A Family of New Jersey Patriots — Abraham Van Tuyl

B. about 1714 in Staten Island, New York¹
M. (1) before 2 Jun 1734 in (probably) Staten Island, New York^1,2
Wife: Maritje Van Pelt
M. (2) before 15 Jan 1739 in (probably) Staten Island, New York¹
Wife: Margreitje Van Pelt
D. before 21 Oct 1791 in Somerset County, New Jersey³

During the American Revolution, some key military action took place in the middle of New Jersey. This is where the family of Abraham Van Tuyl lived, and they gave their full support to the American cause.

Abraham was born in about 1714 to Isaac Van Tuyl and Sarah Lakerman,¹ and he was the third of six children. The Van Tuyl family was scattered over the northern part of Staten Island, and the house where Abraham’s family lived when he was a boy is still standing today. Isaac Van Tuyl was said to be in possession of it in 1719.

Abraham was only about 14-years-old when his father died in 1728; his inheritance was £30, which he likely didn’t receive until he came of age. When Abraham was about 20, he married Maritje Van Pelt, the daughter of Jan Van Pelt of Staten Island,¹ and they had a child, Jan, who was baptized on June 2, 1734.² Then she seems to have died, and Abraham married Margreitje Van Pelt by the end of 1738.¹ They had eleven children, with the youngest born in about 1762.¹

At some point, Abraham left Staten Island for the inland Dutch community of Somerset County, New Jersey. His home was in the region known as the Watchung Mountains, three ridges of about 500 feet in elevation that run parallel to the New Jersey coast. Abraham’s land was on the middle ridge — the Second Watchung Mountain; it was said to be “an isolated farm on the north side of the peak known as Mt. Horeb.”¹

1766 map of Watchung Mountains showing Van Tuyl farms. (source: A Van Tuyl Chronicle)

This became an important location during 1777 when George Washington was being confronted by the Redcoat army of General William Howe. After famously crossing the Delaware the previous Christmas and winning the Battle of Princeton, Washington moved into Somerset County, and harassed the British supply lines in several skirmishes. The Continental Army needed a place to camp, and they chose a location protected by the Watchung Mountains. This was known as the First Middlebrook Encampment, which hosted the army from May 28th to July 2nd.¹ Notably, it was at this place where the first stars and stripes flag was raised, because on June 14th, it had been adopted by the Continental Congress.⁴

Middlebrook Encampment flag. (source: Zeete, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons)

That camp was less than two miles from Abraham’s farm, and some of his married children lived even closer. His son Isaac and various sons-in law were “staunch patriots” who enlisted in the New Jersey Militia.¹ Also everyone who lived in the area helped provision Washington’s army — a vital necessity of their military campaign.¹

Abraham wrote his will on June 13, 1791,³ and he passed away by October 21st.³ He left his property to sons Abraham and Otto, and small amounts of money to other children, also making mention of a grandson Abraham, the son of his deceased oldest son, John. His wife Margreitje survived him, but it’s uncertain when she died.

Child by Maritje Van Pelt:
1. John Van Tuyl — B. before 2 Jun 1734, Staten Island, New York;² D. before 16 Oct 1771, Sussex County, New Jersey;⁵ M. Marritje ______ (~1735-~1773), before 21 Mar 1756⁶

Children by Margrietje Van Pelt:
1. Isaac Van Tuyl — B. 15 Jan 1739, Staten Island, New York;⁷ D. 3 Feb 1803, Bernards Township, New Jersey;⁷ M. Mary McCarter (1741-1797), 14 Nov 1758, Somerset County, New Jersey⁷

2. Mareya Van Tuyl — B. before 29 Jun 1739, Staten Island, New York;¹ D. before 16 Dec 1768, (probably) Somerset County, New Jersey;¹ M. Folkerd Sebring (1734-1802), about 1756¹

3. Walter Van Tuyl — B. before 6 Jun 1742, Staten Island, New York;¹ D. 8 Jun 1763, Sussex County, New Jersey⁸

4. Saertie Van Tuyl — B. before 18 Dec 1743, (probably) Somerset County, New Jersey;¹ D.before 3 Jan 1817, Somerset County, New Jersey;⁹ M. Robert Bolmer (1737-?), about 1763¹

5. Abraham Van Tuyl — B. about 1744, (probably) Somerset County, New Jersey;¹ D. after 24 May 1811, Morris County, New Jersey¹

6. Elizabeth Van Tuyl — B. about 1746, (probably) Somerset County, New Jersey;¹ D. before 24 May 1811;¹ M. David Grant (1738-?), 28 Sep 1762¹

7. Nellie Van Tuyl — B. about 1750, (probably) Somerset County, New Jersey;¹ D. after 24 May 1811;¹ M. ________ Harpending¹

8. Margaret Van Tuyl — B. Oct 1753, (probably) Somerset County, New Jersey;¹ D. 26 Apr 1836¹

9. Annie Van Tuyl — B. about 1758, (probably) Somerset County, New Jersey;¹ D. after 24 May 1811;¹ M. Oliver Goltry (1757-1821), about 1775, (probably) Somerset County, New Jersey¹

10. Catherine Van Tuyl — B. about 1760, (probably) Somerset County, New Jersey;¹ D. before 13 Jun 1791;¹ M. Benjamin Coon, about 1779¹

11. Otto Van Tuyl — B. about 1762, (probably) Somerset County, New Jersey;¹ D. 1829;¹ M. Elizabeth ______¹

Sources:
1    A Van Tuyl Chronicle: 650 Years in the History of a Dutch-American Family, R.L. Van Tuyl and J.N. Groenendijk, 1996
2    Baptismal record of Jan Van Tuyl, New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962, FamilySearch.org 
3    Will of Abraham Van Tuyl, NJ Archives, First Series, Abstracts of Wills, Vol. 27, P. 379
4    Middlebrook encampment (Wikipedia article) 
5    Probate of John Van Tuyl, NJ Archives, Calendar of Wills, 1771-1780, P. 553
6    Baptismal record of Abraham Van Tuyl (Abraham’s grandson), N. Y. B. & C.
7    Descendants of Isaac Van Tuyl Sr., and Mary McCarter of Bernards Township, Somerset County, New Jersey, Mary Ellenor Stafford Bowman, 1970
8    Probate of Walter Van Tuyl, NJ Archives, Calendar of Wills, 1761-1770, P. 455
9    WikiTree listing of Saertie (van Tuyl) Bolmer 

Signature on a 1758 Court Record — Marguerite Daniau

B. about 1716 in (probably) Rivière-du-Sud, New France¹
M. 25 Oct 1734 in St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France²
Husband: Antoine Morin
D. 17 Aug 1788 in St-François-de-la-Rivière du Sud, New France³

A fragment of a court record survives which indicates Marguerite Daniau was summoned to participate in a case involving her husband.

The record of Marguerite’s baptism is missing, likely because there wasn’t yet a parish near her home. She was born about 1716 probably in Rivière-du-Sud, New France,¹ a place not far from Montmagny. Her parents were Jacques Daniau dit LaPrise and Louise Destroismaisons, and she was the second youngest of nine children.

On October 25, 1734, Marguerite married Antoine Morin,² a settler whose family had come from Acadia. The marriage took place at St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud and was the fist one listed in the parish register; baptismal and burial records in the book dated back to 1733. The chapel began on Christmas Day 1729,⁴ and was to serve 200 people in the area. Like many French-Canadian women, Marguerite had a very large family. Between about 1735 and 1760, she gave birth to sixteen children, five of whom died young. During the first 22 years of marriage, Marguerite was pregnant most of the time, while looking after a household of young children.

By the late 1750s, life had gotten worse for Marguerite’s family because of the war between France and England. The British were making a play for control of Canada, and they had blockaded the mouth of the St. Lawrence River so that the people living there were deprived of supplies. By 1758, families were near starving, and the following year, the area was invaded. Much of the south coast downriver from Quebec City was under attack, with the residents having to flee to safer ground; many villages right on the river were burned, but Rivière-du-Sud was mostly spared.

It was during this time that Marguerite appeared on a court document dated August 22, 1758.⁵ Apparently she was sent for by her husband in a case he was involved with, and the record describes that she left her home by carriage and traveled “a distance of 10 leagues” (about 35 miles) to reach the destination of the action. Unfortunately, no other information about the case seems to have survived. 

Marguerite’s signature on 1758 document.

Marguerite lived to see her 11 surviving children get married. Antoine passed away in 1776,⁶ and she died on August 17, 1788.³ As a result of Marguerite’s large family, many people today can count her as an ancestor.

Children:
1. Marie-Marguerite Morin — B. about 1735, (probably) St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France;⁷ D. 18 Sep 1816, Kamouraska, Quebec;⁸ M. Jean-François Chouinard (1732-1807), 18 Feb 1754, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France⁹

2. Pierre-Noël Morin — B. about 1737, (probably) St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France;¹⁰ M. Anne Bourg (1738-1811), 31 Aug 1767, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, Quebec¹¹

3. Therese Morin — B. about 1738, (probably) St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France;¹² D. 16 Mar 1808, St-Vallier, Quebec;¹³ M. (1) Jacques Tanguay (1730-1792), 22 Jun 1761, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France;¹⁴ (2) Jean-Baptiste Lecompte (1735-1802), 30 Sep 1793, St-Vallier, Quebec¹⁵

4. Marie-Louise Morin — B. 6 Nov 1740, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France;¹⁶ M. Joseph-Pierre Jean (1736-1810), 10 Oct 1757, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, Quebec¹⁷

5. Theotiste Morin — B. about 1742, (probably) St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France;¹⁸ D. 5 May 1806, St-Vallier, Quebec;¹⁹ M. Jean-Baptiste Tanguay (1739-1816), 21 Nov 1768, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, Quebec²⁰

6. Genevieve Morin — B. 3 Apr 1743, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France;²¹ D. 10 Mar 1767, St-François-du-Sud, Quebec;²² M. Joseph Dumas (1743-1830), 11 Jan 1762, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, Quebec²³

7. Marie-Clothilde Morin — B. 17 Apr 1744, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France;²⁴ D. young

8. Marie-Françoise Morin — B. 28 Jan 1746, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France;²⁵ D. 3 Nov 1798, Beauceville, Quebec;²⁶ M. Jean-Baptiste Bourg (~1748-?), 22 Oct 1770, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, Quebec²⁷

9. Louis Morin — B. 22 Aug 1747, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France;²⁸ M. (1) Marguerite Paré (1760-?), 26 Jan 1778, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, Quebec;²⁹ (2) Antoinette Cotnoir (1778-?), 3 May 1819, St-Cuthbert, Berthier, Quebec³⁰

10. Martin Morin — B. 25 Mar 1749, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France;³¹ M. (1) Françoise Pelletier (1756-1796), 18 Jan 1773, Montmagny, Quebec;³² (2) Therese Gaudreau (1769-?), 9 Jan 1798, Montmagny, Quebec³³

11. Eustache Morin — B. 6 Mar 1751, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France;³⁴ D. 12 Feb 1820, Quebec City, Quebec;³⁵ M. Josephte Boulet (1761-1825), 27 Oct 1777, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, Quebec³⁶

12. André-Isaac Morin — B. 30 Aug 1752, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France;³⁷ D. young

13. Augustin Morin — B. 24 Feb 1754, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France;³⁸ D. 30 Apr 1759, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France³⁹

14. Baby Girl Morin — B. Nov 1755, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France;⁴⁰ D. Nov 1755, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France⁴⁰

15. Denis-Marie Morin — B. 26 Dec 1756, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France;⁴¹ D. 27 Apr 1761, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France⁴²

16. Pierre-Michel Morin — B. 11 Nov 1760, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, New France;⁴³ M. (1) Reine McNeill (1768-1801), 27 Nov 1787, St-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, Quebec;⁴⁴ (2) Cecile Duquet (1776-1832), 25 Jul 1803, St-Henri-de-Lévis, Quebec⁴⁵

Sources:
1    Généalogie du Québec et d'Amérique française listing for Marguerite Daniau 
2    Marriage record of Antoine Morin and Marguerite Daniau, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
3    Burial record of Marguerite Daniau, Q.C.P.R.
4    Répertoire du patrimoine culturel du Québec (website)  
5    Court record noting appearance of Marguerite Daniau, 21 Aug 1758, BAnQ 
6    Burial record of Anrtoine Morin, Q.C.P.R.
7    Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française listing for Marie-Marguerite Morin
8    Burial record of Marie-Marguerite Morin, Q.C.P.R.
9    Marriage record of Jean-François Chouinard and Marie-Marguerite Morin, Q.C.P.R.
10  Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française listing for Pierre-Noël Morin
11  Marriage record of Pierre-Noël Morin and Anne Bourg, Q.C.P.R.
12  Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française listing for Therese Morin
13  Burial record of Therese Morin, Q.C.P.R.
14  Marriage record of Jacques Tanguay and Therese Morin, Q.C.P.R.
15  Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Lecompte and Therese Morin, Q.C.P.R.
16  Baptismal record of Marie-Louise Morin, Q.C.P.R.
17  Marriage record of Joseph-Pierre Jean and Marie-Louise Morin, Q.C.P.R.
18  Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française listing for Theotiste Morin
19  Burial record of Theotiste Morin, Q.C.P.R.
20  Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Tanguay and Theotiste Morin, Q.C.P.R.
21  Baptismal record of Genevieve Morin, Q.C.P.R.
22  Burial record of Genevieve Morin, Q.C.P.R.
23  Marriage record of Joseph Dumas and Genevieve Morin, Q.C.P.R.
24  Baptismal record of Marie-Clothilde Morin, Q.C.P.R.
25  Baptismal record of Marie-Françoise Morin, Q.C.P.R.
26  Burial record of Marie-Françoise Morin, Q.C.P.R.
27  Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Bourg and Marie-Françoise Morin, Q.C.P.R.
28  Baptismal record of Louis Morin, Q.C.P.R.
29  Marriage record of Louis Morin and Marguerite Paré, Q.C.P.R.
30  Marriage record of Louis Morin and Antoinette Cotnoir, Q.C.P.R.
31  Baptismal record of Martin Morin, Q.C.P.R.
32  Marriage record of Martin Morin and Françoise Pelletier, Q.C.P.R.
33  Marriage record of Martin Morin and Therese Gaudreau, Q.C.P.R.
34  Baptismal record of Eustache Morin, Q.C.P.R.
35  Burial record of Eustache Morin, Q.C.P.R.
36  Marriage record of Eustache Morin and Josephte Boulet, Q.C.P.R.
37  Baptismal record of André-Isaac Morin, Q.C.P.R.
38  Baptismal record of Augustin Morin, Q.C.P.R.
39  Burial record of Augustin Morin, Q.C.P.R.
40  Burial record of Baby Girl Morin, Q.C.P.R.
41  Baptismal record of Denis-Marie Morin, Q.C.P.R.
42  Burial record of Denis-Marie Morin, Q.C.P.R.
43  Baptismal record of Pierre-Michel Morin, Q.C.P.R.
44  Marriage record of Pierre-Michel and Reine McNeill, Q.C.P.R.
45  Marriage record of Pierre-Michel and Cecile Duquet, Q.C.P.R.

17 Years as Massachusetts Selectman — Robert Burnap

B. 28 Nov 1627 in Hoddesdon Chapel, Hertfordshire, England¹
M. (1) before 6 Nov1653 in (probably) Reading, Massachusetts^2,3
Wife: Ann _____
M. (2) 28 May 1662 in Reading, Massachusetts⁴
Wife: Sarah Brown
D. 18 Oct 1695 in Reading, Massachusetts⁵

During his life, Robert Burnap served his town of Reading, Massachusetts in several roles. He was born on November 28, 1627 to Robert Burnap and Ann Miller, their third child.¹ The family lived in Hoddesdon Chapel, England, a village that today is within the metropolitan area of London, just to the north. It’s also a very short distance to the west of the Prime Meridian.

Robert was still a boy when his family relocated to New England as a part of the Great Migration of Puritans. They settled at first in Roxbury before moving to Reading by 1654.⁶ Robert came of age and at some point he married a woman named Ann,^2,3 with whom he had five children. The youngest was born June 17, 1661, and this must have taken a toll on Ann, because she died just eight days later. Robert remarried to Sarah Brown on May 18, 1662,⁴ and they had six children together.

Robert’s name appears numerous times in records of Reading’s town meetings. Starting in 1654, he became a selectman, and continued in this role through 1672, with just three years when he didn’t serve.⁶ Selectmen were a form of local government officers unique to New England which sprung up out of Puritanism. The men of the community would typically meet once a month, with four of five chosen to function as a council. Someone who held the job for 17 years is an indicator that they were a respected man, which must have been the case for Robert. 

Robert mentioned in Reading’s town records.

Two other positions Robert held were as a keeper of the pound in 1655 (handling animals in the town who had gotten loose), and Sealer of Weights and Measures in 1665.⁶ The sealer was someone who supervised the weighing and measuring of goods traded within the town. Both of these duties gave Robert a certain role of authority as he kept tabs on the members of his community.

Robert made out his will on October 4, 1695,⁸ and he passed away on October 18th.⁵ He signed the will with an X, which is usually means that a person was illiterate, but in his case he may have simply been too weak to hold a pen; his probate inventory does include some books. Also in in the inventory was 120 acres of land, and 12 barrels of cider, which seems like an unusual amount. Robert’s widow Sarah survived him for many years, and died in 1713.⁹

Children by Ann ______:
1. Sarah Burnap — B. 6 Nov 1653, Reading, Massachusetts;² D. 5 Apr 1696, Reading, Massachusetts;¹⁰ M. Abraham Roberts (1654-1731), 1680, Reading, Massachusetts¹¹

2. John Burnap — B. 16 May 1655, Reading, Massachusetts;¹² D. Sep 1725, Windham, Connecticut;¹³ M. Mary Royce (1661-1741), 7 Apr 1684, Connecticut¹⁴

3. Robert Burnap — B. 28 Feb 1657, Reading, Massachusetts;¹⁵ D. 1 Nov 1674, Reading, Massachusetts¹⁶


4. Hannah Burnap — B. (possibly) 2 Mar 1660, Reading, Massachusetts;¹⁷ D. 12 Jan 1722, Newbury, Massachusetts;¹⁸ M. Joshua Boynton (1646-1736), 9 Apr 1678, Newbury, Massachusetts¹⁹

5. Mary Burnap — B. 17 Jun 1661, Reading Massachusetts;⁷ D. 30 Jan 1680, Reading, Massachusetts²⁰

Children by Sarah Brown:
1. Joseph Burnap — B. 24 Mar 1663, Reading, Massachusetts;²¹ D. 19 Aug 1744, Reading, Massachusetts;²² M. Tabitha Eaton (1674-1734), 31 Jan 1690, Reading, Massachusetts²³

2. Elizabeth Burnap — B. 21 Feb 1664, Reading, Massachusetts;²⁴ D. 7 Oct 1688, Reading, Massachusetts;²⁵ M. Jonathan Eaton (1655-1743), 15 Aug 1683, Reading, Massachusetts²⁶

3. Lydia Burnap — B. 8 Apr 1667, Reading, Massachusetts;²⁷ D. 9 Jun 1699, Reading, Massachusetts;²⁸ M. John Dix (1654-1731), 30 Jun 1692, Reading, Massachusetts²⁹

4. Isaac Burnap — B. 29 Apr 1671, Reading, Massachusetts;³⁰ D. 19 Jan 1675, Reading, Massachusetts³¹

5. Sarah Burnap — B. 4 Apr 1672, Reading, Massachusetts;³² D. 25 Dec 1736, Reading, Massachusetts³³

6. Samuel Burnap — B. 15 Sep 1675, Reading, Massachusetts;³⁴ D. 2 Mar 1676, Reading, Massachusetts³⁵

7. Benjamin Burnap — B. 8 Jun 1677, Reading, Massachusetts;³⁶ D. after 1740, Massachusetts;³⁷ M. Elizabeth Newhall (1678-?), 18 Jun 1700, Reading, Massachusetts³⁸

8. Dorcas Burnap — B. 22 Jun 1679, Reading Massachusetts;³⁹ D. about 1760, Reading, Massachusetts;⁴⁰ M. William Sawyer (~1674-~1770), 30 Apr 1700, Reading, Massachusetts⁴¹

Sources:
1    Baptismal record of Robert Burnap, Hertfordshire, England, Extracted Church of England Parish Records, Ancestry.com
2    Birth record of Sarah Burnap, 6 Nov 1653, Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, FamilySearch.org
3    Death record of Ann Burnap, wife of Robert, Reading Birth Records, Marriage Records, Death Records, FamilySearch.org  
4    Marriage record of Robert Burnap and Sarah Brown, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org  
5    Death record of Robert Burnap, M., T. C., V. & T. R. 
6    Genealogical history of the town of Reading, Massachusetts, Lilley Eaton, 1874
7    Birth record of Mary Burnap, M., T. C., V. & T. R.  
8    Probate record of Robert Burnap, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Probate Index 1648-1870, FamilySearch.org  
9    Find-a-Grave listing of Sarah (Brown) Burnap 
10  Death record of Sarah Roberts, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
11  Birth record of Mary Roberts (firstborn of Sarah), M., T. C., V. & T. R.
12  Birth record of John Burnap, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
13  WikiTree listing of John Burnap  
14  Marriage record of John Burnap and Mary Royce, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
15  Birth record of Robert Burnap (son), M. B. & C.
16  Death record of Robert Burnap (son), M., T. C., V. & T. R.
17  Birth record of Hannah Burnap, M. B. & C.
18  Find-a-Grave listing of Hannah Boynton 
19  Marriage record of Joshua Boynton and Hannah Barnet, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
20  Death record of Mary Burnap, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
21  Birth record of Joseph Burnap, M. B. & C.
22  Death record of Joseph Burnap, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
23  Marriage record of Joseph Burnap and Tabitha Young, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
24  Birth record of Elizabeth Burnap, M. B. & C.
25  Death record of Elizabeth Eaton, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
26  Marriage record of Jonathan Eaton and Elizabeth Burnap, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
27  Birth record of Lydia Burnap, M. B. & C.
28  Death record of Lydia Dix, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
29  Marriage record of John Dix and Lydia Burnap, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
30  Birth record of Isaac Burnap, M. B. & C.
31  Death record of Isaac Burnap, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
32  Birth record of Sarah Burnap, M. B. & C.
33  Death record of Sarah Burnap, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
34  Birth record of Samuel Burnap, M. B. & C.
35  Death record of Samuel Burnap, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
36  Birth record of Benjamin Burnap, M. B. & C.
37  WikiTree listing of Benjamin Burnap  
38  Marriage record of Benjamin Burnap and Elizabeth Newhall, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
39  Birth record of Dorcas Burnap, M. B. & C.
40  WikiTree listing of Dorcas (Burnap) Sawyer  
41  Marriage record of William Sawyer and Dorcas Burnap, M., T. C., V. & T. R.

Letters to Son and Daughter-in-Law — Arrold Dunnington

B. before 21 Sep 1587 in Great Bowden, Leicestershire, England¹
M. 7 Jun 1612 in Great Bowden, Leicestershire, England¹
Husband: Ryse Cole
D. after 20 Dec 1661 in Charlestown, Massachusetts²

It’s rare to find personal letters written by Puritan men in 17th-century New England, and it’s even rarer to find them from females. But a woman named Arrold Dunnington wrote two letters which have survived at least into the mid-20th century.

Arrold (also spelled Harrald and many other variations) was from Great Bowden in Leicestershire, England. She was baptized there on September 21, 1587 before her parents Edward Dunnington and Margaret Cox,¹ and she was one of their five known children, all girls. Great Bowden is said to be one of the oldest villages in the area, dating back to the Anglo-Saxons; perhaps this is what accounts for Arrold’s unusual first name. Her father died when she was a baby, and her mother remarried.¹

On June 7, 1612, Arrold got married to Ryse Cole,¹ and over the next dozen or so years, she had five children. Arrold and Ryse were followers of Puritanism, so much so that in 1630, when John Winthrop sailed with 700 people to found the colony of Massachusetts, the Coles were among the passengers.^2,3 Although we don’t know which ship they were on, they were in a group who landed at the site of Charlestown.² Most of the settlers moved across the river to establish the town of Boston, but Arrold’s family stayed put. Both were listed as members of the Boston church until being “dismissed” in the fall of 1632 so they could join the new congregation at Charlestown. 

The Winthrop Fleet in Boston Harbor in 1630.

It wasn’t long after arriving at Charlestown that Ryse and Arrold made a decision to “send out” two of their children. This was a Puritan practice where parents gave up their children to the household of another so that they could learn skills and information that they wouldn’t receive at home.⁴ It has to be assumed that as their mother, Arrold supported the arrangement even if it were her husband’s idea. So youngsters Elizabeth and John were sent to live with Samuel Fuller of Plymouth, who was a doctor and former Mayflower passenger. It wasn’t until 1633 that they came home.²

After writing a will dated May 1646, Ryse passed away;² his instructions were that Arrold would maintain their house and farm until she died, then he specified which of their children got what. For this reason, probate on the estate wasn’t done immediately. Arrold didn’t remarry, so in her widowhood, she managed the family’s holdings. By the mid-1650s, her youngest son James had moved back to England, and in about 1655, he got married. Back in Charlestown, Arrold took a pen and paper to send a congratulations to her son and new daughter-in-law, Ruth. In her letter, she wrote that her siblings and their spouses “remember their loves unto you and your wife, though unknown.”⁵ That last bit was a reference to the fact the family never met Ruth, who presumably had never been to America.

Then in 1661, Arrold wrote a second letter just to Ruth because it seemed that James had died and Ruth had remarried. Perhaps this was another congratulations for getting married; she referred to the young widow as “loving daughter Ruth Mood.”⁵ Did Arrold ever meet Ruth? This isn’t evident in the excerpts found in a book written by a researcher who saw the two letters. Unfortunately, the original letters aren’t readily accessible; we just know that they were in a file somewhere in the Middlesex County court records.

On December 20, 1661, Arrold wrote a will of her own.² Her orders to each child or grandchild were quite specific: “my daughter [Elizabeth] is to have the bed on which I lie, and my grandchild John [Cole] an iron pot and his father is not to dispose of it from him [and] I give to my grandchild John Lowden a pair of sheets & to my grandchild Mary Lowden one box and one scarf & to my grandchild James Lowden a pint pot & more to my grandchild Mary Cole a brass kettle.” She also asked that her husband 1646 will be honored, and all of these things were done after she passed away within the week (the exact death date is unknown, but it was before December 26th). Arrold left many descendants, including Franklin Pierce, George W. Bush, Barbara Bush, Jeb Bush and James Spader.⁶

Children:
1. Robert Cole — B. about 1616, (probably) Great Bowden, Leicestershire, England;² D. before 23 Nov 1655;² M. Phillip ______²

2. Elizabeth Cole — B. about 1619, (probably) Great Bowden, Leicestershire, England;² D. 5 Mar 1688, Woburn, Massachusetts;⁷ M. Thomas Peirce (~1608-1681), before 1639, Charlestown, Massachusetts²

3. Mary Cole — B. about 1621, (probably) Great Bowden, Leicestershire, England;² D. 7 Oct 1683, Charlestown, Massachusetts;⁸ M. Richard Lowden (~1612-1700), about 1640, Charlestown, Massachusetts²

4. John Cole — B. about 1623, (probably) Great Bowden, Leicestershire, England;² M. Ursula ______, before 28 Aug 1655⁵

5. James Cole — B. about 1625, (probably) Great Bowden, Leicestershire, England;² D. before 1661, (probably) England;² M. Ruth _______, before 28 Aug 1655, England⁵

Sources:
1    “Colonists from Great Bowden, Leicestershire — Rice Cole of Charlestown, Massachusetts,” Leslie Mahler, The American Genealogist, Vol. 78, July 2003
2    Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633, Vols. I-III, Robert Charles Anderson
3    John Winthrop (Wikipedia article)  
4    Albion’s Seed, David Hackett Fischer, 1988
5    The New England Ancestry of Dana Converse Backus, Mary Elizabeth Neilson Backus, 1949
6    FamousKin.com listing for Rice Cole  
7    Find-a-Grave listing for Elizabeth (Cole) Pierce 
8    Find-a-Grave listing for Mary Lowden