Facing a Grandson in Court — Élisabeth-Isabelle Rondeau

B. 19 Oct 1670 in St-Famille, Île d’Orleans, New France¹
M. 7 Feb 1690 in St-Pierre, Île d’Orleans, New France²
Husband: Pierre LeClerc
D. 7 Nov 1746 in St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France³

Élisabeth-Isabelle Rondeau, who was born into a family of early New France settlers, was caught in a property dispute with her grandson late in life.

Élisabeth was born on October 19, 1670 in St-Famille on Île d’Orleans.¹ Her parents were Thomas Rondeau and Andrée Remondière, and she was the third of 15 children. Two brothers died as children, but that still must have made for a crowded household, and as the oldest girl, given her extra responsibilities. Ste-Famille was located on the northeast side of the island, and by 1681, the family moved to St-Pierre, which was just to the west.⁴ Here Élisabeth got married on February 7, 1690 to another settler named Pierre Leclerc.²

Soon after they got married, Élisabeth and Pierre relocated to the south side of the island, in the seigneury of St-Laurent.⁵ Here she gave birth to fourteen children, with the youngest born in 1713.⁶ Only one died as an infant, and the others all celebrated weddings in her lifetime. Needless to say, this gave the couple many grandchildren, and one of them, Jean-Baptiste Baillargeon, was the source of the litigation in Élisabeth’s later years. 

Living on Île d'Orleans. (AI-generated image) 

A court action dated July 14, 1632 showed that 17-year-old Baillargeon seems to have gone against his grandparents wishes on some land they had given him: he sold it to someone else. Élisabeth and Pierre filed “letters of restitution addressed to the lieutenant general at the headquarters of the Provost Court of Quebec,” meaning that they wanted to stop the sale and reclaim the property. The argument was that Baillargeon was underaged, and he didn’t have the right to sell the land.⁷

Élisabeth’s husband Pierre passed away on January 26, 1736,⁸ leaving her to deal with the property dispute. The case seems to have become active again in 1744, when the following appeared in the records on October 5th: “Judgment granting default to Jean-Baptiste Baillargeon, resident of the island of Orleans and appellant of the sentence rendered by foreclosure in the Provost Court of Quebec, on June 25, 1733, between him and Elisabeth Rondeau, widow of the said Pierre Leclerc.”⁹

Another year and a half went by before the issue was resolved. In a court record dated January 25, 1746, Élisabeth was ordered to abandon her claim on the land in question, and the original sale from 1732 was honored.¹⁰ The property was described as having an arpent and a half of frontage, indicating that the lot was narrow, but bordered the St. Lawrence River.

Élisabeth died later that year on November 7th, and was buried the following day in the cemetery at St-Laurent-de-Île d’Orleans.³

Children:
1. Anne Leclerc — B. 9 Aug 1691, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France;⁵ D. 24 Oct 1727, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France;¹¹ M. Pierre-Noël Fortier (1686-1731), 13 Oct 1710, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France¹²

2. Margeurite Leclerc — B. 17 Mar 1693, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France;¹³ D. 25 Jul 1750, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France;¹⁴ M. Nicolas Baillargeon (1684-1749), 16 Nov 1711, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France¹⁵

3. Jean Leclerc — B. 12 Apr 1694, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France;¹⁶ D. 9 Jun 1772, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, Quebec;¹⁷ M. Marie-Madeleine Gosselin (1700-1750), 11 Nov 1720, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France¹⁸

4. Marie-Madeleine Leclerc — B. 10 Sep 1695, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France;¹⁹ M. Alexis Roy (1693-1746), 20 Jul 1716, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France²⁰

5. Pierre Leclerc — B. 2 Nov 1696, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France;²¹ D. 3 Apr 1751, St-Vallier, New France;²² M. (1) Marie-Josephe Mimaux (1702-1738), 4 Mar 1726, St-Vallier, New France;²³ (2) Marie-Claire Cellier ~1694-1752), 2 Feb 1739, St-Vallier, New France²⁴

6. Élisabeth Leclerc — B. 3 Jul 1698, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France;²⁵ D. 22 Feb 1736, St-Vallier, New France;²⁶ M. Jacques Fradet (1700-1783), 28 Nov 1725, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France²⁷

7. Joseph Leclerc — B. 24 Sep 1699, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France;²⁸ D. 19 Dec 1699, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France²⁹

8. Agnes-Madeleine Leclerc — B. 9 Oct 1700, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France;³⁰ D. 28 Jul 1759, Charlesbourg, New France;³¹ M. Augustin Dufresne (1711-1759), 20 Jan 1749, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France³²

9. Jacques Leclerc — B. 14 Jan 1702, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France;³³ D. 15 May 1778, St-Vallier, Quebec;³⁴ M. Élisabeth Turgeon (1712-1784), 20 Nov 1730, Beaumont, New France³⁵

10. Ignace Leclerc — B. 17 Jun 1704, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France;³⁶ D. 22 Mar 1776, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, Quebec;³⁷ M. Marie-Madeleine Côte (1722-1783), 15 Jul 1748, St-Pierre, Île d’Orleans, New France³⁸

11. Madeleine Leclerc — B. 22 Jul 1706, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France;³⁹ D. 8 Nov 1743, Berthier, New France;⁴⁰ M. Joseph Beaudoin (~1707-1783), 23 Oct 1730, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France⁴¹

12. Joseph Leclerc — B. 8 Oct 1707, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France;⁴² D. 11 Nov 1781, Quebec City, Quebec;⁴³ M. Ursule Noël (1712-1798), 8 Jun 1734, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France⁴⁴

13. Genevieve Leclerc — B. 24 Jan 1709, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France;⁴⁵ D. 20 Feb 1748, St-Vallier, New France;⁴⁶ M. Augustin Fradet (1706-?), 23 Oct 1730, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France⁴⁷

14. Marie-Anne Leclerc — B. 8 Feb 1713, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France;⁶ D. 6 Aug 1774, St-Charles, Bellechase, Quebec;⁴⁸ M. (1) Antoine Gosselin (1716-1751), 25 Nov 1743, St-Laurent, Île d’Orleans, New France;⁴⁹ (2) Jean Vallieres (1704-1768), 6 Nov 1760, St-Charles, Bellechasse, New France⁵⁰

Sources:
1    Baptismal record of Élisabeth-Isabelle Rondeau, Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
2    Marriage record of Pierre Lecrec and Élisabeth-Isabelle Rondeau, Q., C. P. R.
3    Burial record of Élisabeth-Isabelle Rondeau, Q., C. P. R.
4    Recensement de 1681 en Nouvelle-France
5    Baptismal record of Anne Leclerc, Q., C. P. R.
6    Baptismal record of Marie-Anne Leclerc, Q., C. P. R.
7    Letters of restitution for Pierre Leclerc and Élisabeth Rondeau, 14 Jul 1732, BAnQ
8    Burial record of Pierre Leclerc, Q., C. P. R.
9    Judgment regarding case between Jean-Baptiste Baillargeon and the late Pierre Leclerc, 1 Dec 1744, BAnQ
10  Appeal nullified of the sentence in the case between Jean-Baptiste Baillargeon fils and Elisabeth Rondeau, 25 Jan 1746, BAnQ
11  Burial record of Anne Leclerc, Q., C. P. R.
12  Marriage record of Pierre-Noël Fortier and Anne Leclerc, Q., C. P. R.
13  Burial record of Marguerite Leclerc, Q., C. P. R.
14  Burial record of Marguerite Leclerc, Q., C. P. R.
15  Marriage record of Nicolas Baillargeon and Marguerite Leclerc, Q., C. P. R.
16  Burial record of Jean Leclerc, Q., C. P. R.
17  Burial record of Jean Leclerc, Q., C. P. R.
18  Marriage record of Jean Leclerc and Marie-Madeleine Gosselin, Q., C. P. R.
19  Baptismal record of Marie-Madeleine Leclerc, Q.C.P.R.
20  Marriage record of Alexis Roy and Marie-Madeleine Leclerc, Q.C.P.R.
21  Baptismal record of Pierre Leclerc, Q.C.P.R.
22  Burial record of Pierre Leclerc, Q.C.P.R.
23  Marriage record of Pierre Leclerc and Marie-Josephe Mimaux, Q.C.P.R.
24  Marriage record of Pierre Leclerc and Marie-Claire Cellier, Q.C.P.R.
25  Baptismal record of Élisabeth Leclerc, Q.C.P.R.
26  Burial record of Élisabeth Leclerc, Q.C.P.R.
27  Marriage record of Jaques Fradet and Élisabeth Leclerc, Q.C.P.R.
28  Baptismal record of Joseph Leclerc (older), Q.C.P.R.
29  Burial record of Joseph Leclerc (older), Q.C.P.R.
30  Baptismal record of Agnes-Madeleine Leclerc, Q.C.P.R.
31  Burial record of Agnes-Madeleine Leclerc, Q.C.P.R.
32  Marriage record of Augustin Dufresne and Agnes-Madeleine Leclerc, Q.C.P.R.
33  Baptismal record of Jacques Leclerc, Q.C.P.R.
34  Burial record of Jacques Leclerc, Q.C.P.R.
35  Marriage record of Jacques Leclerc and Élisabeth Turgeon, Q.C.P.R.
36  Baptismal record of Ignace Leclerc, Q.C.P.R.
37  Burial record of Ignace Leclerc, Q.C.P.R.
38  Marriage record of Ignace Leclerc and Marie-Madeleine Côte, Q.C.P.R.
39  Baptismal record of Madeleine Leclerc, Q.C.P.R.
40  Burial record of Madeleine Leclerc, Q.C.P.R.
41  Marriage record of Joseph Beaudoin and Madeleine Leclerc, Q.C.P.R.
42  Baptismal record of Joseph Leclerc (younger), Q.C.P.R.
43  Burial record of Joseph Leclerc (younger), Q.C.P.R.
44  Marriage record of Joseph Leclerc and Ursule Noël, Q.C.P.R.
45  Baptismal record of Genevieve Leclerc, Q.C.P.R.
46  Burial record of Genevieve Leclerc, Q.C.P.R.
47  Marriage record of Augustin Fradet and Genevieve Leclerc, Q.C.P.R.
48  Burial record of Marie-Anne Leclerc, Q.C.P.R.
49  Marriage record of Antoine Gosselin and Marie-Anne Leclerc, Q.C.P.R.
50  Marriage record of Jean Vallieres and Marie-Anne Leclerc, Q.C.P.R.

Serving Under Lieutenant Washington — John Franklin

B. 2 Jun 1729 in Boston, Massachusetts¹
M. about 1759 in (probably) Virginia²
Wife: Phoebe (maybe) Parker
D. about 1818 in Burke County, North Carolina²

Early in the military career of George Washington, he led a few hundred men into the frontier of the American colonies, and John Franklin was one of them. The events John experienced firsthand were an important part of history — a precursor to the American Revolution.

John was born on June 2, 1729 in a place far from his later adventures: Boston, Massachusetts.¹ His parents were David Franklin and Elizabeth Ayers and he was the seventh of their eight children. The obvious question is: Was he related to Benjamin Franklin, also born in Boston a generation earlier? And the answer is no — at least not on this side of the Atlantic. David Franklin was a sailor working in the Boston harbor,² and when John came of age, he followed his father in this line of work.

In early 1754, John was in Prince William County, Virginia, perhaps lying over for the winter. At the age of 25, John seemed to have had enough of working on ships, and on February 11th, he enlisted in a military unit to serve on the frontier.² The colony of Virginia wanted to secure their claims on the Ohio River Valley, which was being encroached upon by the French. So orders were given to recruit a force of 300 men, with a 22-year-old lieutenant to lead them named George Washington. Their mission was to build a fort at “the source of the Ohio,” and to defend it from attackers.³

The record of John’s enlistment described him as being five feet six inches tall, with brown hair, and “large eyebrows.” He was also said to be “well-made,” and a sailor from New England.³ His experience on ships was probably good preparation for the stamina he’d need during the next few years of his life.

Journey of John Franklin in 1753-1754.

The military force led by Washington had no idea what they were getting into. The future of the western frontier was at stake, and all these men knew was that they had to drive the French away from the Ohio River Valley. Getting there wasn’t easy; roads didn’t exist, and since they were crossing the Appalachians, there was no waterway that went directly there. Rain hampered their march, and the terrain was said to be so rough that they sometimes only made three miles a day. As they marched, they cleared enough vegetation to make a sort of road where others could follow, so perhaps this slowed them down, too.

The French were waiting for them in the area, but under orders not to attack unless the Virginians attacked first, which is what Lieutenant Washington did in a small skirmish on May 28th. This was a strategic mistake, and left the Virginians scrambling to prepare for the battle they knew was coming. In a field in present-day Fayette County, Pennsylvania, the men built a makeshift structure which was dubbed Fort Necessity, little more than a crude cabin for their arsenal, surrounded by a stockade. On July 3rd, the French showed up with their Indian allies, quickly outnumbering Washington’s men, and after a short battle, the Virginians abandoned the fort to the French. It was the only time in Washington’s career that he ever surrendered to the enemy. 

Building Fort Necessity. (AI-generated image)

What made this event so historical wasn’t just the learning experience Washington gained as a military leader. This was a confrontation that was a precursor to the French and Indian War, a 7-year conflict which England ultimately won. And in the aftermath, the leaders in England tried to get the American colonists to pay for the war, which of course led to the American Revolution.

As for John, his service continued. He seems to have deserted his company for a time along with many others; this happened after the Battle of Fort Necessity, but he was likely rounded up and brought back.³ Washington’s force participated in the Battle of Monongahela in July 1755, and John was likely involved; this was an attempt to capture Fort Duquesne (present-day Pittsburgh), and the Virginians were in support of a British Army force — and the French roundly defeated them.

The rest of John’s service was under Captain Thomas Waggoner, and his company’s duty was to secure a series of forts along the South Branch of the Potomac, an area that extended into present-day West Virginia.² Some records for Waggoner’s Company are missing, but circumstantial evidence points to the fact John served there until end of the war in 1763. Apparently this was where John found a wife, a woman named Phoebe (last name said to be Parker, but this is uncertain).² Their oldest son later testified that he had been born at a place called “Fort Stump, Virginia,”² and researchers have determined that Stump was the last name of a landowner near one of the South Branch forts — Fort George — and that “Fort Stump” may have been an alternate name for the stockade.

With the war’s end, many of the men who served as soldiers were awarded “bounty land,” an easy way to pay them because land was plentiful. There’s no hard evidence that John received any land, but a note written by Washington listed him among 88 men who were being charged for surveying costs,² an indicator that this was in relation to bounty land. What is known is that after his military days were over, he joined a migration to the south — to Burke County, North Carolina — and this was where he spent the rest of his life.²

1789 survey of John’s land in Burke County, North Carolina.

John and Phoebe had a large family that included at least 11 children; the oldest was John, born at Fort Stump in about 1760,² with most of the rest born in Burke County. John was past 60-years-old when his youngest child was born in 1790.⁴ The Franklin family settled near the head of Silver Creek in what was Rowan County, then moved to near Lower Creek in Burke County.² At Lower Creek, John was shown to have owned 700 or more acres. Census records indicate that he had no slaves.⁵

On June 4, 1813, John made out his will naming all eleven of his children.⁶ He lived about another six years, with the will being probated in 1819.² His wife Phoebe survived him, and she died in about 1821.²

Children:
1. John Franklin — B. about 1760, Hardy County, Virginia;² D. 30 Sep 1837, Burke County, North Carolina;⁷ M. Nancy Wallace (?-~1853), 12 Jul 1817, Burke County, North Carolina⁸

2. David Franklin — B. about 1762, (probably) Virginia;² D. after Dec 1820²

3. Moses Franklin — B. about 1765, (probably) Rowan County, North Carolina;⁹ D. about Feb 1830, Franklin County, Tennessee;⁹ M. Elizabeth ______, Burke County, North Carolina²

4. Jemima Franklin — B. Oct 1767, Burke County, North Carolina;¹⁰ D. 7 Jun 1854, Franklin County, Tennessee;¹⁰ M. (1) Daniel McCoy;² (2) William Griffin, 8 Feb 1805, Pulaski County, Kentucky;¹¹ (3) Thomas Wakefield, 1825, Franklin County, Tennessee²

5. Mary “Polly” Franklin — B. about 1770, Burke County, North Carolina;¹² D. before 1 Jun 1830, (probably) Putnam County, Indiana;¹³ M. William Sutherland (~1770-?), 1787, Lincoln County, Kentucky¹⁴

6. Jonathan Franklin — B. about 1773, Rowan County, North Carolina;² D. after 1870, Owen County, Indiana;² M. (1) Rachel ______ (?-~1803);² (2) Jennie Hood (?-1826), about 1805;² (3) Mary Johnson (1787-?)²

7. Lydia Franklin — B. 26 Aug 1774, Burke County, North Carolina;¹⁴ D. 18 Sep 1869, Putnam County, Indiana;¹⁴ M. Fendall Sutherlin (1767-1834), before 1791, (probably) Burke County, North Carolina¹⁴

8. Samuel Franklin — B. about 1780, Burke County, North Carolina;¹⁵ D. 12 Jul 1857, Linville Falls, North Carolina;¹⁵ M. Dorcas Burns, 6 Aug 1800, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina¹⁵

9. Phoebe Franklin — B. about 1781, Burke County, North Carolina;² D. after 9 Nov 1821;² M. Thomas Brown, 1795²

10. Anna Franklin — B. about 1784, Burke County, North Carolina²

11. Rachel B. Franklin – B. 4 Feb 1790, Burke County, North Carolina;⁴ D. 12 Apr 1851, Franklin County, Tennessee;⁴ M. George Tipps (~1782-~1881), about 1805, Burke County, North Carolina²

Sources:
1    Birth record of John Franklin, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
2    “A Mystery Story: The Case Of the Origins of John Franklin, Sr. (1729-1819) of Burke County, North Carolina,” Franklin Family Researchers, V. 6, 1993
3    John Franklin: An American Hero And His Progeny, Dorsey Wayne Franklin, 1987
4    Find-a-Grave listing of Rachel B. (Franklin) Tipps
5    1790 U.S. Census, Burke County, North Carolina
6    John Franklin’s will, North Carolina, Probate Records, 1735-1970, images, FamilySearch.org
7    Find-a-Grave listing of John Franklin Jr.
8    Marriage record of John Franklin and Nancy Wallace, North Carolina, Marriages, 1759-1979, FamilySearch.org
9    Find-a-Grave listing of Moses Franklin
10  Find-a-Grave listing of Jemima (Franklin) Wakefield
11  Marriage record of William Griffin and Jemima McCoy, Kentucky, Marriages, 1785-1979, FamilySearch.org
12  Mary Franklin’s estimated birth year based on date of her marriage
13  William Sutherland’s household in the 1820 U.S. census had a woman of Mary’s age, but the 1830 U.S. Census did not
14  Sutherlands and Their Tangled Branches, Robert J. Walsh, 1985, p. 23-31
15  Find-a-Grave listing of Samuel Franklin

Wife of a Puritan Preacher — Mary Greenway

B. before 9 Nov 1605 near Mildenhall, Wiltshire, England¹
M. 1 May 1629, Southwark, England²
Husband: Thomas Millet
D. 5 Jun 1682 in Gloucester, Massachusetts³

The life of Mary Greenway typifies many of the women who found themselves part of the Great Migration to New England of the 1630s. She settled first with her husband and children in a town close to Boston, then moved to a community which was further away, all the while participating in various aspects of Puritan society. And near the end of her life, she experienced the dangers of living a remote settlement.

Mary was born in about 1605 near Mildenhall, Wiltshire, where she was baptized on November 9th.¹ Her parents were John and Mary Greenway (also spelled Greenaway), and she was the third of six known children, all girls. (Because there is a gap in the ages of the sisters, it’s believed that John may have had two different wives named Mary, but this is uncertain.) 

Mildenhall Church. (AI-generated image)  

When Mary was in her early 20s, she moved to an area of London called Southwark, and this is where she married her husband Thomas Millet on May 1, 1629.² Everyone in Mary’s life seemed to be Puritan followers, and in 1630, her parents and younger sisters migrated to the Massachusetts colony in America.⁴ This was the beginning of the Great Migration to New England, and after having two sons born in Southwark, Mary and Thomas moved as well.² One of her boys had died, but she was pregnant with a third son on the trip, and he was born after they got settled in Dorchester,² where Mary’s parents already lived.

Dorchester became Mary’s home for the next 20 years. She and Thomas were admitted as members of Dorchester’s Second Church on August 23, 1636;² Mary’s parents were also admitted around the same time. Five more children were born in Dorchester, with the youngest in 1647. Mary’s husband took an active role in the church as an unordained preacher;² he also served as the town clerk, and it was said that a fire at their house destroyed some of Dorchester’s earliest records.²

Mary was among 21 women who signed a remarkable petition in Dorchester in 1649.⁵ It was to support a midwife named Alice Tilly, who was accused of causing the deaths of several women and children in her care. Over 200 women signed six petitions in the Boston area. What makes this significant is that it’s the earliest example in America of women organizing around a cause without the involvement of any men; this is because issues of childbearing were strictly a female domain.

Petition in support of Alice Tilley signed by Mary.

In 1655, Mary, Thomas and the children moved to Gloucester,² which was in an area north of Boston. It’s likely that they were solicited because of John’s service as a preacher. During their time in Gloucester, Mary was known to have testified in court twice. The first time was in 1657 when she was witness to a conversation between two men that was pertinent to a dispute they had with each other.⁶ The other case happened in January 1668 involving a man accused of moving a boundary marker on Mary’s son’s property. She and John said in court that although they had no proof he did this, they were “vehemently suspicious” that the man did this.⁷

During the 1670s, Mary and Thomas made one last move, this time to the remote village of Brookfield.² By this time they were in their late 60s, but Thomas was still in demand as a preacher. It turned out to be a fateful decision because Brookfield was attacked during King Philip’s War, and much of the town was destroyed.⁸ Soon after the violence, Thomas died,² perhaps of injuries received in the raid. Mary returned to Gloucester where her husband’s estate was settled on September 26, 1675.² She lived out her final years in Gloucester, and passed away on June 5, 1682.³

Children:
1. John Millett — B. before 6 May 1630, Southwark, England;² D. before 13 Apr 1635, (probably) Southwark, England²

2. Thomas Millett — B. before 16 Aug 1632, Southwark, England;² M. (1) Mary Eveleth (~1633-1687), 21 May 1655, Gloucester, Massachusetts;⁹ (2) Abigail Colt (1657-1726), 20 Dec 1689, Gloucester, Massachusetts¹⁰

3. John Millett — B. 8 Jul 1635, Dorchester, Massachusetts;² D. 3 Nov 1678, Gloucester, Massachusetts;¹¹ M. Sarah Leach (~1635-1725), 3 Jul 1663, Gloucester, Massachusetts¹²

4. Jonathan Millett — B. 27 Jul 1638, Dorchester, Massachusetts;² D. 15 Aug 1638, Dorchester, Massachusetts²

5. Mary Millett — B. 26 Aug 1639, Dorchester, Massachusetts;² D. 23 Jan 1695, Gloucester, Massachusetts;¹³ M. Thomas Riggs (1633-1722), 7 Jun 1658, Gloucester, Massachusetts²

6. Mehitable Millett — B. 14 Mar 1642, Dorchester, Massachusetts;² D. 28 Sep 1699, Gloucester, Massachusetts;¹⁴ M. Isaac Elwell (1643-1715), before 1666²

7. Bethiah Millett — B. about 1646, (probably) Dorchester, Massachusetts;² D. 15 Apr 1669, Dorchester, Massachusetts;² M. Moses Ayers, before 10 Sep 1667, (probably) Dorchester, Massachusetts²

8. Nathaniel Millett — B. 1 Dec 1647, Dorchester, Massachusetts;² D. 9 Nov 1719, Kettle Cove, Massachusetts;¹⁵ M. Ann Lester (1650-1718), 3 May 1670, Gloucester, Massachusetts²

Sources:
1    Baptismal record of Mary Greenway, England, Wiltshire, Church Records, 1518-1990, FamilySearch.org
2    The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Robert Charles Anderson, 1999
3    Death record of Mary Millet, Massachusetts, Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910, FamilySearch.org
4    The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to NewEngland, 1620-1633, Robert Charles Anderson, 1995
5    1649 petition in support of Alice Tilley signed by the women of Dorchester, FamilySearch.org
6    Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Vol. 2, FamilySearch.org
7    Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Vol. 4, FamilySearch.org
8    Thomas & Mary Greenway Millett: Milletts In America, Donald Glen Millett, FamilySearch.org
9    Marriage record of Thomas Millett and Mary Eveleth, Massachusetts, State Vital Records, 1638-1927, FamilySearch.org
10  Birth record of Thomas Millett (Mary’s grandson), Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, FamilySearch.org
11  Death record of John Millett, M., D. & B.
12  Marriage record of John Millett and Sarah Leach, M., S. V. R.
13  Death record of Mary Riggs, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
14  Death record of Mehitable Elwell, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
15  Death record of Nathaniel Millett, M., T. C., V. & T. R.

One of the Colonial Virginia Elites — John Page

B. about 1627 in (probably) Bedfont, Middlesex, England¹
M. before 26 Jun 1648 in England²
Wife: Alice Luken
D. 23 Jan 1692 in Middle Plantation, Virginia¹

During the mid-17th century, Virginia became a colony with a distinct class structure; if you came from England, you were either from a rich family, or were an indentured laborer. Somewhere near the top of the social pyramid was John Page, a man who brought his wealth and status to Virginia, and left a mark on some of its institutions.

John was likely born in Bedfont, Middlesex, England in about 1627.¹ This was just outside of London; in fact the location today is very close to Heathrow Airport. His father was Francis Page, said to be a wealthy “gentleman”³ (John’s mother’s name is unknown). There was at least one other child in the family, a sister named Elizabeth.³ Little is known about John’s early life until when he was about 20, he married a woman named Alice Lukin, also of the London-area. Soon after, they had their first child, a daughter named Mary.⁴

During this time, John was described as being a merchant,³ and there was talk of opportunity in colonial America among some of his peers. Tidewater Virginia was the object of their interest because of the lucrative tobacco crop, and the offer of vast amounts of plantation land to those who could afford it. This was also the era of Oliver Cromwell, and many upper class men were Royalists. All of these factors likely played a part in what motivated John to leave England. 

John Page. (AI-enhanced illustration)

The first mention of John in Virginia was for a land claim on the south side of the York River. The headright system gave any man an additional 50 acres for each person he transported to the colony, and on September 11, 1653, John filed papers naming himself, his wife Alice, his young daughter Mary and his sister Elizabeth as headrights.³ At some point, Elizabeth married another Virginia elite, Edward Digges,³ who served as governor of the colony from March 1655 to December 1656. John’s association with his brother-in-law no doubt brought him into the circle of men who governed the colony. From 1665 to 1677, John served in the House of Burgesses³ (the lower house of Virginia’s bicameral system). Then from 1677 to 1692, he served in the Governor’s Council³ (the upper house of Virginia). Together, it gave him 30 years of influence in the colony.

John’s family settled at a place called Middle Plantation,³ where at least two more children were born. Middle Plantation was located on high ground between the York and James Rivers, and it had been established in 1632, but it wasn’t until John moved there that it became a significant town. He built his house from brick,³ an early example of Virginia architecture, and also a sign of his status. In 1678, he donated the land and money for Bruton Parish Church,⁵ a structure that stood until it was replaced in 1715. 

Building a brick house in Virginia. (AI-generated image)

At some point, John acquired the title of “Colonel,” which was noted on his tombstone, but there doesn’t seem to be any military role appearing in any of the data about his life. He did have some involvement in Bacon’s Rebellion, firmly standing with the Royalists.⁶ Governor William Berkeley took refuge at John’s house during the rebellion,⁶ and John’s wife Alice was kidnapped by Bacon near the end of the insurrection to be used as a human shield.⁷

Not everything John did is to be admired. Like the men around him, he had many enslaved people working for him, but in addition to that, he was also an agent for the Royal African Company.³ The RAC was a business set up by the crown of England in 1660 to monopolize trade along the coast of western Africa. Early charters of the company forbade the trading of slaves, but that changed in 1672, and this was the period when John was said to be an agent. So no doubt some of his wealth was made from the brutal practice of enslaving Africans.

John did have two notable achievements in his life. One was that he was involved in the founding of William & Mary College, the second oldest university in the colonies (Harvard being the oldest). John was said to have played “a pivotal role in supporting the efforts of Reverend Doctor James Blair,”³ the man who worked with authorities in England to set up a place of higher learning in Virginia. John’s other claim to fame was that he was an advocate for moving the colony’s capital from Jamestown to Middle Plantation.³ In this way, he was a sort of a visionary regarding the future of Virginia. 

Unfortunately for John, he didn’t live to see either plan carried out, because he died on January 23, 1692.¹ William & Mary was founded a year later, and by the end of the decade, the capital was indeed moved to Middle Plantation, which was renamed in honor of the King: Williamsburg. John’s wife Alice survived him, and she passed away in 1698.⁸

Original tombstone of John Page. (Source: Find-a-Grave)

The bloodlines of John found their way into many of the First Families of Virginia, including Byrd, Chiles, Dilliard, Tyler, Pendelton, Burwell, Nelson, Randolph, Carter, Harrison and Waller.³ One of his grandchildren was Mann Page, who accumulated over 70,000 acres of land. Great-great grandson John Page served as governor of Virginia from 1802 to 1805, and a 4G grandson was President John Tyler.³ The site of John’s home is today in the heart of Colonial Williamsburg, a place that attracts thousands of visitors every year. Perhaps this was John’s greatest legacy.

Children:
1. Mary Page — B. before 26 Jun 1648, (probably) London, England;⁴ D. about 1669, Jamestown, Virginia;⁹ M. Walter Chiles (1630-1671), before 1665, (probably) Jamestown, Virginia⁹

2. Francis Page — B. about 1657, Middle Plantation, Virginia;¹⁰ D. 10 May 1692, Williamsburg, Virginia;¹⁰ M. Mary Digges (1658-1690), Gloucester County, Virginia¹⁰

3. Matthew Page — B. 19 Jan 1659, Middle Plantation, Virginia;¹¹ D. 9 Jan 1703, Gloucester County, Virginia;¹¹ M. Mary Mann (~1672-1707), 1689, Gloucester County, Virginia¹¹

Sources:
1    Find-a-Grave listing for John Page
2    Marriage date based on the baptism of his oldest known child
3    John Page (planter) (Wikipedia article)
4    Baptismal record of Mary Page, England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, FamilySearch.org
5    “Bruton Parish Church” (Wikipedia article) 
6    Rosewell, Garland of Virginia, Claude O. Luciano, 1978
7    “Bacon’s Rebellion: America’s First Revolutionary?” Military History Online 
8    Find-a-Grave listing of Alice (Lukin) Page
9    WikiTree listing of Mary (Page) Chiles
10  Find-a-Grave listing of Capt. Francis Page
11  Find-a-Grave listing of Col. Matthew Page

Refusing to Help Support Elderly Mother — Sarah French

B. 29 Oct 1671 in Billerica, Massachusetts¹
M. 4 Aug 1691 in Billerica, Massachusetts²
Husband: Joseph Crosby
D. before 1727 in Billerica, Massachusetts³

When people reach a certain age, their elderly parents often become their responsibility, and bitter disagreements among siblings sometimes make the job messy. This was even true in colonial New England, as the record of a case involving Sarah French Crosby reveals.

Sarah was born into the French family of Billerica, Massachusetts on October 29, 1671.¹ She was the second child of the couple William French and Mary Lothrop, but each of them had children from previous marriages. Sarah’s father was in his late sixties when she was born, and her half siblings from him were all adults by that time. Her mother’s two surviving children from her earlier marriage were still underaged, though, so she grew up their presence; half-brother Isaac Stearns would figure into the later court dispute.

In 1681, Sarah’s father died, and she inherited some land from him,³ which she brought into her marriage ten years later. On August 4, 1691, Sarah married Joseph Crosby, the son of a Billerica tavern keeper.² Their first child was born about a year later;⁴ Sarah and Joseph went on to have a total of 12 children, of which all but the youngest were known to have lived to adulthood. All evidence showed that Sarah’s family wasn’t well-off. Joseph worked as a farmer and part-time tailor, but seemed to have sold off some of their property to pay their debts.³ A deed from 1714 shows that they got £80 in return for some of their Billerica land (it’s to be noted that Sarah was named alongside her husband in the transaction).⁵

The issue over Sarah’s mother came up in 1722. By now she had been widowed a third time, and was unable to support herself. The surviving children were Sarah, her two full-blooded sisters, and older half-brother Isaac. When their mother needed help, only Isaac stepped forward, but he felt it was unfair that the girls offered nothing. So Isaac and their mother brought the grievance to court.⁶ Officially, the husbands of the sisters were being sued, and it was Joseph Crosby, not Sarah, who appeared as the litigant. The issue dragged out in the courts for at least a year,⁶ and no resolution is given in the archived files. 

The petition of Sarah’s mother against her and her sisters.

Sarah and her husband, along with sisters Mary and Hannah and their husbands, were a united front. Their argument was that Isaac had been given property by their mother, while the women received nothing, so he should foot the bill to take care of their mother. The petition filed by Joseph and Hannah’s husband Nathaniel implied that Isaac had all of their “mother’s movables” in his possession, basically accusing him of taking advantage of the old woman. But Isaac’s stance was that whatever extra property he had gotten was inheritance from his father’s estate, which the sisters had no claim on.

Sarah passed away by 1727.³ Ironically, her feeble, old mother outlived her and was alive as late as 1735.⁷ Joseph also survived Sarah, and died at an unknown date before December 23, 1737.³

Children:
1. Joseph Crosby — B. 3 Sep 1692, Billerica, Massachusetts;⁴ D. about 1744, Worcester, Massachusetts;⁸ M. Hannah Maynard (1694-?), 21 Apr 1714, Marlborough, Massachusetts⁹

2. Sarah Crosby — B. 12 Jun 1694, Billerica, Massachusetts;¹⁰ D. before 31 Dec 1760, (probably) Andover, Massachusetts;¹¹ M. (1) Thomas Hunt (1689-1709), 22 Jul 1709, Providence, Rhode Island;¹² (2) Ephraim Abbott (1682-1748), 6 Jan 1716, Andover, Massachusetts;¹³ (3) John Dane (1692-1763), 1 Aug 1749, Andover, Massachusetts¹⁴

3. Rachel Crosby — B. 18 Apr 1695, Billerica, Massachusetts;¹⁵ M. (1) Samuel Stearns (1693-1730), 1719, Billerica, Massachusetts;¹⁶ (2) Thomas Wyman (1687-1760)³

4. William Crosby — B. 13 Feb 1698, Billerica, Massachusetts;¹⁷ D. 1 Jan 1754, Billerica, Massachusetts;¹⁸ M. Hannah Ross (1702-1756)³

5. Mary Crosby — B. 12 Jan 1699, Billerica, Massachusetts;¹⁹ D. 1738, Dedham, Massachusetts;³ M. Eleazer Ellis (1692-1745)³

6. Thomas Crosby — B. 12 Oct 1701, Billerica, Massachusetts;²⁰ D. 7 Dec 1745, Billerica, Massachusetts;²¹ M. Hannah Parker (1692-1729), 27 Jun 1724, Billerica, Massachusetts²²

7. David Crosby — B. 27 Mar 1703, Billerica, Massachusetts;²³ M. Sarah Foster (~1709-~1751)³

8. Prudence Crosby — B. 11 May 1705, Billerica, Massachusetts;²⁴ M. Jeremiah Fisher (1701-~1766), 20 Jan 1725, Needham, Massachusetts²⁵

9. Hannah Crosby — B. 9 Mar 1707, Billerica, Massachusetts;²⁶ M. (1) John Peploe (~1707-?);³ (2) Samuel Watts³

10. Deborah Crosby — B. 23 Jul 1709, Billerica, Massachusetts;²⁷ M. Peter Russell (1700-1759), 21 Mar 1727, Andover, Massachusetts²⁸

11. Robert Crosby — B. 20 Jul 1711, Billerica, Massachusetts;²⁹ D. 10 Sep 1743, Townsend, Massachusetts;³⁰ M. Mehitable Chandler (1709-1768)³

12. Pelletiah Crosby — B. 5 Nov 1713, Billerica, Massachusetts³¹

Sources:
1    Birth record of Sarah French, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
2    Marriage record of Joseph Crosby and Sarah French, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
3    Simon Crosby the Emigrant: His English Ancestry and Some of His American Descendants, Eleanor Francis Crosby, 1914
4    Birth record of Joseph Crosby (younger), M., T. C., V. & T. R.
5    1714 deed of Joseph Crosby, Middlesex (Massachusetts) Deeds, 1715-1716, FamilySearch.org
6    Mary Mixer case, Middlesex (Massachusetts) Court Records, 1652-1798, FamilySearch.org
7    Find-a-Grave listing for Mary Mixer, but uncertain about the original source
8    WikiTree listing of Joseph Crosby (younger)
9    Marriage record of Joseph Crosby and Hannah Maynard, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
10  Birth record of Sarah Crosby, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
11  The Early Records of the Town of Providence, Vol. 5, 1894
12  Marriage record of Ephraim Abbott and Sarah Hunt, M., T. C. V. & T. R.
13  Marriage record of John Dane and Sarah Abbott, M., T. C. V. & T. R.
14  Probate file of John Dane, Essex County, Massachusetts, probate records and indexes 1638-1916, FamilySearch.org
15  Birth record of Rachel Crosby, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
16  Marriage record of Samuel Stearns and Rachel Crosby, Massachusetts, State Vital Records, 1638-1927, FamilySearch.org
17  Birth record of William Crosby, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
18  Death record of William Crosby, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
19  Birth record of Mary Crosby, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
20  Birth record of Thomas Crosby, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
21  Death record of Thomas Crosby, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
22  Marriage record of Thomas Crosby and Hannah Parker, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
23  Birth record of David Crosby, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
24  Birth record of Prudence Crosby, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
25  Marriage record of Jeremiah Fisher and Prudence Crosby, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
26  Birth record of Hannah Crosby, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
27  Birth record of Deborah Crosby, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
28  Marriage record of Peter Russell and Deborah Crosby, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
29  Birth record of Robert Crosby, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
30  Find-a-Grave listing of Robert Crosby
31  Birth record of Pelletiah Crosby, M., T. C., V. & T. R.

Tangled Family in Frontier America — William Sutherland

B. before 1770 in Burke County, North Carolina¹
M. 1787 in (probably) Burke County, North Carolina²
Wife: Mary “Polly” Franklin
D. after June 1, 1830 in (probably) Indiana³

Those who followed a trail from the colonial South to the American Midwest, carving out farms in raw wilderness, often left few records along the way. Such was the case for William Sutherland who went from North Carolina to Indiana during the period 1790 to 1820. It takes detective work and DNA evidence to piece together some of his story.

William was believed to be the second oldest child of William Sutherland and Mary “Polly” Owen, born about 1769 in Burke County, North Carolina.¹ He was a young boy when his father went off to serve in the American Revolution,⁴ and he probably took on responsibilities on the farm by the time he was ten. There would be eight younger siblings in the family, with the youngest born in about 1792.⁵ William’s brother Fendall was about three years older, and they were likely close. The two brothers married sisters, Lydia and Mary “Polly” Franklin. The dates of both marriages are unknown, but William seems to have been about 18-years-old at the time of his wedding.²

The military service of William’s father would play an important factor in the lives of William and his siblings. As a veteran of the Revolution, William Sr. earned a considerable amount of bounty land.⁶ He shared the land with his sons, and this began a migration of the family into the west. In 1801, William Jr. appeared on a tax list in Lincoln County, Kentucky, living near the Green River.⁷ On the same record were his father and brother Fendall. While Fendall had 100 acres and 2 horses, William had only 50 acres and a single horse. 

A farm in Kentucky. (AI-generated image)

By now William had started a family of his own, but not all of the children are confirmed with written records. When William was still living in North Carolina, the 1800 census described his family as one boy age 10 to 15, one girl age 10 to 15, two boys under 10 and 1 girl under 10.⁸ These children are thought to be Isaac, Ervin, William, Jordan and Ann. During the next decade, William continued to live in Kentucky, gaining title to his Lincoln County farm upon the death of his father in 1803.⁹ It was said that William’s mother Mary came to live in his household “for many years.”¹⁰ In about 1808, he relocated to Adair County, Kentucky,¹¹ and the 1810 census showed that more children were added to the family: two boys under 10 (Jesse and possibly John) and one girl under 10 (possibly Mary).¹²

William was listed on Adair County tax lists through 1815, then disappeared from records, suggesting he left the region after that date. We pick up his trail in Orange County, Indiana on a voting list dated August 1819.¹³ The following year, he was listed in the 1820 census in Orange County with some new additions to his family: two girls and one boy, all under the age of ten.¹⁴ The boy is almost certainly Jackson Sutherlin, who was thought to be William’s youngest child (see here).

Two brothers of William — Fendall and George — had also moved to Indiana, and all three settled in Putnam County by the early 1820s.¹⁰ A land deed shows that William purchased 80 acres there on May 25, 1824.¹⁵ In his listing in the 1830 census in Putnam County, his household consisted of one man age 60 to 70 (himself), one girl age 15 to 20, and one boy age 10 to 15 (Jackson).³ William’s son Ervin lived next door with his wife, and on the other side of Ervin was William’s younger brother George. 

1830 U.S. Census showing William Sutherlin with his son and brother listed below him.

William’s wife Mary had likely died by the 1830 census. This was the last known record of William; other researchers have claimed he died in Marysville, Missouri in 1856, but this was a son of Fendall who was also named William.

How DNA Helps Identify William’s Family
I am a descendant of Jackson Sutherlin, and because I received a very large amount of his DNA, I was able to connect him to William because I have so many matches with the Franklin family (see my proof in Jackson Sutherlin’s biography.) The key piece of DNA evidence is a segment on chromosome 5 which I share with both Sutherland/Sutherlin and Franklin descendants. This segment is also shared by descendants of Ervin Sutherland, making them Franklin descendants as well, and firmly connecting Ervin to William Sutherland. Of William’s other listed children, Jesse, Mary and Ann seem fairly certain because of information passed down in their families, but I can’t use the same DNA proof with the segment on chromosome 5. The other names on the list come from a printed book that didn’t cite its sources.

Children (all except Ervin and Jackson are uncertain):
1. Isaac Sutherland — B. about 1788, (probably) Burke County, North Carolina⁵

2. Ann Sutherland — B. about 1795, (probably) Burke County, North Carolina;¹⁶ D. before 8 May 1823, (probably) Adair County, Kentucky;¹⁷ M. John H. Boyer (1795-1868), 4 Apr 1815, Adair County, Kentucky¹⁸

3. William Sutherland — B. about 1797, (probably) Burke County, North Carolina⁵

4. Ervin Sutherland — B. about 1798, (probably) Burke County, North Carolina;¹⁹ D. 10 Dec 1878, (probably) Polk County, Missouri;²⁰ M. Susannah Keith (~1806-?), 27 Nov 1821, Orange County, Indiana²¹

5. Jordan Sutherland — B. about 1799, (probably) Burke County, North Carolina;²² D. after 21 Aug 1850, (probably) Vermillion County, Illinois;²² M. Martha Patsy Bailey, 24 Aug 1831, Adair County, Kentucky²³

6. John Sutherland — B. about 1802, (probably) Lincoln County, Kentucky^5,14

7. Mary Sutherland — B. 28 Jan 1803, (probably) Lincoln County, Kentucky;²⁴ D. 24 Feb 1879, Morgan County, Illinois;²⁴ M. John H. Boyer (1795-1868), 8 May 1823, Adair County, Kentucky¹⁷

8. Jesse R. Sutherland — B. about 1805, (probably) Lincoln County, Kentucky;²⁵ D. before 1860, (probably) Polk County, Missouri;²⁶ M. Tabitha Wilson (~1805-?),18 Sep 1826, Putnam County, Indiana²⁷

9. [UNKNOWN FEMALE] Sutherlin — B. between 1810 and 1815, (probably) Adair County, Kentucky³

10. [UNKNOWN FEMALE] Sutherlin — B. between 1810 and 1820, (probably) Adair County, Kentucky¹⁴

11. Jackson Sutherlin — B. about 1815, (probably) Orange County, Indiana;³ D. before 22 Apr 1878, Merriam, Kansas;²⁸ M. Mary Fleming (1819-1907), 17 Jan 1838, Parke County, Indiana²⁹

Sources:
1    Birth year estimate based on ages of children
2    Marriage year based on the age of his children
3    1830 U.S. Census, Putnam County, Indiana
4    Pay roll of Capt. George B. Wallace’s company in the Virginia Regiment, 1 Jun 1777
5    Sutherlands and Their Tangled Branches, Robert J. Walsh, 1985
6    Land grant to William Sutherland, a private in the continental line of North Carolina, 20 May 1693
7    1801 personal property tax list of Lincoln County, Kentucky, FamilySearch.org
8    1800 U.S. Census, Burke County, North Carolina
9    Probate record of William Sutherland, Lincoln County, Kentucky, 22 Jan 1803, FamilySearch.org
10  “Pioneer Life of Fendel Sutherlin,” Anne Sutherlin Waite, Oregon Historical Quarterly, Vol. 31, No. 4, 1930, p. 372
11  Adair County, Kentucky Tax Books, 1802-1878, FamilySearch.org
12  1810 U.S. Census, Adair County, Kentucky
13  History of Orange County, Indiana, Orange County Genealogical Society, 1985
14  1820 U.S. Census, Orange County, Indiana
15  Land deed of William Sutherlin, United States, Patent Records, 1824, FamilySearch.org
16  Estimated birth year based on age at marriage.
17  Marriage record of John Boyer and Mary Sutherlin, Kentucky, U. S., County Marriage Records, 1783-1965, Ancestry.com
18  Marriage record of John Boyer and Ann Sutherlin, K., U. S., C. M. R.
19  Estimated birth year based on age at marriage and various census records.
20  Find-a-Grave listing of Ervin Sutherlin
21  Marriage record of Irvin Sutherlin and Susannah Keith, Indiana, U. S., Marriage Index, 1806-1861, Ancestry.com
22  1850 U.S. Census, Vermillion County, Illinois
23  Marriage record of Jordan Sutherland and Mary Patsy Bailey, Kentucky, Marriages, 1785-1979, FamilySearch.org.
24  Find-a-Grave listing of Mary Boyer
25  1850 U.S. Census, Polk County, Missouri
26  1860 U.S. Census, Polk County, Missouri showing Tabitha Sutherland as a widow
27  Marriage record of Jesse Sutherland and Tabitha Wilson, I., U.S., M. I.
28  “Death on the Rail: A Deaf Man Killed While Walking on a Railroad Track,” The Kansas Star, 11 Apr 1878
29  Marriage record of Jackson Sutherlin and Mary Fleming, Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007, FamilySearch.org