M. 6 Aug 1629 in Boston, England
Husband: Samuel Whiting
D. 3 Mar 1677 in Lynn, Massachusetts
During the 17th century in England, in places north and east of London, Puritanism thrived among all classes of people. For those who moved to America in the 1630s, their social status didn’t weigh into the decision to leave. This is how a noblewoman named Elizabeth St. John wound up migrating to Massachusetts.
Elizabeth was born in about January 1605 in Keysoe, England, a village in Bedfordshire. Her father, Oliver St. John, was a from a titled family who traced back to Henry I of England. Her mother, Sarah Bulkeley, was the daughter of a minister with Puritan beliefs; she died when Elizabeth was only six years old. Elizabeth had two brothers.
Because of her family’s status, Elizabeth received a good education and developed a life-long love of books. This was during a time when few girls were educated at all. She was said to be known for “her beauty, her dignity, and her commanding presence.” She remained unmarried until she was 24-years-old, when she found a husband in a widower named Samuel Whiting. Their wedding took place in Boston, England on August 6, 1629.
Like Elizabeth’s grandfather, Samuel was a minister with Puritan beliefs. At the time of their marriage, he had a rectorship at Skirbeck, a town near Boston, but got into trouble because of he refused to give up his non-conformist views. Elizabeth gave birth to their first child in 1633. A couple of years later, Samuel sold their property, and the family, which included a daughter from his first marriage, moved to New England.
After arriving in Massachusetts on May 26, 1636, the Whitings settled in the town of Saugus. Samuel was installed as minister and the town was renamed Lynn in honor of Kings Lynn, a place Elizabeth’s husband had preached in England. Elizabeth had another child in 1637, and two more by 1645. They were said to have had two other children who died young.
Samuel and Elizabeth’s home in Lynn was across the road from the meetinghouse, and was noted for its gardens, which produced a variety of fruit and vegetables. Along with caring for her home and children, Elizabeth also had the duties of a minister’s wife. She was said to have helped her husband with his writings and held classes for young girls who lived in the community. Also, she and her husband took in an Indian girl who became part of the family for a time during the 1640s.
Back in England, Elizabeth’s brother Oliver became a prominent figure. He was a lawyer who married into Oliver Cromwell’s family, served in the House of Commons, then sided with the Parliamentary side in the English Civil War. In 1648, he was made Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, the second highest court in England. He lost his position in 1660 when the crown was restored to power.
Elizabeth’s three sons all became ministers in New England, and her daughter married a minister. On March 3, 1677, Elizabeth died at their home in Lynn. Her husband lived a couple more years, passing away in 1679. Elizabeth was an ancestor of Calvin Coolidge, Bette Davis and John Kerry among other famous relations.
Children:
1. Samuel Whiting — B. 25 Mar 1633, Skirbeck, England; D. 28 Feb 1713, Billerica, Massachusetts; M. Dorcas Chester (1637-1712), 12 Nov 1656, Wethersfield, Connecticut
2. John Whiting — B. 1637, Lynn, Massachusetts; D. 11 Oct 1689, Leverton, England; M. Esther ? (1639-1689), 1653, Salem, Massachusetts
3. Joseph Whiting — B. 6 Apr 1641, Lynn, Massachusetts; D. 7 Apr 1723, Southampton, New York; M. (1) Sarah Danforth (1646-?); (2) Rebecca Bishop (1663-1726)
4. Elizabeth Whiting — B. 1645; D. 1733, Hartford, Connecticut; M. Jeremiah Hobart (1630-1715)
Sources:
Memoir of Rev. Samuel Whiting, D.D., and of his wife Elizabeth St. John, William Whiting, 1873
Oliver St. John (Wikipedia article)
Find A Grave
Because of her family’s status, Elizabeth received a good education and developed a life-long love of books. This was during a time when few girls were educated at all. She was said to be known for “her beauty, her dignity, and her commanding presence.” She remained unmarried until she was 24-years-old, when she found a husband in a widower named Samuel Whiting. Their wedding took place in Boston, England on August 6, 1629.
Church of St Nicholas, Skirbeck. (source: Tim Heaton, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons)
Like Elizabeth’s grandfather, Samuel was a minister with Puritan beliefs. At the time of their marriage, he had a rectorship at Skirbeck, a town near Boston, but got into trouble because of he refused to give up his non-conformist views. Elizabeth gave birth to their first child in 1633. A couple of years later, Samuel sold their property, and the family, which included a daughter from his first marriage, moved to New England.
After arriving in Massachusetts on May 26, 1636, the Whitings settled in the town of Saugus. Samuel was installed as minister and the town was renamed Lynn in honor of Kings Lynn, a place Elizabeth’s husband had preached in England. Elizabeth had another child in 1637, and two more by 1645. They were said to have had two other children who died young.
Samuel and Elizabeth’s home in Lynn was across the road from the meetinghouse, and was noted for its gardens, which produced a variety of fruit and vegetables. Along with caring for her home and children, Elizabeth also had the duties of a minister’s wife. She was said to have helped her husband with his writings and held classes for young girls who lived in the community. Also, she and her husband took in an Indian girl who became part of the family for a time during the 1640s.
Back in England, Elizabeth’s brother Oliver became a prominent figure. He was a lawyer who married into Oliver Cromwell’s family, served in the House of Commons, then sided with the Parliamentary side in the English Civil War. In 1648, he was made Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, the second highest court in England. He lost his position in 1660 when the crown was restored to power.
Elizabeth's brother Oliver St. John.
Elizabeth’s three sons all became ministers in New England, and her daughter married a minister. On March 3, 1677, Elizabeth died at their home in Lynn. Her husband lived a couple more years, passing away in 1679. Elizabeth was an ancestor of Calvin Coolidge, Bette Davis and John Kerry among other famous relations.
Children:
1. Samuel Whiting — B. 25 Mar 1633, Skirbeck, England; D. 28 Feb 1713, Billerica, Massachusetts; M. Dorcas Chester (1637-1712), 12 Nov 1656, Wethersfield, Connecticut
2. John Whiting — B. 1637, Lynn, Massachusetts; D. 11 Oct 1689, Leverton, England; M. Esther ? (1639-1689), 1653, Salem, Massachusetts
3. Joseph Whiting — B. 6 Apr 1641, Lynn, Massachusetts; D. 7 Apr 1723, Southampton, New York; M. (1) Sarah Danforth (1646-?); (2) Rebecca Bishop (1663-1726)
4. Elizabeth Whiting — B. 1645; D. 1733, Hartford, Connecticut; M. Jeremiah Hobart (1630-1715)
Sources:
Memoir of Rev. Samuel Whiting, D.D., and of his wife Elizabeth St. John, William Whiting, 1873
Oliver St. John (Wikipedia article)
Find A Grave
