Dismissing the Reverend in Northampton — Gad Lyman

B. 13 Feb 1713 in Northampton, Massachusetts¹
M. 22 Jun 1738 in Northampton, Massachusetts²
Wife: Thankful Pomeroy
D. 24 Oct 1791 in Goshen, Massachusetts³

Gad Lyman’s life touched several bits of history in 18th century Massachusetts. He was born on February 13, 1713 in Northampton to John Lyman and Mindwell Sheldon.¹ His parents’ families were among the town’s earliest settlers. Gad was the youngest of ten children, and his father was 52-years-old when he was born. The family lived in a section called South Farms.⁴ Gad’s father ran a tavern and inn;⁴ being around lively gatherings of people were likely a part of his childhood.

On June 22, 1738, Gad married Thankful Pomeroy in Northampton.² She was also descended from several of Northampton’s founding families, and her father was the town gunsmith. Between 1739 and 1749, Gad and Thankful had six children — two sons and four daughters.

Gad was mentioned several times in Northampton town records. He was on a list of 8 tithing men in 1740, appointed a ‘“fence viewer” in 1743, served as constable in 1746, and was a surveyor in 1750.⁴ And on January 30, 1749, Gad received 17 acres when the town of Northampton voted to divide up its common land into private ownership.⁵

One of the most prominent people in Northampton’s history was Reverend Jonathan Edwards, a minister who presided over the church during the mid-18th century.⁶ In the 1730s, Reverend Edwards led what was referred to as the First Great Awakening in Northampton. He preached heavily about the “wickedness” of people, and he lectured to his congregations that if they didn’t mend their ways, they’d spend eternity suffering the torments of hell.⁵ He wrote several pamphlets expressing his views which were widely distributed around New England.⁵

Reverend Jonathan Edwards of Northampton, Massachusetts.

A few years later, though, Reverend Edwards became too extreme for the people of Northampton. He began censoring young church members for reading what he deemed to be “immoral books.”⁵ What made it worse, was that he read out the names of the “offenders” during Sunday service.⁵ Some of them were from the oldest families of Northampton, and by 1749, people were calling for him to resign. On October 16th, a petition was put forward calling for a meeting to decide on his status as their minister.⁴ Eleven men signed it, and the second name among the signatures was Gad’s. Four of the other signers were his brothers and brothers-in-law, and by extension he was related to four others. The petition started the process that ousted Reverend Edwards from the pulpit at Northampton.

Nearly 20 years later, Gad was involved in another civic matter. The Stamp Act of 1765 had shaken up all of Massachusetts and for the first time, colonists began to unite around the idea of self-government. After riots broke out in Boston, the English Parliament repealed the Stamp Act, but now wanted to be compensated for the damage caused by rioters. The legislature in Massachusetts proposed a bill agreeing to raise money only if the rioters were pardoned.⁴ To see if people in Massachusetts supported it, a draft of the bill was sent to several towns, and Northampton was one of them. Gad served on a committee of five men to consider it.⁴ The decision of the committee was to not support the bill outright, but to suggest they leave the matter to the judgment of their representative. The bill was voted on by the Massachusetts legislature and passed, but the king annulled it.⁴

Late in his life, Gad bought a “large tract of wilderness” in Goshen, Massachusetts and moved there, living with his son, Timothy.⁷ Gad’s wife Thankful passed away on August 12, 1790,⁸ and Gad died on October 24, 1791.³ They are both buried in Goshen Center Cemetery.

Children:
1. Oliver Lyman — B. 1 Apr 1739, Northampton, Massachusetts;⁹ D. 22 Jun 1799, Charlotte, Vermont;¹⁰ M. Eleanor Lyman (1737-1813), before 18 Apr 1762, (probably) Northampton, Massachusetts¹¹

2. Jerusha Lyman — B. 16 Nov 1740, Northampton, Massachusetts;¹² D. 30 May 1769, Westfield, Massachusetts;¹³ M. John Phelps (1734-1802)¹³

3. Thankful Lyman — B. 9 Jan 1742, Northampton, Massachusetts;¹⁴ D. 9 Sep 1770, Westfield, Massachusetts;¹⁵ M. Alexander D. Grant (1735-1801), 21 May 1768, Westfield, Massachusetts¹⁶

4. Timothy Lyman — B. 4 Jul 1745, Northampton, Massachusetts;¹⁷ D. 23 Feb 1818, Goshen, Massachusetts;¹⁸ M. Hannah Colson (1743-1818), before 2 May 1771, (probably) Northampton, Massachusetts¹⁹

5. Eunice Lyman — B. 27 Mar 1747, Northampton, Massachusetts;²⁰ D. 11 Mar 1812, Chesterfield, Massachusetts;²¹ M. (1) Benjamin Mills (1739-1785), 6 Mar 1781, Hampshire County, Massachusetts;²² (2) Jedediah Southworth (1744-1809), 20 Jul 1788, Hampshire County, Massachusetts²³

6. Tryphena Lyman — B. 30 Apr 1749, Northampton, Massachusetts;²⁴ D. 5 Jan 1830, Warwick, Massachusetts;²⁵ M. (1) Samuel Williams (1742-1786), 4 Jan 1773, Warwick, Massachusetts;²⁶ (2) Timothy Dutton (1737-1814), 7 Aug 1802, Warwick, Massachusetts²⁷

Sources:
1    Birth record of Gad Lyman, Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, FamilySearch.org
2    Marriage record of Gad Lyman and Thankful Pomeroy, Massachusetts Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
3    Find-a-Grave listing of Gad Lyman  
4    Genealogy of the Lyman Family in America and Great Britain, Lyman Coleman, 1871
5    History of Northampton, Massachusetts: From its Settlement in 1654, Vol. 1, James Russell Trumbull and Seth Pomeroy, 1898
6    Jonathan Edwards (theologian) (Wikipedia article) 
7    History of the Town of Goshen, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, Hiram Barrus, 1881
8    Find-a-Grave listing of Thankful (Pomeroy) Lyman 
9    Birth record of Oliver Lyman, M.B. & C.
10  Death record of Oliver Lyman, Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954, FamilySearch.org
11  Estimated marriage of Oliver Lyman and Eleanor Lyman based on birth of oldest child Abigail, M.B. & C.
12  Birth record of Jerusha Lyman, M.B. & C.
13  Find-a-Grave listing of Jerusha (Lyman) Phelps
14  Birth record of Thankful Lyman, M.B. & C.
15  Find-a-Grave listing of Thankful (Lyman) Grant
16  Marriage record of Alexander Grant and Thankful Lyman, Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1925, FamilySearch.org
17  Birth record of Timothy Lyman, M.B. & C.
18  Find-a-Grave listing of Timothy Lyman  
19  Estimated marriage of Timothy Lyman and Hannah Colson based on christening of oldest child Thankful, M.B. & C.
20  Birth record of Eunice Lyman, M.B. & C.
21  Find-a-Grave listing of Eunice (Lyman) Southworth
22  Marriage record of Benjamin Mills and Eunice Lyman, M.S.V.R.
23  Marriage record of Jedediah Southworth and Eunice Mills, M.S.V.R.
24  Birth record of Tryphena Lyman, M.B. & C.
25  Death record of Widow Tryphena Sutton, M.T.C., V. & T.R.
26  Marriage record of Samuel Williams and Tryphena Lyman, M.T.C., V. & T.R.
27  Marriage record of Timothy Dutton and Tryphena Williams, M.T.C., V. & T.R.

A 40-Acre Farm in Indiana — William L. Edeline

B. about 1848 in Vincennes, Indiana^1,2
M. 24 Nov 1868 in Knox County, Indiana²
Wife: Mary Louise Ravellette
D. before 24 Oct 1876 in (probably) Knox County, Indiana³

William Edeline was a man whose life was cut short, and as a result, very little is known about him. He was born in Vincennes, Indiana sometime in about 1848, the youngest child of Jean Baptiste Edeline and Isabelle Hunter.^1,2 There had been seven children born before William, two of whom died before he was born, and another (a married sister) who died when he was three. His father was of French heritage going back to the mid-18th century in Vincennes, and his mother was English and Scots-Irish.

There are no photos of William, but this is his brother John Edeline.

William’s father died when he was still an infant,⁴ and his mother never remarried. Life must have been challenging for the Edelines, but William did attend school at least until the age of 12.⁵ At age 20, on November 24, 1868, he married Mary Louise Ravellette.² They had four children together, two boys, then two girls, and the family lived on 40 acres just south of Vincennes.¹ Life seems to have been a struggle for William; in 1870, his farm was valued at $120, much less money than the others around it.¹

Then in 1876, something happened to William and he died; he likely passed away in late summer or early fall.³ There are no death record or burial record for William, only a brief probate file dated October 24th that shows that he died intestate, and his entire wealth amounted to $231. The probate inventory lists some insignificant possessions, plus the farm itself, now valued at $200. And he left 55 bushels of corn which was estimated to be worth $10.³

Children:
1. John Edeline (AKA James William Elwood) — B. 18 Sep 1869, Vincennes, Indiana;^6,7 D. 5 Nov 1925, Los Angeles, California;⁶ M. Eleanor Mabel Hewes (1880-1942), 18 Feb 1898, Los Angeles, California⁸

2. Robert Edward “Ed” Edeline — B. 10 Oct 1871, Vincennes, Indiana;⁹ D. 2 May 1963, Evansville, Indiana;⁹ M. Frances Rebecca Shappard (1871-1917), 12 Aug 1902, Knox County, Indiana¹⁰

3. Susan Isabelle “Bell” Edeline — B. Dec 1873, Vincennes, Indiana;¹¹ D. 14 Apr 1941, Vincennes, Indiana;¹¹ M. (1) George W. Hill, 17 Jun 1891, Knox County, Indiana (annulled);¹² (2) Frank June Payton (1868-1926), 13 Jun 1895¹³

4. Nora Marguerite Edeline — B. 20 Mar 1876, St. Francisville, Illinois;¹⁴ D. 19 Jan 1938, Vincennes, Indiana;¹⁴ M. (1) Fred F. Eads (1874-?), 1 Mar 1899, Vanderburgh, Indiana;¹⁵ (2) Claude Burton Campbell (1882-1950), 19 Jan 1909, Vincennes, Indiana¹⁶

Sources:
1    1870 United States Census, entry for Wm Edeline and Mary Edeline, Knox County, Indiana, FamilySearch.org
2    Marriage record of Mr. William L. Edeline and Miss Mary Ravalett, Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019, FamilySearch.org
3    Probate record of William Edeline, 24 Oct 1876, Knox County, Indiana
4    “My Ancestry & their descendants plus misc research,” Denis Paul Edeline, RootsWeb.Ancestry.com
5    1860 United States Census, entry for Robert Edline and Isablle Edline, Knox County, Indiana, FamilySearch.org
6    Death record of James Ellwood, California Death Index, 1905-1939, FamilySearch.org
7    1900 U.S. Census, Los Angeles, California
8    Marriage record of James William Elwood and Eleanor Mabel Hewes, California Marriages, 1850-1945, FamilySearch.org
9    Death certificate of Robert Edeline, 3 May 1963, Evansville, Indiana
10  Marriage record of Robert Edeline and Frances Sheppard, I.M.
11  Find-a-Grave listing of Susan Isabelle Edeline Payton 
12  Marriage record of George W. Hill and Belle Edeline, I.M.
13  Marriage record of Frank J. Payton and Susan I. Hill, I.M.
14  Find-a-Grave listing of Marguerite Nora Edeline Campbell
15  Marriage record of Fred F. Eads and Nora M. Edeline, I.M.
16  Marriage record of Claud B. Campbell and Margarette Adeline, I.M.

Seeking a Cure From an Indian Woman — Claude Caron

B. about 1641 in St-Jean d’Aubrigoux, Auvergne, France¹
M. about 1670 in St-Jean d’Aubrigoux, Auvergne, France¹
Wife: Madeleine Varennes
D. 18 Sep 1708 in Montreal, New France¹

When Claude Caron was 40-years-old, he was a very sick man. After he prayed to a recently deceased Indian woman, he was said to be miraculously cured, which in part sparked others to seek the woman’s “healing powers.”

Claude was born in St-Jean d’Aubrigoux, France in about 1641, and his parents are unknown.¹ He may have gone to New France for a few years when he was in his 20s; there was a Claude Caron, age 24, living in Montreal as a servant to the Jesuits in 1666.³ If this was him, he must have returned to France because he married Madeleine Varennes there in about 1670.¹ They had a daughter Louise born in about 1671,⁴ then moved to the Montreal area, settling in La Prairie,⁵ where they would have eight more children. Five of their children died before reaching adulthood.

It was in January 1681 that Claude was stricken with a serious illness. He was struggling to breathe and he felt pressure on his chest that caused him pain. A doctor came to his house and told his family there was no hope — that they should send for a priest to give him the last rites.⁶ The man who arrived was Father Claude Chauchetiére, a Jesuit priest who lived amongst the Indians just outside of Montreal.⁷ 

Claude being attended by Father Chauchetiére. (AI-generated image)

Instead of giving the last rites, Father Chauchetiére had a different plan for Claude: he wanted to test the healing powers of a devout woman who had died a few months earlier.⁶ The woman was Keteri Tekakwitha, an Algonquin-Mohawk, who as a teen, had been converted to Catholicism. She threw herself into her religion, taking extreme vows of chastity and devotion, and this caught the attention of everyone around her. After she died of smallpox at the age of 24, several people claimed she appeared to them in visions. Father Chauchetiére was one of those who was “visited.”⁷

When Father Chauchetiére got the call to come to Claude Caron, he went first to Keteri’s grave and prayed. At Claude’s bedside, he asked him to do the same. Claude was given Keteri’s crucifix to hold, the one she had when she died, and they prayed together. After the priest left, Claude was helped up so his bed could be adjusted, and he collapsed to the floor. His family managed to lift him back into bed and he fell into a “deep sleep that lasted half an hour.” Then he awoke feeling completely well again. It was said that a doctor came by the next day to administer pain-relieving medicine, and found to his surprise that Claude was recovered and was “seated next to the fireplace, eating and drinking.”⁶

Word spread of what had happened to Claude and everyone gave credit to the healing Indian, Keteri Tekakwitha. People in La Prairie and the surrounding area began praying to her seeking cures for their own ailments. In 1695, Father Chauchetiére wrote a biography of her that helped spread her fame.⁷ Keteri would go on to become a revered figure; a campaign was started so that she would be declared a saint, and on October 21, 2012, she was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI.⁷

Painting of Kateri Tekakwitha done by Father Chauchetiére (1690)

After his recovery from illness in 1681, Claude went on to live another 27 years, dying in Montreal on September 18, 1708.² His wife, Madeleine, outlived him, and passed away on March 18, 1727 in Montreal.⁸ They were both ancestors of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Ricky Gervais.

Children:
1. Louise Caron — B. about 1671, St-Jean d’Aubrigoux, Auvergne, France;⁴ D. 13 Apr 1703, Montreal, New France;⁴ M. Jean-Baptiste Tessier (1663-1734), 21 Apr 1688, La Prairie, New France⁹

2. Claude Caron — B. 1 Aug 1672, La Prairie, New France;⁵ D. 15 Jun 1759, Montreal, New France;¹⁰ M. (1) Élisabeth Perthuis (1677-1703), 20 Jun 1695, Montreal, New France;¹¹ (2) Jeanne Boyer (1682-1762), 12 Nov 1703, Montreal, New France¹²

3. Vital Caron — B. 11 Aug 1673, La Prairie, New France;¹³ D. 20 Apr 1745, Lachine, New France;¹⁴ M. Marie Perthuis (1678-1766), 24 Jan 1698, Montreal, New France¹⁵

4. Madeleine Caron — B. 20 Oct 1674, La Prairie, New France;¹⁶ D. 30 Oct 1674, La Prairie, New France¹⁷

5. Jean Caron — B. 6 Oct 1675, La Prairie, New France;¹⁸ D. 12 Dec 1687, La Prairie, New France¹⁹

6. Jeanne Caron — B. 30 Nov 1677, La Prairie, New France;²⁰ D. 16 Oct 1687, La Prairie, New France²¹

7. Mathieu Caron — B. 12 Jul 1679, La Prairie, New France;²² D. 18 May 1684, La Prairie, New France²³

8. Marie Caron — B. 8 Oct 1680, La Prairie, New France;²⁴ D. 6 Aug 1699, Montreal, New France;²⁵ M. Urbain Gervaise (1673-1713), 1 Oct 1696, Montreal, New France²⁶

9. Catherine Caron — B. 2 Jul 1683, La Prairie, New France;²⁷ D. 18 Jan 1684, La Prairie, New France²⁸

Sources:
1    Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française listing for Claude Caron
2    Burial record of Claude Caron, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
3    Recensement de 1666 en Nouvelle-France
4    Burial record of Louise Caron, Q.C.P.R.
5    Baptismal record of Claude Caron (younger), Q.C.P.R.
6    “Kateri (Catherine) Tekawitha (Gah-deh-lee Deh-gah-quee-tah),” Suzanne Boivin Sommerville, Michigan’s Habitant Heritage, Vol. 33, #4, October 2012 
7    Kateri Tekawitha (Wikipedia article)
8    Burial record of Madeleine Varennes, Q.C.P.R.
9    Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Tessier and Louise Caron, Q.C.P.R.
10  Burial record of Claude Caron (younger), Q.C.P.R.
11  Marriage record of Claude Caron and Élisabeth Perthuis, Q.C.P.R.
12  Marriage record of Claude Caron and Jeanne Boyer, Q.C.P.R.
13  Baptismal record of Vital Caron, Q.C.P.R.
14  Burial record of Vital Caron, Q.C.P.R.
15  Marriage record of Vital Caron and Marie Perthuis, Q.C.P.R.
16  Baptismal record of Madeleine Caron, Q.C.P.R.
17  Burial record of Madeleine Caron, Q.C.P.R.
18  Baptismal record of Jean Caron, Q.C.P.R.
19  Burial record of Jean Caron, Q.C.P.R.
20  Baptismal record of Jeanne Caron, Q.C.P.R.
21  Burial record of Jeanne Caron, Q.C.P.R.
22  Baptismal record of Mathieu Caron, Q.C.P.R.
23  Burial record of Mathieu Caron, Q.C.P.R.
24  Baptismal record of Marie Caron, Q.C.P.R.
25  Burial record of Marie Caron, Q.C.P.R.
26  Marriage record of Urbain Gervaise and Marie Caron, Q.C.P.R.
27  Baptismal record of Catherine Caron, Q.C.P.R.
28  Burial record of Catherine Caron, Q.C.P.R.

A Mother of Seventeen Children — Marie Archambault

B. 24 Feb 1636 in Dompierre-Sur-Mer, La Rochelle, Aunis, France¹
M. 28 Sep 1648 in Quebec City, New France²
Husband: Urbain Tessier dit Lavigne
D. 16 Aug 1719 in Montreal, New France³

It’s remarkable for one woman to give birth to 17 children. It’s more remarkable in the case of Marie Archambault, who lived through the challenging conditions of 17th-century New France.

Marie was born on about February 24, 1636 in Dompierre-Sur-Mer, France,¹ a town near La Rochelle. Her parents were Jacques Archambault and Françoise Toureau and she was one of about eight children. In about 1645, the family left France to start a new life in Canada.⁴

Within a couple of years of arriving in New France, Marie and her two older sisters got married. All three were age 16 or under, and Marie was just 12-years-old. This was not an uncommon occurrence in New France at the time; men needed wives and there weren’t very many women living in the colony. So when a family like the Archambaults arrived, the daughters were sought out by male settlers. Almost all marriages were arranged by the parents, and often they were done as a sort of business transaction.

On September 28, 1648, Marie was married in Quebec City to Urbain Tessier dit Lavigne² (her sister Jacquette married Paul Chalifour on the same day). Urbain was ten years older than Marie and also an immigrant from France. He received a land grant in Montreal earlier that year,⁵ and took Marie there to live. Montreal wasn’t a city yet, or even a town — it was a remote outpost on the frontier with a small population, and it was under a constant threat of attack by the Iroquois, who wanted to drive the French settlers out.

When a girl of 12 got married, she often stayed with her parents for a year or two. This was not the case with Marie, and within a few months, she became pregnant. Marie gave birth on July 19, 1649 at the age of just 13.⁶ To make matters more difficult, she had twins. One of the babies, a girl, may have been stillborn and wasn’t named. The other was a boy who lived just a few days; he was buried in the cemetery near Marie's home. Two years later, she gave birth again, this time to a healthy boy who was named Paul.⁷

Baptism of Marie's firstborn son who died days later.

Conditions were very difficult in Montreal during that time because the Iroquois made a couple of vicious attacks on the settlers. One woman was tortured, then killed.⁵ When a large number of settlers joined the community in 1653, things started to become a bit safer, but not entirely. In 1661, Marie’s husband Urbain was captured and taken prisoner by the Iroquois. While she coped with the uncertainty of his whereabouts, she must have come to terms with the possibility that he was dead. Luckily, Urbain was able to escape his captors a few months later, and he returned home to Marie.⁵

Marie continued to have a baby about every two years until the youngest was born in 1679. Counting her (supposed) stillborn twin, she had a total of seventeen children. At least twelve of them lived to adulthood – nine sons and three daughters. 

A mother with many children. (AI-generated image)

Urbain died on March 21, 1689;⁸ Marie lived another 30 years, passing away on August 16, 1719.³ It was said that by 1730, she had 420 known descendants.⁹ Among her famous descendants are Justin and Pierre Trudeau, Leo Durocher, Liza Minnelli and Angelina Jolie.¹⁰

Children:
1. Baby Girl Tessier — B. 19 Jul 1649, Montreal, New France;³ D. 19 Jul 1649, Montreal, New France³

2. Charles Tessier — B. 19 Jul 1649, Montreal, New France;¹¹ D. 24 Jul 1649, Montreal, New France¹²

3. Paul Tessier — B. 5 Feb 1651, Montreal, New France;⁷ D. 26 Apr 1730, Longue-Pointe, New France;¹³ M. Marie-Madeleine Cloutier (1662-1748), 13 Oct 1681, Chateau-Richer, New France¹⁴

4. Madeleine Tessier — B. 19 Jul 1653, Montreal, New France¹⁵

5. Laurent Tessier — B. 3 Jun 1655, Montreal, New France;¹⁶ D. 27 Sep 1687, Montreal, New France;¹⁷ M. Anne-Geneviéve Lemire (1664-1750), 20 Oct 1681, Quebec City, New France¹⁸

6. Louise Tessier — B. 26 Mar 1657, Montreal, New France;¹⁹ D. 9 Apr 1727, Pointe-aux-Trembles, New France;²⁰ M. Pierre Payet dit St-Amour, 23 Nov 1671, Montreal, New France²¹

7. Agnés Tessier — B. 23 Mar 1659, Montreal, New France;²² D. 24 Jan 1733, Montreal, New France;²³ M. (1) Guillaume Richard dit Lafleur (~1641-~1690), 26 Nov 1675, Montreal, New France;²⁴ (2) Claude Duconge (~1669-1729), 21 Nov 1692, Pointe-aux-Trembles, New France²⁵

8. Urbain Tessier — B. 7 Jun 1661, Montreal, New France;²⁶ D. 24 Mar 1685, Montreal, New France²⁷

9. Jean Tessier — B. Jun 1663, Montreal, New France;²⁸ D. 6 Dec 1734, Montreal, New France;²⁹ M. (1) Jeanne LeBer (~1671-1687), 16 Jan 1686, La Prairie, New France;³⁰ (2) Louise Caron (~1671-1703), 21 Apr 1688, La Pairie, New France;³¹ (3) Marie-Catherine De Poithier (~1669-1729), 27 Aug 1703, Montreal, New France³²

10. Claude Tessier — B. before 25 Dec 1665, Montreal, New France³³

11. Jacques Tessier — B. May 1668, Montreal, New France;³⁴ D. 23 Jun 1670, Montreal, New France³⁵

12. Pétronille Tessier — B. before 18 Mar 1670, Montreal, New France;³⁶ D. 18 May 1751, Pointe-aux-Trembles, New France;³⁷ M. Pierre Janot dit Lachapelle (1660-1725), 31 Jan 1684, Montreal, New France³⁸

13. Jean-Baptiste Tessier — B. before 26 Jan 1672, Montreal, New France;³⁹ D. 19 May 1736, Longueuil, New France;⁴⁰ M. Élisabeth Renault (1681-1747), 4 Nov 1698, Montreal, New France⁴¹

14. Pierre Tessier — B. Feb 1674, Montreal, New France;⁴² D. 23 Feb 1674, Montreal, New France⁴³

15. Jacques Tessier — B. before 2 Mar 1675, Montreal, New France;⁴⁴ D. 7 May 1738, Montreal, New France;⁴⁵ M. Marie Adhémar (1679-1754), 10 Mar 1699, Montreal, New France⁴⁶

16. Ignace Tessier — B. before 11 Mar 1677, Montreal, New France;⁴⁷ D. 3 Mar 1747, Montreal, New France;⁴⁸ M. Marguerite Luissier (1683-1748), 23 May 1703, Repentigny, New France⁴⁹

17. Nicolas Tessier — B. before 17 Jun 1679, Montreal, New France;⁵⁰ D. 7 May 1738, Montreal, New France;⁵¹ M. Marie-Genevieve Augé (1699-1748), 27 Jan 1716, Montreal, New France⁵²

Sources:
1    Baptismal record of Marie Archambault, Paroisse Saint-Pierre, Dompierre-sur-Mer, France Baptêmes, 1625-1656, Archives nationales de France
2    Marriage record of Urbain Tessier dit Lavigne and Marie Archambault, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
3    Burial record of Marie Archambault, Q.C.P.R.
4    Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française listing for Jacques Archambault
5    WikiTree listing of Urbain Tessier dit Lavigne
6    Burial record of Baby Girl Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
7    Baptismal record of Paul Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
8    Burial record of Urbain Tessier dit Lavigne, Q.C.P.R.
9    The First French Canadians: Pioneers in the St. Lawrence Valley, Hubert Charbonneau and others, 1993
10  FamousKin.com listing of Urbain Tessier-Lavigne  
11  Baptismal record of Charles Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
12  Burial record of Charles Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
13  Burial record of Paul Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
14  Marriage record of Paul Tessier and Marie-Madeleine Cloutier, Q.C.P.R.
15  Baptismal record of Madeleine Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
16  Baptismal record of Laurent Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
17  Burial record of Laurent Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
18  Marriage record of Laurent Tessier and Anne-Genevieve Lemire, Q.C.P.R.
19  Baptismal record of Louise Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
20  Burial record of Louise Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
21  Marriage record of Pierre Payet dit St-Amour and Louise Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
22  Baptismal record of Agnes Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
23  Burial record of Agnes Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
24  Marriage record of Guillaume Richard dit Lafleur and Agnes Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
25  Marriage record of Claude Duconge and Agnes Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
26  Baptismal record of Urbain Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
27  Burial record of Urbain Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
28  Baptismal record of Jean Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
29  Burial record of Jean Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
30  Marriage record of Jean Tessier and Jeanne LeBer, Q.C.P.R.
31  Marriage record of Jean Tessier and Louise Caron, Q.C.P.R.
32  Marriage record of Jean Tessier and Marie-Catherine Poithier, Q.C.P.R.
33  Baptismal record of Claude Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
34  Baptismal record of Jacques Tessier (older), Q.C.P.R.
35  Burial record of Jacques Tessier (older), Q.C.P.R.
35  Baptismal record of Pétronille Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
37  Burial record of Pétronille Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
38  Marriage record of Pierre Janot dit Lachapelle and Pétronille Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
39  Baptismal record of Jean-Baptiste Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
40  Burial record of Jean-Baptiste Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
41  Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Tessier and Élisabeth Renault, Q.C.P.R.
42  Baptismal record of Pierre Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
43  Burial record of Pierre Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
44  Baptismal record of JacquesTessier (younger), Q.C.P.R.
45  Burial record of Jacques Tessier (younger), Q.C.P.R.
46  Marriage record of Jacques Tessier and Marie Adhémar, Q.C.P.R.
47  Baptismal record of Ignace Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
48  Burial record of Ignace Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
49  Marriage record of Ignace Tessier and Marguerite Luissier, Q.C.P.R.
50  Baptismal record of Nicolas Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
51  Burial record of Nicolas Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
52  Marriage record of Nicolas Tessier and Marie-Genevieve Augé, Q.C.P.R.

Mayor of Boston, England — John Whiting

B. 30 Nov 1561 in Boston, England¹
M. before 19 Dec 1587 in (probably) Boston, England¹

Wife: Isabel _________
D. (probably) 21 Oct 1617 in Boston, England¹

Before there was a Boston, Massachusetts, there was a Boston, England. And for a couple of years in the beginning of the 17th century, John Whiting was its mayor.

John was born in Boston on November 30, 1561.¹ His father was said to be John Whiting, and there is no information as to the identity of his mother. By 1587, John married a woman named Isabel; she was named in his will,¹ and because his oldest child was also named Isabel,² she was likely his wife from the beginning. John was the father of at least 6 children, one of whom died as a child. His children’s baptisms were at St. Botolph’s Church, a historic parish that dates back to Medieval times. The tower of the church is about 272 feet high and can be seen for miles around.

Inside St. Botolph's Church. (Source: Jules & Jenny from Lincoln, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

John was involved in the government of Boston as early as 1590, when he served on the common council, and as a bailiff. He served as mayor in 1600 and 1608.¹ In English town such as Boston, mayors were elected annually by the council from their members, and their main duties were to preside over council meetings and take part in tie-breaking votes. John's son John also served as mayor of Boston in 1626, 1633, 1644 and 1645.¹

During the time that John was serving as council member and mayor, the town of Boston was a center of Puritanism. It’s not known how much John was involved with the religion, but he became good friends with Reverend John Cotton,¹ the vicar of St. Boltoph’s and a charismatic leader of the movement. Reverend Cotton would go on to encourage many Puritans in Boston to migrate to America. John’s son, Samuel, would become a Puritan preacher as well, and years later, would be part of the migration to New England.¹

John wrote his will on October 20, 1617, and he was buried two days later,¹ suggesting his death was brought on by a sudden illness. In his will he bequeathed money to the poor of Boston, to his friend Reverend Cotton, and to his wife and children. His son Samuel received the sum of £120, a substantial amount of money for that time.

Children:
1. Isabel Whiting — B. 19 Dec 1587, Boston, England;² D. 4 May 1602, England³

2. Audrey Whiting — B. about Sep 1589, Boston, England;⁴ M. Robert Wright,6 Nov 1610, Boston England⁵

3. John Whiting — B. about Jun 1592, Boston, England;⁶ D. after 1645, (probably) Boston, England¹

4. Margaret Whiting — B. about Aug 1594, Boston, England⁷

5. Samuel Whiting — B. 20 Nov 1597, Boston, England;⁸ D. 11 Dec 1679, Lynn, Massachusetts;⁹ M. Elizabeth St. John (~1604-1677), 6 Aug 1629, Boston, England¹⁰

6. James Whiting — B. about Aug 1599, Boston, England;¹¹ M. Mary Beitson, 28 Dec 1625, Boston, England¹²

Sources:
1    Memoir of Rev. Samuel Whiting, D.D., and of his wife Elizabeth St. John, William Whiting, 1873
2    Baptismal record of Isabella Whitinge, England, Lincolnshire, Parish Registers, 1538-1990, FamilySearch.org
3    Burial record of Izabell Whitinge, E., L., P.R.
4    Baptismal record of Audrea Whitinge, E., L., P.R.
5    Marriage record of Robert Wright and Audry Whiting, E., L., P.R.
6    Baptismal record of John Whitinge (younger), E., L., P.R.
7    Baptismal record of Margaret Whitinge, E., L., P.R.
8    Baptismal record of Samuell Whitinge, E., L., P.R.
9    Find-a-Grave listing of Samuel Whiting  
10  Marriage record of Samuell Whiteing and Elizabeth Saintjohns, E., L., P.R.
11  Baptismal record of James Whitinge, E., L., P.R.
12  Marriage record of James Whiting and Marie Beitson, England Marriages, 1538-1973, FamilySearch.org

Raped in Colonial New England — Lydia Fish

B. (probably) during the 1660s in Sandwich, Plymouth Colony¹
M. 6 Apr 1688 in Billerica, Massachusetts²
Husband: John Jefts
D. 8 Sep 1712 in Billerica, Massachusetts³

Lydia Fish has the distinction of being one of the few documented rape victims in 17th century New England. She was born in Sandwich in the Plymouth colony to Nathaniel Fish and Lydia Miller. The date of her birth is not known, but it’s likely to have been in the early 1660s, since her mother was born in 1640.¹ It’s unclear how many siblings Lydia had from her father’s two marriages; Lydia Miller was his second wife.

The act of rape on Lydia Fish happened on July 12, 1677 when a relative named Ambrose Fish did “by force carnally know and ravish” Lydia.⁴ It’s not known how Ambrose was related to Lydia and some speculate that he was her half-brother. The court record says the act was “contrary to the order of nature”⁴ and that may refer to it being incest. There is also the fact that no record specifies how old she was. Even though the record didn’t say she was a minor, she could have been well under the age of 20, as girls often got married at age 15 and younger.

Lydia’s rape case came to trial on October 30th; some say that the delay of several months was to see if she had become pregnant, which she hadn’t. Presiding over the court were some of the most noted men in the Plymouth colony, with John Alden heading up the group. Alden was a passenger on the Mayflower, and was in his 80s at the time of Lydia's case. A jury of 12 men found Ambrose Fish guilty, and ordered that he be publicly whipped.⁴ Afterwards he was released, and he seems to have gone back to a normal life in the community.

The man who raped Lydia received a whipping such as this.

Ten years passed after the rape before Lydia found a husband. On April 6, 1688, she married John Jefts in Billerica, Massachusetts.² It’s been suggested that perhaps Lydia left the Plymouth colony after the rape to avoid public embarrassment, and that she went to live with an aunt, Elizabeth Frost, who lived in Billerica.

Lydia and John went on to have a family of seven children, but John didn’t prove to be a good provider. In January 1697, he was one of three men in Billerica who required public assistance. The community took up a collection and divided up a sum of money between them, with each also receiving a bushel of corn.⁵ A few years later, somebody reported John to the town council saying that he had been “too slack in providing for the comfort of his wife and children.” He was told if he didn’t change, his case would be taken to authorities in Boston.⁵ There’s no further mention of this in the records, so we can assume that he straightened out.

1712 turned out to be a very bad year in Lydia’s family. On July 2nd, her daughter Hannah died at age 17,⁶ and this was followed a few months later by the deaths of both Lydia on September 8th,³ and John on September 28th.⁷ The closeness of John and Lydia’s death dates suggests that perhaps they died of the same contagious illness, but this is only speculation. 

Children:
1. Henry Jefts — B. 16 Jan 1689, Billerica, Massachusetts;⁸ D. 19 Aug 1772, Billerica, Massachusetts;⁹ M. (1) Elizabeth Hayward (~1689-1735), 10 Jul 1716, Billerica, Massachusetts;¹⁰ (2) Dinah Brown (1706-1764), 13 Nov 1735, Billerica, Massachusetts¹¹

2. Alice Jefts — B. 7 Sep 1691, Billerica, Massachusetts;¹² M. Joseph Baker (1696-1761), 11 Dec 1716, Concord, Massachusetts¹³

3. Hannah Jefts — B. 18 Aug 1694, Billerica, Massachusetts;¹⁴ D. 2 Jul 1712, Billerica, Massachusetts⁶

4. John Jefts — B. 19 Dec 1696, Billerica, Massachusetts;¹⁵ D. 8 May 1725, Billerica, Massachusetts¹⁶

5. Nathaniel Jefts — B. 29 Mar 1699, Billerica, Massachusetts¹⁷

6. William Jefts — B. 17 Mar 1701, Billerica, Massachusetts;¹⁸ D. 30 Sep 1738, Billerica, Massachusetts¹⁹

7. Ebenezer Jefts — B. 28 Jan 1703, Billerica, Massachusetts;²⁰ M. Elizabeth Farnsworth (1707-1781), 30 Dec 1729, Groton, Massachusetts²¹

Sources:
1    Estimated birth of Lydia Fish based on birth year of her mother, Lydia Miller
2    Marriage record of John Jefts and Lydia Fish, Massachusetts Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
3    Death record of Lydia Jefts, M.T.C., V. & T.R.
4    Plymouth Colony: Its History and People, 1620-1691, Eugene Aubrey Stratton, 1986, pp. 198-199
5    Town records 1685-1779 Billerica, Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986, FamilySearch.org
6    Death record of Hannah Jefts, M.T.C., V. & T.R.
7    Death record of John Jefts, M.T.C., V. & T.R.
8    Birth record of Henry Jefts, M.T.C., V. & T.R.
9    Death record of Henry Jefts, Vital Records of Billerica, MA, to the year 1850, NEHGS, 1908
10  Marriage record of Henry Jefts and Elizabeth Hayward, M.T.C., V. & T.R.
11  Marriage record of Henry Jefts and Dinah Brown, M.T.C., V. & T.R.
12  Birth record of Alice Jefts, M.T.C., V. & T.R.
13  Marriage record of Joseph Baker and Alice Jefts, M.T.C., V. & T.R.
14  Birth record of Hannah Jefts, M.T.C., V. & T.R.
15  Birth record of John Jefts (younger), M.T.C., V. & T.R.
16  Death record of John Jefts, M.T.C., V. & T.R.
17  Birth record of Nathaniel Jefts, M.T.C., V. & T.R.
18  Birth record of William Jefts, M.T.C., V. & T.R.
19  Death record of William Jefts, M.T.C., V. & T.R.
20  Birth record of Ebenezer Jefts, M.T.C., V. & T.R.
21  Marriage record of Ebenezer Jefts and Elizabeth Farnsworth, M.T.C., V. & T.R.

Master of the House of Correction — Benjamin Carpenter

B. 20 Oct 1663 in Rehoboth, Massachusetts¹
M. 4 Mar 1691 in Northampton, Massachusetts²
Wife: Hannah Strong
D. 18 Apr 1738 in Coventry, Connecticut³

Benjamin Carpenter was a farmer and a house builder, but for a short time in his life, he took care of his town's jail. He was born on October 23, 1663 in Rehoboth, Massachusetts to William Carpenter and Priscilla Bennett,¹ both of whom were born in England. Sadly, his mother died at the time of his birth.⁴ He had two older brothers and an older sister, and when he was two-months-old, his father remarried,⁵ producing nine more children.

By 1691, Benjamin had relocated to Northampton, where on March 4th, he married Hannah Strong,² a native of the community. They would have 12 children together, born between 1692 and 1711. Benjamin’s father died in 1703 and left him some land in Rehoboth,⁶ but he later gave some of the land to his half-brother Nathaniel, and the rest to his brother William.⁷ Perhaps because Benjamin didn't live in Rehoboth he felt they could make better use of it.

In colonial towns, individuals were often assigned to perform duties for the community, and in 1707, Northampton appointed Benjamin to be “Master of the House of Correction.”⁸ The concept of a prison or jail in early 18th century New England was somewhat different than today. Jails weren’t intended for long-term confinement; instead, a prisoner was held until their trial, then after judgment, they’d either be released or punished on the spot. At the time Benjamin was in charge of the jail, it was a newly constructed building of about 24’ by 16’.⁸

In charge of the jail. (AI-generated image)

Benjamin soon gave up his duties as jail keeper because in 1708 he moved to the new settlement of Coventry, Connecticut,⁸ becoming a respected member of the community. He died on April 18, 1738 and is buried in Nathan Hale Cemetery in Coventry.³

Children:
1. Prudence Carpenter — B. 13 Jul 1692, Coventry, Connecticut⁹

2. Freedom Carpenter — B. 13 Jul 1692,Coventry, Connecticut;¹⁰ D. after 13 Jun 1766, (probably) Coventry, Connecticut;¹¹ M. Benoni Bernard (1683-1750), 13 Jun 1712, Coventry, Connecticut¹²

3. Amos Carpenter — B. 6 Nov 1693, Northampton, Massachusetts;¹³ D. before 23 Jul 1792, Coventry, Connecticut;¹⁴ M. Deborah Long (1698-1784), 23 Oct 1718, Coventry, Connecticut¹⁵

4. Benjamin Carpenter — B. 3 Oct 1695; D. 29 May 1785, Coventry, Connecticut;¹⁶ D. 29 May 1785, Danbury, Connecticut;¹⁷ M. Rebecca Smith (1705-1788), 12 Apr 1726¹⁸

5. Jedediah Carpenter — B. 1 Oct 1697, Northampton, Massachusetts;¹⁹ D. 15 Dec 1731, Rehoboth, Massachusetts;²⁰ M. Mercy Brown (1699-1751), 24 May 1725, Rehoboth, Massachusetts²¹

6. Hannah Carpenter — B. 15 Aug 1699, Northampton, Massachusetts²²

7. Eliphalet Carpenter — B. 16 Oct 1701, Northampton, Massachusetts;²³ D. after 25 Aug 1702, (probably) Northampton, Massachusetts²⁴

8. Eliphalet Carpenter — B. 29 Nov 1703, Northampton, Massachusetts;²⁵ D. 22 Feb 1792, Coventry, Connecticut;²⁶ M. (1) Elizabeth Andrews (1706-1773), 1 May 1727, Coventry, Connecticut;²⁷ (2) Abigail Ladd (~1740-?), 26 Oct 1773²⁸

9. Noah Carpenter — B. 4 Dec 1705, Coventry, Connecticut;²⁹ M. Kesiah ________²⁴

10. Elisabeth Carpenter — B. 15 Jul 1707, (probably) Northampton, Massachusetts;³⁰ M. Truman Powell (~1702-1759), 6 Mar 1727, New London, Connecticut³¹

11. Ebenezer Carpenter — B. 9 Nov 1709, Coventry, Connecticut;³² D. 19 Jan 1777, Hartford, Vermont;³³ M. Eunice Thompson (1722-1777), 1739, Coventry, Connecticut³⁴

12. Rebecca Carpenter — B. 23 Nov 1711, Coventry, Connecticut³⁵

Sources:
1    Birth record of Benjamin Carpenter, Massachusetts Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
2    Marriage record of Benjamin Carpenter and Hannah Strong, M.T.C.V. & T.R.
3    Death record of Benjamin Carpenter, Connecticut Deaths, 1640-1955, FamilySearch.org
4    Death record of Priscilla Carpenter, M.T.C.V. & T.R.
5    Marriage record of William Carpenter and Miriam Searls, M.T.C.V. & T.R.
6    Will and Estate Inventory of William Carpenter, 1702 and 1703
7    Quit claim deed from Benjamin Carpenter, 22 Jun 1708
8    History of Northampton, Massachusetts: From its Settlement in 1654, Vol. 1, James Russell Trumbull and Seth Pomeroy, 1898
9    Birth record of Prudence Carpenter, Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906, FamilySearch.org
10  Birth record of Freedom Carpenter, C.B. & C.
11  Bill of sale of land from Dan Barnard to “my hon’rd mother Freedom Barnard of Coventry,” dated June 13, 1766
12  Marriage record of Benoni Barnard and Freedom Carpenter, Connecticut Marriages, 1630-1997, FamilySearch.org
13  Birth record of Amos Carpenter, C.B. & C.
14  Connecticut Courant, 23 Jul 1792, “died at Coventry, Mr. Amos Carpenter, aged 99”
15  Marriage record of Amos Carpenter and Deborah Long, C.M.
16  Birth record of Benjamin Carpenter (younger), C.B. & C.
17  Death record of Benjamin Carpenter (younger), C.D.
18  Marriage record of Benjamin Carpenter and Rebecca Smith, C.M.
19  Birth record of Jedediah Carpenter, C.B. & C.
20  Death record of Jedediah Carpenter, M.T.C.V. & T.R.
21  Marriage record of Jedediah Carpenter and Mercy Brown, M.T.C.V. & T.R.
22  Birth record of Hannah Carpenter, M.T.C.V. & T.R.
23  Birth record of Eliphalet Carpenter (older), M.T.C.V. & T.R.
24  A genealogical history of the Rehoboth branch of the Carpenter family in America, Amos B. Carpenter, 1898
25  Birth record of Eliphalet Carpenter (younger), M.T.C.V. & T.R.
26  Death record of Eliphalet Carpenter (younger), C.D.
27  Marriage record of Eliphalet Carpenter and Elizabeth Andrews, C.M.
28  Genealogy of one branch of the Carpenter family, p. 4, Martin Leonard Roberts, 1877
29  Birth record of Noah Carpenter, C.B. & C.
30  Birth record of Elisabeth Carpenter, M.T.C.V. & T.R.
31  Marriage record of Truman Powell and Elisabeth Carpenter, C.M.
32  Birth record of Ebenezer Carpenter, C.B. & C.
33  Death record of Ebenezer Carpenter, C.D.
34  Marriage record of Ebenezer Carpenter and Eunice Thopmson, C.M.
35  Birth record of Rebecca Carpenter, C.B. & C.