Update: The Adam Family

Boy, what you think is going to be an reasonably easy project.... With the Adam family, I discovered some 'new' information that changed parentage and added two more generations! Here is the update.

The Adam Family:
 

First Generation

 

1.  Thomas Adam¹ was born circa 1470 in Essex, England.¹ He died on 5 Jun 1542–22 Sep 1542 at the age of 72 in Harlow, Essex, England.¹ Thomas Adam or Adams was born in Essex, England, eitherat Harlow or Northweald Basset. He made a bequest to the church at the latter, suggesting earlier ties to the village. Thomas requested to be buried in the Harlow Churdhyard.
His will, written 5 June 1542 and proved 22 September 1542, named the following heirs:
John, son [d. 1578]
William, son [d. 1573 at Little Parndon]
Johan, wife
Robert, son
Johan, daughter
Agnes, daughter

Johan / Joan [Adam]¹ was born (date unknown).

Thomas Adam and Johan / Joan [Adam] had the following child:

 

              2              i.   John Adam, died between 22 Mar 1577/8-23 Jun 1578, Newnes Farm, Sawbridgeworth, Herefordshire, England, United Kingdom.

 

 

Second Generation

 

2.  John Adam² (Thomas-1) died between 22 Mar 1577/8-23 Jun 1578 in Newnes Farm, Sawbridgeworth, Herefordshire, England, United Kingdom.² John Adam made his will on 22 March 1577/8. He died at his home at Newnes Farm in Sawbridgeworth. The will was proved on 23 June 1678 at Stortford. John naned the following heirs:
Jerome, son
Agnes Flayle, daughter
Alice Burle, daughter
William, son [will 16 July 1616]
Thomas, son [will 1 May 1608]
John Herde, servant
Joan Kinge, servant

John was probably born in either Harlow or Northweald Basset in Essex. He later moved to Sawbridgeworth and aquired Newnes Farm.

 

John Adam had the following child:

 

              3              i.   Jerome Adam Sr., born ca 1535, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England; married Elizabeth [Adam], ca 1557, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England; died ca Apr 1583, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.

 

 

Third Generation

 

3.  Jerome Adam Sr.^3–5 (John-2, Thomas-1) was born circa 1535 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.⁵ He died circa Apr 1583 at the age of 48 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.⁵ He was buried on 9 Apr 1583 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.⁵ The will of "Peter Adam of Ware," berebrewer [beerbrewer] was proved at Strotford on 12 February 1571/2 and named his wife, Elizabeth, executrix. Also named were sons Henry, Robert, Peter, Richard and John, as well as daughter Grace. 
Peter was initially believed to be the father of Grace Adam Belknap, but Threlfell's Fifty Great Migration Colonists article on the Adam family disputes this. Threfell names Jerome Adam as the father and the will of his widow, Elizabeth supports the idea. Peter lived in Ware at the time of his death. Although, Ware is close to Sawbridgeworth, the existing records on the family suggest they stayed in Sawbridgeworth.
The 1561 baptismal record of daughter Grace. identified her father as "Hierom" Adam. Jerome died in the spring of 1583.

[In addition to the five children named in Elizabeth Adam's will, some sources show a son William.]

Jerome Adam Sr. and Elizabeth [Adam] were married circa 1557 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.^3–4,6 Elizabeth [Adam]^3,7 was born circa 1539 in England.⁶ She died on 29 Nov 1598–18 Jun 1606 at the age of 59 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.⁶ Elizabeth Adam, widow, of Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England made her will on 29 November 1598. She made bequests to the following individuals: Grace, wife of Benet Beltoft, John Pery, Anyes, wife of Thomas Adam, Ralph Pery, Jerome Adam, Tabitha Luce, John Adam, Thomas Pery. Elizabeth named her sons John Adam and Thomas Pery as executors. The will was proved on 18 June 1606.
The will suggests that Elizabeth may have been married to a Perry before she wed Jerome Adam. Thomas Perry is named as her son in the will. By association, John and Ralph Perry would have been her sons as well. Threlfell suggests that Thomas Perry could have been the husband of a daughter that predeceased Elizabeth and John and Ralph were their sons.

Several online trees have Elizabeth's maiden name as Grover.

Jerome Adam and Elizabeth [Adam] had the following children:

 

              4              i.   Grace Adam, born Nov 1561, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England; married Bennet Belknap/Beltoft, 25 May 1586, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England; died Oct 1630, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.

                             ii.   Jerome Adam Jr.⁸ was born circa 1558 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.⁸

                            iii.   Thomas Adam⁸ was born circa Apr 1560 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.⁸ He was christened on 11 Apr 1560 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.⁸ He died circa Aug 1608 at the age of 48 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.⁸ Thomas was buried on 4 Aug 1608 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.⁸

                            iv.   John Adam⁸ was born in May 1563 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.⁸ He died on 26 Feb 1636/7 at the age of 73 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.⁸ Threlfell [p. 23] states that John made his will on 17 April 1591 and it was proved 25 May 1593.

                             v.   Tabitha Adam⁴ was born circa 1565 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.⁴

 

 

Fourth Generation

 

4.  Grace Adam⁷ (Jerome-3, John-2, Thomas-1) was born in Nov 1561 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.⁹ She was baptized on 26 Nov 1561 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.⁹ She died in Oct 1630 at the age of 68 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.¹⁰ Grace was buried on 29 Oct 1630 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.¹⁰ Grace was willed a bed, anvil, barrel, brass pot, an old gown, a red petticoat and her mother's best hat.
Elizabeth Adam's will seems to disprove that Peter Adam was Grace Adam Belknap's father. Peter, of Ware, named wife Elizabeth, sons Henry, Robert, Peter, Richard and John, and daughter Grace. The only common names in the wills of Peter Adam and Elizabeth Adam are John and Grace. Elizabeth's will specifies that Grace was married to Benet Beltoft.

Grace Adam and Bennet Belknap/Beltoft were married on 25 May 1586 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.¹⁰ Bennet Belknap/Beltoft¹¹, son of Richard Belknap/Beltoft and Elizabeth [Belknap/Beltoft], was born circa 1560 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.¹² He died in May 1624 at the age of 64 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.¹⁰ He was buried on 21 May 1624 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.¹⁰ Bennet described himself as a husbandman in his will of 1623. He was church warden in 1610.

 

Bennet Belknap/Beltoft and Grace Adam had the following children:

 

              5              i.   Abraham Belknap/Beltoft, born Mar 1589/90, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England; married Mary Stallion, 28 Oct 1617, St. Mary, Latton, Essex, England; died Sep 1643, Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

                             ii.   Frances Belknap/Beltoft was born in Jan 1590/1 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.¹³ She was baptized on 3 Jan 1590/1 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.¹³

                            iii.   John Belknap/Beltoft was born in Apr 1593 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.¹⁴ He was baptized on 8 Apr 1593 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.¹⁴ He died circa 19 Oct 1655 at the age of 62 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.¹⁴

                            iv.   Daniel Belknap/Beltoft was born in Nov 1595 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.¹⁵ He was baptized on 2 Nov 1595 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.¹⁵

                             v.   Josias Belknap/Beltoft was born in Aug 1599 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.¹⁶ He was baptized on 12 Aug 1599 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.¹⁶

 

Sources:

        1. John Brooks Threlfall, Fifty Great Migration Colonists to New England & Their Origins (not recorded, Madison, WI, 1990), 35-36.

        2. John Brooks Threlfall, Fifty Great Migration Colonists to New England & Their Origins, 33-34.

        3. William Bragg, editor, The Herts Genealogist & Antiquary, Volume I (Hampenden: 1895), p. 334; digital images, Google Books,  (: accessed 16 July 2011.

        4. John Brooks Threlfall, Fifty Great Migration Colonists to New England & Their Origins, 23-24.

        5. Heritage Consulting, "Millennium File," vital records, Millennium File (www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 February 2016), Jerome Adam B&D.

        6. Consulting, "Millennium File," Elizabeth Adam B&D.

        7. John Brooks Threlfall, Fifty Great Migration Colonists to New England & Their Origins, p. 10-11.

        8. Belnap Family Association, Belnap Family Association, Ancestors of Gilbert Belnap (http://www.belnapfamily.org/Gilbert_Belnap_Ancestors.htm : accessed 17 February 2016), Adam family.

        9. Genealogical Society of Utah, "England & Wales Christening Records 1530-1906," database, Ancestry.com, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?rank=1&new=1&MSAV=0&msT=1&gss=angs-c&gsfn=grace&gsln=adam&msbdy=1561&msbpn__ftp=Hertsfordshire%2c+England&msbpn=5268&msbpn_PInfo=7-%7c5268%7c&uidh=pn2&pcat=34&h=4950163&recoff=1+2+27&db=bivri_EnglandBirth&indiv=1: accessed 15 July 2011), Grace Adam baptism; citing British Isles Vital Records Index, V-2.

        10. Henry Wyckoff Belknap, "The English Ancestry of the American Belknaps," article, NEHGS, American Ancestors (http://www.americanancestors.org : accessed 15 July 2011), Bennet Beltoft info; citing prior publication in NEHGS Register (January and April 1914).

        11. Belknap, "The English Ancestry of the American Belknaps," Bennet Belknap.

        12. Belknap Family Organization, Belknap Family Organization, Belknap Family Organization (http://www.belnapfamily.org/bfo.htm : accessed 15 July 2011), Bennet Belknap birth.

        13. Belknap, "The English Ancestry of the American Belknaps," Frances [dau.] baptism.

        14. Belknap, "The English Ancestry of the American Belknaps," John [son].

        15. Belknap, "The English Ancestry of the American Belknaps," Daniel [son] baptism.

        16. Belknap, "The English Ancestry of the American Belknaps," Josias [son] baptism.