signed by her mark. [Mayflower Descendant 25:89] It was exhibited to Plymouth court on 5 March 1673/4 under oath of Mr Richard Bourne. Bequests were as follows:

To “my son Samuell Knott…my bed and beding all that I have onely excepting my green Rugg” also “my little iron, pott, my Skillett and a Tray”

To “my daughter Martha Tobey the wife of Thomas Tobey 4 Cattle: viz 1 Cow 1 heiffer 1 yearling and vantage and one Calfe; and all the rest of my Goods with my Clothes or whatever else I have.”

“I appoint Thomas Tobey my son in law executor.”

The witnesses were Richard Bourne, William Newland and John Newland.

The inventory of “Widdow Knot of Sandwidg” was taken 1 January 1673/4 by Richard Bourne and John Smith and was presented 5 March 1673/4 on the oath of Thomas Tobey. 

I am unclear what became of Samuel Knott. I have read he never married which was highly unusual for the time. He is mentioned in his mother’s October 1673 will, but it is his brother-in-law Thomas Tobey who is named executor. In Thomas Tobey’s 24 March 1709/10 will [Barnstable PR 1:230] he adds a contingency to the bequest to his sons Samuel and Gershom Tobey, that “they or their heirs executors or administrators do keep maintain yr uncle Samll Knot During ye time of his naturall Life both with food drink Lodging & apparill and to allow him a decent buriel after his Death.” At this point Samuel was perhaps in his mid 70s. Perhaps Samuel had some sort of disability as even men in their 70s typically supported themselves. I find it quite endearing the way families took care of their own. 

Sources:

RA Lovell, Sandwich: A Cape Cod Town, 1984

Justin Winsor (communicated by), NEHGS Register, “Abstracts of Earliest Wills in Probate Office, Plymouth,” 4:284

Mrs. John E. Barclay, The American Genealogist, “Notes on the Dunham Family of Plymouth,” 30:149

George Bowman editor, The Mayflower Descendant, “Plymouth Colony Wills and Inventories,” 25:89

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

Caroline Lewis Kardell & Russell A. Lovell Jr, Vital Records of Sandwich Massachusetts to 1885, NEHGS, 1996

John Vincent (ca 1603 to after December 1663) of England and Plymouth/Duxbury & Sandwich, Massachusetts

John Vincent was born about 1603 in England, but I have not discovered his origins. His birth year is an approximation based on his having a child born about 1628. His name is also spelled Vinson in records. He was a man of significant social rank as he is referred to as “Mr” in records. He is my 10th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family.

John probably married in England but I have not found his wife’s name, although some researchers identify her as Hannah. He is not the John Vincent who was with the Pilgrims at Leiden, Holland, husband of Sarah Allerton (sister of Mayflower passenger Isaac.) That John Vincent was considerably older and died before 4 November 1611 when his widow Sarah married Degory Priest at Leiden. [The Mayflower Descendant, hereafter MD, 22:15]

John is sometimes incorrectly referred to as one of the Ten Men of Saugus, the group that founded the town of Sandwich on Cape Cod. He was, however, one of the first fourteen settlers there. [Lovell] 

John Vincent was a member of Rev. William Leveridge’s congregation who were in Plymouth or Duxbury by 1637 and soon settled at Sandwich. Others in the group were Bourne, Slawson, Burgess, Bassett, Armitage, Skiff, and Butler. [Lovell] That he owned land in Duxbury is confirmed by a 3 July 1637 court record in which ten acres granted to Thomas Burges at Ducksborrow, bounded on the north side by the lands of Mr. John Vincent. [PCR 1:63-4] I do not know whether John ever lived on this land.

There was a court case in Dorchester, Dorset, England, with an answer dated 12 October 1634, in which Rev. John White of Dorchester answers to a bill against him and his associates in a New England adventure from 1623 to 1628, to recover the value of salt seized at Cape Anne by the agents of the adventurers. White provided a lengthy list of his associates which included John Vincent of London, but I am not certain it is the same John.[Gardner]

Mr. John Vincent was on a list of freeman of Plymouth Colony on 7 March 1636/7 [Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, hereafter PCR, 1:53] He was admitted and sworn a freeman on 2 October 1637 [PCR 1:67] and on the October 1654 list of Freemen of Sandwich. [PCR 3:68]  He is on the 1643 list of Sandwich men able to bear arms in New Plymouth.  [NEHGR 4:258] 

John Vincent was deeply involved in serving the town of Sandwich, clearly he was a man respected by his peers:

• Mr. John Vincent was chosen the first constable of Sandwich on 6 March 1637/8, to serve for a year and a quarter. [PCR 1:80] 
• On 5 March 1638/9 Division of planting land in Yarmouth to be made by committee and that Josuah Pratt of Plymouth and Mr. John Vincent of Sandwich shall view the land there and make a report to the Court. [PCR 1:117]
• In June 1639 John Vincent and Richard Bourne, another of my ancestors, were the first men of the town to be chosen as Deputies to the General Court at Plymouth, a position of status. [PCR 1:126] He also was chosen in 1649 [PCR 1:144], 1650 [PCR 1:154], 1651 [PCR 2:168], 1655 [PCR 3:79], 1659 [PCR 3:162], 1661 [PCR 3:214]. At 10 June 1662 court Mr. John Vincent of Sandwich was fined 40 shillings for not appearing at last court last June to serve as deputy. [PCR 4:23] 
• He served on juries including Grand Inquest 7 March 1636/7 [PCR 1:54]; jury on 7 December 1641 that heard cases about debt, assault and trespass [PCR 7:28]; Grand Inquest 3 June 1657 [PCR 3:115].
• On 26 February 1647 there was a court case about land a committee that included John Vincent buying land from Edmond Freeman on behalf of the town of Sandwich; also part of 20 August 1651 court. [PCR 12:211]
• He was one of a group of six of the leading townspeople, which excluded any of the 10 original settlers, was set up 26 February 1647/8 with the purpose to “agitate things betwixt the Committees and the town.” [Lovell]
• At 7 January 1650/1 meeting, a five pound levy to complete Mr. Leveridge’s house was passed. Agreed that the levy shall be made by those four men which were chosen to make the ten pound levy above mentioned, Mr. Vincent, William Newland, Thomas Tupper, Robert Bodfish. [Lovell]
• At 21 November 1651 meeting, ordered by the town that these five men, Mr. Vincent, Thomas Tupper, William Newland, Richard Bourne, and James Skiff being chosen by the town shall make a levy of six pounds for the payment of the Clerk and the Committees. [Lovell]
• On 20 August 1651 “John Vincent, Willam Newland, Anthony Wright, Robert Botfish, and Richard Bourne, being deputed by the town of Sandwidge in the behalf of the said town” to settle accounts with Edmond Freeman, reimbursed him for “the sum of seventeen pounds in the consideration of the purchase of the lands from the Indians from three different sources, the last of these being “4 pounds…paid by Mrs. Joane Swift.” [PCR 12:211-12]
• The first property survey in town, completed in 1667, was an arduous task since a total of 242 lots were later described, and even that surviving record is incomplete. The committee selected consisted of the familiar leaders, Edmund Freeman, John Vincent, Edward Dillingham, Richard Bourne, Thomas Burgess, William Newland and Richard Chadwell. [Lovell]

It is challenging to determine exactly where John lived in Sandwich as many deeds were lost in a Barnstable Courthouse fire. 

• At the 20 March 1636/7 Court, Mr. Vincent assigned “hey ground betweene Moyses Symons feild & the lande lately given to Edmond Chaundler, towarde that wch is appoynted to Mr Collyer.” [PCR 1:57]
• On 7 January 1638/9 Thomas Weybourne was granted ten acres of land formerly used by Mr John Vincent and lying to the house he hath bought of the said Mr. Vincent. [PCR 1:109]
• In a 16 April 1640 division of meadow land at Sandwich, John Vincent received 7 acres. [PCR 1:149-50]
• In a 1654 land division the freemen of Sandwich, Mr. John Vincent, Thomas Burgess, Thomas Tupper, Richard Bourne, and James Skiffe desired some parcels of land by Marshpee Pond, 10 acres of meadow, 100 acres of land by Santuit Pond, a neck of land by Cotuit River to keep cattle, meadow at the place called Mannamuch Bay. [Lovell]

In a 1 May 1670 deed, John Ffeake of Wighton in Norfolk England, sold house, land, tenements, pastures, meadows, uplands at Sandwich belonging to his late father George Ffeake, that did sometimes belong to George’s brother Henry Ffeake, to Robert Harper of Sandwich, that were late in the possession of John Vincent. [Plymouth Colony Deeds 1671-1673, 3:2:111]

John also witnessed a will and settled an estate.

• John Vincent witnessed will of George Allen, the elder of Sandwich, whose inventory was taken 22 September 1648. [NEHGR 4:284]
• In the 12 October 1662 will of Joan Swift named John Vincent and Benjamin Hammond [his son-in-law] overseers of her will.  [PCPR 2:2:16]

John Vincent’s children, likely born in England:

1. Mary born about 1628; possibly married Benjamin Hammond 8 November 1648 [published Sandwich VR  p 4—groom’s name is too worn to read as is the year but footnote states she perhaps married Benjamin Hammond]; died 5 August 1705 [Rochester VR 2:388] 
2. Sarah Vincent born about 1633; married William Dexter in July 1663 at Barnstable [Barnstable VR in MD 4:223] and removed to Rochester; died after 9 May 1694 [MD 23:64]
3. Henry Vincent born about 1635; married Mary Matthews 15 December 1657 [Sandwich VR in MD 14:166]; removed to Yarmouth

I descend from Sarah whom I wrote about here.. The children’s birth records are not found, but they clearly belong to John Vincent given the rarity of the surname in Plymouth Colony. In reading Plymouth Colony records for this time period, almost all mentions of the Vincent surname are of John. The exceptions are one record of a William that may be an error for John and John’s son Henry. 

Some researchers assign him a daughter Elizabeth who married Thomas Dexter, but I am unclear what proof there is of this.

John Vincent died after 1 December 1663, the date of a court case about his having been one of the men who laid out a way through the land of Richard Chadwell; it is not written to indicate he had passed away. [PCR 4:48] It seems he died before 1667 when he is not included in a Sandwich land survey. [Lovell] 

Sources:

R.A. Lovell, Jr., Sandwich A Cape Cod Town, 1984

Torrey’s New England Marriages to 1700, 3:1572

Henry Howland Crapo, Certain Comeoverers, 1912

Lura F. Alexander Fallas,  Genealogy, Descendants of William and Dorcas Fallass of Boston, Massachusetts, 1929

Mary Elizabeth Sinnott, Annals of the Sinnott, Rogers, Coffin, Corlies, Reeves, Bodine and Allied Families, 1905

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

Joseph Gardner Bartlett (communicated by), NEHGS Register, “Genealogical Research in England,” 61:280

Richard Kirby (circa 1603-1688) and his Wife Jane of England, Sandwich and Dartmouth Massachusetts

Richard Kirby was born about 1603 in England. His Wikitree profile presents a theory that he was born Rowington, Warwickshire, the son of John Kirby and Martha Warde. That couple did have a son Richard, but in the sources provided I do not see the proof it was this Richard. Kirby is spelled in quite a variety of ways including Kerby, Kerbey, Kirbie, Curby, and Curbe. Richard was an early settler of Sandwich on Cape Cod, then part of Plymouth Colony, and was persecuted due to his Quaker/Society of Friends beliefs. He is my 10th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family.

On 24 July 1635 a Richard Kirbie, aged 32, came to America on the Assurance, sailing from Gravesend, England, but I need to do more research to find if he is this Richard. 

Richard Kirby first appears in 1636 as an inhabitant of Saugus, in an area that was renamed Lynn in 1637. His stay there was brief as n 1637 he moved to the new settlement of Sandwich on Cape Cod where he was one of the first eleven male members of the church there. [Dwight]

He is first seen in a record placing him in Sandwich in the 21 March 1637 will of Thomas Hampton of Sandwich which states “I give to Thomas Tupper Peter Gaunt Richard Kirby and Thomas Shellingworth the residue of my estate to be devided amongst them by equall porcons excepting xxs in the hands of Willm Harlowe and a couple of piggs devideable betweene him and my selfe wch I likewise bequeath unto him.” The estate residue included land. Tupper, Gaunt, Kirby and Shellingworth were named executors. [The Mayflower Descendant, hereafter “MD,” 3:74]

At the 4 December 1638 Court, Richard Kerby of Sandwich, along with five other men, was fined 10 shillings each for being defective in arms. On the same day Rich. Kerby was at court accused of keeping swine unringed; “2 hoggs” is noted next to his name. [Records of New Plymouth Colony, hereafter “PCR,” 1:107] It is interesting that even before Quakerism arrived on Cape Cod, Richard had a non-conformist bent. 

Richard Kerby received 4 acres in the 16 April 1640 Division of Meadow Land at Sandwich, “betwixt Moonoonenuscusset and Shaume.” [PCR 1:149-50] 

Richard Kerby is on the 1643 list of those able to bear arms in Sandwich. [NEHGR 4:257] 

At 20 August 1644 Court, a warrant was issued “to bring in the bodies of…the wyfe of Richard Kerby” [no first name provided] and others “to give evidence in John Ellis & his wife’s case.” [PCR 2:75] John and Elizabeth (Freeman) Ellis, also my 10th great-grandparents, were accused of fornication [sex before marriage] for which John was sentenced to be fined and whipped and Elizabeth was sentenced to watch his punishment. [NEHGR 119:163] I find it interesting that citizens would not expect preferential treatment by the court as Elizabeth’s father was Edmund Freeman, a prominent man of means who was one of the ten men who founded Sandwich and an assistant to the Governor. Perhaps that she was his daughter spared Elizabeth from also being whipped. 

Richard married, by about 1629, Jane whose maiden name is not recorded and they had at least seven children, order uncertain as most of their births are unrecorded:

1. Jane born about 1630, married Thomas Landers at Sandwich on 2 July 1651 [Sandwich VR 1:21] and had nine children; died Sandwich before 9 October 1707 when she is referred to as deceased in a document concerning her father Richard Kirby’s estate
2. Richard born about 1634, probably in England, married Patience Gifford at Dartmouth 19 October 1665 [NEHGR 128:250] 2nd Widow Howland [Dwight]; died 8 March 1720 in 88th year at Dartmouth [Dartmouth VR 3:45]
3. Sarah born about 1638 possibly in Sandwich; married Matthew Allen 6 June 1657 [Sandwich VRs in MD 14:169] and had seven children; died after 21 July 1707 when she signed a document pertaining to her late father’s estate 
4. Ruhamah born about 1640 in Sandwich; married John Smith about 1667 likely at Dartmouth; died after 19 November 1710 at Dartmouth [signed a certificate in the Quaker church] [Dwight]
5. Recompense born about 1643 at Sandwich; married Rebecca Allen by 1695 at Dartmouth; four children named in his will proved 1720; removed to Newton, Sussex County, NJ [Dwight]
6. Increase, a twin, born February 1649/50; buried 24 March 1649/50 the day after his mother [Sandwich VR 1:4-5]
7. Abigail, a twin, born and died February 1649/50 [Sandwich VR 1:4-5]

I descend from Jane whom I wrote about here.

The records of the twin’s births/deaths and the death of their mother are interpreted in multiple ways due to worn/torn pages and a mention of a Richard which some interpret as a son, but Richard Sr’s son Richard was born much earlier. [MD 16:122] The compiled Sandwich Vital Records provides an interpretation that make sense to me and is reflected in this sketch.

In the 1600s Sandwich was engulfed in  religious dissent—there were many Sandwich residents who were not members of the established church. Richard Kirby Sr was a Quaker as were his children Richard Jr., Sarah and Jane. Sadly Sarah was whipped for insolence.

Richard  is often seen in court records because he objected to laws that forced him to attend  and financially support a church he now rejected, as were his older children. [Turner] 

• On 7 October 1651, “at this court Ralph Allin, Sr of Sandwidge, and Richard Kerbey were summoned to answare for theire deriding, vile speeches of and conserning Gods word and ordinances: they are bound over unto the next Generall Court to make theire apeerance, and in the mean time to bee of good behavior towards all manor of psons, & not depart the said Court without lycence accordingly, as followeth..Richard Kerbey acknowledgeth to owe unto the Court the sum of £20. The condicion, that if the said Richard Kerbey shalbee of good behavior towards all mannor of psons, and appeer at the Generall Court, to bee holden at Plym the first Tusday in March next, and not depart the said Court without lycence; that then, &c. Wee further prsent…Richard Kerbey [and other men and women] “all of the towne of Sandwidg, for not frequenting the publick worship of God, contrarye to order made the 6th of June 1651.” [PCR 2:172-3]
• At the 2 March 1651/2 Court, Ralph Allen Senr and Richard Kerbey for s”peaking vile and deriding speeches against Gods word and ordinances were fined five pounds a peece to be paid betwixt this and June Court next, or if not, then to suffer bodily punishment by whipping.” [PCR 3:4]
• On 4 October 1655, it was noted at court that three men, including Richard Kerbey, had not paid their indebtedness, amounting now to £30 2 shillings. [Lovell]
• At the 1655 Sandwich Town Meeting, contributors toward a new place of public worship included Newland, Kerby, the Allens, Jenkins, Butler, Johnson, and others who later became the most determined Quakers. [Lovell] 
• At the 5 March 1655/6 Court, Sarah, “the daughter of Richard Kerbey, of Sandwidge, appeered according to summons, and being examined concerning divers suspisious speeches by her uttered against Richard Bourne and Mr. Edmond Freeman, of Sandwidge aforsaid, & is found faulty, and sentanced by the Court to bee punished severely by whipping, onely the execution thereof is respited, that incase shee bee warned by the present centance and admonission to offend noe more in this kind, that then the said punishment not bee inflicted, otherwise to bee executed.” [PCR 3:96]
• On 3 February 1656/7 “att this Court, complaint was made against Jane, the wife of William Launder, of Sandwidg, and Sarah, the daughter of Richard Kerbey, for disturbance by them made in the publicke worship of God ont he Lords day att Sandwidge, by opposing and abusing the speaker amongst them, whereupon the said pties were summoned to appeer att the next Court to answare for their said misdemeanor.”  Note that Jane Launder was also Richard’s daughter and her husband was Thomas, not William, so likely a transcription error. [PCR 3:111]
• At 5 March 1656/7 Court, “Sarah Kerbey, for her desturbance of the publicke worship of God after admonision and centance formerly given against her, which was, to bee publickly whipt, is now ordered to bee pformed, and so accordingly was exequted.  Jane the wife of William [sic should be Thomas] Launder, for the like offence, viz desturbing the publiske worship of God on the Lords day, att Sandwich, is centanced to bee publickly whipt, onely the execution thereof is respected, that incase shee shalbee warned by the prsent centance and admonision to offend noe more in this kind, that then the said punishment not to be inflected, or otherwise to bee executed.” [PCR 3:112]
• At 2 October 1658 Court, mention made of  June Court and grievances upon sundry ancient inhabitants of Sandwich that were then assembled together on the 27 of August 1658 including “Richard Kerbey Junr shall henceforth have noe power to acte in any towne meeting till better evidence appeer of theire legall admittance, or to claime title or interest into any town privilidges as Townes men, according to the Court orders aforsaid. At the same Court.” The group of men refused to take the oath of fidelity and were fined £5 each. [PCR 3:153-4]
• Richard Kerbey Sr was at 6 October 1659 Court for refusing to take the Oath of Fidelity and was fined £5[PCR 3:176]; also same charge at March 1659/60 Court. [PCR 3:181]
• Richard Jr. appears on the same charge at 13 June 1660 Court [PCR 3:191]; 7 June 1659 Court [PCR 3:168]; 2 October 1660 [PCR 3:201].
• At 2 Oct 1660 Court, A group of people were fined for “being att Quaker meetings” including Richard Kerbey Senr and Richard Kerby Junr at 10 shillings each. [PCR 3:200]
• At 5 February 1660/1 Court, the Constable of Sandwich directed to “require a group of men including Richard Kerbey Senr and Junr to appeer att Court the first Tusday in March to answare for theire tumultuouse carriages against the Marshall and cunstable of Sandwich in the execution of theire offices in the cecuring of two strange Quakers.” [PCR 3:204]

Nicholas Upsall, an elderly man who was the well-respected keeper of the Red Lyon Inn of Dorchester, bought food to Quakers in jail and later joined the movement. When he was banished from Massachusetts Bay, he helped found the first monthly meeting of Friends at Sandwich. The court took notice that Upsall was holding meetings frequently at the house of William Allen, and that Richard Kerby and the wife of John Newland were especially involved, “at which meetings they used to inveigh against ministers and magistrates to the dishonor of God and contempt of government.” [Lovell]

Estimated Quaker fines levied in Sandwich from June 1658 to Dec 1660 for Richard Kerby in the Plymouth Colony court Records totaled £31 fines, quite a large sum at the time. The total fines suggested could have been as high as £76. [Lovell]

Jane died in March 1649/50 after giving birth to twins the month before. She was buried 23 March 1649/50 at Sandwich. [Sandwich VR 1:5] I’ve read that Richard married, second, a woman named Elizabeth, but this seems to be based on the will of Richard Kirby of Oyster Bay so that is unclear to me at this time. It would make sense that he would remarry but I have more research to do.

Many Quakers moved to settlements where they could freely practice their religion. By 1662, the Kirbys and Richard’s son-in-law, Matthew Allen, who had suffered equal indignities and for the same reason, decided to leave Sandwich. On 5 December 1662, "Richard Kerbey senr of the Towne of Sandwich... Planter" for £25 bought of Nathaniel Warren of Plymouth a half share of land in Acushnet in Dartmouth, commonly called the Purchase Land and known by names of Coaksett and Acushena. [MD 31:42 referencing Plymouth Colony Deeds p 16] Richard must have been a man of some means to purchase land after the vast amount of fines he was charged due to his religious beliefs.

In November 1670, Richard Kirby purchased one-half of Thomas Molton's share of land in Dartmouth from Sarah Warren. [Original Proprietors of Dartmouth, 1:13] In 1683, Richard Kirby purchased land at a place called Nasquamskiesett on the east side of the Cocksett River in Dartmouth from Zachariah Jenkins. In 1683 Richard purchased of Zachariah Jenkins of Plymouth a tract of land on the Cocksett River, lying on the westerly side of the road leading to Horse Neck, near Akin’s Corner, and it was here that he dwelt. [Crapo] I am uncertain whether these transactions were by Richard Senior or Junior, although Crapo identifies him as Richard Sr. I believe that Cocksett River refers to Acoaxet, now Westport, River, which is in the part of Dartmouth that became Westport. Horse Neck is the area where the beach of that name is located. 

The record of the 10 December 1684 Dartmouth Town Meeting states that “Richard Kirby, Senior” and 14 others “took oath of fidelity.” [MD 63:34] In May 1686 it is recorded that 45 names, including Richard Kirby Senior, were reported to the Dartmouth Town Meeting as having taken the oath of fidelity. [MD 63:30]

I do not find any mention in Dartmouth records of Richard holding any positions of public service. 

Richard died about 1688, based on the legal document signed by his children in 1707 that states he died more than 19 years earlier. 

In 1707, “more than” 19 years after his death, his children signed a document, which on 21 July 1722, thirty-four years after his death, they asked to have entered in the public record; it was  recorded 22 October 1722. "To all People to whom these Presents Shall Come, Greeting &c:- Whereas Richard Kerby, formerly of Dartmouth in the County of Bristoll in the Colony of New Plimouth in New England, somtime more than Ninteen years since he Died Intestate, and Left some personal estate undisposed of, he having before his Death given and disposed of His Lands unto his two sons, (viz.) to his son, Richard Kerby, now of Dartmouth, aforesaid, one Quarter of a share of Lands throughout the s-d town of Dartmouth, both divided and undivided and one other Quarter of a Share unto his other son, Recompence Kerby then of Dartmouth aforsaid, and Which was enjoyed and Possesed by his s-d Sons somtime before and att the time of his Death of the said Richard Kerby, their Deceased Father. Now know ye therefore that we, Richard Kerby, the Son of said Deceased, and Sarah Allen and Ruhamah Smith, both of Dartmouth, widdows, and both daughters of s-d Deceased, together with the said Recompence Kerby, our brother, then of s-d Dartmouth, and Jane Lounders, our Sister, then of Sandwich, in the County of Barnstable, now Deceased, did all mutually agree unto and divided the Personall Estate of our s-d Deceased Father after his Death to and amongst ourselves, agreeing & Concluding y-t the said Richard Kerby and Recompense Kerby, our two Brothers, aforsaid should have & Injoy the Lands aforsaid to them their heirs & assignes forever, which s-d agreement & Settlement of the s-d Estate of our s-d Deceased Father, we the s-d Richard Kerby, the Son, and Sarah Allen and Ruhamah Smith, the daughters now surviving of the s-d Richard Kerby, Doe hereby further Ratify and Confirm for us & every of us by these Presents, and for our heirs, Executors & Administrators & Each of them forever. In Testimony whereof we the s-d Richard Kerby, the Son, and Sarah Allen and Ruhamah Smith the Daughters, of s-d Deceased, hereunto Sett our hands & seals this twenty one day of July in the Sixth year of Her Majesty?s Reign, Anno Dommini 1707.”

Richard Kerbey (his mark) (seal), Sarah Allen (her mark) (seal)

In Presence of Henery Howland, Samuel Marehu (His Mark)

The grandchildren of Richard Kirby by his daughter Jane (Kirby) Lounder [also seen as Landers] also presented an instrument dated 9 October 1707 naming the children of Jane Lounder and their satisfaction with the estate left by their grandfather, Richard Kirby, to their mother and her heirs. It reads "To all people to Whom these Presents Shall come Greeting. Whereas our Grandfather Richard Kerbey formerly of Dartmouth in the County of Bristoll in New England Sometime more than Nineteen years Since Died & Left Some Estate undisposed of, now we Tabitha Wait, Deborah Leanders, Sarah Leanders, the Daughters, and Joseph Leanders the Son of Jane Leanders Late of Dartmouth, now Deceased. Now we Knowing that our mother Did Refuse part of that Estate, wee doe Say that we are fully Satisfyed for our Selves, our heirs, Executors & Administrators. In wittness whereof we have hereunto Sett our hands & seals, this 9th Day of October In the Sixth year of Her Maj-ts Reigne Annoque Dommini 1707.” Signed (some by mark) Deborah Leanders, John Lapham, Sarah Leanders, Joseph Landers, Judath Smith, William Soule, Samuel Merehou, on various days. It was recorded 9 October 1722. [Bristol County Probate Records, 4:120]

At 28 October 1684 Court, four Dartmouth men complained against a large group of men including Recompence Kerbey, Richard Kerbey Junr, Mathew Allin and John Smith [first two Richard’s sons, latter two his sons-in-law], proprietors or claimers of the undivided lands lying within the township of Dartmouth, to the damage of £500 silver money, holding as tenants together an undivided common that are not yet orderly divided. Jury found for the defendants for the cost of the suit. [PCR 8:283]

At 7 October 1685 Court, a group of men including George and Nathaniel Soule of Dartmouth, purchased land of Woosamequen & Wamsutta by deed dated 29 November 1652, complained against a group of men including John Smith Senr, Recompence Curbe, Seth Pope, Mathew Allen, Richard Curbe Junr, in an action of damage of £800 about the division of land. Action was nonsuited. [PCR 8:292-3]

Some people have Richard leaving Dartmouth for Oyster Bay, or Littlefield Long Island (Wikitree and Turner for example), but I have not found any primary sources for this. The New York Richard Curby died Oyster Bay between 27 October 1688 (date of will) and 10 January 1689/90 (will proved).  The will mentions wife Elizabeth, sons Thomas and William, daughters Elizabeth and Mary, and wife’s children Ichabod and Anne. [Watkins] My major concern with identifying RIchard as the man in Long Island is that the will does not mention his New England adult children, which would be unusual. In the 1707 document mentioned above concerning Richard’ of Dartmouth’s estate, it is mentioned he died intestate and the clearly inherited his estate. Even if Richard took care of deeding land to his sons and other gifts to his daughters, often something like that would be mentioned in a will using a phrase such as “I bequeath nothing further to my children x, y, z, other than what I have already given them.” Also that Richard’s son of the same name is still called “Junior” in 1684 and 1685 records mentioned above seems unlikely if his father was living out of state. I need to do more research on this.

Sources:

R.A. Lovell, Jr., Sandwich A Cape Cod Town, 1984

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

Melatiah Everett Dwight, The Kirbys of New England…,” 1898

Robert S. Hale, NEHGS Register, "Thomas Hale of Newbury, Mass. 1637, His English Origin and Connections,” 35:369-375 (1881)

Torrey’s New England Marriages to 1700

Walter Kendall Watkins, NEHGS Register, “Some Early New York Settlers from New England,” 55:303 (1901)

Henry Howland Crapo, Certain Comeoverers, volume 1, 1912