Alias Singletary
the Story of Jonathan Dunham
By Doug Wilson, Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved.
Preface
May the reader have the courage to ask why?
May the virtue of fairness reside in the heart and
May the eye of the soul always seek the truth.
Ancestral Story
Once upon a time in the late 16th century, a child was born to a wealthy and
influential English baron with lands and authorities originally bestowed upon them by the
earl palatine of Chester and every king since William the Conqueror. Their lands of
Cheshire were at first as a kingdom unto itself with their own rule of law; with the power
of life and death – until this time.
It was a warm spring day when an uncle of the future heir to these titles pulled aside a
family servant, the nanny and caretaker of the young son and heir; the only child of Sir
George and Lady Jane de Dunham. She was a pretty maiden lately blossomed in
womanhood. Her hair shined. Her scent was sweet like the pedals of a rose in the
morning dew. She was vibrant with young life and full of spirit.
Mr. Carrington must have spoken softly so as not to be overheard by any household staff
that may chance to pass by. His words were sweet as he enticed the young nanny to an
alcove off one of the grand rooms of Dunham Hall with his flirtatious manner. His
appearance was as fair and gentlemanly as his manner indiscreet.
“Oh, Mr. Carrington, you do tease me so!” she cooed as he grabbed her about her waist.
“Is there something you need of me?”
“It is you that I desire, young morsel of sensual pleasures. Your presence is perfume to
my senses. Your eyes seduce my soul with their lustful twinkle,” he whispered as his
breath warmed the nape of her neck.
So began their passionate albeit brief affair for he had more than passion in his heart. He
was yet to engage her in a most nefarious act, the abduction of her ward, a person to
whom she swore protection and care. His advances were but a ploy to gain her allegiance.
Her future had always been connected to her ward's well being. If she served her master
well she would do well. But the rich and positioned gentleman was offering her more. A
mistress to one such as he would be well provided for with servants of her own to do her
bidding.
The Lady de Dunham’s uncle, her father’s half-brother, John Carrington, was envious
and felt he deserved some of his half-brother’s estate. He was, after all, a Carrington and
the young lad was not. "Why should such a legacy go to Jane’s family that already held
so much land," is what he may have thought as he detailed just how the nanny should
proceed so as to avoid suspicion. She would wait until night when all were asleep; sneak
into the young Lord's bed chamber, bundle him up and take him far away in a waiting
carriage. She was to believe the boy would be ransomed and returned and keep her for his
pleasures in a town far from Dunham Hall, beyond the baron’s reach. She was too willing
and complacent to his romantic overtures. But, unbeknownst to her, Carrington would see
the young master destroyed.
The first payment exchanged hands discreetly. Ruth instinctively inspected the value of
her payment, pausing nervously as her eyes spotted the familiar mark the lion passant. So it was that mark of the House of Dunham, the family
crest, their birthmark, that also certifies the purity of British sterling to
this day. Such is the significance of the heritage and the birthmark on
this child's destiny.
Come nightfall, the weight of her responsibilities bore heavily on Ruth's thoughts. She
had just tucked the young ward in and seen to his needs when a mere whisper from the
Mistress just outside the chamber's door beckoned her attention.
"What is it you wish, my lady?" she asked.
"His lordship plans to return tomorrow and will desire a ride with his son before supper.
Please see that he is dressed properly. I expect it will be cooler tomorrow if this storm
hasn't passed by sunrise," she requested. Distant rumbles of thunder had been
approaching since late afternoon and still the rain had not reached the castle.
"Her ladyship was always the most kind and considerate there ever was." thought Ruth.
"As you desire, my lady, all will be ready and waiting his lordship when the sun is high
tomorrow," she replied. She thought otherwise but it did not show.
Her expression turned somber yet went unnoticed as Lady Jane had already turned and
moved on quickly for bed. "How could she destroy their precious child? Certainly, the
Lord and Lady never so much as scolded her," she worried. She had no right yet the Lady
Jane’s uncle would surely make trouble for her if she did not submit to his demands. Who
was she to be believed if she were to confess to her mistress of the dreadful plan?
Ruth laid out his little lordship's clothes for the coming day as would be expected; then
went on to bed as the thunder grew louder.
Her thoughts were conflicted as she tried to rest. A peaceful mind eluded her. She was
about to commit a disloyal act and a mortal sin for what? That’s just so much silver. Yet
worse, she would be untrue to herself. She had been the faithful and deserving servant for
so long - had been, now no longer. Perhaps she was not even yet aware that she had
already decided to devise an alternative; a plan that would not betray her master's trust in
her. She would instead take the child to safe keeping and simply pretend she had met Mr.
Carrington's demands. Perhaps he would believe her claims that she disposed of the
body; that this way was better; and then pray all would be forgotten - somehow.
The fateful hour arrived. Ruth slipped out of bed quietly and dressed quickly. Each flash
of lightning illuminated her path for brief moments only. By now the storm had grown
intense and the flashes so frequent that the rumble of thunder never seemed to end so that
her familiar path to the child's bed chamber was never as dark as Sir Graham's intent.
The young Lord of Dunham slept soundly as the nanny dressed his limp body as it lay
upon his bed. It was almost as though he was dead. "No she couldn't possibly!" she'd
screamed silently at herself. The child stirred. "Had he felt my presence?" The intensity
of that cold moment was broken with a warming sigh of peaceful slumber. He was
completely unaware and defenseless to whatever fate awaited him - the greatest grandson
of a mighty knight who served at the Earl of Chester’s left hand in court; always loyal,
trusted, and trusting in the greatness of their rule. That devotion passed on through all
these many generations.
It was only because Ruth had been so long a dependable servant with this family that she
knew of the secret exit. Built centuries earlier in case of siege so that a messenger could
be sent for reinforcement, the escape route tunneled under the dry gulch of barberry
thorns that buffered the stone fortifications from infantry attack. It was a long and narrow
passage; yet not so cramped that she could easily carry the small child in her arms. The
passage was also not damp since the spring had been unusually dry, but she did not pause
to notice. Once outside, she found herself deposited at the woods' edge, still in view of
the castle watch towers ...if they were looking for her.
She moved quickly down the road nearly a mile she walked with only a hood over her
head; the small boy tucked under her cape. At last she spotted the carriage and horse
tethered to a tree as promised. The cover of the carriage was dark and well fitted to keep
out the storm.
"What good fortune," Ruth thought cheerfully.
But her good mood quickly soured and tension rose in her body as she remembered a
certain tone in Mr. Carrington’s voice that betrayed his ulterior motive. She thought
better of the plan and prayed for divine guidance.
As they approached the main road at the edge of the estate house grounds she had a
decision to make. Carrington would have her go east and deliver the child to him some
miles far enough to take until daybreak. The other way led south away from the villages
she frequented and where she would be known. At that precise moment of indecision a
bolt of lightening cracked apart a mighty oak not 100 yards toward town. The horse
reared enough to jolt the child from his slumber.
“Hush,” she whispered to the young lord. “Go back to sleep. It was but the storm, child.”
She now knew in that flash what she must do; what she would do; and gently prompted
her mare to the path south. The methodical rumbling of the carriage wheels along the
gravel road rocked his lordship into a deep, deep sleep through the rest of the night.
The child must have been very young and most trusting of the nanny, perhaps just two
years of age. He posed few questions as to the course of events and the change in
surroundings. How would he take what was yet to pass? Ruth had in mind putting the
child aboard a ship bound someplace far. It would not take long for the word of the
disappearance and offer of rich reward to circulate throughout England. All ports could
soon be watched.
They eluded any search across a great estate and neighboring villages. They traveled
swiftly south for two days to reach an ocean harbor to the south, Plymouth. She had
overheard a conversation just recently. Some gentlemen were assembling the first ever
attempt to plant whole families in the New World. This time women and children were
sought for the establishment of the Virginia colony in an area they called the Chesapeake
Bay.
The timing was exceptionally fortunate as they lingered but a day in Plymouth. She had
to obtain passage for the boy on one of the three ships now being laden with goods for the
expedition. But in whom would she entrust his care? With the young lord close by, she
struck up conversations with some of the women waiting for their family's essentials to
be put onboard. Before long she observed a young woman with a kind face to whom
much deference was given.
She casually engaged the woman, Eleanor, in conversation. She learned that Eleanor was
with child and worried what their future would hold. As daughter of one of the expedition
organizers, she and her husband had been encouraged into this adventure. As the
discussion evolved Ruth's experience as a nanny impressed Eleanor and gave her
reassurance they would endure any hardships to come. The uplifting mood of the
exchange attracted a few other women, as well. Before long they were chatting like old
friends.
At some point, however, Ruth depended upon the good will of the others to explain that
she was there to find a place for the boy on the expedition. Perhaps she claimed the boy
was orphaned and had few choices for survival and that she must return to her duties. He
could not stay with Ruth and she would not be able to accompany them. She hoped
someone would adopt him.
This stirred the group's conversation considerable, yet feelings for their new
acquaintances were good and strong. A couple of the women expressed interest yet one
who had lost as small boy of their own within the year took this as a sign of good fortune
and God's everlasting love. The entire gathering was so moved that Eleanor, noticing her
father had come to the loading area, beckoned for his presence and consultation.
Governor White seemed excited as he approached the women surrounding the small
child. Was he just anticipating the adventure to come, buoyed by the excitement he saw
in his fellow colonists, or just pleased to find his daughter ready and waiting in the midst
of such busting activity? John White was more than the Colony's Governor and one of the
organizers. He was also captain of the flagship, admiral of the fleet, and leader of the
expedition.
"He has a kind face," Ruth thought on first site of this prominent figure in the large crowd
about them. She began to fret that such an important gentleman might have already heard
something of her abduction of the child and arrest her immediately. Her nerves were
calmed, however, when he spoke in warm tones.
"Eleanor, my love, it is good to see you in such high spirits. Are we making some new
friends for the voyage?" he queried.
"Father, thank you for coming near, I have indeed met someone new. This young boy has
captured our attentions with his charms," she replied.
He looked the boy up then down, and then glanced about the group of women to better
understand their fascination. He observed one woman he did not recognize that seemed
particularly attentive. Only some of the faces were yet familiar to him.
"Is he yours?" quizzed the Governor.
"No, sir, would that he was, I would be delighted to call him my own. My second son
was taken into God's arms just this past winter. He would be about this little one's age if
he had survived the sickness that took so many from my village at that time," Elizabeth
explained.
Ruth thought it better that she explain the boy's situation now and avoid more questions,
if possible. "He is an orphan I have bought to this town to find him a better life," she
injected. "I am but a servant of a household nearby and my master has no room for
another child as they are blessed with so many themselves. Perhaps this fine lady and her
family would be willing to take the boy in their charge as one of their own," she went on.
"Oh, sir, I would be thrilled that he should join us. My husband has been very sad lately
from our loss and its full price on our lives. My first son could be is companion and aid in
his care. Could it be through the Grace of God that he has been delivered to us this day?"
she exclaimed, and then paused. "Could you please allow it, my Lord?" she pleaded.
"Father, he is a pleasure to behold and so good natured as not to fuss at all," Eleanor
contributed.
"He is likeable enough," said the Governor as he turned the toddler around by the
shoulder and pursued him once more with circumspection. The lad giggled then planted
his feet firmly when he came back around.
" ... and of sturdy stock it would seem," he said grinning. "If it is good with your husband,
then bring him, madam. It won't be long before he can assist at least in the gathering of
firewood. I think we have sufficient provisions to add one so small to our company," he
concluded.
As the Governor bid them to board the ship in just two hours time, he thought
reassuringly, "this could be a good sign ... a very good sign indeed. Already our numbers
increase."
The excitement swelled among the women once again such the time of apprehension that
seem not to end now was past and the next hours flew quickly by. Ruth made up a few
more details to keep his identity secret. At some point she was finally asked the child's
name. Amusing herself with how easy she found inventing a new identity, she paused
only briefly before announcing, "Richard ... Richard Singletary." While all alone to tarry
forth in the New World he was richly blessed in this company and the opportunities
ahead, she concluded.
Ruth spent some time quietly with the boy to prepare him before parting ways. She was
concerned that he would become nervous from the unusual events of the past few days.
However, the boy was excited by the attention he received and anxious only for more
adventure. She bid him farewell and God's speed as the women and a handful of children
boarded. The small fleet had just the time needed to clear the bay and sail toward the
setting sun.
References
The preceding is a composite with many speculative details to portray a plausible
scenario based upon the following published versions of the verbal tradition.
Genealogy of the Singletary-Curtis Family
By Lou Singletary-Bedford, published in New York in 1907, posted at
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pastor/heir.htm;
SINGLETARY-DUNHAM HISTORY, NOTES, & RESOURCES
By Audrey (Shields) Hancock at
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~grannyapple/DUNHAM/SingletaryD
unhamHistory.html;
And Floyd Dedmon used some other names in his account at
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lzrslong/b3702.htm, but cites no
references to the supporting documentation.
Richard - The Immigrant
Jonathan Dunham's story begins with his roots as first born son to Richard Singletary, the
immigrant ancestor to a long line of Singletary’s and Dunham’s in America. Their lives
and accomplishments are devoted to the American ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit
of happiness. Inevitably, their experiences were at times controversial; at times, quite
ordinary. They exemplified the convulsive struggle out of which America was born.
First Appearance in Salem
It has been consistently reported (by Savage, Barry, Currier, Hoyt, Pope) that the first
record of Richard in the New World dates to 1637. He was received as an inhabitant in
Salem, but not yet a freeman, according to Felt’s Annals of Salem. At this time England
had established villages in the Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth Colonies; and
Jamestown in the Virginia Colony. The Dutch had established New Amsterdam. The
French were trading and colonizing to the north. The Spanish established a presence in
Florida and Caribbean Islands earlier than the rest.
Pope’s Pioneers of Massachusetts summarizes Richard’s records on page 416 as:
SINGLETARY,
Richard, Salem, propr. 1637. Rem. to Newbury; propr. 1638.
Rem. to Salisbury; propr. 1639. Rem. to Haverhill; propr. 1651.
Town officer. He deposed 22 Nov. 1662, ae. about 67 years;
again, 24 (1) 1662-3, ae. about 70. Goodwife Singletary d. at
Newbury about 1639. He m. Susanna Cooke, who deposed in
1662, ae. about 46 years. Ch. Jonathan b. Jan 17, 1639, Eunice b.
Jan. 7, 1641, (m. Thomas Eaton,) Nathaniel b. Oct.28,1644, Lydia
b. April 30, 1648, (m. Daniel Ladd, Jr.,) Amos b. April, 1651,
Benjamin b. April 11, 1682. He d. Oct. 25, 1687, ["ae. 102," says
Hav. record.]
There is, however, no record of immigration for Richard. There is only the story reported
in the previous chapter to explain his emigration and place of origin. So how do we figure
out how he came to America? Where did he come from? Who was he anyway?
A listing of over 7100 immigrant families and 250 ships arriving prior to 1639, I find
only three of these seven new inhabitants of Newbury: William Palmer (Mary Gold,
1635?), John Moulton (John and Dorothy, 1637), and Abraham Toppan (Mary Ann,
1637). This is not unusual since the listing is not comprehensive, not all ship logs
survived, and not all passengers are necessarily recorded. So, if Richard emigrated as one
among many of Massachusetts Colonists prior to 1638, and not as the story would have
it, his name is simply among those missing from the ship logs.
If there is some truth to the story, he voyaged among the late 16th century English
adventurers to the Virginia Colony – more specifically, in 1587 to The Lost Colony of
Roanoke. That was the first and only English attempt to bring women and children to the
New World prior to Jamestown in 1607. However, we must observe that the Barony of
Dunham is in Cheshire in the northwest of England near the port of Liverpool (25 miles
west) and the ships for the Roanoke expedition in 1687 left from the south of England
and the port of Plymouth (200 miles south). It is extremely difficult to believe that the
nanny carried the child the longer distance. One would have to imagine that they had
some means of transportation other than by foot. Did they ride a carriage or wagon? Or
did they make the trip to Liverpool and take passage on a ship leaving there to Plymouth
before final embarkation to the Virginia Colony.
If he emigrated as a child we need a firmer handle on his date of birth than afforded by
the phrase “late 16th century.” Here some record exists, yet is contradictory. On two
separate occasions, March 24 and November 22, in the year 1662, Richard testifies in
court before Governor Simon Bradstreet that his age was 72 and 63, respectively. If he
knew his birth date and it fell between these months, one of these two ages could have
been incorrectly recorded or transcribed. He would have then been born between March
24 and November 22 in either 1590 or 1599.
To complicate matters further, upon his death on October 25, 1687, in Haverhill, his age
was reported as 102. That would have him born five years earlier yet; before that day in
1585 - an extraordinary age even today. Late in life he was accordingly referred to as old
man Singletary in some reports. How easy it is to mistakenly recall his age in town
records as two years past 100 when it could have been two years shy of 100? Then, the
birth year would be 1589. We are not sure that he knew his own age. How can we expect
the town historian to be so certain? Perhaps we could at least take from this that the
month and year preceded October 25.
If the latter year above is true, his birth date could have been more in line with 1590. At
best, we might plausibly narrow our estimated range to between March 24, 1585, and
October 25, 1590, assuming the aforementioned errors in the record. That he seems to
have been widower to a “Goodwife” Singletary does lend some credibility to an
advanced age of 50-55 by 1640 when he and 24 year old Susanna Cooke started a family.
It raises yet another question: Did he have children from his first marriage that had died
or were old enough to have families of their own elsewhere?
Ascertaining Richard's date of birth is important to determining any
credibility of this extraordinary ancestral story. His birthright, surname,
and circumstances of immigration are in question. You see, the House of
Dunham, as known to the residents Cheshire, England ended with the
death of Hamon Massy, the last Baron of Dunham, in 1342.
The reader will find it worthwhile to browse the beginning of Ingham’s History of
Altrincham and Bowden for a historical perspective on this strategically significant
barony. Evidence of a Roman road and barrows in Dunham New Park remind us that this
has been a major thoroughfare for military and commercial traffic through successive
occupations by Roman, Danish, Saxon and Norman conquests. For another telling bit of
history I extract the following passage from pages 5-6, for I can relate it no better than he
did in 1867.
Another interesting memento of the ancient associations of
Bowden may here be mentioned. Not many years ago, a
bystander, who was watching the sexton of the Parish Church
open out a grave, observed in one of the shovels full of earth
thrown out something black and round. This, on rubbing, gave
out a bright appearance, and, on being placed in the hands of an
antiquarian, proved to be a silver penny of Eadmund, one of the
early Saxon Kings, and grandson of Alfred the Great. On the
obverse was Eadmund Rex, in the centre being a small cross. On
the reverse, amongst other things, was the word Ingel ║ Gar, M.
T., or really, Ingelgar, Moneyer. Probably the sandy soil into
which the coin had been dropped prevented corrosion, as it was
in an admirable state of preservation. The capital letters were
well formed, and differed very little from our modern ones,
except the G, which was very square in form, and the M, which
consisted of two outer stems like capital I’s connected not by an
inner acute angle like a V, but by a slight curve or festoon at the
top. This Ingelgar was, during the years 941-945, a moneyer to
Anlaf, at that period King of Northumbria, who, in the latter
year, was expelled by Eadmund. Ingelgar, in addition to Anlaf,
was moneyer to three other Kings; Eric, also a King of
Northumbria, and to Eadmund, and his brother and successor
Eadred. The coin was thought to have been struck at
Manchester, on account of its proximity to Bowdon; but as there
was also a Mint at Chester, there is no conclusive evidence on
this point.
Perhaps it looked something like this one said to have been struck
around 940 by Eadmund’s moneyer, Osulf. This example was
found at the Coin Community.
One of the last conquests of William was the minor kingdom of
Chester, including the Dunham estate. He gave the area to his
nephew, Hugh d’Avranches, Earl of Chester. The Earl granted
Dunham and other estates to Hamo, as recorded in the Domesday
Book: “Hamo holds Doneham; Elward held it, and was a freeman; there is one hide of
land rateable to the gelt [money]; the land is three carucates [plowland]; one is demesne
[manorial estate]; and there are two neatherds [cowherds], two villeins [vassals], and one
bordar [farm tenant]; and one acre of wood, and one house in the city (of Chester); in the
time of King Edward it was worth 12S.; now 10S. It was waste.”
Location, location, location - the modern “first rule of real estate” applied even in those
days as the land was neither bountiful nor beautiful. The real value of the land at that time
was its strategic location to stave off invasion. Its granting to Hamo indicates the high
regard in which he was held. This is further evidenced in a depiction in the Vale Royal of
the Earl’s Parliament of Abbeys and Barons where Hamo, marked by his shield, is seated
among the Barons at the Earl’s left hand.
The following verse, with spelling modernized, describes the lineage first granted the
Barony of Dunham by the Earl of Chester to have and to hold.
Upon Hughe Massey he did bestow
the Dunham Massy barony,
to whom there did succeed in row
five heirs of his successively;
from thenceforth amongst the female heirs
it scattered was for many years,
yet most part after ages past
a Boothe of Dunham came at last.
We are, however, looking for a break in the heritage about two hundred fifty years after
Massy male line ends with Sir Hamo in 1234. It would have been in the late 1580’s or so,
when Richard Singletary could have been a young boy with a nanny.
The poem above indicates a Boothe eventually comes to possess the Barony of Dunham.
This is also reflected in the records from the Visitations of Cheshire and the Peerage
database. Could Richard have been a Boothe and heir to the House of Dunham?
Today the enviable beauty of Dunham Park of the National Trust and its fertile
countryside are a testament to the fine stewardship since the time of the Conquest,
particularly after the Boothe family became possessed of it. The manor house was greatly
enhanced. Even the smaller, utilitarian out buildings, like the estate’s 17th century
watermill pictured in April 2008 by Jill Coleman, warms the soul with its charm.
In the early 1400's, Sir Robert Bouth married Douce Venables, a 3rd great granddaughter
of John Fitton of Bollin and Cecilie de Massie, one of the Baron's sisters. The Bouth of
Dunham line continues with the family crest of lion passant argent. If the
House of Dunham is thought to continue, it would seem to be represented at
that time by the Boothe family of Dunham Massey.
The 1580 Visitation of Cheshire (p. 37) illustrates that Bouth of Dunham family line
through six generations to William Bouth in the middle of the 16th century. It notes that
Sir William was knighted in 1579 by Queen Elizabeth and had three sisters, two of whom
married. According to the Magna Carta Ancestry (p. 112), William’s second son, Sir
George, was born 1566. He married twice and had five sons and seven daughters by the
second marriage. The excerpt below describes this in more detail.
The 1613 Visitation of Chester (p. 28, excerpt below) charts Sir George’s (Georgius)
marriages and descendants into the 17th century. It notes that his first marriage to Jane
(Janna), daughter (filia) and heir (heres) to Johis de Carington (John Carrington), ended
with no children (s.p.). It also observes that his second marriage to Katherine Anderson
yielded several offspring, as noted above in the Magna Carta Ancestry, and proceeds to
outline yet another generation demonstrating an unbroken descent through the 1580’s and
beyond. It would seem there is no supporting evidence here for the murder or abduction
of an heir, such as Richard Singletary, so a cousin would inherit the estates.
Then, Burke’s History of the Extinct and Dormant Baronetcies describes an arrangement
with Sir John whereby Sir George would inherit from Jane, his second cousin, the
Carrington estates if Jane fails to bear Sir George children. This record tells us that the
marriage in 1577 did not last long and produced no children but does not reveal the
reason. Cheshire Funeral Certificates reports that the marriage ended in divorce, but does
not say when. Did they divorce because she bore him no children or because she was
somehow held responsible for his abduction by the nanny, who may never have returned
to Dunham Hall? The online Peerage Database, citing Cokayne’s The Complete
Baronetage (Vol. I, p. 14), says she died without issue. Was this in childbirth? This being
a very prominent family, a failure to account for such an event seems incredible, yet
impossible? The references above seem to be in conflict about the circumstances by
which the marriage ended and neither provides any date for this; nor a date for Sir
George’s second marriage. There have also been details of the Heraldic Visitations in
error according to a researcher’s posting regarding the Deacon John Dunham ancestry
supposed by I. W. Dunham’s Dunham Genealogy, as follows:
The Yorkshire Visitation lists as daughters and
coheirs Kateren, Elsabeth, Margaret, Ann and
Mary. But apparently only four daughters
survived to adulthood. The Yorkshire Visitation
is also wrong on other small points.
The ancestral story that passed through generations by word of mouth, while vague and
undocumented, specifically identifies the House of Dunham and includes a reasoning of
an unusual arrangement for inheritance. The story also claims an uncle was trying to
acquire the inheritance. One version suggests his name is Phillips, yet I find no Phillips in
the family at that time. The 1580 Visitation of Cheshire reports that John Carrington of
Carrington had three sisters, one half-sister, and two half-brothers, William and Andrew,
Jane’s uncles. He died in 1581 according to the Lancashire and Cheshire Wills and
Inventories. Had some of the story details been changed slightly in generations of
retelling, but not the essential events? Perhaps the child was heir to the House of Dunham
AND the Carrington estates. Is it possible that one of the half-brothers was the uncle
mentioned and that he was unaware of the arrangement between his brother, John, and Sir
George? Could the records, made some time after the events, be in error? If there was a
plot to manipulate the fortunes of the Carrington family line, could not the truth have
been purposefully concealed? If so, would we ever know without some tangible
evidence? At this late date, would the discovery of some token of Richard’s heritage
really prove what really happened or who was involved?
It was in May of 1637 when the men of the several towns gathered in Newtown, now
known as Cambridge. Having formed a militia in April to attack the Pequod Indians, they
paused on the Commons to debate whether this march was organized “under a covenant
of grace or a covenant of works.” In these religious terms some 160 of the able-bodied
inhabitants discussed their justifications before deciding the fate of the entire Indian
nation soon to succumb to their brutality on the 26th and again in June. Of Newbury, there
were eight armed and present; of Ipswich, seventeen. Salem contributed eighteen; Lynn
sixteen; and Boston sent twenty-six.
It may well have been that Richard did not continue with that group to extinguish those
lives as he was not among those from Newbury and other towns reprimanded for the
misdeed in August by a synod of ministers and magistrates.
Perhaps it was there on that fateful May day that Richard and Virginia first met the Philip
Cook family of Cambridge while also voting on the leadership of the Colony. This may
have been the occasion at which Richard, inhabitant of Salem, considered his later
removal to Newbury. In turn, this could be the first opportunity of the men of Newbury,
like John Woodbridge, to consider accepting Richard and his wife into their fold on that
more pleasant and revealing autumn day of the following year as described previously.
A Move to Newbury
Richard and six others joined the freeholders of Newbury in October of 1637, according
to Coffin in his Sketch of the History of Newbury and Hoyt in his Old Families of
Salisbury and Amesbury. by taking the freeholders’ oath as extracted below from
Coffin’s work. Note the “licensing” or approval of Puritan Governor, then Captain, John
Endicott, whose actions contributed to the Pequot War that year.
In October [1637], Richard Singleterry, William Palmer, John
Moulton, Thomas Moulton, Nicholas Busbee, and Abraham
Toppan [and William Easton, says Hoyt] were admitted as
inhabitants of Newbury. The following is a specimen of the form
of admission.
‘Abraham Toppan being licensed by John Endicott esqr. to live
in this jurisdiction was received into the towne of Newberry as
an inhabitant thereof and hath heere promised under his hand to
be subject to any lawful order, that shall be made by the towne.’
Abraham Toppan.
This October day in 1637 was sunny and unusually warm, as many of the town leaders
gathered at the meeting hall of Newbury. While most of the men were gathered around a
table at the front of the room discussing the issues of town management their wives and a
few children were gathered in an aisle that traversed the single room structure. On either
side of the aisle were simple wooden plank benches forming two rows of seating for full
town gatherings. The debate of how and whom should be allowed land in their town had
grown a bit contentious when the magistrate called for order. The excitement was
palpable as the names of seven new proprietors were asked to come forward to take an
oath of allegiance. All the important facts would be recorded.
Two strangers went unnoticed as they entered the room. One was taller, medium build
with light-colored hair. The other was more stocky and dark in complexion. They stayed
close by the door and spoke little to the man on guard there. The two had dire expressions
on their faces; not anger so much as concern as they observed the activity from afar.
Their interest peaked when the name Richard Singletary was announced and a tall,
slender, clean-shaven man with ruggedly youthful good looks and deep-set eyes stepped
forward. Only a wisp a gray hair in his temples would lead one to believe he was
anything more than 35 years of age. The men by the door, detectives from England, had
spotted their target. They waited patiently for the proceedings to end.
When the administrative session came to a close, the men rejoined the women, greeting
them with broad smiles and excitement. Soon they began to leave in pairs and small
groups, gaily congratulating and welcome one to the other, pausing only briefly in
recognition of the two men near the exit. They had much to do in preparation for their
new homes and farms. A few of the original settlers remained uncertain. The debate
would continue as to how and when someone was to be admitted to their fold, for these
were yet difficult times for the newly established community struggling top survive. Each
must learn to trust the other to band together in like mind and purpose.
The two men would nod in response without losing sight of Richard, who was now joined
by a handsome woman with weariness in her eyes. She was Richard’s wife and would not
survive the coming winter to see the next warm days of the spring to come.
“Good day, sir,” said the taller, fair-haired stranger. “Would you be Richard Singletary?”
“I am,” replied Richard, still grinning.
“Most excellent,” returned. “My name is Samuel Hawkins and this would be Joseph
Wright. We represent the law firm of Smith, Silverstone, and Associates of London and
Westminster. We have been searching you out for some four months now.”
“Indeed,” replied Richard as his pleasant smile faded to puzzlement. “This is my wife,
Virginia.” She forced a smile and nodded, “Good day to you.”
“We are so pleased to meet you, madam, and you sir,” as his companion nodded in
greeting.
“Good day,” offered Mr. Wright with a smile.
Mr. Hawkins proceeded, “we have some business to discuss with you if we may have a
private word.”
“What business could you have with me?” Richard inquired as he gestured that they
proceed outside to enjoy the sunshine.
The four strolled easily to the shade of a large oak not far from the meeting house,
nodding to their new neighbors as they passed. Before them stretched the meadow land of
the Lower Green that braced the shore of the Parker River. The autumn foliage was
ablaze. This immense oak possessed one of the most prominent displays of color perhaps
in tribute to this spot where gathered the first congregation to celebrate God’s grace upon
this earth.
“We were engaged to locate a person by the name Richard Singletary who came to these
shores quite some years ago,” explained Samuel.
“Well, sir, my wife and I arrived to this area called Massachusetts just a year ago this past
spring. We considered settling in Salem before receiving an opportunity for land in this
town.”
“And from whence did you come to these shores, then?” responded Samuel.
“We had been settled on the shores of the Chesapeake with a handful of English and
natives of that area. We both grew to maturity there. It’s a most pleasant landscape but
the mosquitoes are quite difficult in the summers.”
Samuel and Joseph glanced at each other with approving grins as Richard went on to
explain.
“We buried the last of our English-born families just a few years prior to the arrival of a
ship of settlers and goods bound for this bay. We enjoyed their company such that we
decided to leave our native friends and proceed here with them,” elaborated Richard.
The detectives’ grins grew broader at the prospect that their long journey may have
finally come to a fruitful conclusion.
“You say you spent your youth along the Chesapeake? Had you been previously at the
colony in Jamestown then?” inquired Samuel. “Please to explain further, sir, we believe
this is as important to you as it is to us and can explain our interest after just a few
questions more?”
“Well,” Richard continued. “I know little of my childhood but a vague memory of a sea
voyage that took quite some time and was, indeed, hard to experience, yet not so rough as
the first years ashore and building our farms and shelters. There were many more English
then. It was also during that time that my wife was born. We were not welcomed by those
already in that area and there was a great fight with them. We moved to an island before
we dispersed to smaller groups. Virginia and I moved north with several men and a few
other children. We were told that our parents had died in the fighting, I believe. Our
group moved north to the Chesapeake and settled there, as I stated.”
“I understand. Would you be able then to tell me what memory you might have of your
own birth or age?” inquired Samuel further.
Richard noticed that his wife had begun to tire of the questioning and gave him a look he
recognized as her desire to move on. “I know little of that other than what I have been
told. I have expected that I passed to my 50th year just two summers ago, but can not be
certain. What is this about, really? We expect yet this afternoon to return to Salem.”
Samuel replied with great anticipation, “Please, sir, bear with me for just one last inquiry.
I notice you wear no jewelry, nor ring. Are you in possession of a ring made of gold? It
would have an insignia on it?”
“A ring?” he replied. “I know nothing of a ring.”
The two men’s grins were lost simultaneously in a flash of thought, but not their interest.
Samuel explained quickly, “This would be a gold ring that may have been worn around
your neck in your youngest days, perhaps while on that voyage of which you spoke.”
Richard thought for a moment, passed glances with his wife, and could recall no ring.
Virginia started to speak, but muffled a cough instead. A second seemed to come from
deep in her chest.
In the next moment, Richard declared, “I do seem to recall losing some shiny piece of
jewelry that hung around my neck on a cord. That would have been when I was very
young. I reason that was after we moved to the island. Sandy soil and severe storms made
it a difficult place to build houses and grow crops. It’s been so long now, but I seem to
remember struggling to escape a thicket of brush somewhere in those islands before
removing to a safer place further north. I believe a branch removed it from me and we
had no time to search for it. Is that important?” he asked.
“I should say so,” replied Joseph, as if he just joined in the conversation.
Samuel flashed his companion a look of concern, and proceeded to the most critical
question. “Do you recall what insignia was on that ring? What color was it?”
“I think it was yellow in color, perhaps gold, not unlike this glorious shade,” he said
plucking a golden oak leaf as it drifted past that very moment. “I seem to recall that
because there were few gold objects about, most metal was copper or silver or pewter,
and, of course, lead.”
“And the insignia, what was it? Do you remember anything about that?” begged Samuel.
“Well I think it was a lion or leopard; some sort of cat, perhaps a view from the side, as
though it was walking by, I think,” replied Richard.
“Are you sure?”
“As I think about it, I do recall showing it to a friendly native. He was very nice to us.
Not like some others. He noticed it when we were walking and asked to see it. I
remember him looking puzzled at it and stuck his tongue out, pointed at the figure and
then his own tongue. I think the lion’s tongue was sticking out. It was silly looking. We
laughed about it,” Richard went on.
“Now you say it was a lion?” quizzed the detective.
“Yes. I think so. Is that important?” Richard retorted.
Samuel breathed deeply. “Mr. Singletary, sir, it seems to me that you are the rightful heir
to the House of Dunham, including all its estates and title. It is with much regret that I
must convey to you that your story alone does not provide us with the evidence our
employers need to prove to the courts your entitlement.”
“You see, sir, It was more than a year ago when Ruth Tanner passed away and confessed
a terrible wrong she committed upon your person.”
“Ruth was once in the employ of the Baron de Dunham as your nanny. Do you recall
her?” Samuel asked.
I don’t believe so, sir,” answered Richard, puzzled by the news.
“You were but a few years old when Ruth was engaged by your mother’s uncle to abduct
and dispose of you.” Samuel explained.
Richard interrupted incredulously, “you mean she was to murder me?”
“Yes, sir, she was to take you from the home and hand you off to others. When she
discovered you were to be killed, she could not go through with the plan,” Samuel
continued. “So she took you instead to put you on a ship bound for the Virginia
Plantations.”
Richard’s face froze and Virginia began to swoon. Perhaps she would have fallen if
Joseph had not moved quickly to catch before Richard had a chance to shake his disbelief
and assist her as well.
Samuel went on. “I’m told that she hid with you until the searchers were no longer near,
made her way to a port where a she arranged with the captain and some of the women
boarding to take care of you.”
Richard searched his memory for anything sounding familiar. “Are you sure? My parents
died, didn’t they? How can this be?”
“It’s the ring, sir. She bundled you up and put a signet ring with your family crest on a
cord around your neck, hidden under your clothes. The ring had been a worn one your
father left in your room that was to be yours. That family crest is a lion in a walking
position with its tongue extending from it mouth. It is called a lion passant,” elaborated
Samuel.
“Since she could not murder you, she thought she could at least give you some
remembrance of your true identity. Unfortunately, that is all she gave you. We need that
ring to prove your entitlement to the courts. Without it, your story bears no weight with
the justices. The estates and title will remain with the current Baron de Dunham.”
“I don’t understand,” Richard offered. “What happened to my parents, the nanny?”
“Your mother died not long after your abduction. Your father remarried. They had
several more children, including their next eldest son that has assumed possession of the
barony,” Samuel explained.
“My lord, I never knew that ring was worth more than its weight of gold. I believe I
would have tried harder to retrieve it, but it was dark and lost in the shadows and sand,”
Richard said in disbelief. “Is there nothing to be done then?”
“Nothing, sir, we will return to report the news to our employers. If there is something to
be done, it will be at the discretion of the Baron. Our business here would seem to be
concluded. We thank you for your time and can only offer our condolences on the deaths
of your parents, your losses, and wish you well, Mr. Singletary.”
“You have my gratitude for all you both have done and the trouble you have taken to find
me. I shall have to be satisfied with the opportunities I find here,” Richard was resigned
to say.
“You are a truly a gentleman, sir. Good day to you, then, and your good wife. We will
take no more of you time.”
“Good day to you as well, we must be on our way back to Salem,” concluded Richard as
Virginia sighed audibly.
By June of 1638, Richard would have purchased or rented a parcel of land in Newbury
and begun construction of a house with a fireplace for heat. By that year much of the land
had been granted to early wealthy inhabitants in large parcels and town house lots had
been laid out for the original inhabitants, as well. None of those listed included his name
and records of lots on the other side of the river are not found. After much debate, the
town center had moved about three miles north toward the Merrimac River. We do know,
however, that on the 19th he and William Allen were each granted 4 acres on Deer Island
for farming. So he may have located in a northern area of the plantation, closer to the
Merrimac River and his farm lot. He was established by the end of the summer as he took
the freeman’s oath the 7th of September.
It could have been during these two previous summers that Susanna Cooke, sister to
Philip, befriended Virginia. It may well have been a friendship with the Singletarys’ that
brought Susanna along to winter in Newbury and help nurse Virginia through the
hardship of the winter of 1638-39. This was, perhaps, only their second in Massachusetts
and it was not kind to Virginia’s health. She seemed never to have shaken off an illness
contracted in their first winter there.
This October the 6th of 1638 the town of Newbury accepted a proposal put forward the
previous August for a mill to grind corn and keep a man there to grind it, as reprinted
below from Coffin’s A Sketch of the History of Newbury Mass.. Further, five of the
prominent land owners (namely, Edward Woodman, John Knight, Edward Rawson,
Richard Brown, and Henry Short) promised to bring their corn there and encourage
others to do so, as well. This would be the same mill established by Richard Dummer and
John Spencer on the falls at Newbury by 1636 – one of three in the Colony that year,
including Ipswich and Salem. As two in a group of wealthy first settlers, they enjoyed the
opportunity to possess much land there for the grazing of cattle, as well.
It was also in these earliest years that the congregational church, as a whole rather than
the individual preacher, was the town authority with various committees and individuals
elected to perform the necessary functions of town management. At that time Mr. Parker
was made pastor and Mr. Noyes a teacher. John Woodbridge became the first town clerk,
while Richard Kent and Henry Short were made lot layers.
Come January of 1639, Virginia lost her fight for life. As the ground was too frozen to be
broken in winter, Richard would have wrapped her body and placed it in a crude box he
made of wood yet unused from the construction of their Newbury house in which she
died. Her remains were then have been carefully stored in the back of their unheated
construction shed and hid beneath other materials to keep it frozen and out of the reach of
animals.
The next months were trying for Richard’s peace of mind. He tried to keep himself busy
finishing the house he had started for their new life along the Parker River. Susanna was
of great comfort, but perhaps his faith had begum to wane as much as his interest in
completing his construction.
As the ground thawed in April, Richard and a couple of the townsmen would have dug a
grave in the earliest town cemetery not far from the Richard and Virginia’s house near
the Upper Green. There they held services for Virginia and any others that did not survive
that winter past.
References
A History of Altrincham and Bowden, with an Account of the Barony and House of
Dunham, Alfred Ingham, 1879, p. 7
A Sketch of the History of Newbury, Newburyport, and West Newbury, Joshua Coffin and
Joseph Bartlett, 1845, p. 24
Annals of Salem, Joseph B. Felt, 1827, p. 551
Annals of Salem, Volume 1, Joseph B. Felt, 1845, p. 170
Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Volume VI, Nathaniel B.
Shurtleff, M.D., 1678-1691, pp. 113-114
GEN-MEDIEVAL-L Archives, Reedpcgen, 1998, 0891319086
Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers, Volume 4, James Savage, 1862, p. 102
History of Framingham, William Barry, 1847, p. 392
History of Newbury, Mass. 1635-1902, John J. Currier, 1902, p. 49
Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury, David W. Hoyt
Pioneers of Massachusetts, Charles Henry Pope, p.416
Jonathan’s Salisbury Childhood, 1640-49
There was something reaffirming about the sermon Mr. Parker gave that day. After
months of grieving Richard had discovered affection had grown between him and
Susanna. Perhaps she admired his love for Virginia. Maybe, at the age of just 24, she was
attracted to his yet youthful and rugged good looks, his caring manner, or the wisdom she
found in his eyes. Perhaps she felt he would be a good husband and father.
It would have been later that May of 1639 that their first son, Jonathan, was conceived.
That year, they resolved to marry (or live together). There is no record of their marriage
to ascertain the event or date. With a number of other Newbury residents they moved
north across the Merrimac to Salisbury, where he became a proprietor. He may also have
kept his plot on Deer Island in that majestic river that divided the two townships.
In January, 1640, Jonathan was born to Susanna and Richard, perhaps in a house they
would have shared with another family of Salisbury; perhaps before they removed from
Newbury. It was sometime in 1639 or 1640 that Richard, among a dozen others, acquired
land there so as to build his own home for his new family.
This structure would have been built with more enthusiasm and a renewed hope for the
future. After house lots were laid out, planting land was assigned. In many cases house
lots and planting lots were located near each other for safety from sudden Indian attack.
In one of the divisions, around the outside of the semi-circular road that ran from the
north at what would now seem to be Rocky Hill Road to the cemetery and beach road on
the south. It is in this division that Richard’s name appears.
In August, Jonathan was just 7 months of age and not yet walking or talking. The young
mother, Susanna, had carried him about town on pleasant summer days to pass the time
with neighbors. She had born the child with good grace and enjoyed the exercise and
change of scenery her daily stroll provided them. The child was always fascinated by the
faces of those they passed.
As they passed the Spencer farm this day they happened upon William Osgood and some
others from town who were building a barn for Mr. Spencer. Richard may have been
among that party. They had just been finished the frame and were breaking for a midday
repast.
Susanna greeted the crew foreman, “Good day, Mr. Osborne! How are you and your wife
Elizabeth?” She exchanged a wave of the hand with her husband Richard, as well.
“Good day to you, Mrs. Singletary. We are very well, thank you,” replied William. “And
how is your fine and joyful son this morn?” Osgood was a rugged individual, with his
white, linen sleeves rolled up to his elbow and just a bit of sweat glistening on his tanned
brow.
“He is healthy and strong as the timber of your stout frame, good sir,” said Susanna.
“Would you care for a crust of bread and cheese, Madam?”
“Thank you, but I just had a bite before venturing out,” Susanna replied gratefully, before
noticing John Godfrey approaching from across the meadow.
John had been tending to Mr. Spencer’s cows when he noticed the workmen break for
food and was eager to share news with Mr. Osgood.
“Good day,” said William and Susanna simultaneously.
“It is a fine morning, it is,” exclaimed Godfrey with an inextinguishably broad smile
upon his impish face. He was a bit disheveled in his gray flannel pants, white shirt and
vest, too warm for a mid-August sun. His curly, red hair bore bits of dry grass from the
ground he had been lying upon.
“And how’s this chubby child?” as he tweaked the babe’s rosy cheek.
As Jonathan began to cry, Susanna reflexively pulled him back.
“He does well, sir. Fussing is not his usual way,” replied the startled mother. “I believe it
is time for us to move on. I am yet to see Mrs. Woodbridge about some sewing she has.
Good day to you, Mr. Osgood. Good day to you,” she said pausing to examine Godfrey
just a bit longer. She then took a brisk pace, swinging Jonathan gently as she strode away.
Godfrey turned quickly to engage Mr. Osgood in a conversation that William would
recall in a court affidavit 18 years later.
“I’ll soon be done keeping cows as I’ve gotten a new master,” said Godfrey with apparent
pleasure.
William asked of him, “Who would that be?”
“I know not,” answered Godfrey.
Osgood asked him, “Where does he dwell then?”
Godfrey answered, “I know not.”
Osgood asked again, “Then by what name is he known?”
Godfrey answered, “He did not tell me.”
Osgood then said to him, “How, then, wilts thou go to him when thy time with Mr.
Spencer is out?”
Godfrey said, “The man will come and fetch me then.”
Osgood asked him, “Hast thou made an absolute bargain?”
Godfrey answered that a covenant was made, and he had set his hand to it. Osgood then
asked of him whether he had not a counter covenant.
Godfrey answered, “No.”
William, quite puzzled, exclaimed, “What a mad fellow art thou to make a covenant in
this manner!”
Godfrey said, “He's an honest man.”
“How knowest thou?” said William, at a loss.
Godfrey returned, “He looks like one.”
“I am persuaded thou hast made a covenant with the Devil,” William concluded.
Godfrey skipped off proclaiming, “I profess, I profess!”
William turned, shaking his head and muttering, “That poor boy has been spending too
much time with Spencer’s cattle. A new job is surely what he needs.”
William’s workers, noticing Godfrey’s animated exit, began to laugh. They then pointed
at the spectacle Godfrey made as he tripped over some stubble of meadow grass many
yards away.
Osgood would not have been perplexed so much by Godfrey’s excitement at prospective
employment as he was with his ignorance of the terms of contract. There were plenty of
cattle to be tended in those days with estimates of 12,000 in the colony. However the
price had fallen by 80 percent as emigration from Europe had abruptly declined and there
would be no transportation of goods in return.
The economic impact of the reduction in trade was deep, wide, and long. Hard currency
became so scarce that Winthrop’s government set fixed equivalences of commodities in
place of coin since neither “money nor beaver” were to be had. Indian corn became worth
four shillings, rye was set at five shillings, and wheat at six shillings in payment of all
new debts. “Men could not pay their debts though they had enough. He that three months
before was worth 1,000 pounds could not raise 200 hundred pounds even if he sold his
whole estate.” Governor Winthrop lamented the “notorious evil” of the common practice
to buy low and sell high.
It would seem that Jonathan had been born at the advent of the first economic depression
of the North American continent. During 1640, the prominent Reverend John
Woodbridge was fined two shillings and sixpence for release of a servant. In May,
several Newbury inhabitants found it necessary to try their prospects elsewhere and
petitioned the Winthrop government to allow their resettlement in Pentucket (now
Haverhill) and Cochichawick (now Andover). So many others in the colony removed to
foreign locations that there was a net loss of inhabitants. Yet some, such as Mr. Richard
Dummer, had such reserves as to contribute as much as one-fifth of the ₤500 in total
voluntary contributions to the government raised that month by the several towns.
Dummer’s sum being more that half that of all of Newbury, was it in effect protection
money against further sufferings under the authoritarian views of “Winthrop and other
triumphant sound religionists” that ruled the colony with fines, lashes, imprisonment, and
banishment?
Religion was the basis for the first efforts to educate the young with a general court order
in 1641 that town elders prepare a “catechism for the instruction of youth in the grounds
of religion.” To wit, James Noyes, teacher of the Church of Christ in Newbury, drafted a
“short catechism” of 99 questions and answers to be recited as evidence of their
education in such matters. I note that it includes such propositions to support the
authority of the Church based on select passages from books such as Acts and John.
Court cases of Essex County in the 1640’s are filled with trespass of one against another;
debt, slander, blasphemies, trespass, drunkenness – both public and private, and failure to
observe the Sabbath in various ways. Sadly the 99 questions included not one mention of
forgiveness or the Golden Rule, let alone teaching a man to fish. It’s a pity Mr. Noyes did
not go for 100 – such was their first effort toward “instruction.” Perhaps the Puritan
authorities would have more quickly realized the hypocrisy and sin of the savage
punishments they exacted upon their fellow man and, especially, women in the name of
their God.
Richard would have spent much of the next several years tending his crops on Deer
Island and, perhaps, helping build structures for others in return for commodities he did
not produce or money when available. This would have been necessary to support his
growing family, as Eunice was born January 7, 1642; Nathaniel on October 28, 1644; and
Lydia on April 30, 1648.
During the spring of 1642, there was much debate regarding property rights and even the
location of the town center and its meeting house. Rules for the acquisition of new land,
establishment of areas for the common use and other issues of resettlement were decided
by the town as a whole. In particular, it was hard for those that contributed to the building
of the first meeting house give up that investment toward the building of a new structure
three miles to the north. Discussion around the dinner table likely reflected the issues
presented at meeting.
Meanwhile, young Jonathan would probably have helped his mother with the house,
maybe tended a garden plot in the yard, or played with neighbor children that
accompanied their mothers visiting Susanna. Neighbors were nearer each other than in
Newbury and visits were a frequent pastime. Later in these early years he would have
accompanied his parents to church service and then school with to learn the catechism.
July 5, 1643 there was a great wind (a tornado) that “fell multitudes of trees” and lifted
the Newbury meeting house off it’s foundation with people in it. It cut a 33 mile path
straight from Lynn, Massachusetts to Hampton, New Hampshire, passing through eastern
plains of Salisbury. Perhaps this was the inspiration for what is now US Route 1.
Miraculously, but one person was killed - an Indian hit by a falling tree. It should have
also settled the debate on the fate of the first meeting house, but did not. Yet surely, the
people of the area had reason to give thanks to their Maker and Protector for their
salvation from such great and sudden destruction.
At dinners after Richard returned from the field or helping build a barn, house, or shed,
news of the day would be exchanged among them. An autumn supper of corned or boiled
beef, root vegetables, and corn bread may have been served by Susanna with Jonathan’s
help clearing the table of the day’s housework to make room for their plates. The meal
would have been cooked in pots on the hearth in the one great room, dished onto plates,
and passed to Richard at the table but a few feet away.
Perhaps it was such an occasion autumn at the table in front a warming blaze that Richard
told the family he had been engaged to help construct the foundation for a second grist
mill near the mouth of the Powow River. He would explain that William Osgood had
admired his work on a barn foundation the past summer and wished his service to help
construct a solid base for a new grist mill.
Richard would explain how the masonry would have to be very solid; strong enough to
withstand the rumbling vibrations of operation; stronger the shaking of an earthquake and
the great winds both felt in these parts not long ago. It would be a great enterprise of
many men, animals, and wagons; bringing rocks from the river’s edge, trees to Osgood’s
lumber mill, and cut boards and beams for the use of many carpenters. Richard would
also be but one of a few to mix and apply the mortar to bind the great stones together. At
a yet tender age, this may have been Jonathan’s first impression of the kind of
engineering skill needed to build a mill.
“Father, can I come with you sometime?” begged Jonathan looking most eager and
inquisitive.
Richard passed glances with Susanna, noting her approving grin. “If your mother can
spare you, son, then you may visit on some occasion,” Richard confirmed in a fatherly
tone.
Jonathan stared nervously at his mother as she nodded her affirmative response.
“Oh!” exclaimed Jonathan. “I can hardly wait.”
“Maybe tomorrow we will take our poles to the spot. I’ll bet there’s some good fishing
there,” suggested Richard.
“Oh, that would be wonderful!” Jonathan replied enthusiastically.
“Let us not be too excited yet, Jonathan. It is time you are off to slumber and be rested for
your adventure,” interjected Susanna. “I’ll be expecting some fine catch for the morrow’s
supper.” Eunice and Nathaniel were already snoozing on their blankets on the floor by
the warmth of the fire.
The next day would be the first of many for Jonathan to explore further from home,
sometimes to help his father in the fields or watch him build something from a safe
distance, likely ready with the questions at every opportunity. Later he may have
ventured more on his own and with friends his age, as his younger siblings to his place by
their mother’s side. Certainly he and his friends would gather together before and after
school that commenced in such substantially sized towns following a county order in
1647 that required the teaching of reading and writing so that the “ould deluder, Satan,”
could not keep men from the knowledge of the Scriptures.
The years 1646 and 1647 were accompanied by considerable hardship and contention
among the populations of the plantations. In 1646, both Salisbury and Newbury struggled
over proposals that would split their populations. Salisbury’s debate was a matter of
convenience in church attendance as they found their population expanding and
themselves separated by the Powow River; while Newbury’s debate was the contention
of relocating the meeting house that lasted until 1672. In the meantime, a plague of
caterpillars overtook the meadows and crops of the several plantations in June of 1646
which yielded a shortage of corn by the following spring. Coincidentally, there was also a
great epidemic among all the population, god-fearing European and Native Indian, alike.
As the historian Deetz puts it on page 86 of his recent text, “underlying and permeating
the approach of seventeenth-century English colonists to the political and social worlds
they lived in was a deeply rooted folk tradition of superstition and belief in the
supernatural, which existed alongside their religious faith.” They searched for
explanations for the good and bad of everyday life and found God or the Devil, as the
preachers of the day, notably Increase and Cotton Mather, taught intolerance of anything
not in obedience to their world view.
If crop failures, great winds, and sudden death and destruction could be considered the
work of God, it was surely to smite them for their ungodly behavior of drunkenness,
promiscuity, brazen dress, or failure to display their faith by attendance at weekly
meetings to hear these beliefs reinforced from the pulpit. Is it any coincidence, then, that
the first trial and execution for witchcraft in New England occurred May 1667 in
Hartford, Connecticut, with the hanging of the woman Alse Young of Windsor? Surely,
these events were topics of discussion throughout the meeting houses, churches, and
homes of the country. And this is but the beginning of a 50-year trend.
References
A Sketch of the History of Newbury, Newburyport, and West Newbury, Joshua Coffin and
Joseph Bartlett, 1845
History of Amesbury, Joseph Merrill, 1880
Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury, David W. Hoyt, 1889
Pioneers of Massachusetts, Charles Henry Pope, Heritage Books, 1900
The Colonial History of Hartford, William DeLoss Love, 1914
Vital Records of Salisbury to the End of the year 1849 – Volume I, Births, Topsfield
Historical Society, Topsfield, Massachusetts, 1915
The Times of Their Lives, James Deetz and Patricia Scott Deetz, 2000
Adolescence in Haverhill, 1650-59
By 1650, Richard had acquired a house lot in Haverhill valued at £60. Mirick finds him
with 22 others listed as settlers there as early as 1646, but there is some question as to the
validity of that date. Since Amos Singletary was born to Richard and Susanna at
Salisbury in April, 1651, perhaps Richard spent some time clearing timber from a
farming lot and/or building a larger house to accommodate their growing family. The
house was likely of one story. A second story was often one large room for the children.
The more elaborate houses likely had a shingle roof while one story cottages often had a
thatched roof. Before 1700, houses often had one large fireplace, with a hearth expansive
and tall enough to accommodate bench seating (called “settles”) that offerred a view of
the sky up the chimney to anyone “settled in” there. It is not hard to imagine the 10 year
old Jonathan lending a small hand to get tools and such while learning more about
construction. The family then moved the 13 miles up the Merrimac River to Haverhill
later that year.
In Haverhill, bees had been introduced by Thomas Whittier a few years earlier and
honey, therefore available. Beneficial to all, was the planting of two orchards about this
time by Stephen Kent and John Clements. The trees would, of course, not produce
flowers and fruit of any quantity for some years to come. Clay pits had been established
for use in making both brick and mortar. John Hoitt, brick maker, was induced to move
here from Ipswich at this time with a grant of land and the use of these pits. The only
source of lime for construction was derived from clam shells as limestone was not
quarried there as yet. Therefore, logs and lumber siding on buildings was sealed or
daubed with the less durable clay giving the term clay-board or clapboard siding its
meaning.
Haverhill was no exception in following the laws and customs of Essex County. In the
early 1650’s, there were divisions of land; settling of millers and sites, and hiring a
preacher, appointing herdsman, and setting their salaries; admitting a blacksmith and
tailor to the town; and prosecutions for violation of laws we would find peculiar by
today’s standards.
In Haverhill, the development of the social order and authority must have made some
impression on Jonathan during his formative years. On one hand, there was a dress code
that applied only to people worth less than ₤200. The wives of Joseph Swett and John
Hutchins wore silk hoods, but only Goodwife Swett would be guilty and pay a fine of 10
shillings, according to a 1650 law against “intolerable excess and bravery in dress.” This
social evolution also led to a demand for accountability and transparency. The town voted
in 1652 that the selectmen – the city council of the day – “give in their account what they
have received, and what they have disbursed.” What lessons does a teenager take from
this?
About that time, Lt. Robert Pike, leader of the Salisbury militia, was “disfranchised” and
“heavily fined” by the General Court of the colony for defending the right of Joseph
Peasley, of Haverhill, and Thomas Macy, of Salisbury, to speak freely of their religious
faith in the “absence of a minister.” Pike declared that the General Court “did break their
oath to the country, for it is against the liberty of the country, both civil and
ecclesiastical.” In response to the court’s fine, “a large number of inhabitants of
Hampton, Salisbury, Newbury, Haverhill, and Andover” petitioned the court to have
Pike’s sentence revoked. Thirty-seven of the petitioners, including Richard Singletary,
were from Haverhill – representing a large majority of that town. The court, in turn, was
“highly indignant that ‘so many persons should combine together to present such an
unjust and unreasonable request’” in response to the court’s unjust and unreasonable
judgment. These were the days of their lives.
This type of controversy was not limited to the colonies. In England, homeland to these
immigrant ancestors, the Interregnum was a time of much spiritual exploration. Just as a
prime motivation for emigration had been the religious freedom spoken of by John Pike
above, the seeds of change sprouted into a variety of belief systems or faiths. As the
reader browses the next bit of this chapter concerning the various religious beliefs
explored during Jonathan’s teenage years, try listening to Manic Street Preachers Radio.
Crank up the speakers - if you dare.
I find it useful at this point for reasons that will be more obvious later to refer to Laurence
Claxton and his account of his experimentation with various forms of spirituality that
began for him in 1630 at the age of fifteen and lasted to at least 1660 with the publication
of his account of it, The Lost Sheep Found: or, The prodigal returned to his Fathers
house, after many a sad and weary Journey through many Religious Countreys.
While it should not be regarded as an objectively valid report of his infamous activities, I
think it a fair litany of his views as they are autobiographical. Little else espoused or
published by the free thinkers of the day survives since they were, by definition of the
authorities, heretical. Perhaps this survived since, in it, he admits unabashedly to his
blasphemous speech and debauching ways. Sexuality and power seemed to be the ever
pervasive, underlying, intermingling motivations throughout these controversies, as one
might expect. These are themes that repeat themselves throughout human history.
For thirty years, Claxton immersed himself in several alternative faiths and preached in
some. He was raised Episcopalian – the Church of England in that day – and found
himself too far removed from a knowledge of God. He then briefly tried being a
Presbyterian and found it profoundly oppressive. A move to the Independents seemed
reactionary to the previous experience. In seeking the Truth there, he was instead repelled
by an exclusivity and disparity of others that was not reflected in his understanding of
Christ. He found himself yet no closer to God.
He then found liberty in the informal sharing of faith in private homes until inspired by
Paul Hobson’s eloquence to find his own voice as an Antinomian preacher. (Learn more
about Winthrop’s political rival, Ann Hutchinson, and the colonial New England
expression of this philosophy.) In this phase, Claxton also spent some time as a soldier,
before devoting himself to itinerant preaching and found an ability to inspire beliefs in
other people.
Next, as a Baptist, he “dipped” many people in an available body of water. This activity
warranted disrobing and the wearing of a nightshirt to save spoiling one’s clothes in the
water and catching a chill. The authorities considered this naked cavorting and for this,
and his popularity at so doing, he was called before Parliament for reprimand. It was also
at this time he makes note of affection with women, in particular, including the daughters
of one with whom he took shelter while in Suffolk. It is one of these daughters whom he
would later profess to having married by his own words in ceremony in her father’s
house with his blessing. This, too, was not the orthodox tradition of the time or according
to the law. Put under house arrest, he continued to preach from his room until he affected
his release with a promise to stop preaching Baptism and dipping people.
He leaves his wife in Suffolk and becomes a Seeker of the Truth. Among others of like
beliefs in London, he finds companionship and writes a book. He leaves there to continue
his travels with the help and kindness of others, preaching to those that would listen,
associating with kindred spirits, and lying with women other than his wife. Eventually, he
makes the acquaintance of Abiezer Coppe, (a Prophet of the Ranters and author of Some
Sweet Sips of Some Spiritual Wine and A Fiery Flying Roll) and enters the wilderness of a
loose association known as Ranters, known for their hectic, impassioned, experientiallyinspired discourse peppered with biblical references and depicted in this 1650 woodcut
from the British Library Board. In this phase, Claxton wrote A Single Eye All Light, no
Darkness. It is this association for which he was most remembered and the basis for the
name of an English Indie Rock band, Laurence Claxson and the Ranters. It is also this
association for which he is once again brought before Parliament.
Having not found God or the Devil in any of these seven faiths, he turned to those that
call themselves Friends and their critics call Quakers. However, he finds them vain and
oppressive in their belief that they know best of God’s will, particularly the preaching of
George Fox. Claxton is then found in 1650 among the Muggletonians as he writes these
memoirs.
I relate all this because it seemed a useful to convey a sense of the beliefs with which
Jonathan was directly or indirectly familiar throughout his life. Claxton’s exploits relative
to the governmental authorities and the social order are enlightening in the context of the
colonial quest for freedom of religion and self-governance. Vestiges of this persist today.
This seems to me to be a prevailing theme in Jonathan’s own journey. One has to ask
what influence these controversies had on him regardless of any familiarity with Claxton
by name or reputation.
Meanwhile, back in Frostbite Falls – I mean Newbury, 1652, the town voted to build a
school and hire a teacher and no longer depend on Ipswich for such services. Lt. Pike was
one of the four men selected to oversee the operation. While Haverhill had grown
considerably from the 32 land holders and several families that attended church in the
past ten years it had not reached the required threshold of fifty according to the 1647 law.
While Salisbury had sufficient population and established a school about that time,
Haverhill did not yet have a “Latin” school to teach reading and writing until the 1660’s.
Despite the existence of cart path grade highways, it seems doubtful that Jonathan would
have either returned some twelve miles and cross the Powow River to Salisbury or cross
the Merrimack by ferry and travel the several more miles to Newbury against the threat
of wild dogs, wolves, and Indians in order to attend school on any regular basis. He may
have attended Salisbury prior to their move to Haverhill, but was more likely, I think, to
have been home schooled.
Because of a 1645 law, all youth from ten to sixteen years of age would be “instructed
upon ye usual training days (Saturday), in ye exercise of armes, as small guns, halfe
pikes, bowes and arrowes, &c.” Jonathan, at this time age 12, would be no exception. His
father would have also participated in military exercises on the town commons as part of
a “train band” or militia that existed there from Haverhill’s beginnings as a defense
against Indian attack. Each citizen was required to provide their own weapon, which they
would also bring to church on Sabbath - less they succumb to a surprise attack while
congregated in worship, as did happen during a court session in Salisbury in 1653. In
fact, a protocol persisted for many years from the practice of having the men seated
together near the door to the meeting house so as to be at the ready. They would take
turns stand guard by the door and, at the conclusion of services, exit first as a precaution
to ensure the safety of the women and children.
Since the house lots were still clustered near the center of town and as this would seem
something of a “right of passage” for the boys, I suppose that some of the wives and their
children may have come out to the town green for some of these training days to watch as
entertainment while sharing the news of the day. This may have been quite an event on
more pleasant days of summer.
The sergeant, an elected position, would put them through their practice at loading and
firing their fowling-pieces. These weapons were crude and difficult to use, but lighter in
weight than the muskets of that day; capable of being held to the shoulder and aimed
without the use of a stand or an assistant. Speed of reloading properly was of the utmost
importance during battle.
The leader would likely first rehearse the basics of pouring the precise amount of powder
from a pouch or horn carefully down the muzzle – pointed up - so that it would settle
fully in the bottom and not stick to the side. This was best done when the muzzle was yet
hot from the previous round to prevent sticking to any moisture that might form a humid
days. The correct technique would then include a gentle, but firm, tap of the butt to the
ground to set all the powder into place. Then, the round lead shot was dropped in. It, of
course, needed to be properly formed and stashed in a ready pouch prior to the exercise.
After that a wad of paper, cloth, or moss could be placed in the barrel and pushed down
to the load with a tap or two of the ramrod. Too hard of a tap could bruise the powder,
diminishing the explosion, or spread the soft lead, causing the pellet to stick and
exploding in one’s face when fired. Firing required priming to get powder positioned
behind a small hole and touching the hole with a match to ignite the powder.
A sergeant so inclined with a playful mood might have raised a twitter from the
onlookers by admonishing the men to treat the loading firmly but gently “as though
handling a woman.”
Targets would be established 70 or so yards away that the boys might be induced to
maintain between shots. Firing the weapon required priming, to see powder in the pan,
and lighting it with a match. The sergeant would then command “ready, aim, fire!
Reload, men.” This then repeated, perhaps quite methodically, for some time to improve
that all-important speed of reloading. It is not recorded who commanded the Haverhill
militia until 1665 when Nathaniel Saltonstall was chosen Captain. One has to suspect he
served that role during some of the intervening years as he did for many subsequent
years.
Salem, Dec
Mrs. Holgrave presented for reproachful and unbecoming speeches against Mr. William
Perkins, officer of the church
“The teacher was soe dead”
“The teacher was fitter to be a ladyes chamberman, then to be in the pulpitt.”
Quarterly Court Records of Essex County, Volume I, p. 275 Page 275
Ca 1653
January 20
Richard received a division of land in Haverhill (History of Framingham, p.392)
Richard is "a proprietor." at Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts. (Hoyt)
Page 392
RICHARD received a division of land in Haverhill, Jan. 20. ...
Sawmills were built from 1651 (Page 34 ) to 1654/55 (Page 76 )
1655
Richard became a proprietor and town officer.
Richard is listed as selectman in Haverhill (History of Framingham, p.392)
Richard was then a selectman, according to Hoyt’s Old Families of Salisbury and
Amesbury.
1656
April 4
Benjamin Singletary was born April 04, 1656, Haverhill, Essex Co, MA; d. 1697 (Walters)
(History of Framingham, p.392)
1657
October
In Essex County, “the penalty for entertaining quakers should be forty shillings”
Sketch of History of Newbury, p 61
1658
More laws are enacted preventing Quakers or their sympathizers from becoming freemen
or exercising voting privileges. There were several instances involving numerous men
and women prosecuted and imprisoned for being Quakers and not attending the regular
church meeting during March and July.
(Records of Essex Court, pp. 102-110, 118)
June 3
Quaker Humphrey Norton confronts Governor Thomas Prence during his court
appearance for entering the colony contrary to law.
December 3
The Plymouth Court attempts to prevent Quakers from coming to Sandwich by sea by
seizing any boats carrying them.
1659
Bloomfield family lived adjacent to Spencer farm in Newbury
From the will of Richard Dole, dated March 25, 1698: “I give to my son William Dole,
and heirs forever, my Dwelling house that I now dwell in, Together with my barn & other
out-houses, with the Lands that they Now Stand on, with the Land next Adjacent, both
upland and Meadow, to the heads of the Lots with my Orchard thereon & to the River; &
the other end or side is bounded by an easterly line from Bloomfields’s old house to the
head of the Lots by a west line to the green, together with the five lots, four Acres
Apiece, be they more or Less; viz., Spencers Lot, Franklin Lot, Nath’l Badgers Lot, &
two Lots known by the name of the Moody Lots….”
(Ould Newbury, p. 18)
Jonathan and Mary prob. married this year at Haverhill.
Esther prob. born this year to Jonathan and Mary prob. in Haverhill
(Dally: Samuel Smith marries Easter in 1680, names 3 children;
NJ Arch v21p169: Deed of Trust by Jonathan to James Eaton in 1689 mentions son-inlaw Samuel Smith;
Dally: Easter Smith dies 1689 or 90)
Several persons were prosecuted and fined for violating the law of 1657 prohibiting the
entertaining of Quakers. Among them was Thomas Macy, who explained in letter to the
court that he meant no offense. That Edward Wharton and three others came to his house
on a hard raining morning and asked directions to Hampton and the distance to Casco
Bay. He recognized Wharton and did not ask the other’s names yet observed the appeared
to be Quakers. They stayed but ¾ hour and spoke with them very little as he was wet
from having just been outside and his wife was sick in bed. They went on their way and
he never saw them again.
Macy was fined 30 shillings and immediately thereafter took his wife and children in an
open boat to settle on Nantucket, never to return to Puritan territory. Two of the men,
William Robinson and Marmaduke Stephensen were then hung in Boston on December
27th.
February 1659
In 1658, a singular case of this kind occurred in Essex County. The following papers
relating to it illustrate the sentiments and forms of thought prevalent at that time, and give
an insight of the state of society in some particulars:-_"To the Honored Court to be holden at Ipswich, this twelfth
month, '58 or '59._
"HONORED GENTLEMEN,--Whereas divers of esteem with us,
and as we hear in other places also, have for some time suffered
losses in their estates, and some affliction in their bodies also,-which, as they suppose, doth not arise from any natural cause, or
any neglect in themselves, but rather from some ill-disposed
person,--that, upon differences had betwixt themselves and one
John Godfrey [b. 1620; EQC 2:250], resident at Andover or
elsewhere at his pleasure, we whose names are underwritten do
make bold to sue by way of request to this honored court, that
you, in your wisdom, will be pleased, if you see cause for it, to
call him in question, and to hear, at present or at some after
sessions, what may be said in this respect.
"JAMES DAVIS, Sr., in the behalf of his son EPHRAIM DAVIS.
JOHN HASELDIN, and JANE his wife.
ABRAHAM WHITAKER, for his ox and other things.
EPHRAIM DAVIS, in the behalf of himself."
The petitioners mention in brief some instances in confirmation of
their complaint. There are several depositions. That of Charles Browne
and wife says:-"About six or seven years since, in the meeting-house of
Rowley, being in the gallery in the first seat, there was one in the
second seat which he doth, to his best remembrance, think and
believe it was John Godfrey. This deponent did see him,
yawning, open his mouth; and, while he so yawned, this
deponent did see a small teat under his tongue. And, further,
this deponent saith that John Godfrey was in this deponent's
house about three years since.
Speaking about the power of witches, he the said Godfrey spoke,
that, if witches were not kindly entertained, the Devil will
appear unto them, and ask them if they were grieved or vexed
with anybody, and ask them what he should do for them; and, if
they would not give them beer or victuals, they might let all the
beer run out of the cellar; and, if they looked steadfastly upon
any creature, it would die; and, if it were hard to some witches
to take away life, either of man or beast, yet, when they once
begin it, then it is easy to them."
The depositions in this case are presented as they are in the originals on file, leaving in
blank such words or parts of words as have been worn off. They are given in full.
"THE DEPOSITION OF ISABEL HOLDRED, who testifieth
that John Godfree came to the house of Henry Blazdall, where
her husband and herself were, and demanded a debt of her
husband, and said a warrant was out, and Goodman Lord was
suddenly to come. John Godfree asked if we would not pay him.
The deponent answered, 'Yes, to-night or to-morrow, if we had
it; for I believe we shall not ... we are in thy debt.' John Godfree
answered, 'That is a bitter word;' ... said, 'I must begin, and must
send Goodman Lord.' The deponent answered, '... when thou
wilt. I fear thee not, nor all the devils in hell!' And, further, this
deponent testifieth, that, two days after this, she was taken with
those strange fits, with which she was tormented a fortnight
together, night and day. And several apparitions appeared to the
deponent in the night. The first night, a humble-bee, the next
night a bear, appeared, which grinned the teeth and shook the
claw: 'Thou sayest thou art not afraid. Thou thinkest Harry
Blazdall's house will save thee.' The deponent answered, 'I hope
the Lord Jesus Christ will save me.' The apparition then spake:
'Thou sayst thou art not afraid of all the devils in hell; but I will
have thy heart's blood within a few hours!' The next was the
apparition of a great snake, at which the deponent was
exceedingly affrighted, and skipt to Nathan Gold, who was in
the opposite chimney-corner, and caught hold of the hair of his
head; and her speech was taken away for the space of half an
hour. The next night appeared a great horse; and, Thomas
Hayne being there, the deponent told him of it, and showed him
where. The said Tho. Hayne took a stick, and struck at the place
where the apparition was; and his stroke glanced by the side of
it, and it went under the table. And he went to strike again; then
the apparition fled to the ... and made it shake, and went away.
And, about a week after, the deponent ... son were at the door of
Nathan Gold, and heard a rushing on the ... The deponent said
to her son, 'Yonder is a beast.' He answered, ''Tis one of
Goodman Cobbye's black oxen;' and it came toward them, and
came within ... yards of them. The deponent her heart began to
ache, for it seemed to have great eyes; and spoke to the boy,
'Let's go in.' But suddenly the ox beat her up against the wall,
and struck her down; and she was much hurt by it, not being
able to rise up. But some others carried me into the house, all my
face being bloody, being much bruised. The boy was much
affrighted a long time after; and, for the space of two hours, he
was in a sweat that one might have washed hands on his hair.
Further this deponent affirmeth, that she hath been often
troubled with ... black cat sometimes appearing in the house, and
sometimes in the night ... bed, and lay on her, and sometimes
stroking her face. The cat seemed ... thrice as big as an ordinary
cat."
“THOMAS HAYNE testifieth, that, being with Goodwife
Holdridge, she told me that she saw a great horse, and showed
me where it stood. I then took a stick, and struck on the place,
but felt nothing; and I heard the door shake, and Good. H. said it
was gone out at the door. Immediately after, she was taken with
extremity of fear and pain, so that she presently fell into a sweat,
and I thought she would swoon. She trembled and shook like a
leaf.
"THOMAS HAYNE."
"NATHAN GOULD being with Goodwife Holgreg one night,
there appeared a great snake, as she said, with open mouth; and
she, being weak,--hardly able to go alone,--yet then ran and laid
hold of Nathan Gould by the head, and could not speak for the
space of half an hour.
"NATHAN GOULD."
"WILLIAM OSGOOD testifieth, that, in the yeare '40, in the
month of August,--he being then building a barn for Mr.
Spencer,--John Godfree being then Mr. Spencer's herdsman, he
on an evening came to the frame, where divers men were at
work, and said that he had gotten a new master against the time
he had done keeping cows. The said William Osgood asked him
who it was. He answered, he knew not. He again asked him
where he dwelt. He answered, he knew not. He asked him what
his name was. He answered, he knew not. He then said to him,
'How, then, wilt thou go to him when thy time is out?' He said,
'The man will come and fetch me then.' I asked him, 'Hast thou
made an absolute bargain?' He answered that a covenant was
made, and he had set his hand to it. He then asked of him
whether he had not a counter covenant. Godfree answered, 'No.'
W.O. said, 'What a mad fellow art thou to make a covenant in
this manner!' He said, 'He's an honest man.'--'How knowest
thou?' said W.O. J. Godfree answered. 'He looks like one.' W.O.
then answered, 'I am persuaded thou hast made a covenant with
the Devil.' He then skipped about, and said, 'I profess, I profess!'
WILLIAM OSGOOD."
(Salem Witchcraft, Volumes I and II, Charles Upham, 1969 http://www.archive.org/details/salemwitchcraftv17845gut
http://www.archive.org/stream/salemwitchcraftv17845gut/17845.txt )
April 13
Page 556 Pioneers of Massachusetts, Pope
He sued John Godfrey 13 (2) 1659, for " the fireing of his chimney, which caused ...
May 1
3-4 inches of snow fell the night before
( Sketch of the History of Newbury, p 63 )
June 28
The proceedings against Godfrey were carried up to other tribunals, as appears by a
record of the County Court at Salem, 28th of June, 1659:-"John Godfrey stands bound in one hundred pound bond to the treasurer of this
county for his appearance at a General Court, or Court of Assistants, when he
shall be legally summonsed thereunto."
What action, if any, was had by either of these high courts, I have found no information.
But he must have come off unscathed; for, soon after, he commenced actions in the
County Court for defamation against his accusers; with the following results:-"John Godfery plt. agst. Will. Simonds & Sam.ll his son dfts. in an action of
slander that the said Sam.ll son to Will. Simons, hath don him in his name,
Charging him to be a witch, the jury find for the plt. 2d damage & cost of Court
29sh., yet notwithstanding doe conceiue, that by the testmonyes he is rendred
suspicious."
"John Godfery plt. agst. Jonathan Singletary defendt. in an action of Slander &
Defamation for calling him witch & said is this witch on this side Boston Gallows
yet, the attachm.t & other evidences were read, committed to the Jury & are on
file. The Jury found for the plt. a publique acknowledgmt, at Haverhill within a
month that he hath done the plt. wrong in his words or 10sh damage & costs of
Court L2-16-0."
(Salem Witchcraft, Volumes I and II, Charles Upham, 1969 http://www.archive.org/stream/salemwitchcraftv17845gut/17845.txt)
Essex County Court Records, 9, p. 124
Essex County Court Records, v II, pp. 157-66
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft/Essex/vol2/images/essex157.html
References
A Sketch of the History of Newbury, Newburyport, and West Newbury, Joshua Coffin and
Joseph Bartlett, 1845, pp. 19, 24, 33, and Appendices A and B.
An Essay on Shooting, Gervais François Magné de Marolles, 1789
History of Framingham, William Barry, 1847
History of Amesbury, Joseph Merrill, 1880
The History of Haverhill, Massachusettsl, Benjamin L. Mirick and John Greenleaf
Whittier, 1832
The History of Haverhill, Massachusetts, George Wingate Chase, 1861
“Ould Newbury”: Historical and Biographical Sketches, John J. Currier, 1896
Pioneers of Massachusetts, Charles Henry Pope, Heritage Books, 1900
Records and Files of the Quarterly Court of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volumes 1-4,
Massachusetts. County Court (Essex County), George Francis Dow, Massachusetts.
Inferior Court (Essex County), Essex Institute, 1921
Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Benjamin Ray, The Rector
and Visitors of the University of Virginia, 2002
Salem Witchcraft, Volumes I and II, Charles Upham, 1969
Vital Records Haverhill, MA to the End of the Year 1849 – Volume II, Marriages and
Deaths, Topsfield Historical Society, Topsfield, Massachusetts, 1915, pp.74 and 721
Vital Records of Salisbury, MA to the End of the Year 1849 – Volume I, Births, Topsfield
Historical Society, Topsfield, Massachusetts, 1915, p.218
His Young Adult Years, 1660-1669
1661
March
John Godfrey v. Edward Clarke. Debt. For one-half of a bond. The jury found that there
were 21 bushels, 1 peck and 1-2 of wheat, and 17 bushels, 3 pecks due to Godfry, but no
cause of action. Verdict for defendant. *
* John Griffin, aged twenty years, testified that, being in the house of Edward Clarke the
first of March, John Godfrey came in and said he had been at Goodman Singletree’s and
had promised a tub to put the Indian corn in; that the tub lay on the floor in Edward
Clarke’s house. Clarke asked Godfrey if he would own that he had received the corn, and
the latter replied, “What need any more words of that, there hath beene enough said
already.” Clark told him that if he would not own it, he would carry it down to the
landing place according to his covenant. Godfrey then agreed to accept it, and said that
all the corn that laid there was his, and asked Clarke to allow it to remain at the latter’s
house a week or a fortnight. Godfrey agreed also to stand the venture of the corn in case
of danger from fire. Deponent also testified that said Godfrey bade Edward Clark carry
the corn to Goodman Singletree’s and put it into his tub. Samuel Lumas also testified to
the substance of the foregoing. Sworn in court.
Job Tiler deposed, mar. 22, 1660-61, that he was with John Godfrey at Clarke’s house at
Haverhill, when Godfrey demanded the wheat due by bond, and he would pay him.
Clarke had a sealed half bushel in his hand, and said he would measure it, but did not. He
spread a blanket, but measured no corn. They were at Clarke’s house three-quarters of an
hour and saw corn in three hogsheads. Upon Clark’s denial of the bond, John Godfrey
served a warrant upon him and then went his way. John Godfrey deposed the same.
Edward Clark’s bill of cost, 1li. 9s. 10d.
Bond of Edward Clarke‡ of Haverhill to John Godfrey of Andover, dated, Apr. 6, 1660,
for 16li. 2 s., to be paid in two lots, each containing twenty-one bushels and one peck of
wheat, and seventeen bushels and three pecks of Indian corn, to be delivered at the
landing place at Haverhill. Wit: Robert Lord‡ and Theophilus Wilson.‡
‡Autograph.
(Records of Essex Court, vII, p274 http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft/Essex/vol2/images/essex274.html )
May 5
Philip Cooke (second child of that name) baptized by Jonathan “Matchless” Mitchell at
First Church of Cambridge (Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers, Volume 1, James Savage,
1860, p.449)
June 5
Charles II is restored to the throne. Upon receiving word the inhabitants of New
Plymouth declare themselves loyal subjects.
June 8
Laws against Quakers are repealed.
December 29
Mary born to Jonathan and Mary
1662
February
JONATHAN SINGLETARY, aged about 23, being in the prison at Ipswich this night last
past between nine and ten of the clock at night, after the bell had rung, I being set in a
corner of the prison, upon a sudden I heard a great noise as if many cats had been
climbing up the prison walls, and skipping into the house at the windows, and jumping
about the chamber; and a noise as if boards' ends or stools had been thrown about, and
men walking in the chambers, and a crackling and shaking as if the house would have
fallen upon me.
I seeing this, and considering what I knew by a young man that kept at my house last
Indian Harvest, and, upon some difference with John Godfre, he was presently several
nights in a strange manner troubled, and complaining as he did, and upon consideration
of this and other things that I knew by him, I was at present something affrighted; yet
considering what I had lately heard made out by Mr. Mitchel at Cambridge, that there is
more good in God than there is evil in sin, and that although God is the greatest good, and
sin the greatest evil, yet the first Being of evil cannot weane the scales or overpower the
first Being of good: so considering that the author of good was of greater power than the
author of evil, God was pleased of his goodness to keep me from being out of measure
frighted. So this noise abovesaid held as I suppose about a quarter of an hour, and then
ceased: and presently I heard the bolt of the door shoot or go back as perfectly, to my
thinking, as I did the next morning when the keeper came to unlock it; and I could not see
the door open, but I saw John Godfre stand within the door and said, 'Jonathan, Jonathan.'
So I, looking on him, said, 'What have you to do with me?'
He said, 'I come to see you: are you weary of your place yet?'
I answered, 'I take no delight in being here, but I will be out as soon as I can.'
He said, 'If you will pay me in corn, you shall come out.'
I answered, 'No: if that had been my intent, I would have paid the marshal, and never
have come hither.'
He, knocking of his fist at me in a kind of a threatening way, said he would make me
weary of my part, and so went away, I knew not how nor which way; and, as I was
walking about in the prison, I tripped upon a stone with my heel, and took it up in my
hand, thinking that if he came again I would strike at him.
So, as I was walking about, he called at the window, 'Jonathan,' said he, 'if you will pay
me corn, I will give you two years day, and we will come to an agreement.’
I answered him saying, 'Why do you come dissembling and playing the Devil's part here?
Your nature is nothing but envy and malice, which you will vent, though to your own
loss; and you seek peace with no man.'
'I do not dissemble,' said he: 'I will give you my hand upon it, I am in earnest.'
So he put his hand in at the window, and I took hold of it with my left hand, and pulled
him to me; and with the stone in my right hand I thought I struck him, and went to
recover my hand to strike again, and his hand was gone, and I would have struck, but
there was nothing to strike: and how he went away I know not; for I could neither feel
when his hand went out of mine, nor see which way he went."
(see testimony of September 14 below)
February 18
Richard Singletary and Thomas Bloomfield being at Ipswitch upon Feb. 18, as agents for
Jonathan Singletary, who was then in prison upon several executions of John Godfres,
they tendered said Godfre a parcel of land in satisfaction of said execution. 'John Godfre
sd ye Land I will neuer medle wth except ye Law Constraineth me to take it & so turned
his back nay staye John sd one of us & lett us haue a few words wth you or Coming is to
make A full and fineall end bettwene Jonathan & you if we Can wthout any more law
well sayed godfre as for ye land I will not medle wth but if you will fetch me or pay me
in goods for these executions which he is now in prizen upon I will giue him a full &
generall aquitance of all debts & deues & all things,' etc. Godfrey said he would take the
goods whenever they were brought to him. (sworn statement of April 24 below)
April 8
Richard and "Susan" (Susanna) SINGLETARY of Haverhill, Essex Co., Massachusetts
conveyed 80 acres of land in Haverhill to Mary, wife of Jonathan Singletary of
Haverhill...and NOT to their son, Jonathan. This land was bounded by Theophilus
Satchwell. (MONNETTE, Part 4, p. 500)
April 24 (March?)
Richard Singletary, aged about seventy years, deposed that he and Thomas Bloomfield
being at Ipswitch upon Feb. 18, last, as agents for Jonathan Singletary, who was then in
prison upon several executions of John Godfres, they tendered said Godfre a parcel of
land in satisfaction of said execution. 'John Godfre sd ye Land I will neuer medle wth
except ye Law Constraineth me to take it & so turned his back nay staye John sd one of
us & lett us haue a few words wth you or Coming is to make A full and fineall end
bettwene Jonathan & you if we Can wthout any more law well sayed godfre as for ye
land I will not medle wth but if you will fetch me or pay me in goods for these executions
which he is now in prizen upon I will giue him a full & generall aquitance of all debts &
deues & all things,' etc. Godfrey said he would take the goods whenever they were
brought to him.
Sworn, 24:1:1662, before Simon Bradstreete.
Source: Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. VI, 1678-1691, pages 113-114, by
Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, M.D.
Spring
Edward Youmans, aged about thirty years, deposed that he met Johyn Godfre the last
spring with Jonathon Senltary coming out of Rouly, and deponent asked said Godfre to
lend him five shillings and he said he could not for he had lent Jonathan Senglatary all
the money he had, etc.
Sworn, Nov. 21, 1662, before Simon Bradstreete. ‡
September 14
In the trial of the case between Godfrey and Singletary, the latter attempted to prove the
truth of his allegations against the former, by giving the following piece of testimony,
which, while it failed to convince the jury, is worth preserving, from the inherent interest
of some of its details:-"Date the fourteenth the twelfth month, '62.
--THE DEPOSITION OF JONATHAN SINGLETARY, aged about 23, who
testifieth that I, being in the prison at Ipswich this night last past between nine and
ten of the clock at night, after the bell had rung, I being set in a corner of the
prison, upon a sudden I heard a great noise as if many cats had been climbing up
the prison walls, and skipping into the house at the windows, and jumping about
the chamber; and a noise as if boards' ends or stools had been thrown about, and
men walking in the chambers, and a crackling and shaking as if the house would
have fallen upon me. I seeing this, and considering what I knew by a young man
that kept at my house last Indian Harvest, and, upon some difference with John
Godfre, he was presently several nights in a strange manner troubled, and
complaining as he did, and upon consideration of this and other things that I knew
by him, I was at present something affrighted; yet considering what I had lately
heard made out by Mr. Mitchel at Cambridge, that there is more good in God than
there is evil in sin, and that although God is the greatest good, and sin the greatest
evil, yet the first Being of evil cannot weane the scales or overpower the first
Being of good: so considering that the author of good was of greater power than
the author of evil, God was pleased of his goodness to keep me from being out of
measure frighted. So this noise abovesaid held as I suppose about a quarter of an
hour, and then ceased: and presently I heard the bolt of the door shoot or go back
as perfectly, to my thinking, as I did the next morning when the keeper came to
unlock it; and I could not see the door open, but I saw John Godfre stand within
the door and said, 'Jonathan, Jonathan.' So I, looking on him, said, 'What have you
to do with me?' He said, 'I come to see you: are you weary of your place yet?' I
answered, 'I take no delight in being here, but I will be out as soon as I can.' He
said, 'If you will pay me in corn, you shall come out.' I answered, 'No: if that had
been my intent, I would have paid the marshal, and never have come hither.' He,
knocking of his fist at me in a kind of a threatening way, said he would make me
weary of my part, and so went away, I knew not how nor which way; and, as I
was walking about in the prison, I tripped upon a stone with my heel, and took it
up in my hand, thinking that if he came again I would strike at him. So, as I was
walking about, he called at the window, 'Jonathan,' said he, 'if you will pay me
corn, I will give you two years day, and we will come to an agreement;' I
answered him saying, 'Why do you come dissembling and playing the Devil's part
here? Your nature is nothing but envy and malice, which you will vent, though to
your own loss; and you seek peace with no man.'
--'I do not dissemble,' said he: 'I will give you my hand upon it, I am in earnest.'
So he put his hand in at the window, and I took hold of it with my left hand, and
pulled him to me; and with the stone in my right hand I thought I struck him, and
went to recover my hand to strike again, and his hand was gone, and I would have
struck, but there was nothing to strike: and how he went away I know not; for I
could neither feel when his hand went out of mine, nor see which way he went."
It can hardly be doubted, that Singletary's story was the result of the workings of an
excited imagination, in wild and frightful dreams under the spasms of nightmare. We
shall meet similar phenomena, when we come to the testimony in the trials of 1692.
Godfrey was a most eccentric character. He courted and challenged the imputation of
witchcraft, and took delight in playing upon the credulity of his neighbors, enjoying
the exhibition of their amazement, horror, and consternation. He was a person of
much notoriety, had more lawsuits, it is probable, than any other man in the colony, and
in one instance came under the criminal jurisdiction for familiarity with other than
immaterial spirits; for we find, by the record of Sept. 25, 1666, that John Godfrey was
"fined for being drunk."
I have allowed so much space to the foregoing documents, because they show the fancies
which, fermenting in the public mind, and inflamed by the prevalent literature, theology,
and philosophy, came to a head thirty years afterwards; and because they prove that in
1660 a conviction for witchcraft could not be obtained in this county. The evidence
against none of the convicts in 1692, throwing out of view the statements and actings of
the "afflicted children," was half so strong as that against Godfrey. Short work would
have been made with him then.
There is one particularly interesting item in Singletary's deposition. It illustrates the value
of good preaching. This young man, in his gloomy prison, and overwhelmed with the
terrors of superstition, found consolation, courage, and strength in what he remembered
of a sermon, to which he had happened to listen, from "Matchless Mitchel." It was indeed
good doctrine; and it is to be lamented that it was not carried out to its logical
conclusions, and constantly enforced by the divines of that and subsequent times.
(Salem Witchcraft, Volumes I and II, Charles Upham, 1969 http://www.archive.org/stream/salemwitchcraftv17845gut/17845.txt)
October 8
*Writ, dated oct.8, 1662, signed by Edmund Fawkner,† constable of haverhill, by
attachment of defendant’s land lying about a mile beyond the river called Hook’s
meadow river, and abutting the river Marimak on one end and joining next to Goodman
Souhell on one side. The warrant was left at Jonathan Singeltary’s father’s house, where
Jonathan resided.
Source: Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. VI, 1678-1691, pages 113-114, by
Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, M.D.
November 20
John Godfery v. Jonathan Singletarye.
Debt. For withholding 50s. in silver delivered to defendant a year past.
Verdict for defendant.*
*Warrant, dated Nov. 20, 1662, signed by Richard Littlehale, ‡ for the court.
Jonathan Singletary’s bill of charges, 13s.
Source: Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. VI, 1678-1691, pages 113-114, by
Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, M.D.
November 21
Edward Youmans, aged about thirty years, deposed that he met Johyn Godfre the last
spring with Jonathon Senltary coming out of Rouly, and deponent asked said Godfre to
lend him five shillings and he said he could not for he had lent Jonathan Senglatary all
the money he had, etc.
Sworn, Nov. 21, 1662, before Simon Bradstreete. ‡
On the reverse of this paper, “In Chearlestown.”
Source: Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. VI, 1678-1691, pages 113-114, by
Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, M.D.
November 22
Susana Singletary testified that “as I had occasion to com by thomas lilford where he was
at worke he said unto me wt will your sonn Jonathan doe wth godfre he is resolued to
have him to courtt about the band of corn yt he had him of clark & he saith he will haue
me for a witnes about it nay said I it doth nott much trouble me for he has giuen him ye
corn if he can git it of clarke can you witness yt he pmised tyo giue godfre security for ye
band of corn Thomas lilford said nay I hard him speak of security but I doe not know for
wt it was.
Sworn, Nov. 22, 1662, before Simon Bradstreete. ‡
Susana Singletary, aged about forty-six years, testified that in her own house John Godfre
assigned the band of corn, etc.
Sworn, Nov. 22, 1662, before Simon Bradstreete. ‡
Richard Singletary, aged about sixty-three, testified, Nov. 22, 1662, that “as I was goeing
to Salsbury this last munday past along wth John godfre he was in a great pashon against
Jonathan Singletary att his hous a while agoe & I had forty or fifty shillings in mony
about me & Jonathan would haue it but I considered yt I had often use for mony at law &
so I did not lett him haue aney.”
Sworn before Simon Bradstreete.†
John Godfery v. Jonathan Singletarye.
Concerning a bond that plaintiff assigned him, which bond was due from Edward Clearke
to said Godfery, and for refusing to give him security.*
*Writ, dated oct.8, 1662, signed by Edmund Fawkner,† constable of haverhill, by
attachment of defendant’s land lying about a mile beyond the river called Hook’s
meadow river, and abutting the river Marimak on one end and joining next to Goodman
Souhell on one side. The warrant was left at Jonathan Singeltary’s father’s house, where
Jonathan resided.
John Godfery’s bill of costs, going to Salisbury and Bostone, witnesses sworn before Mr.
Bradstreet, etc., 2li. 17s. 8d.
Source: Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. VI, 1678-1691, pages 113-114, by
Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, M.D.
Susanna Singletary testified that “as I has ocasion to com by thomas lilford where he was
at worke he said unto me wt will your sonn Jonathan doe wth godfre he is resolued to
have to courtt about the band of corn yt he had of him of clark & he saith he will haue me
for a witnes about it nay said I it doth nott much trouble me for he has giuen him ye corn
if he can git it of clarke can you witness yt he pmised to giue godfre security for ye band
of corn Thomas lilford said nay I hasrd him speak of security but I doe not know for wt it
was.”
Sworn, Nov. 22, 1662, before Simon Bradstreete.†
Source: Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. VI, 1678-1691, pages 113-114, by
Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, M.D.
December 14
Writ, dated 14 : 9 ; 1662, signed by Hillyard Veren,‡ for the court, and served by
Thomas Pickton, ‡ constable of Salem, by attachment of the house of defendant.
‡ Autograph.
Source: Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. VI, 1678-1691, pages 113-114, by
Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, M.D.
December 25
Copy of evidence in the action, John Godfry v. Jonathan Singletary, taken from Salem
court records of 25:9:1662, made by Hillyard Veren, cleric.
John Wooddum, Theophilus Wilson and Robert Lord, marshal, testified that when
Jonathan Singletary and John Godfry were in said Wilson's house, Singletary was
answering the said Godfry for the executions for which he was put into prison and agreed
to end all, but Jonathan said, 'if I answer for all it may be when I com to haverell the
counstable will serve them.' Godfry said he would give him an acquittance for them, so
when the goods were delivered to John Godfry, Singletary put an attachment upon them
in an action of review. Sworn in court.
Source: Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. VI, 1678-1691, pages 113-114, by
Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, M.D.
December 27
Judgment granted John Godfery at Salem Court, 27 : 9 : 1662, signed Hillyard Veren,†
Source: Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. VI, 1678-1691, pages 113-114, by
Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, M.D.
December 29
Execution, dated 29 : 9 : 1662, against Jonathan Singletarye in satisfaction of a judgment
granted John Godfery at Salem Court, 27 : 9 : 1662, signed Hillyard Veren,† cleric, and
served by John Johnson,† constable of haverhill, deputy of Samuel Archard,† marshal of
Salem.
† Autograph.
Source: Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. VI, 1678-1691, pages 113-114, by
Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, M.D.
1663
Jonathan Singletary and Edward Clarke witness the will of Theophylus Satchwell (from
Pat Junkin per R Waggoner http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.dunham/876.1.1/mb.ashx)
January 12
Jonathan received land in the third division of Salisbury, Massachusetts. (MYERS, p.
530)
March 20
Richard Singletary and Susanah, his wife, deposed 20:1:1662-3, that John Godfre being
occasionally at their house said, concerning the corn in controversy, that he thought he
should never get it of Goodman Clarke for he would pay him in papers as he did the last
year. Godfry said several time, 'I would rather it were in a heape in ye street & all ye
towne hogges should eate it then he should keepe it in his hands.'
Sworn 27:1:1663 before Simon Bradstreete
(Source: Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. VI, 1678-1691, pages 113-114, by
Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, M.D.)
April 14
COURT HELD AT SALIBURY, 14:2:1663
Grand jury: Rob. Page, Ant. Stanian, foreman, Tho. Ward, Jno. Clifford, Morris Hobbs,
Ed. French, Jno. Hoyt, John Weed, Jno. Gill, Willi. Buswell, James Davis, sr., Rich.
Singletary and Tho. King.
September 22
John Tod v. Thomas Bloomfield.
Debt. Verdict for plaintiff.*
*Writ: Mr. John Tood v. Thomas Blumfield; debt, for a parcel of canvas for the use of
Jonathan Singletary; dated Sept. 22, 1663; signed by Richard Littlehale,§ for the court;
and served by Robert Lord,§ marshal of Ipswich.
John Tod’s bill of cost, 1li. 1s. 4d.
sSource: Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders: Vol. VI, 1678-1691, pages 113-114, by
Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, M.D.
September 29
Case from Sep 22 tried at Ipswich
Essex Court Record, v.III, p.213
1664
June 28
Judgment granted Godfrey at Salem court; attachment of 36 acres of land appraised at
10s. per acre.
Essex Court Record, v.III, p.222
July 6
Execution of judgment of June 28 signed by Hilliard Veren, clericu, and served by Robert
Lord, marshal of Ipswich, deputy of Samuel Archard, marshal of Salem.
Essex Court Record, v.III, p.222
November 19 at Ipswich
J Singletary acknowledged judgment to Mr. Phillip Nellson, executor to Mr. Joseph
Jewett, before Mr. Samuell Symonds and Major Genll. Denison. He was to abide in the
same capacity till the next second day at twelve of the clock with the keeper.
Essex Court Record, v.III, p.203
November 29 at Salem
Tho. Bloomfield v. John Todd. Review of an action of six pounds tried, 29:7:1663, at
Ipswich court. Verdict for plaintiff. †
†Writ, dated Nov. 22, 1664, signed by Anthony Somerby. for the court, and served by
Tho. Mighell, deputy constable of Rowley, by attachment of the brew house of
defendant.
Thomas Blomfield’s plea: First, that he was arrested for a debt to John Tod, but nothing
appeared on the latter’s books. Second, that according to the books, the debt was charged
to Richard Singletary, who should be sued for the amount instead of himself. Third, that
even if Anthony Austin said he he was engaged to pay it, the evidence of one man ought
not to be sufficient to take away a man’s estate, which would be contrary to law on the
first page. Fourth, that Austin’s evidence that the cloth was delivered to him was a
mistake, for John Tod laid it upon his horse and he was forced to carry it to Ipswich
because Richard Singletary was sick, and disposed of it according to Singletary’s
appointment. Fifth, that Mr. Tod had two young heifers, which were both with calfe, etc.
Answer: First, that he was arrested for what was engaged as per testimony of Anthony
Austin and Richard Singletary. Second, that the book showed canvas delivered, etc.
Third, one evidence is sufficient. Fourth, the cloth was delivered to Bloomfield, who
brought it to Ipswich and with it redeemed his son out of prison, and Richard Singletary
did not return to Ipswich but went away home. Fifth, both were engaged to pay, and John
Tod was suing him for only one-half, Singletary having satisfied for his part. “It is too
much Ingratitude for Tho. Bloomfield soe ill to requite the sayd Tod for his loue.”
Thomas Blomfield’s bill of cost, 3li. 9s. 6d.
Wm. Chandler, aged forty-eight years, deposed that on Sept. 29, 1663, Thom. Blumfeild
owned for the debt to John Tod and said it should be paid and if the latter would not enter
his action, he would pay him in the spring. Sworn, Sept. 28, 1664, before Daniel Denison.
Robert Lord, marshal, deposed that he took upon execution from Thomas Blomfield two
heifers which were valued at 7li. 10s., and delivered them to John Tod on account of the
canvas. Sworn in court.
Copy of Ipswich court records, Sept. 29, 1663, in foregoing action made by Robert Lord,
cleric.
Writ: Mr. John Tod v. Thomas Bloomfield; non-payment of six pounds due for a parcel
of canvas for the use of Jonathan Singletary; dated Sept. 22, 1663; signed by Richard
Littlehale, for the court; and served by Robert Lord, marshal of Ipswich. Copy made by
Robert Lord, cleric.
Anthony Austone deposed that Richard Singletary and Thomas Bloomfield came to John
Tod’s house for some goods to redeem their son Jonathan Singletary out of prison, and
Todd delivered to Thomas Bloomfield a hundred odd yards of canvas, which the latter
took away, both promising to pay Tod for it.. Sworn in Ipswich court, Sept. 29, 1663,
before Robert Lord, cleric. Copy made, Feb. 2, 1663, by Robert Lord, cleric.
Anthony Austine, aged about twenty-eight years, deposed that he asked Thomas
Bloomfield to whose account the canvas was to be charged, and he replied that it did not
matter, and deponent, having Singletary’s account ready at hand, charged it to him.
Sworn, Nov. 29, 1664, before Daniel Denison.
John Severanc deposed.
Richard Singletary, aged about seventy-two years, deposed that they took 12li. worth of
canvas and both engaged to pay John Tod. Sworn, Nov. 26, 1664, before Daniel Denison.
Robert Lord, jr., deposed that he was at Mr. Wilson’s when Richard Singletary and
Thomas Bloomfield were there to see after redeeming Jonathan out of prison. Deponent
had part of the goods for fees and the rest was delivered to John Godfrey and the keeper
of the prison, etc. Sworn in court.
John Godfre and Jonathan Singletary deposed that John Tod told them that Richard
Singletary and Goodman Blomfield were “able men both & I look only to goodman
Singletary,” etc. Sworn in court.
Essex Court Record, v.III, p.213-14
November 29 at Salem
John Godfery, attorney to John Todd v. William Nicholls. Debt, for divers years. Verdict
for defendant. *
Essex Court Record, v.III, p.214
Page 563
A. " Whittiker," of Haverhill, with wife Elizabeth, a?, about 29 years, deposed 27 (4) 1664 about
what John Godfrey said in his house; sold land 2 Sept. ...
1665 – Move to Connecticut
JS testifies about a fence in Haverhill
Essex Court Record, vIII,p304
(from Pat Junkin per R Waggoner http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.dunham/876.1.1/mb.ashx)
Jonathan moved to Hammonasett (1663) – Kenilworth (1667), Connecticut in 1665.
from Historic towns of the Connecticut River Valley pp. 68-70
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/other/ABL/etext/historictowns/historictowns.html
…
The other of the two prominent provisions was, that the plantation on the east side of the
Hammonassett River, still so called, should consist of at least thirty families. The
plantation began its existence with but twenty planters, or heads of families, and not long
after their settlement, ten of the twenty left for other parts. So the plantation continued to
exist with but ten families, till two years later, in December, 1665, when the required
number was actually present as settlers.
…
The little settlement was known as Hammonassett till May, 1667, when it was called after
the famous Warwickshire town, Kenilworth, whence a number of the settlers came to the
Colony. Through a lack of education, or carelessness, or both, the spelling was changed
to Kenelwort and Kenelmeworth to Killingworth, as a portion of the town is still called.
The Rev. John Woodbridge, the first of that fine family to be born in America, was called
as the first pastor of the Church, in his twenty-third year, in 1667. This young divine's
grandfather, the Rev. John Woodbridge, was a distinguished dissenting minister in
England, and his grandmother was the daughter of the Rev. Robert Parker, a writer of
note on religious subjects and a friend of non-conformity. His father, also John Woodbridge, was born in Stanton, Wiltshire in 1613. He went to-Oxford University but when
the oath of conformity was required of him, he refused and so had to obtain his education
elsewhere. Being a strong and consistent dissenter, he came to the Colonies, with his
uncle, the Rev. Thomas Parker, in 1634, and in 1641, he married a daughter of the Hon.
Thomas Dudley. Mr. Wood-bridge was ordained and became the first minister of the
Church, in Andover, Massachusetts. It was in Andover that the John Woodbridge who
became the first minister of the Killingworth Church, was born, in 1644. He was
graduated from Harvard at the age of twentv, in 1664, andspent the following three years
in the study of theology and, in 1667, became the minister of the Killingworth Church.
His home lot, of eight acres, was on Main and South streets. Early in the second year of
his pastorate he was given, by vote of the Town, £60 toward the building of a parsonage.
His salary, the usual combination salary, was £60 and fifty loads of fire wood. The Rev.
John Wood-bridge's first home was near the Elias Wellman place and later he lived on
the corner known as the " Stanton place ".. Mr. Woodbridge resigned after twelve years
of faithful service, much against the wishes of his parish, and went to the Church in
Wethersfield, where he remained as minister till his death, in 1690, in the forty-sixth year
of his age. Woodbridge, the charming hill town a few miles northwest of New Haven,
was named in honor of the Rev. Benjamin Woodbridge, of the same family, the first
minister of the Church in that place, where his faithful service extended over forty-three
years. The Rev. Benjamin was a grandson of the Rev. John of Killingworth.
--------------------Dunen, or Dunnin, alias Singletary, Jonathan, Killingworth 1665, has Ruth, b. 1666; and
Eunice, 1668; and prob. rem.
Genealogical Dictionary, Savage, p. 80
http://books.google.com/books?id=ZbAK4quMDH4C&pg=PA80&dq=savage+%22Genealogical+Dictiona
ry+of+the+First+Settlers%22+alias+Singletary#PPA81,M1
---------------"Jonathan DUNNING (alias Singletary); ---At the first settlement of Killingworth
Conn. (the part of the town now called Clinton), Jonathan Dunning drew the lot of land
next to the parsonage. He had daughters born there in 1666 and 1668; was a soldier in an
Indian war of 1676; and about 1682 is mentioned by Cotton Mather as one of a band of
"Ranting Quakers" who pretended to perform miracles. In some of the records he is
styled "Singletary" and the same man has apparently been traced in a family of
Singletarys in Haverhill, Mass.. No connection seems to have been established between
him and any of the later Dunning families in New England."
(Source: Internet, 28 Mar 2004, DUNHAM-DONHAM@rootsquest: Mimi at Claire A. Foster: Heritage
Quest at Genealogy.com Library: WHITTEMORE, Henry, Genealogical Guide to the Early Settlers of
America, p. 2)
[Mimi's Note: "The Indian war mentioned above is most likely King Phillip's War, where
I found a Jonathan Dunning in Turner's Company. .. more curious still is Soldiers in King
Phillip's War, 1675-1677 by George Madison Badge lists Amos Singleterry as serving
under Capt. Turner in 1676.]
[Audrey's Note: His name is found at this site: King Phillips War: Soldiers of the King
Phillips War by George M. Bodge, Boston, 1906: "Sept 21,1675: Jonathan Dunning"]
1666
Ruth born to Jonathan in Homonoscitt
Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers, Volume II, p. 80, Savage
1668
November 24
Daniel LADD 2 (1642-) married Lydia SINGLETERY (1648-); 24 Nov 1668; no issue;
Haverhill. (Source: Internet, 21 Feb 2004, E-mail to ASH: Susan Bidwell Williams: TORREY, p. 447)
Eunice born to Jonathan in Killingworth
Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers, Volume II, p. 80, Savage
------------------------A century later Benjamin Franklin as Postmaster General would pass this spot and place a
mile marker (25 N.H.) on the Boston Post Road. This would also be the first location of
Yale University.
(http://www.clintonct.org/yale.htm)
Early Woodbridge Years, 1670-1679
1670/1
Grant of land of 210 acres on the Passaic River made to Jonathan Dunham alias
Singletary in Woodbridge if he is to build a grist mill
1671
December 28
Return of Survey by Robert Vauquellin alias LaPriere, Surveyor General, of land for
Jonathan Donham of Woodbridge (N.J. Arch.21:19).
1672
John Dunham serves as Township Clerk of Courts (Contributions to the Early History of Perth
Amboy, Whitehead, 1856, p. 358)
August 10
patent. The Lords Proprietors to Jonathan Donham of Woodbridge carpenter for: 1) a
houselot of 9 acres E. of the Meeting House Green; 2) 8 acres W. of the parsonage lands,
N. of Thomas Lenard; 3) 120 acres of upland N. of Wilyam Cotter; 4) 36 acres of
meadows not yet laid out (N.J. Arch.21:19).
September 24
Jonathan born to Jonathan and Mary
December 6
Declarations of the Lord Proprietors:
… the Power of the Governor and his Council to admit of all Persons to become Planters
and free Men of the said Province, without the General Assembly; but no Person or
Persons whatsoever shall be counted a Freeholder of the said Province, nor have any
Vote in electing, nor be capable of being elected for any Office of Trust, either Civil or
Military, until he doth actually hold his or her Lands by Patent from us, the Lord
Proprietors. …
… the Power of the Governor and his Council to appoint the Times and Places of meeting
of the General Assembly, and to adjourn and summon them together again when and
where he and they shall see Cause. …
… the Power of the Governor and his Council to constitute and appoint Courts in
particular Corporations already settled, without the General Assembly; but for the Courts
of Sessions and Assizes to be constituted and established by the Governor Council and
Representatives together: And that all Appeals, shall be made from the Assizes, to the
Governor and his Council, and thence to the Lords Proprietors; from whom they may
appeal to the King …
… all Officers Civil and Military (except before excepted) be nominated and appointed
by the Governor and Council, without the General Assembly, unless he the said Governor
and Council shall see occasion for their Advice and Assistance. …
…
For such as pretend to a Right of Propriety to Land and Government, within our
Province, by virtue of any Patent from Governor Colonel Richard Nichols, as they
ignorantly assert, we utterly disown any such thing. A Grant they had from him upon
such Conditions which they never perform’d: For by the said Grant they were obliged to
do and perform such Acts and things as should be appointed by His Royal Highness, or
his Deputies; the Power whereof remains in us by Virtue of a Patent from his said Royal
Highness, bearing Date long before these Grants; which hath been often declared by our
Governor (an now ratified and owned under the sign Manual of his said Royal Highness
to Colonel Lovelace, bearing Date of 25th of November 1672) who demanded their
submission to our Authority, and to Patent their Land from us, and pay our Quit Rent
according to our concessions; which if they shall enjoy the Tract or Tracts of Land they
are settled upon, and to have such other Privileges and Immunities as our Governor and
Council can agree upon; but without their speedy compliance as above said, we do
hereby Order our Governor and our Council to dispose therefore in whole or in part, for
our best Advantage to any other Persons. And if any Person or Persons do think they
have injustice or wrong done by this our positive Determination, they may address
themselves to the King and Council; and if their Right to that Land or Government
appears to be better than ours, we will readily submit thereunto. …
(Documents Relating to the Colonial History of New Jersey, Vol. I, Whitehead, et. al., pp.99-102)
1673
July
Captain James Carteret is instructed by Sir George to leave NJ for his lands in the
Carolinas. James and Samuel Hopkins, planter of Elizabethtown and one of several
residents upset with the Proprietors’ quitrents, sail into the James River and are taken by
a Dutch fleet. James and his wife are set ashore. The Dutch ask the English ship’s
Captain Davis about fortifications in New York and are dissuaded to raiding there until
Hopkins counters Davis’s claims and reports that “New Yorke was in no condicon to
defend itselfe.” (The King’s Three Faces …, McConville, 2006)
Page 32
Samuel Hopkins, an English settler from Elizabethtown, New Jersey, invited a Dutch fleet to
attack New York. The townspeople had been in virtual rebellion ...
Page 173
In the winter of 1672 a Dutch fleet of fifteen vessels with troops on board was sent to attack the
A Dutch English shipping in the West Indies. ...
July 20
Deed. Stephen Kent junior of Woodbridge to Jonathan Dunham alias Singleterry of the
same place, for part of his homelot on Papyack Creek, adjoining grantee, S. of the road to
grantee's mill, 2 acres on the Northside of said road a. more (N.J. Arch., 21:277).
August 8
Nathan Gould of Stanford reports to British authorities in Boston that, Samuel Hopkins
volunteered details of the limited troop strength at Fort James on Manhattan to the Dutch
prior to their successful attack July 31.
(Documents Relative to the Colonial History of New York, Vol. 23, p. 121; History of Elizabeth, New
Jersey, Hatfield, 1868, p.155)
August 12 & 18
[Fort William Hendrick (was Fort James), Manhattan Island, New Netherland]
Dutch Council of War:
Commander Cornelis Evertse, Junior
Commander Jacob Benckes
Captain Anthony Colve
Captain Nicolaes Boes [Aug 12 only]
Captain Abram v. Zyll [Aug 12 only]
[request that Berry not be heard – Aug 12]
John Baker, Jacob Melyn, John Ogden, cum socius, Deputies from the village of
Elizabethtown, Niew-worke, Woodbridge and Piscataway, situate in the Province
heretofore called New Yarsey, praying, by petition, that they may be allowed to send
some Delegates from their said villages to treat with the Admirals and associate Council
of war respecting the surrender of their towns under the obedience of their High
Mightinesses, the Lords States of the United Netherlands, and his Serene Highness, the
Prince of Orange, and that no audience be granted to their late Governor, Capt. John
Berry, before and until the same be granted to the said Delegates, &c.
[request to preserve possessions – Aug 18]
Captain John Berry,2 William Sandfort, Samuel Edsall and Lorenens Andriessen,
appearing before the Council request that they and their plantations may be confirmed in
the privileges which they obtained from their previous Patroons, and furthermore possess
unobstucted their houses, lands and goods, and enjoy such further privileges as are
granted and accorded to all other inhabitants of Achter Coll, lately called New Jersey.
2
John Berry removed, it is supposed, from Connecticut to New Jersey in 1669, when he
and his associates obtained a grant of land near Newark, and he was appointed a
Magistrate of the Court of Bergen and Deputy Governor of the Province in July, 1672, on
the departure of Governor Carteret for England. He administered the Government until
the arrival of the Dutch in 1673. After the return of Gov. Carteret in 1674, he was
appointed one of the Council, and so continued under the various administrations until
1692, when his name is omitted, probably in consequence of his previous death.
Whithead. -- ED.
September 1
[order to inventory former Governors estate – Sep 1 – p.595]
The Schout John Ogden and Secretary Samuel Hopkins are this day ordered to take an
Inventory of the Estate of the late Governor Carteret, and to report the result.
September 7-13
[complaint – Sep 7 – p.600]
Schout John Ogden and Secretary Samuel Hopkins appearing, complain that Robert
Lapriere1 hath removed divers goods from the house of Phillip Carteret which he refuses
to restore; also that one John Singletary refuses to obey their commands; whereupon ‘tis
ordered to arrest said persons and bring them hither, to which end some soldiers are
furnished. They are furthermore ordered to summon James Bollen, late Secretary of the
Province of New Yersey, to deliver up, agreeably to former order the Governor’s papers
within the space of 10 days after this date, or in default thereof, his property shall be at
the disposal of the Honorable Council of War.
1
Robert Lapriere, or Lapraire, was an alias of Robert Vanquellin, a native of Caen in
France, who emigrated to this country, and was appointed Surveyor-General and one of
the Governor’s Council in New Jersey, in 1668. Whitehead. – ED.
[request – Sep 8]
Captain Berry and William Sandford entering and requesting, in substance, the Records
and Papers of the late Province of New Yarsey, may, for divers reasons be delivered to
and remain in the office of the Secretary of this Government, and not with Mr. Hopkins
individually; the same is provisionally allowed them until further inquiry be made herein.
[hearing - Sep 9]
Robert Lapriere and Jonathan Singletary being arrested by the Sheriff of Achter Coll and
pursuant to previous order sent hither, are examined in Council on the charges brought
against them, all which were denied by them. Whereupon ordered, that John Ogden, the
Sheriff, be summoned hither to prove his complaints against those persons.
[request repeated – Sep 12]
James Bollen, Captain Berry, Samuel Edsall and some inhabitants of Woodbridge, again
request that the books and papers concerning the province called New Yarsie, may be
delivered into the hands of Secreatry Bayard, and not to Samuel Hopkins, as they have
great reasons to suspect said Hopkins of having away with some of them. Their request is
granted and allowed.
[sentencing - Sep 13]
The Honorable Council of War having heard and examined the complaints of John
Ogden, Schout, against Jonathan Singletary, for not only refusing to obey the orders sent
him by said Schout, but moreover for answering very rudely and discourteously in
writing, in contumely and disrespect of his authority, which being sufficiently proved,
partly by admission and further by evidence on oath, the Honorable Council of war, by
virtue of their commission administering justice, have therefore condemned and
sentenced, as they do hereby sentence and condemn said Jonathan Singletary to pay a
fine of Five Pounds Sterling, to be applied to the behoof of the poor of this city, with
further warning that strict orders be given to the magistrates of Achter Coll to have a
strict eye over his behavior, and that he shall, on the first complaint made de novo against
him, be punished as a mutineer and disturber of the public peace, and as an example to
others. Further to pay costs of court.
The Honorable Council of War having heard and examined ther complaint of John
Ogden, Schout, against Robert Van Quelen, alias Lapriere, who refuses not only to obey
the orders sent to him by the Schout to restore the goods removed by him from the house
of the late Governor Carterett,1 but moreover publicly with threats that the Duke of York
had still an interest in Fort James, and that there would be another change within half a
year. All which being sufficiently proved under oath, the Council of War therefore
administering justice by virtue of its commission, have hereby condemned and sentenced
said Robert Van Quelenm to restore the removed goods of Capt. Carterett, and
furthermore, to be banished as an example to others. Ady as above.
1
Phillip Carteret was, according to Collins’ Peerage, the second son of Helier Carteret,
Deputy-Governor, King’s Proctor and Bailiff of the Island of Jersey, and of Elizabeth
Dumaresq, and brother of Sir George Carteret, Bart. (supra, p. 410), by whom he was
appointed Governor of New Jersey, where he arrived in August, 1665. He named the
place at which he landed, Elizabethtown, it is said, after his brother’s lady. He
administered the government of the Province until July, 1672, when he returned to
England to make some representation on the state of the Province, in consequence of the
disaffection of a portion of the settlers. During his absence the Dutch reduced the
country. he was re-commissioned Governor, July 31st, 1674, and returned to New Jersey
in November following. He remained undisturbed in his government until 1680, when Sir
Edmund Andros laid claim to it, who caused Governor Carteret to be seized on the night
of the 30th April, 1680, and carried prisoner to new-York, where he was tried and
acquitted. he remained, however, virtually deposed until March, 1681, when orders were
received from England to have him restored to his government and to forebear
interference with him. In April following he married Elizabeth, eldest daughter of
Richard Smith, of Smithtown, L.I., and relict of William Lawrence, of Flushing, and died
in December, 1682, at an advanced age. Collins’ Peerage, title, GRANVILLE;
Whitehead’s East Jersey under the Proprietors. The latter work differing with Collins,
says, p. 85, that Rachel was the name of Governor Carteret’s mother. – ED.
(Documents Relative to the Colonial History of New York, Vol. 23, pp.595-607; History of Elizabeth, New
Jersey, Hatfield, 1868, pp.158-9)
-----Schout John Ogden (newly appointed by new Dutch rule) and Samuel Hopkins (newly
appointed as Secretary) complained that Robert Lapriere, (former? Surveyor General of
East Jersey), had removed divers goods from the house of Philip Carteret (former
Governor of East Jersey), which he refused to restore, and his arrest was ordered. Schout
John Ogden was further ordered to summon James Bollen, “late Secretary of the Province
of New Yersey,” who must give up his papers within ten days under forfeiture of his
property.
Lapriere and one John Singletary, charged with disobeying commands, were arrested by
Schout Ogden and sent to New York. [Did Bollen surrendered his papers to Ogden?]
Lapriere, Singletary were examined on the 9th by Council in New York, and four days
later, John Ogden being present, they were convicted. Singletary was fined £5 and put on
good behavior, and Lapriere, who was Governor General, was convicted of sedition and
banished.
(The Ogden Family in America, Wheeler, 1907)
-----Jonathan Singletary, with Robert Lapriere was arrested on the seventh of September,
1677, by John Ogden, sheriff of Achter Col Colony for removing goods from Governor
Phillip Carteret's house. He is said to have been condemned for the act.
(Dunham Genalogy, Isaac Watson Dunham, 1907, pp.42-43; Ancestors and Descendant…, Myers, p. 531)
*Achter Col Colony: (Achter Col was the name the Dutch used when referring to Hackensack River.)
In 1641 the Achter Col Colony, little more than a trading post was established via a land grant from
the Dutch West Indies Company to Myndert Myndertse of Amsterdam (aka "Van der Heer
Nedderhorst). It extended northward from Newark Bay toward Tappan, N.Y (now a part of Bergen &
Hudson Cos., NJ). "Accompanied by a number of soldiers, Myndertse occupied his purchase,
established a camp, and proceeded to civilize the Indians by military methods. It is needless to say
that he failed." It is said to have been destroyed by Indians in 1643. "He soon abandoned the
perilous undertaking of founding a colony, returned to Holland, and the title to this grant was
forfeited."
(Source: Internet, 2004, Genealogical History Of Hudson And Bergen Counties New Jersey: EARLY
SETTLERS OF HUDSON COUNTY – Part A)
(Source: Internet, 2004, the story of bogota)
----------------
September 7
John Ogden and Samuel Hopkins "complained that Robert Lapriere had removed divers
goods from the house of Philip Carteret, which he refused to restore, and his arrest was
ordered. Schout John Ogden was further ordered to summon James Bollen, 'late Secretary
of the Province of New Yersey,' who must give up his papers within ten days under
forfeiture of his property. Lapriere and one John Singletary, charged with disobeying
commands, were arrested by Schout Ogden and sent to New York. They were examined
on the 9th by Council, and four days later, John Ogden being present, they were
convicted. Singletary was fined £5 and put on good behavior, and Lapriere, who was
Governor General, was convicted of sedition and banished."
(Source: Internet, 2004, Ogden Family: John Ogden)
Jonathan Singletary, with Robert Lapriere was arrested on the seventh of September,
1677, by John Ogden, sheriff of Achter Col Colony for removing goods from Governor
Phillip Carteret's house. He is said to have been condemned for the act.
(Dunham Genalogy, Isaac Watson Dunham, 1907, pp.42-43; Ancestors and Descendant…, Myers, p. 531)
1674
March 10
David born to Jonathan and Mary
1675
February 1
Jonathan Dunham was named on of the executors of the will or Obediah Winter, alias
Grabum, of Woodbridge (N.J. Arch., 21:37).
Map of Elizabethtown shows Bollen property (transferred to John Martin this year) on
future Government amidst Carteret property and near Ogden Mill. One piece acquired by
Thomas Blumfield from Abraham Shotwell in 1675 and transferred to Carteret the same
year. (The Ogden Family in America, Wheeler, 1907)
alias Dunning?
AMOS SINGLETARY, son of Richard Singletary, & Susannah Cooke,
was born about, 04 April 1651, in Salisbury, Essex County, Massachusetts.
He was a soldier in King Philip's War in 1675/6, as was a Jonathan Dunning,
who some say was Jonathan Dunham, (alias Singletary), Amos' brother.
Amos married Sarah (Currier) Rogers, daughter of Samuel Currier & Mary Hardy
and probably widow of Ichabod Rogers. Sarah was born abt. 1665 in Bradford,
Essex Co., Massachusetts and died after 28 March 1690. In some records Amos
was listed as a yeoman. He is said to have been a Representative to the
Massachusetts General Assembly in 171 he wrote his will on 19 December.
He died on 01 November 1724, in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts.
His will is said to have been probated 25 November 1724.
Source: Internet,July 1, 2008 , WorldConnect: Maxwell Fitch Update
(Source: HOYT, David, Old Families of Salisbury & Amesbury, MA, p. 317)
(Source: Haverhill, MA Vital Records, p. 472)
June 7
Thomas Bloomfield [junior] elected Representatives to the General Assembly for
Woodbridge with Samuel Dennis for the year 1675. (N.J. Arch., 21:34; NYGBR, 68:58,
"Thomas Bloomfield of Woodbridge, N.J., and Some of his Descendants," by William Jones.)
1677
Feb 8
Nathaniel Dunham born
(DALLY, p. 327)(HOYT, p. 317, merely gives one "Nathaniel," when in reality there were two.)
1678
Barclay writes his Apology - http://www.qhpress.org/texts/barclay/apology/
May 14
Nathaniel Dunham dies
(DALLY, p. 327)(HOYT, p. 317, merely gives one "Nathaniel," when in reality there were two.)
1679
April 10
Nathaniel born to Jonathan and Mary
References
The English in America, Volume 4, John Andrew Doyle, Longmans, 1907
The King's Three Faces: The Rise & Fall of Royal America, 1688-1776, Brendan
McConville, 2006
Jonathan the Preacher, 1680-1689
The Single Eye - http://www.pbministries.org/books/pink/Sermon/sermon_30.htm
1681
August 22
Benjamin born to Jonathan and Mary
[ Music – Far Away by Astrid Gilberto ]
Early November
John Case bio - http://loricase.com/case/casse2.txt
“… a Man whose Name was Denham, with Two Women, all belonging to Case's
Crew[*], went unto Southold upon Long-Island, where they met with one Samuel Banks
of Fairfield, the mose Blasphemous Wretch in the World. These joining together with
some others of their Bran at Southold, went into the company of one Thomas Harris, a
Young Merchant of Boston, who had before this been a little inclining to the Quakers;
and they fell to Dancing and Singing after their Devilish manner about him. After some
time, Thomas Harris fell to Dancing and Singing like them, and speaking of Extra ordinary
Raptures, and calling those Devils that were not of this Religion, and a perfect Imitation
of all their Devilism. When he had shown these Tokens of Conversion, as they accounted
it, they solemnly admitted him into their Society, and one of them thereupon promised
him, Henceforward thy Tongue shall be as the Pen of a ready Writer, to declare the
Praises of our Lord.
The Young Man, who before this was of a compos'd Behaviour, now ran about with an
odd Note of Joy! Joy! Joy! And called them Devils that any way opposed him, and said,
(more than he intended) that his own Father was a Devil! Quickly after this, going to
Lodge at a Farm not far off, where dwelt a Quaker of the Same Spirit, he would go to
Bed before the rest of the Family; but upon another Young Man's coming to him, he said,
he must get up and return that Night unto Southold, where he had left his Company; and
though the Young Man would have persuaded him to lye until Day, he would not be
persuaded, up he got, and went his way.
Within some while he was missing, and upon enquiry he could not be heard of, only his
Hat, and Gloves, and Neckcloth were found in the Road from the Farm to the Town: Two
Days after which, Banks looking into a Bible, suddenly shut it again, crying out, his
Friend Harris was dead. On the Day following Harris was found by the sea-side, about a
quarter of a Mile from the place where his Appurtenances had been found before, having
Three Holes like Stabs in his Throat, and NO Tongue in his Head, nor the least sign
thereof; but all clear to his Neck-bone, within, his mouth close shut, and one of his Eyes
hanging down upon his Cheek out of his Head, that although it was whole there, it was
hardly to be come at. This was the end of a Tongue that was to be as the Pen of a ready
Writer!
The Night after he was Buried, Colonel Young, the High Sheriff, as himself assured me,
was in the Dead of the Night awakened by the Voice of this Harris, calling very loudly at
his Window, with a demand of him to See Justice done him; the Voice came Three times
that Night with the like demand; and the Night after it came into the Colonel's House,
close to his Bedside, very loudly repeating of it. But the Auther of the Murder could
never be discovered!"....... (Cotton Mather's 'Magnalia Christi Americana" pub. 1702, in Book VII p.
25 under Chapter IV. These are events passed on to Mather second hand and apparently recorded by him
about 20 years later. Remarkable Providences, Increase Mather_see-P241-245)
* Case’s Crew: THOMAS CASE, Fairfield, rem. to the Dutch a. 1664, and is by Mather
(wh. is always liberal in obloquy against adher. of George Fox), call. a villain, Magn. VII.
25. We hear not any reason for such epith. exc. his Quaker. habit. influence among the
foll. nam. by the gr. ecclesiast. histor. "Case's crew," at Southold, L. I. where, he sorrowf.
adds, "to this day (1699), the sect is kn." He was sev. times imprison. for his cause, and
by such treatm. not prob. induc. to reject the inward light; and d. 1692, perhaps unm.
certain. without issue. (New England Register vol. I, Savage)
John Case bio - http://loricase.com/case/casse2.txt
1682
April 11
Susannah (Cook) Singletary died at Haverhill, Massachusetts at about 66 years of age.
(Hoyt)
Vital Records of Haverhill, Volume 2, p.472 http://mavitalrecords.org/MA/Essex/Haverhill/DeathsS.shtml#singletery
1683
July
Jonathan Dunham is listed in the following Court record in the Plymouth Colony, with
apparently the same Mary Ross.
"Whereas Jonathan Dunham, allies Shingletery hath longe absented himselfe from his wife
and family, tho advised and warned by authoritie to repaire to them, and for some
considerable time hath vine wandering about from place to place as a vagabond in this
collonie, alsoe deseminating his corrupt principles, and drawing away another mans wife,
following hi up and downe against her husbands consent; and att last hee meeting with
and accompaning a younge woman called Mary Rosse, led by inthewsiasticall
(enthusiastical) power, he said hee must be doe whatt shee bad him, and according did,
both of them, on her mothion, att the house of John Irish, att Little Compton, kill his
dogg, against the declared will of said Irish; and although hee put them out of his house,
yett they would goe in againe; and according to theire anticke tricks and foolish powers,
made a fier in the house, and threw the dogg upon it, and shott of a gun seuerall times,
and burnt some other thinges in the house, to the hazard of burning of his house and
younge children, keeping the dores and not opening them to the said John Irish when hee
come with some of his naghbor ro rescue the same; to the disturbance of his ma? peace
comaunded, and against his lawes.
This Court centanced the said Jonathan Dunham to be publickly whipt att the post, and
required him to depart forth with out of this collonie, which if he de? to doe, hee shalbe
tooke up by the constable where dothe neccesaruily stay, and he againe whipt and sent ?
of the colonnie; and soe serued as oft as he shall nessesarily returne into it to deseminqate
his corrupt principles.
And the said Mary Rosse, for her univell and outrageous reailing words and carriages to
Deputie Gou, and afterwardsbefore the whole Colonie superaded to her former anticke
actings as aforsaid centanced to be wipt and conveyed from constable ? consable out of
this goument towards Boston, which her mother dwells."
(Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Mass. Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders:
Vol. VI 1678-1691, pp 1-4) (http://loricase.com/case/casse2.txt)
----------------------------Also: Household members at time – wife, Elizabeth, age 33yr; David, 9yr 5mo (twin
Elizabeth died young); Jonathan, 5yr 1mo; Joanna, 2yr 1 mo; Sarah, 6mo. (Descendents of
John Irish, Irish and Irish, 19864)
------------------------------
Cotton Mather’s version from 1707 is as follows:
About a year or two before this tragical accident [Nov 1681], there was another not quite
so tragical. Some of Case’s crew howled a young woman into their company, who
immediately fell to railing on all the world, and then to raving at such a rate, that several
persons watched her, though she was now grown so preternaturally strong, as to break
away from them, lrt ‘em do what they could. In the dead of the night, those that watched
her heard a doleful noise, like the crying of a young child, in the yard or field near the
house, which filled the auditors with fearful apprehensions; but the young woman then
violently broke from them, saying, “The Lord calls me, and I must go!” It was a
considerable while before they could find her, and when they did find her, she was
bereaved of her understanding, full of horrid and uncouth actions; and so she continued
until justice Wood, by the use of means, recovered her, which none of her quaking
friends were able to do; but this convinced the neighbours that the devil was among
them!
I’ll give but one instance more of their exorbitancies. It was much the same time, that one
Jonathan Dunen, of Case’s crew, drew away the wife of a man to Marshfield in
Plymouth-colony, to follow him, and one Mary Ross falling into their company, presently
was possessed with as frantick a daemon as ever was heard of; she burnt her cloaths; she
said that she was Christ; she gave names to the gang with her. as apostles, calling one
Peter, another Thomas; she declared, that she would be dead for three days, and then rise
again; and accordingly she seemed then to die. Dunen then gave out that they should see
glorious things when she rose again: but what she then did, was thus: that upon her order
Dunen sacrificed a dog. The men and two women danced naked altogether; for which,
when the constable carried ‘em to the magistrates, Ross uttered stupendous blasphemies,
but Dunen lay for dead an hour on the floor, saying, when he came to himself, that Rose
bid him, and he could not resist.
O Capita Anticyris vix Expurganda duabus.*
*O heads too crazy for a double course
Of bellebore to clear!
(from Magnalia Christi Americana in 1707 by Mather, p. 529)
(see also Friends proclamation from Boston prison; Records of Essex Court, p. 110)
1684
December 5
Daughter Eunice dies
1686
December 29
Sir Edmund Andros arrives as Captain General and Governor in Chief of the Dominion
of New England, which includes New York and New Jersey as well as New England.
Under his regime many government functions move to Boston, causing Plymouth
residents great inconvenience.
1687
September 21
Jonathan Dunham was one of those who made the inventory of the estate of his father-inlaw Thomas Bloomfield in Woodbridge.
October 25
Richard Singletary died at Haverhill on 25 October 1687 in his 102nd year. (Hoyt)
However, age sworn at depositions in 1662 would have 83 or 90 years of age at death.
Vital Records of Haverhill, Volume 2, p.472 http://mavitalrecords.org/MA/Essex/Haverhill/DeathsS.shtml#singletery
1688
William ELLISON (-1707) married "Mary [SINGLETARY] (1663/4-); ca 1688?;
Salisbury/Woodbridge, NJ" (Source: Internet, 21 Feb 2004, E-mail to ASH: Susan Bidwell
Williams: TORREY, p. 249)
April 22
Hearing of the accession of William & Mary to England’s throne, Plymouth rises up
against Andros. Thomas Hinckley resumes the governorship.
1689
A monthly meeting at Amboy was established in 1686 as part of Shrewsbury
[Shrewsbury and Rahway] Quarterly Meeting; it began to circulate to Woodbridge in
1689. From 1689 to 1704, this meeting was discontinued due to the Keithian Separation.
In 1706, the monthly meeting was reestablished at Woodbridge. In 1763, Woodbridge
Monthly Meeting began to circulate between Plainfield, Rahway, and Woodbridge. In
1769, the monthly meeting removed from Woodbridge and alternated between Plainfield
and Rahway. Its name was changed to "Rahway and Plainfield Monthly Meeting." (source:
RECORDS OF RAHWAY AND PLAINFIELD MONTHLY MEETING (RAHWAY, NJ);
http://trilogy.brynmawr.edu/speccoll/mm/rahplainmm.xml)
November 20
1689 Nov. 20. Deed. Thomas ADAMS to James SCATTOUN, both of
Woodbridge, James SCATTOUN having married grantor's dau. Rebeckah, for
30 acres out of the farm grantor lives on, betw. Nathl FITZRANDOLPH and
Cedar Cove, near Richard PATTERSHALL.
(East Jersey Deeds, p99)
December 2
Deed: JONATHAN DUNHAM to MARY ROSS
Woodbridge in East Jersey, December the Second Anno Domini one thousand Six
hundred Eighty and Nyn. Know all men by these presents that I Jonathan Dunham of the
Province, Town and Corporation above said with the Consent of Mary my wife. In
consideration of a certain sum of Current Silver Money of Boston in New England the
tenth day of August last past in Boston by us then and there Received and more Money
Goods and Merchandise the Second day of November Last past here to us in hand and
secured. The Receipt whereof I doe herby Acknowledge myself to be fully satisfied with
and for other good and just Causes me thereunto moving have Given Granted and Sold
unto Mary Ross formerly of Boston in New England, the daughter of John and Mary
Ross formerly of Boston aforesaid, the which said Mary Ross now in this place Residing
I the said Jonathan Dunham hath from me my heirs, executors and Assigns for Ever
Alienated and to her said Mary Ross Granted bargained and Sold enfossed and confirmed
and delivered unto her possessione my late dwelling place in Woodbridge with all that
part of my house lot on the South side of the highway where the said House is now
standing wiht a frmae for a dwelling house foure and twenty foot Square in Length bredth
and height under the Top of the Roof and a frame for a Merchants Shop twelve foot
square in Length bredth and height under the Top of the Roof to the frame of the said
house as Near the Creek River or Water side as may be without Annoyance of floods and
accomplished with all convenient speed the said Dunham being not to build any other
frame for any other persone till this aforesaid he done on the said land which contained
about six acres more or less of Upland Low ground, pasture and marsh with all fencings
Edifices and Buildings Gardens Enclosures Apple trees and other trees Timber Wood
Water stones Oar Mines and Minerals (the fifth part of Gold and Silver only excepted)
with all outlets inlets and passages by land or water with all Improvements thereon made
and all appurtenances and priviledges thereonto belonging And also my Freehold in this
Town and Corporation of Woodbridge all aforesaid Privilledges premised from hence
forth to be and Remaine in and unto the peaceable possession Improvement and sole
disposal of the said Mary Ross her husband, her heirs, Executors Administrators and
Assigns for ever as she shall see cause to order and dispose the same free from any
former bargains sale mortgage or Intaignelement what soever without Sett disturbances
or Mollestation by me the said Jonathan Dunham or Mary my wife or any of our heirs
ever Laying Claims from by or under us or our heirs or by any of ours or their means
approbation Sufferance or procurement and to their Warranty making good this sale and
performance of ye premises herein contained. Wee the said Jonathan and Mary Dunham
doe buid [bind] ourselves our heirs Executors and Assigns as witnes our hands here
annexed and seales affixed
Jonathan Dunham Mary Dunham
signed sealed and delivered in the presence of James Seatoun [Seaton/Seatown] & Ja.
Emmott. (N.J. Arch., 21:169).
Copy courtesy of: Daryl VerStreate Jr., April 2004
Transcribed by Isaac Watson Dunham in
Deacon John Dunham of Plymouth, Massachusetts 1589-1669 and His Descendants,
Bulletin Print, Norwich, Conn., 1907, pp.40-77:
Thomas Dunham pp. 43-44
Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Vol. V, Book D.D. "JONATHAN DUNHAM to MARY ROSS"
December 22
Deed of trust. Jonathan Dunham to James Seattoun (Seaton) in trust of his sons Jonathan,
David, and Benjamin Dunhame for all his real property on Cannoo Hill; son-in-law
Samuel Smith mentioned (N.J. Arch., 21:169).
The Later Years, 1690-1699
1690
January 13
Ichabod ROGERS (1659-) married Sarah CURRIER, who "m/2 Amos SINGLETARY
1690 +/-; 13 Jan 1689/90; Haverhill/Salisbury."
(Source: Internet, 21 Feb 2004, Email to ASH: Susan Bidwell Williams: TORREY, p. 633)
August 14
Daughter Esther Dies
1692
Rebecca Seaton (Seatown) granted divorce from James Seaton. Mary Ross names
(Monnette, p., 536).
1693
New York. Endorsement on Deed Dunham-Ross (Liber D. p.95), in which Mary Ross
conveys back to Jonathan Dunham the same property (N.J. Arch., 21:277).
1694
Power of Attorney John Gibb now of Sussex annexed to PA, mariner, to Jonathan
Dunham of Woodbridge general agent.... (from Pat Junkin; R Waggoner
http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.dunham/876.1.1/mb.ashx)
Retirement, 1700-1727
1700
June 25
John EATON (1664-) & Mary SINGLETERY; 25 Jun 1700; Haverhill.
(Source: Internet,
21 Feb 2004, E-mail to ASH: Susan Bidwell Williams: TORREY, p. 241)
1702
…the Woodbridge Anglicans officially became a parish. Prominent resident and town
miller Jonathan Dunham and his son Benjamin actively recruited new members. Until c.
1710, the Anglicans attended services at the Meeting House, but left to form their own
congregation, the Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church, when the Puritans became
Presbyterians. (source: Woodbridge: New jersey’s Oldest Township, Troeger & McEwen, 2002)
Note: Jonathan’s involvement is not in the record
April 18
Transfer of Haverhill land from Mary to Jonathan
Woodbridge in East New Jersey, America, April ye sixteenth anno Dom one thousand seven hundred &
two know all men by these presents yt we Jonathan David Nathaniel and Benja Dunham alias Singletary &
Mary Ellison ye sons & ye daughter of our honored Father and mother Jonathan & Mary Singletary alias
Donham, our said Father being ye son of Richard and Susanna Singletary, who some years since Decd at
Haverhill in the collony of ye Massachusetts Bay in America and our said mother being ye daughter of
Thomas and Mary Bloomfield formerly of Newbury in ye aforesd collony who some years since In this
Town of Woodbridge wherein we all are now living Inhabitants Deceased we all of us being of full age &
Estate of men & women & we being all the children that our said Father & Mother have now living & ye
said Mary ye mother of these aforesd five children I having Buried others five with ye consent of my
husband I have Joyntly with my above named five Living Children and they and each one of them with me
have Joyntly & severally & hereby do Joyntly & severally nominate Desire Constitue appoint & Impowere
ye aforsd Jonathan ye son of ye aforsd Richard ye husband of me ye sd mother & ye father of us ye above
named five living children viz Jonathan, David, Nathaniel & Benjamin Donham, alias Singletary & Mary
Ellison. To alienate from our heirs & forever & from all & each one of us & ye all & every part & percell
of yt upland Low land & meadow land & ye premises withall ye rights appurtenances and privileges thereto
belonging and any manner of way appertaining lying & being within ye bonds of ye Town of Haverhill In
ye Colony abovesd To us and each one of us Immediately mediately directly or Implicitely given granted &
any manner of way to us conveyed by ye aforesd Richard Singletary ye honored Father in Law to me ye
said mother and grandfather to us ye above named five children as by his deed of conveyance entered in ye
Records for ye County of Norfolk In ye aforesd Collony and on ye Books kept for ye town of Haverhill
may more particularly appear and for all ye said Land together or In parts & parcels as he shall se fitt we ye
aforesd Constitutes do hereby give unto ye said Jonathan son of ye said Richard & Susannah full power and
authority In his own name or In his own & our names as he shall see fitt to sign seal & deliver a deed or
deeds of sale gift grant or conveyance for part or ye whole of ye said land & premises & in such manner
and form and with such warrantee as he with ye grantees shall agree upon & ye same to enfeoffe In &
Confirm upon ye said Grantee or grantees & into their possession to deliver as freely fully amply &
absolutely as all of us being present & together with him ye said husband and father could & might do as
also if he shall thinke fitt either before in or after ye conveyance of ye said land & premises, either by
himself or by any other person or persons by him empowered by letter or letters of attorney to commence &
enter & prosecute to ye utmost effect any action or actions, etc.
Signed by
Mary Donham M[ark] alias Singletary
Jonathan Donham alias Singletary
David Donham alias Singletary
Nathaniel Donham alias Singletary
Benjamin Donham alias Singletary
Mary Ellison
Wit:
John Pike
Elisha Parker
Ack: Apr. 18, 1702, before Samll. Hale,
Justice of the Peace; Thomas Pike, Town Clerk of Woodbridge
(Essex Deeds, Vol. 15, p. 202; MONNETTE, Orra Eugene, FIRST SETTLERS of YE PLANTATIONS of
PISCATAWAY and WOODBRIDGE, OLDE EAST NEW JERSEY, 1664-1714, The Leroy Carman Press,
Los Angeles, CA, 1932, p. 501: JONATHAN SINGLETARY AND WITCHCRAFT: COOKE)
Daughter Mary dies
1705
Mary dies
1706
September 6
Son Jonathan dies
1707
Aug 16
Richard Singletary, Jr. killed by Indians (History of Marlborough, p.107-108)
… the Indians surprised and took two men who were laboring in the field, Jonathan
Wilder, a native of Lancaster, and a Mr. Howe of Marlborough, who fortunately made his
escape. Mr. Wilder was carried to Lancaster and killed by the Indians, as was their
custom, when attacked by the English. On the day after the above tragic scene, Capt.
Thomas Howe, of Marlborough, with about twenty men, marched in pursuit of the
Indians, and being joined by about the same number from Lancaster, they overtook the
enemy in what is now Sterling, where a severe conflict ensued. The affair is thus
described in the Boston news-letter, of the 25th of August, 1707.
“On Monday, the 16th current, thirteen Indians on the frontier surprised two men at their
labors in the meadows at Marlborough, about four miles distant from the body of the
town, and took them both alive; and as they passed out of the town, they took a woman
also in their marching off, whom they killed. Howe, one of their prisoners, broke away in
a scuffle, and bought home the Indian’s gun and hatchet, and acquainted the garrison and
the inhabitants, who speedily followed, and were joined by twenty men from Lancaster,
being in all forty, came up with the enemy, who were also increased to thirty-six. and on
Tuesday, at ten o’clock, found them, and in two hours exchanged ten shots per man, in
which skirmish we lost two men, and two slightly wounded; no doubt we killed several of
the enemy, whose track being dragged away we saw, but recovered but one of them,
though it is probably conjectured that we killed ten or twelve at least. We took twentyfour of their packs and drove them off the ground, and they are yet pursued by two parties
from Lancaster and Groton. At our forces overtaking and attacking them, they
barbarously murdered the captives.”
In the packs taken from the Indians, as mentioned above, was found the scalp of Miss
Goodnow, which was the first intelligence that had of her melancholy fate. In the
encounter mentioned above, John Farren and Richard Singletary were slain.
1715
December 31
Son Benjamin dies
1717, 1720, and 1721
Land transactions
1724
Before April 24
Document dated April 24, 1724, in which his son Jonathan noted that his father Jonathan
Dunham had lately deceased. Reportedly Jonathan is buried near his house in
Woodbridge.1727
(http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~grannyapple/DUNHAM/SingletaryDunhamHistory.ht
ml)
Son Nathaniel dies
Beyond 1725
1750
Daughter Ruth dies
1753
Son David dies
1998
October
In October 1998, the Croatoan archaeological dig looking for
evidence of The Lost Colony of 1587 found artifacts buried in
the sand indicating an encampment. They found clay pots,
copper farthings, a musket, and a signet ring depicting a lion
passant. Note that the lion faces to the left. As a signet ring, it
would have been used to imbed the image on wax seals of
official family documents and letters. The image would then
be reversed in the wax.
It should be noted that the East Carolina University
researchers, with the aid of experts at the College of Arms,
concluded that the ring belonged to a “Master” Kendall that visited this place at about
that time because the lion prancing, as it is phrased herein, belonged to the Kendall
family in the 16th century. There is also note of a Captain Abraham Kendall with Sir
Frances Drake’s expedition some years later. Dr. David Phelps’ Guide to the Croatan
Archaeological Site Collection describes these references.
Burke’s 1875 review of heraldry in his History of Landed Gentry describes the Kendall
family crest as that of an eagle. I do, however, also find Burke’s reference in the same
volume to a Nicholas Kendall of Pelyn in Cornwall dated in the 1800’s with a crest of a
lion passant gules [red]. However, I have yet to see possession of this crest in the Kendall
family of the 16th century, as is the case of Bouth of Dunham in the 1580 Visitation of
Cheshire continuing to the Booth’s of Maryland and Massachusetts in the 1800’s with the
lion passant argent [white] crest as reported in Crozier’s 1904 General Armory.
To what extent is the College of Arms conclusion based upon the known presence of
persons named Kendall? What if there is reason to believe there was also a Booth heir
also at that location at that time? The reader is left to draw their own conclusion.
The dig site is located in the Buxton Woods Coastal Reserve and has been filled in and
now overgrown with the low-profile vegetation typical in the area. In September, 2002,
one of the archaeologists involved in the discovery was still in possession of the ring and
other artifacts. They are expected to be returned to a museum dedicated to the site.