First Generation
1. He died on 29 Oct 1631 at the age of 38 in Strood, Kent, England. 1,3 Thomas Very was born in either Salisbury, Wiltshire, England or Kent, England as early as 1593 and as late as 1600. He married Bridget Scudder between 1616 and 1621, probably in Kent. They had six children: Samuel, Thomas, Mary, Bridget, Francis and Temperence.
The Very family most likely fell victim to some epidemic that swept through England during the early 1630s. Temperence died 29 September 1631 at 17 months; Thomas died on 29 October 1631 in his 30s; Bridget died on 30 October 1632, aged 5. Francis also died about this time. All were buried in Strood, Kent, England.
The three surviving children [Samuel, Thomas and Mary] and the widowed Bridget left for New England by 1834 with other members of Bridget's family.
The Very family most likely fell victim to some epidemic that swept through England during the early 1630s. Temperence died 29 September 1631 at 17 months; Thomas died on 29 October 1631 in his 30s; Bridget died on 30 October 1632, aged 5. Francis also died about this time. All were buried in Strood, Kent, England.
The three surviving children [Samuel, Thomas and Mary] and the widowed Bridget left for New England by 1834 with other members of Bridget's family.
Thomas Very/Verry and Bridget Scudder were married circa 1621 in probably Kent, England.1 She died in Apr 1679–30 Nov 1680 at the age of 88 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. 1,4,6 Bridget, per Our Sussex Roots website, was the daughter of Henry Scudder and Elizabeth Hale. Her birth was given as 1591. The birth of her first husband, Thomas Very, was born about 1600, with some sources claiming 1593. Edward Giles, Bridget's second husband, has a birth year offered between 1600 and 1610.
Henry Scudder, Sr. [c1559-1595] had eight children. His three sons were Thomas, Henry and John. He also had a daughter, Bridget. Rev.Henry, Jr. [c1585-1652] named his 2nd wife Joyce and children: Jane [Russell], Martha [Jacob], Bridget [Graile] and Elizabeth [Tombes, dec'd], granddaughter, Elizabeth Tombes, brother Thomas Scudder, his sons and daughter Elizabeth, now in New England, cousin Bridget Giles, now in New England, cousins John Scudder and Elizabeth Lathrop now in New England.
John and Elizabeth were probably the children of John Scudder and Elizabeth Stoughton. It is clear from Henry's will that Bridget was related to him. She may have been the daughter of Henry's brother Thomas. It has also been suggested that she was the child of one of Henry's daughters: Bridget, Elizabeth, Alice, Martha or Jane. From the wording of the will, it would seem that Bridget was not a sister to John and Elizabeth.
Bridget's birth has been given as early as 1591 and as late as "about 1600."
Her eldest son, Samuel Very was born about 1622. Her youngest child, John Giles was born in 1645. If Bridget was born in 1591, she would have been about 31 when Samuel was born and 54 at the birth of John. Starting a family at 30 and bearing children into her mid-50s is, at best, highly unlikely. A 1600 birth would set her childbearing at a range of 22 years to 45 years. Considering that John would have been the only child born after Bridget's 40th birthday, the later birth is much more plausible and in line with the estimated births of husbands Thomas Very [c1600] and Edward Giles [c1604-1610].
Her first marriage was to Thomas Very, who died in Strood, Kent, England in 1631. They had at least five children. The youngest of the five was born eight months after Thomas died.
Bridget probably sailed for America with her relatives, John Scudder and Elizabeth Scudder, who married Samuel Lathrop, about 1635. She was named as a "cousin," along with John and Elizabeth, in Rev. Henry Scudder's will of 12 February 1651 [proved 31 May 1652].
The History of Salem [p. 1] claims that Bridget married Edward Giles before leaving England and arrived in New England in 1634, but the following item
from the Salem court records clearly shows they met in Salem.
Edward Giles was fined 40 shillings for "knowing his wife carnally before marriage" on 6 October 1635. There is some debate whether Bridget's daughter Mary was the offspring of Thomas Very or Edward Giles. Mary could have been the result of this "premarital liaison."
The births of the Giles children were as follows: Mehitable [1637], Remember [1639], Eleazer [1640] and John [1645].
Giles died about 1650.
Bridget made her will on 14 January 1668/9 and was probated 30 November 1680. In the will Briget Giles of Salem names the following heirs and bequests: sons Samuel and Thomas Very [20 shillings each], daughter Mary Cutler, wife of Thomas of Redinge [40 shillings], granddaughter Bridget Very, daughter of Thomas [one cow due when she becomes 18 or gets married], son Eliazer Giles [a 10 acres lot and her meadow land], John Giles [all remaining property]. John Giles named administrator. Witnesses: John and James Brown.
Daughters Mehitabel and Remember Giles were not named in the will. Presumably, the had predeceased their mother.
Henry Scudder, Sr. [c1559-1595] had eight children. His three sons were Thomas, Henry and John. He also had a daughter, Bridget. Rev.Henry, Jr. [c1585-1652] named his 2nd wife Joyce and children: Jane [Russell], Martha [Jacob], Bridget [Graile] and Elizabeth [Tombes, dec'd], granddaughter, Elizabeth Tombes, brother Thomas Scudder, his sons and daughter Elizabeth, now in New England, cousin Bridget Giles, now in New England, cousins John Scudder and Elizabeth Lathrop now in New England.
John and Elizabeth were probably the children of John Scudder and Elizabeth Stoughton. It is clear from Henry's will that Bridget was related to him. She may have been the daughter of Henry's brother Thomas. It has also been suggested that she was the child of one of Henry's daughters: Bridget, Elizabeth, Alice, Martha or Jane. From the wording of the will, it would seem that Bridget was not a sister to John and Elizabeth.
Bridget's birth has been given as early as 1591 and as late as "about 1600."
Her eldest son, Samuel Very was born about 1622. Her youngest child, John Giles was born in 1645. If Bridget was born in 1591, she would have been about 31 when Samuel was born and 54 at the birth of John. Starting a family at 30 and bearing children into her mid-50s is, at best, highly unlikely. A 1600 birth would set her childbearing at a range of 22 years to 45 years. Considering that John would have been the only child born after Bridget's 40th birthday, the later birth is much more plausible and in line with the estimated births of husbands Thomas Very [c1600] and Edward Giles [c1604-1610].
Her first marriage was to Thomas Very, who died in Strood, Kent, England in 1631. They had at least five children. The youngest of the five was born eight months after Thomas died.
Bridget probably sailed for America with her relatives, John Scudder and Elizabeth Scudder, who married Samuel Lathrop, about 1635. She was named as a "cousin," along with John and Elizabeth, in Rev. Henry Scudder's will of 12 February 1651 [proved 31 May 1652].
The History of Salem [p. 1] claims that Bridget married Edward Giles before leaving England and arrived in New England in 1634, but the following item
from the Salem court records clearly shows they met in Salem.
Edward Giles was fined 40 shillings for "knowing his wife carnally before marriage" on 6 October 1635. There is some debate whether Bridget's daughter Mary was the offspring of Thomas Very or Edward Giles. Mary could have been the result of this "premarital liaison."
The births of the Giles children were as follows: Mehitable [1637], Remember [1639], Eleazer [1640] and John [1645].
Giles died about 1650.
Bridget made her will on 14 January 1668/9 and was probated 30 November 1680. In the will Briget Giles of Salem names the following heirs and bequests: sons Samuel and Thomas Very [20 shillings each], daughter Mary Cutler, wife of Thomas of Redinge [40 shillings], granddaughter Bridget Very, daughter of Thomas [one cow due when she becomes 18 or gets married], son Eliazer Giles [a 10 acres lot and her meadow land], John Giles [all remaining property]. John Giles named administrator. Witnesses: John and James Brown.
Daughters Mehitabel and Remember Giles were not named in the will. Presumably, the had predeceased their mother.
Thomas Very/Verry and Bridget Scudder had the following children:
Second Generation
2. He died on 3 Jan 1683–20 Mar 1683/4 at the age of 60 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, British America. 1 The birth date given for Samuel Very, 6 October 1622, seems to be in error. His 1683/4 will gives his age as 64, placing his birth about 1619. This is the year given in most sources. [The 1622 birth is recorded in Gloucester to a Samuel Very, son of John.] Samuel's birthplace is also given as Salisbury, Wiltshire, England in the majority of sources..
Samuel Very probably arrived in New England with his mother, Bridget and siblings before 1635. He first appeared in Salem records when he was charged with trespass during the February 1648/9 Quarterly Court. Samuel purchased a 171 acre farm in Salem in 1656 from Dorchester's Richard Way. He took the oath of allegiance in 1678. Very died during the winter of 1683/4.
Samuel Very, aged about 64, made his will 3 January 1683/4 at Salem. He left to his wife Alice the bulk of his property and dwelling house for her use during her lifetime. Son Benjamin would inherit the house and all property "within the stone fences" after Alice's death. Should Benjamin die before age 21, the property would go to son Samuel. The two sons were to pay their sisters, Hannah and Mary, £10 each. If one should die the other would receive £20. Sons John and Jonathan were to receive a specified share of their father's property. Son Thomas was to inherit property in addition to that he already held. The remainder of the Very property was to go to sons Isaac and Joseph upon their mother's decease. The will was recorded on 20 March 1683/4.
On 20 March 1683/4, Alice Very, widow and executrix of Samuel's will, presented the will for propate. There was an objection made that three of the children, Samuel Very, Elizabeth Nurse and Sarah Cooke, were not mentioned in the will. Alice promised that Elizabeth and Sarah would receive shares equal to those of their sisters, providing their husbands would make no trouble. Alice also reached agreement with son Samuel.
Samuel Very probably arrived in New England with his mother, Bridget and siblings before 1635. He first appeared in Salem records when he was charged with trespass during the February 1648/9 Quarterly Court. Samuel purchased a 171 acre farm in Salem in 1656 from Dorchester's Richard Way. He took the oath of allegiance in 1678. Very died during the winter of 1683/4.
Samuel Very, aged about 64, made his will 3 January 1683/4 at Salem. He left to his wife Alice the bulk of his property and dwelling house for her use during her lifetime. Son Benjamin would inherit the house and all property "within the stone fences" after Alice's death. Should Benjamin die before age 21, the property would go to son Samuel. The two sons were to pay their sisters, Hannah and Mary, £10 each. If one should die the other would receive £20. Sons John and Jonathan were to receive a specified share of their father's property. Son Thomas was to inherit property in addition to that he already held. The remainder of the Very property was to go to sons Isaac and Joseph upon their mother's decease. The will was recorded on 20 March 1683/4.
On 20 March 1683/4, Alice Very, widow and executrix of Samuel's will, presented the will for propate. There was an objection made that three of the children, Samuel Very, Elizabeth Nurse and Sarah Cooke, were not mentioned in the will. Alice promised that Elizabeth and Sarah would receive shares equal to those of their sisters, providing their husbands would make no trouble. Alice also reached agreement with son Samuel.
Samuel Very/Verry and Alice Woodis were married circa 1650 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.1 She died after 1716 at the age of 86 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. 1
Samuel Very/Verry and Alice Woodis had the following children:
3. She was born circa 1635 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, British America. 8,13 alternate, if daughter of Edward Giles Mary has been identified as the daughter of both Thomas Very and Edward Giles. Mary is mentioned in her mother's 1668 will after Samuel and Thomas Very and before Thomas' daughter, Bridget. The Giles children are named after the Very children.
In New England Families: Genealogical and Memoial, Vol. IV [p. 1995], the entry on Thomas Cutler identifies Mary as a Giles. It also states that Thomas was born about 1633, rather than 1623. The entry also claims she married a Very on 7 Dec 1683. This, along with a marriage to Matthew Smith on 20 June 1684. Find a Grave has an entry for Smith and his wife, both born well after Mary. Mary Cutler's will was dated 14 January 1679.
Mary's children were born between 1660 and 1670, with the youngest born in 1677. If she had been born in 1624, Mary would have been 36 at the birth of her eldest child and 43. If born about 1635, then her age would have been 25 and 32.
In New England Families: Genealogical and Memoial, Vol. IV [p. 1995], the entry on Thomas Cutler identifies Mary as a Giles. It also states that Thomas was born about 1633, rather than 1623. The entry also claims she married a Very on 7 Dec 1683. This, along with a marriage to Matthew Smith on 20 June 1684. Find a Grave has an entry for Smith and his wife, both born well after Mary. Mary Cutler's will was dated 14 January 1679.
Mary's children were born between 1660 and 1670, with the youngest born in 1677. If she had been born in 1624, Mary would have been 36 at the birth of her eldest child and 43. If born about 1635, then her age would have been 25 and 32.
Mary Very/Verry and Thomas Cutler were married on 19 Mar 1660 in Reading, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, British America.14 He died on 7 Dec 1683 at the age of 60 in Reading, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, British America.
4. He died on 28 Mar 1694 at the age of 69 in Gloucester, Essex Co., Massachusetts. 1,15
Thomas Very/Verry and Hannah Giles were married on 6 Jul 1650 in Gloucester, Essex Co., Massachusetts.1 She died on 25 Aug 1683 at the age of 57 in Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, British America. 1,8 It is possibly that Hannah was a daughter of Edward Giles from a previous marriage. The History of Salem [p.1] identifies her as husband Thomas Very's step-sister.
Third Generation
5. He died circa 1697 at the age of 46 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. 1
Samuel Very/Verry and Abigail Archer were married circa 1682/3 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, British America.17 [Torrey, p.767] She died after 1697 at the age of 29 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, British America.
Sarah Very/Verry and James Cooke were married in Massachusetts Bay, British North America.17
7. She died after 1723 at the age of 68 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. 18–20 alt. death year: 1684
Elizabeth Very/Verry and John Nurse/Nourse were married on 17 Aug 1677 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.18 He died circa 1 Dec 1719 at the age of 74 in Salem Village, Essex Co., Massachusetts. 18
John Nurse/Nourse and Elizabeth Very/Verry had the following child:
8. He died in 1717 at the age of 60 in Marblehead, Essex Co., Massachusetts. 1
Thomas Very/Verry and Elizabeth Proctor were married on 28 Mar 1681 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, British America.17
John Very/Verry and Hannah [Very] were married.17
10.
Isaac Very/Verry and Mary [Very] were married.17
11.
Hannah Very/Verry and William Beans were married in 1695 in Massachusetts Bay, British America.17
12. He died after 1730 at the age of 62 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts?. 1
Benjamin Very/Verry and Jemima Newhall were married on 9 Jun 1698 in Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, British America.17 She died after 1725 at the age of 47 in Massachusetts Bay, British America.
13. She died in Windham Co., Connecticut, British North America. 1
Mary Very/Verry and Jonathan Marsh were married on 20 May 1697 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, British America.17 He died circa 1750 at the age of 78 in Windham Co., Connecticut, British America.
14.
Jonathan Very/Verry and Mary Symonds were married.17
Sources:
1. Norris Taylor, "Bridget [____] Very, b. 1600 to Salem," e-mail message from [e-mail for private use] ([street address for private use]), to Vere Family Genealogy Forum, 14 August 1999.
2. Harry _______, "Ancestors of Comfort Scudder," database, Harry_______, Our Sussex Roots (http://oursussexroots.com/scudder: accessed 27 January 2016), Bridget Scudder Very; citing AceNet.
4. Louis Effingham DeForrest, Our Colonial & Continental Ancestors: The Ancestry of Mr. & Mrs. Louis William Dommerich (New York, NY: DeForrest Pub., n.d.), p. 204; digital images, The Generations Network, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 29 June 2011.
5. Norris Taylor, Norris Taylor Genealogy Page (http://ntgen.tripod.com/bw/very_index.html : accessed 30 June 2011), Bridget (______) Very info.
7. Essex County, Massachusetts, Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts V8: 55-56, Will of Bridget Giles of Salem, Bridget Giles will, 14 January 1680; Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT.
8. Sidney Perley, The History of Salem, Massachusetts, Vol. III [1671 -1716] (Salem, MA: Sidney Perley, 1928), 1-5.
9. Taylor, "Bridget [____] Very, b. 1600 to Salem," e-mail to GenForum: Vere, 14 August 1999.
11. Essex County, Massachusetts, Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Dec 1683, p. 159-161.
12. Essex County, Massachusetts, Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, 8:55-56.
13. Taylor, "Bridget [_______] Very, b. 1600 to Salem," e-mail to Vere Family Genforum, 14 August 1999.
14. Taylor, "Bridget(_______) Very: b. 1600, to Salem," e-mail to Very Family Genforum, 14 August 1990.
17. Taylor, "Bridget [_______] Very, b. 1600 to Salem," e-mail to Vere Family GenForum, 14 August 1999.
18. "Rebecca Nurse Ancestry", database, genealogy.com, Famous Folks (http://www.genealogy.com/famousfolks/rebeccan/d0/i0000004.htm : accessed 1 January 2011), Francis & Rebecca Towne Nurse family; undocumented and unnamed family tree submitted unk by unk, [contact information for private use].
20. Stephanie J. Walker, rootsweb, Phipps Family Pages (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~walkersj/ : accessed 11 June 2011), Elizabeth [Very] Nurse death
Verry Nice read. All bout my family.
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