M. 11 Feb 1618 in Aspall, Suffolk, England1
Wife: Elizabeth Barber
D. Apr 1638 in Cambridge, Massachusetts1
The idea that an Englishman would ever turn down a knighthood doesn’t make any sense. But the offer presented to Nicholas Danforth in the 17th century was really a money-making scheme on the part of the king, so he firmly said no.
Nicholas was born in about February 1590 in the town of Framlingham,1 located in Suffolk about 90 miles northeast of London. His parents were Thomas Danforth and Jane Sudbury, and he was one of six children. Nicholas was likely well-educated; his family owned land, though they weren’t of great wealth. His father and grandfather each had the title of “yeoman.”2
Framlingham, England. (Source: Happy Bean Photography, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
On February 11, 1618, Nicholas married a woman named Elizabeth Barber.1 They settled in Framlingham and had seven children over the next ten years. Sadly, Elizabeth died in 1629, and was buried two days after the birth of her youngest child;1 Nicholas never remarried. During his years in Framlingham, Nicholas was made church warden in 1622,2 and he was a member of the Court Baron in 1629.2 This was a court that met to decide disputes between lords and tenants in a system practiced since the Middle Ages.
During this time, England was being ruled by Charles I in an era of persecution against religious non-conformists. Puritanism was popular in Suffolk and Nicholas was a follower. The king needed to raise money to fund wars with France and Spain, but he was at odds with Parliament, so he found other ways to collect from his subjects. One of them was to “offer” knighthoods to anyone owning land that had an income over £40 per year.3 This wasn’t a position of honor because it came with large dues that had to be paid to the king. Nicholas refused the knighthood twice, and it was said that he had to pay a fine.
This may have been the reason Nicholas left England to join the Massachusetts colony. It’s believed that he arrived in 1634,2 and soon after, he settled in Cambridge, buying several houses that had belonged to settlers who moved to Connecticut with Thomas Hooker.2 He was deputy to the General Court in 1636,1 and he was appointed along with others to lay out the boundaries of the new towns of Concord and Roxbury.1 On March 12, 1638, the General Court gave him a license to sell alcohol, so he may have been planning to run a tavern,1 but he died within a few weeks after that date.1
Nicholas’ sons went on to have some prominence in New England. Jonathan became a surveyor,2 Samuel was a preacher, poet and astronomer,2 and Thomas was a Puritan leader who played a small part in the Salem witch trials.2 Among Nicholas’ descendants are James Garfield, Elizabeth Montgomery, Sandra Day O’Connor, Henry Fonda, Peter Fonda, Jane Fonda, Bridget Fonda, Bette Davis, Geena Davis, Meredith Baxter, Seth MacFarlane, and John Lithgow.4
A 1647 almanac written by Nicholas' son Samuel.
Children:
1. Elizabeth Danforth — B. before 3 Aug 1619, Framlingham, Suffolk, England;1 D. 26 Jun 1680, Cambridge, Massachusetts;5 M. Andrew Belcher (1614-1673), 1 Oct 1639, Cambridge, Massachusetts6
2. Mary Danforth — B. before 3 May 1621, Framlingham, Suffolk, England;1 D. 8 Aug 1674, Groton, Massachusetts;7 M. Thomas Parrish (1614-?), 1637, Cambridge, Massachusetts1
3. Anna Danforth — B. before 3 Sep 1622, Framlingham, Suffolk, England;1 D. 9 Dec 1704, Cambridge, Massachusetts;8 M. Matthew Bridge (~1618-1700), before 1643, Cambridge, Massachusetts1
4. Thomas Danforth — B. before 20 Nov 1623, Framlingham, Suffolk, England;1 D. 5 Nov 1699, Cambridge, Massachusetts;9 M. Mary Withington (1623-1697), 23 Mar 1643, Dorchester, Massachusetts10
5. Lydia Danforth — B. before 24 May 1625, Framlingham, Suffolk, England;1 D. 16 Aug 1686, Saybrook, Connecticut;11 M. William Beaumont (~1608-1699), 9 Dec 1643, Saybrook, Connecticut12
6. Samuel Danforth — B. before 17 Oct 1626, Framlingham, Suffolk, England;1 D. 19 Nov 1674, Roxbury, Massachusetts;13 M. Mary Wilson (1633-1713), 5 Nov 1651, Roxbury, Massachusetts14
7. Jonathan Danforth — B. 20 Feb 1628, Framlingham, Suffolk, England;15 D. 7 Sep 1712, Billerica, Massachusetts;16 M. (1) Elizabeth Poulter (1633-1689), 22 Nov 1654, Boston, Massachusetts;17 (2) Elizabeth Champney (1631-1713), 7 Nov 1690, Billerica, Massachusetts18
Sources:
1 The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Robert Charles Anderson, 1999
2 Danforth Genealogy: Nicholas Danforth of Framlingham, England, and Cambridge, N.E. and William Danforth of Newbury, Mass., John Joseph May, 1902
3 “Distraint of Knighthood,” Encyclopedia.com
4 FamousKin.com listing of Nicholas Danforth
5 Death record of Elizabeth Belcher, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
6 Marriage record of Andrew Belcher and Elizabeth Danforth, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
7 Death record of Mary Parish, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
8 Find-a-Grave listing of Anna (Danforth) Bridge
9 Find-a-Grave listing of Thomas Danforth
10 Marriage record of Thomas Danforth and Mary Withington, Massachusetts, State Vital Records, 1638-1927, FamilySearch.org
11 Death record of Lydia Beaumont, Connecticut, Vital Records Prior to 1850, FamilySearch.org
12 Marriage record of William Beaumont and Lydia Danforth, C., V. R. P. to 1850
13 Death record of Samuel Danforth, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
14 Marriage record of Samuel Danforth and Mary Wilson, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
15 Birth record of Jonathan Danforth, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
16 Death record of Jonathan Danforth, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
17 Marriage record of Jonathan Danforth and Elizabeth Poulter, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
18 Marriage record of Jonathan Danforth and Esther Converse, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
