Thursday, February 28, 2019

Oldham Family Update

Here is an update on William Oldham:

According to Oldham Family History [Guild of One Name Studies website], William was preceded by three generation of John Oldhams. The surname has appeared as Houldham, Ouldham, Odum and Oldham.
His great-grandfather was John Oldham [1480 Lancashire, England - 28 Sep 1550 St. Leonard's Parish, Middleton, Lancashire, England]. No spouse was given.
William's grandfather was John Oldham [1505 Kirkburton, West Yorkshire, England - 1560 Middleton, Lancashire, England. Spouse named Johanna.
Oldham's father was John Oldham [1530 Lancashire, England - 23 jUL 1578 Derby, Derbyshire, England]. He was married 31 Jan 1563 at Derby Cathedral, Derby, Derbyshire, England to Isabelle Hall.
William was born in 1568 in Derby. He married Philippa Sowter in All Saints Parish, Derby. The couple had five children. John, baptized 14 July 1592 in All Saints, Derby; Elizabeth, christened 24 February 1594; Jacobus, christened 12 June 1597;  Lucretia, born 14 January 1599/1600 in Derby; and Thomas born in 1602. William was buried 26 June 1636.
Of the Oldham children, at least two, John and Lucretia, would make their way to New England.

Monday, February 25, 2019

Newcomb Update: Francis Newcomb Bio

I have some minor changes to the Francis Newcomb bio, mostly background in the first paragraph.

Francis Newcomb was born in England in 1605. It is believed he was a native of St. Albans, Hertfordshire, a few miles north of London. There were three parishes in St. Albans. The records of one date back to only 1643. The name Newcomb was not recorded from 1590 to 1640 in the second. The records of the third parish were destroyed by fire in 1743. There is also a tradition that Francis hailed from Oxfordshire and was of pure Saxon blood. The idenity of his parents has yet to be learned.

Francis Newcomb [aged 30] set sail from London for New England in April 1635 with wife Rachel [aged 20] and two children, Rachel [aged 2½]and John [aged 9 months] aboard the Planter, Nicholas Trarice, Master. Also on board the ship were Rachel's mother, Rachel, and her 2nd husband, Martin Sanders and three half-siblings.

The Newcombs settled in Boston, where on 28 February 1635/6 Rachel became a member of the Boston First Church. They removed to Mt. Wollaston, which became Braintree on 13 May 1640 [now Quincy]. Rachel was one of thirteen Boston church members recommended to the Church of Christ at "Mount Wollystone" on 16 February 1639/40. At Braintree, Francis acquired several tracts of land, one being near the Iron Works and another on the south side of the Monaticut River. He probably resided at or near the "Neck."

Francis died 27 May 1692 at Braintree. The Hancock Cemetery records there gave Francis' age as 100, but since he was listed as being 30 in 1635, an age of about 87 would be more likely.

Saturday, February 23, 2019

Moore Family Update: Confusion!

Yikes! You would think that the name CASON MOORE would be easy to track down. Moore settled in Virginia [Lower Norfolk/Princess Anne Co.] I have found references to at least two of that name - if both existed!

The child in question is a daughter named Mary. This Mary was the wife of Richard Bonney [c1640-1706].

One Cason Moore was born c1610 in England and died leaving a will in VA in 1686/7. He named his children - no Mary. Another, also born c1610 is purported to have been Mary's father. But, was this just a case of "Mary's father is Cason Moore, but there's no evidence to support it"?

Various family trees have Mary's mother listed as Mary Moore, Hutchinson or Shipp. A few have her as Dinah, but that appears to be based on some confusion in transcribing Richard Bonney's will. It would have been nice if Richard and Mary had given a son her maiden name!

Looking into the neighbors of Richard and the Bonney girls' husbands may offer some clues. Mores news when/if available.

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Marsh Family Update: John Marsh, Jr.

John Marsh, Jr. was born in April of 1618 in Braintree, Essex, England to John Marsh, Sr. and Grace Baldwin.. His elder brother, Joseph became a clothier in Braintree.
He arrived in Newtowne/Cambridge about 1635. Marsh was one of those who joined Rev. Thomas Hooker in the move to Connecticut and become one of the original proprietors of Hartford in 1636. His home lot was on the road from the Little River to the North Meadow [now Front St.] Hooker would die in an epidemic that swept through New England on 7 July 1647.
He married Anne Webster about 1640. He father, John, would become Governor in 1655. Their children were:
[1] John III [c1642 - July 1727, m. Sarah Lyman]
[2] Samuel [c1645 - 7 Sep1728, m. Mary Allison/Ellison]
[3] Joseph [bp. 21 Jan 1647 - bef 1649]
[4] Grace [c1648 - 31 May 1676, m. Timothy Baker]
[5] Joseph [bp. 15 July 1649] twin
[6] Isaac [bp. 15 July 1649] twin
[7] Jonathan [c Sep 1650 - 3 July 1730, m. Dorcas Dickerson]
[8] Daniel [c1653 - 24 Feb 1724, m. Hannah [Lewis] Crow
[9] Hannah [c1655/6 - 1699, m. Joseph Loomis]
John signed his intent to leave the First Chuch of Hartford on 11 July 1656. Marsh would be chosen chimney-viewer in 1658 prior to leaving Hartford.
John Marsh was part of the group, known as the "withdrawers," led by his father-in-law, John Webster, that were in opposition to Rev. Samuel Stone's policies on baptism. In May 1658, the group received permission to withdraw to Norwottuck, Massachusetts. Webster's group moved upriver through a gorge between Holyoke and Tom in April 1659. Norwottuck was renamed Hadley, after Hadleigh, Suffolk, in 1661.
In February 1660, town lots were drawn. John Marsh drew lot 34 and John Webster drew lot 19. The lands were recorded on 19 June 1674. Webster died 14 months later.
The Marshes moved to Northampton and joined the Congregationalist Church there on 18 June 1661. Anne died in Northampton on 9 June 1662.
John married Hepzibah Lyman on 7 October 1664. She was the widow of Richard Lyman and daughter of Thomas Ford and Elizabeth Charde. They had a daughter, Lydia [9 Oct 1667 - 1727]. Hepzibah died 11 April 1683.
John also adopted, Grace Martin, daughter of John's sister Lydia after she died in 1669.
John Marsh died on 28 September 1688 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut. It is believed he was visiting his daighter Lydia, who resided in Windsor.
John's will was presented on December 1688 in the court at Northampton. The following bequests were made: John - £5, Jonathan - all of his father's gold, Daniel - two Cob irons, Hannah - £30, Samuel - family land in Hadley, Lydia - a green rug, Grandson Baker [Timothy, son of Grace Marsh Baker] - £5. John and Samuel were named executors. Inventory had been made on 27 November 1688.

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Marsh Family Updates: Grace Baldwin, wife of John Marsh Sr.

Grace Baldwin:

Grace is given to be the daughter of William Baldwin [1570 - 16 Feb 1631] and Sarah Ann Payne [1570 - 7 Jan 1611].
The 1627 will of Grace's husband, John Marsh, mentions a Sarah Baldwin, widow. This is presumably Grace's mother. If this is the case, Grace's father, William, was not the one of that name who died in 1631. Nor could Sarah Ann Payne, who died in 1611, be her mother. 
Most sources [primarily undocumented] agree that her parents were William Baldwin and Sarah.
Grace's will was dated 29 January 1657 [1667?] and proved 22 May 1667. Grace probably died earlier in the month. She left all of her holdings in Ingsteston, Essex, approximately 50 acres with buildings, to son Joseph. Daughter Grace Tyers and husband Nathaniel were to receive £7 annually until Grace's death. Her heirs were then to receive £3-score. Joseph was to pay the surviving children of son John "now in New England" £3-score upon their having reached 21. Daughter Lydia [William] Martin was to receive £7 yearly until her death, then her children were to receive £3-score. Joseph was to provide Grace's brother with £6 annually or see to his expenses. Grandson John Marsh was to receive £30 upon reaching 21, as were grandchildren William Martin and son John Marsh. Joseph was also to receive other properties owned by his mother. John was bequeathed certain household goods. John's children Geace and Samuel also received household items. Daughter Grace was left household goods that were to go to daughter Lydia upon Grace's death as well as other household goods. Grandson John Sharp was left £10 to be paid in three years. Rev. Algar was to be given 20 shillings and preach at Grace's funeral. She also left 40 shillings to the poor of Braintree. Joseph was named executor. Witnesses: Adrian Mott, John Maryan and Edward Tabor.

Sunday, February 17, 2019

Updates on the Marsh Family: John Sr.

John Marsh was, according to his wll, a clothier. Most sources give his birth in 1579, although a few claim 1589.
His will, dated 15 April 1627, included several bequests. Samuel Collyn, minister, 50 shillings. William Waslin, late servant and kinsman, 40 shillings. Joseph Waslin, William's father, one suit of apparel [one doublet, pair of breeches, pair of stockings and a hat.] Francis Waslin, John's sister and wife of Joseph, 20 shillings a year for life. Jeremy Mannyng, John's servant, 10 shillings. Richard, Mary and Thomas Outing, children of John's brother-in-law Richard Outing, 20 shillings apiece. Daughters Sarah, Mary, Grace and Lydia, £100 apiece upon reaching age 19. Wife Grace, all lands, houses and buildings that were to be given to son Joseph upon reaching 21. Son Joseph, the messuage or tenement with the two orchards in Braintree, currently in occupation of Thomas Hudson, and the copyhold lands, fields or closes in the parish now in the occupation of Richard Bedwell. All of the rest of John's lands and messuages were to go to Grace until son John came of age. Sarah Baldwin, widow and mother-in-law, 10 shillings. Son Samuel, £400 paid to him by friends and fellow clothiers Adrian Mott and John Marryon upon reaching 21. The residue of John's estate was to be divided equally among Grace and the children. Grace was named executrix. Witnesses: Adrian Mott, William Barnard, John Maryon, Richard Outing and James Sparhawke. The will was proved 29 May 1627. John Marsh probably died earlier in the month.
John and Grace had seen children:
[1] Sarah [c1614 - c1657]
[2] Joseph [c1615 - bet. 1676-1681]
[3] Mary [1617-20 - c1657, m. John Sherry]
[4] John Jr. [Apr. 1618 - 1688, m. Anne Webster]
[5] Grace [c1622 - 1696, m. Nathanial Tyres]
[6] Lydia [1623-26 - c1669, m. William Martin]
[7] Samuel [c1626 - 1683]
Without documentation, a WikiTree entry offers the following ancestry for John Marsh:
John Edward Marsh [1560 -1592 of Braintree] and Lydia Emerson [1562 -1592 of Braintree]
Samuel Marsh [b. 1540 Braintree]
William Marsh [1520 Haverhill, Suffolk - 1570 Braintree] & Mary Ann _______ [b. 1520]

Friday, February 15, 2019

Update on Mrs. Martha Mac Callum

Mrs. Martha MacCallum:

A handful of sources claim that Martha's maiden name was Proctor. Likewise, those same sources estimate her birth between 1634 and 1637.
Find A Grave has a Martha Proctor [b. 1637 in Ipswich, MA] who married James White in 1672. Her parents: John Proctor and Martha Harper. Also noted is a death date of 14 Oct 1658 in Salem for Martha.
The death date comes from an entry on familysearch.org "Massachusetts Deaths and Burials 1795-1910" for Martha Prockter, daughter of John Prockter and Martha Giddens. This Martha has been assigned as Mrs. MacCallum, but she was born in 1658 and died the same year.

A forum post on the Scots Prisoners purports to have evidence that Martha was indeed a Proctor. I posted a request for the evidence. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Surname Update: J-L

You may notice I got skipped. No surnames to match that letter. So, we begin with letter J.

J:

[direct]
Jennison
Jermy
Jones
Joyce

[collateral]
Jerrell

K:

[direct]
Keeling
Keeney

L:

[direct]
Lakin
Land
Latham
Laubscher
Lies
Lockwood
Look/Looke
Low
Lowe

[collateral]
Lane/van Laenen
LaRue

Monday, February 11, 2019

Surname Update: D - H

D:
[direct]
Dally
Dodge
Douglas
Dowrish
Dubois
Dungan

[collateral]
Doddridge
Dunham

[not related]
Dart
Doty

E:
[direct]
Evans

[collateral]
Emmons/Emans
Earthenhouse

F:
[direct]
Farringdon
Faucett
Folkard
French

G:
[direct]
Garrison / Gerrits
Gaymer
Gorton
Grant
Greeley / Greelee
Goddard
Gulley
Gye

H:
[direct]
Haburne
Harding
Harris
Haskell
Hazen
Hills
Holden
Hostetler
Howell
Howland
Howlett
Hurin /Mahurin
Hutton

[collateral]
Haught
Homan

As always, if anyone has questions about any of the above surnames, please feel free to contact me.

Saturday, February 2, 2019

Looking Back: Research Gone Haywire, Ancestors Lost [and Gained]

Over 29 years of research things have not always gone smoothly. I've messed up a time or two, but the real scary situations have been the family genealogies that have been researched with a lot left to be desired.

In four cases that I can recall, I lost about 15 believed-to-be ancestral families. Of course, I have picked up at least that many in the process!

Case #1: The St. John Switch: Early St. John research had carried my line through three generations of Mathias St. Johns. Later research spearheaded by James N. Churchyard led to the realization that Samuel St. John was the brother and not the son of the third Mathias. That knocked Mathias III out of thee direct line. Also removed were  the BOUTON, MARVIN & GREGORY families. No new families were added until the ancestry of Mathias I came to light. That story has appeared in a few earlier posts.

Case #2: The Hazens and the Mayflower Connection: The authors of the Hazen genealogy had Elizabeth Dart married to John Hazen. A fellow researcher mentioned that there was supposed to have been a Mayflower connection in the family. That led to the discovery that Elizabeth Dart was a Dart by marriage, not by birth. She was a Turner. Seven families initially bit the dust: DART, HOUGH, CALKINS, SPEAKE, PAYNE, EATON & DOUGLAS. One made a return to the fold, DOUGLAS. Several new families joined the tree: TURNER, KEENEY, OLDHAM, SOWTER, GAYMER, MASON & BREWSTER [Mayflower connection]. As for the Douglas family, a son dropped and a daughter added from the same family.

Case #3: The Wrong John Low: Here was an error on my part. I had the wrong John Lew attached to my tree. A little geography lesson put John Low and his wife Elizabeth in the wrong part of Massachusetts! A quick check determined the correct couple. I had John married to Elizabet Stoddard. My John Low actually married Elizabeth Howland. It was an easy fix. Elizabeth was already family. Her brother Arthur was an ancestor. STODDARD & ROGERS went by the wayside. No new families added.

Case #4:The Lockwood Debacle: The Hazen Lockwood effort on the Lockwood family was a complete disaster. The authors claimed Robert Lockwood to be the progenitor of the family in the US. They all but ignored his brother Edmund. As I turned out, Edmund contributed far more to the Lockwood line than did Robert. Robert, Jonathan, Joseph and Reuben were supposed to make up my first four generations. Remove Robert, Jonathan and Reuben. Actually, Joseph was Edmund's son and fit the lineage. His line continued with James and daughter Anna, who married John St. John. Lost families: NORMAN, FERRIS, AYERS & CRAMP. Added: WEBB & NORTON.

16 families went by the wayside, while 9 new families came into the fold. One got dropped, then added back to the tree. That was a lot of research down the tube! The important thing is that errors were corrected.