Militia Captain of Hingham, Massachusetts — John Smith

B. before 25 Jul 1623 in Stratton St. Michael, Norfolk, England¹
M. 8 May 1645 in Hingham, Massachusetts²
Wife: Sarah Woodward
D. 27 Apr 1695 in Hingham, Massachusetts³

Some men who settled in Puritan New England were well-suited to take on military leadership in their communities. This seems to be the case for John Smith of 17th-century Hingham, Massachusetts.

John was born in about 1623, and baptized on July 23rd at Stratton St. Michael, Norfolk, England.¹ His parents were Henry Smith and Judith Ray, and he was the second oldest of their five children. East Anglia was a hotbed of religious non-conformists, supplying many of the Puritans who went to New England. John’s family migrated in 1638, arriving in Massachusetts on the ship Diligent.⁴

The Smith family settled in Hingham, and on May 8, 1645, John married Sarah Woodward.² Over the next ten years, they had at least six children, with three dying young. Hingham was led by a minister, Reverend Peter Hobart, who often butted heads with the authorities in Boston for doing things like baptizing babies whose parents weren’t Puritan.⁵ His acts of independence were said to have spilled over into the militia, where Hobart’s brother Joshua served as captain. John was a lieutenant in the militia as early as 1661, and he was said to be “Captain Hobart’s able second in rank.”⁶

John’s service in the community extended to civic duties such as being a selectman in 1663, 1665, 1670, 1674, 1675, 1682, and 1683, and representative to the General Court in 1683, 1684, 1685 and 1686.⁷ But his military role may have been his primary focus in life. During King Philip’s War, he was said to have “commanded a fort” in Hingham.⁶ The fort was a garrison house, the place where he lived, which also provided a safe place for other settlers when the town came under attack. There were two other such forts in Hingham, and John was said to have headed one of them in addition to his own.⁶

Captain of the militia. (AI-generated image)

After Joshua Hobart died in 1682, John seems to have taken over the office of captain of the militia.⁶ He was called Captain John Smith, esquire in many Hingham town records, and sometimes he conducted marriages involving people in the military.⁸ His home was “on Main Street, opposite Leavitt Street,”⁶ which was in the heart of town, and he owned a lot of property in the area.

John wrote his will on April 27, 1695, and he died the same day.^1,7 The will was probated on June 6th, with an inventory of £1,106 18s,⁷ which was a substantial amount of money then. The inventory also showed that he owned one “Negro servant” valued at £15; slavery was fairly common in New England at that time. His wife Sarah lived on for many years, and she died on February 7, 1708.⁹

Children:
1. Sarah Smith — B. before 9 Jul 1646, Hingham, Massachusetts;¹⁰ D. before 8 Jun 1708, (probably) Massachusetts;¹¹ M. (1) James Stevens, 14 Mar 1664, Hingham, Massachusetts;¹² (2) Jonathan Franklin (?-1693), 1 Feb 1686, (probably) Massachusetts;¹³ (3) John Field, 30 Aug 1694, (probably) Massachusetts¹⁴

2. Mary Smith — B. before 9 Jul 1646, Hingham, Massachusetts;¹⁵ D. young¹⁶

3. Henry Smith — B. before 26 Mar 1648, Hingham, Massachusetts;¹⁷ D. 17 Apr 1678, (probably) Massachusetts¹⁸

4. Judith Smith — B. before 23 Feb 1651, Hingham, Massachusetts;¹⁹ M. Samuel Mason (1644-1705), 20 Jun 1670, Hingham Massachusetts²⁰

5. John Smith — B. before 18 Sep 1653, Hingham, Massachusetts;²¹ D. after 1 Nov 1728, (probably) Roxbury, Massachusetts;²² M. ______ Peck, 6 Apr 1680, Hingham, Massachusetts²³

6. Mary Smith — B. 10 Oct 1665, Hingham, Massachusetts;²⁴ D. young²⁵

Sources:
1    Christening record of John Smith, England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, FamilySearch.org
2    Find-a-Grave listing of Lt. John Smith
3    Death record of John Smith, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
4    Great Migration: Passengers of the Diligent, 1638
5    Friends of the Old Ship Meeting House (website)
6    History of the Town of Hingham, Massachusetts, Solomon Lincoln, 1893
7    WikiTree listing of John Smith
8    Town records show that a “Captain John Smith” was conducting marriages in Hingham in 1689 and 1690. One record stated, “Abraham Holms was married to Abigail Nicolls, widow the ninth day of April, 1895, by Captain John Smith, esquire, Justice of the Peace.”
9    Death record of Sarah Smith, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
10  Christening record of Sarah Smith, Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, FamilySearch.org
11  David Franklin’s letter of Guardianship to his uncle John Smith, Suffolk County (Massachusetts) probate records, 1636-1899, FamilySearch.org
12  The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Vol. 6, Robert Charles Anderson, p. 508
13  Birth record of John Franklin, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
14  Marriage record of John Field and Sarah Franklin, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
15  Christening record of Mary Smith (older), M., B. & C.
16  John’s daughter Mary, the twin of Sarah, disappeared from records after her christening.
17  Christening record of Henry Smith, M., B. & C.
18  Death record of Henry Smith, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
19  Christening record of Judith Smith, M., B. & C.
20  WikiTree listing of Judith (Smith) Mason
21  Christening record of John Smith, M., B. & C.
22  Probate file of John Smith of Roxbury, Massachusetts, Probate Records, 1636-1899, FamilySearch.org
23  WikiTree listing of John Smith
24  Birth record of Mary Smith (younger), M., B. & C.
25  John’s second daughter Mary disappeared from records after her birth.

Farmer in Early Gowanus — Cornelis Lambertszen Cool

B. about 1590 in (possibly) Doorn, Netherlands¹
M. (1) before 1615 in Netherlands¹
Wife: unknown
M. (2) about 1638 in New Amsterdam, New Netherland¹
Wife: Aeltje Braconie
D. before 30 Dec 1643 in Gowanus, New Netherland²

Cornelis Lambertszen Cool was one of many Dutch men who migrated to New Netherland early, but left little mark, and his surname died out when his only son apparently died childless.

The origins of Cornelis are almost completely unknown. Based on ages of his children, he was born in roughly 1590,¹ and his middle name suggests his father was Lambert Cool. Some researchers have said Cornelis was born in a place called Doorn,³ which was near Amsterdam, Netherlands; since no documentation supports this, it cannot be taken as fact. He got married to an unknown woman, and they had three children born between about 1615 and 1623.¹

Cornelis was said to have migrated to New Netherland during the mid- to late-1630s.² The earliest mention of him in America was on June 24, 1638 when he was mentioned as a plaintiff in a court case in New Amsterdam — he had sued two men named Cornelis and Jan Van Voorst concerning a debt he was owed. It’s likely that Cornelis arrived with his family at least a year or two before that, but this is speculation. At some point, he remarried to a woman named Aeltje Braconie;¹ it’s unknown if the marriage took place in the Netherlands or America. It was a second marriage for her, and she had a daughter from her first husband. Cornelis had no children with his second wife.

During this time, Cornelis’ name appeared in several court records. On August 26, 1638, he was involved in the sale of a horse to Claes Cornelissen.² Then on November 25th, Cornelis had a dispute with Jan Celes for “damages sustained by the defendant’s hogs.”¹ This would suggest the two men were neighbors, and it’s known that Jan Celes lived at what is now Soho. Another curious mention of Cornelis in court records was on March 21, 1639, when he made a declaration of the discharge of Grietje Reyniers for “improper conduct when a waiting girl at Pieter de Winter’s tavern in New Amsterdam.”²

Hogs invading a Manhattan farm. (AI-generated image)

Later that year, on May 17 1639, Cornelis bought 50 acres in Gowanus, with the patent for the land being granted on April 5, 1642.² This is where he apparently took his family and lived for the rest of his life. Gowanus was one of the many new settlements that began during the 1630s, and Cornelis was one of its first farmers; it’s possible that he cultivated tobacco there.⁴

Cornelis lived only about four more years. His wife Aeltje was named as a widow in a document dated December 30, 1643,² so he had died by that date. Cornelis two daughters each left descendants, his son disappeared from records after May 1642.

Children (all by his first wife):
1. Aeltje Cornelis Cool — B. about 1615, Netherlands;⁵ D. Jan 1683, Flatlands, New York;⁶ M. (1) Gerret Wolfertse van Couwenhoven (~1610-?), 24 Jan 1635, New Netherland;⁶ (2) Elbert Elbertszen Stoothof, 27 Aug 1645, New Amsterdam, New Netherland⁶

2. Aechtje Cornelis Cool — B. before 1623, Netherlands;⁷ D. before 21 Jul 1647, New Amsterdam, New Netherland;⁷ M. Claes Janszen (1613-1648), before 22 Aug 1639, New Netherland⁷

3. Lambert Cornelissen Cool — B. about 1627, Netherlands;⁸ D. after May 1642, (probably) New Netherland⁸

Sources:
1    Listing of Cornelis Lambertszen Cool in Brouwer Genealogy Database
2    “Aeltje Braconie-Baddie-Cool-Bredenbent Family Notes,” New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, V. 65, John Reynolds Totten, Jul 1934
3    WikiTree listing of Cornelis Lamberts Cool
4    Gowanus Canal (Wikipedia article)
5    Estimated birth year based on age at first marriage
6    Listing of Aeltje Cornelis Cool in Brouwer Genealogy Database
7    Listing of Aechtje Cornelis Cool in Brouwer Genealogy Database
8    Listing of Lambert Cornelissen Cool in Brouwer Genealogy Database

The Symbols of Death — Sarah ________

B. about 1626 in (possibly) Essex, England¹
M. (1) before 1652 in (probably) Massachusetts²
Husband: Jacob Parker
M. (2) 4 Aug 1675 in Malden, Massachusetts³
Husband: John Waite
D. 18 Jan 1708 in Malden, Massachusetts¹

Ornate tombstones are seemingly a random thing, tributes to a person who otherwise might not be remembered. When Sarah Waite died in 1708, those she left behind chose to honor her with a grave filled with carved symbols that were in vogue at the time.

Sarah’s origins are unknown; some claim her maiden name was Wyman, but this is unproven. From later records, we know that she was born in about 1626,¹ and circumstances would offer the assumption she was from somewhere in England. By 1652, she was married to Jacob Parker, a settler of Chelmsford, Massachusetts.² Between 1652 and 1667, she gave birth to nine children, all of whom survived childhood.

Jacob became the town clerk in Chelmsford, but sadly, in 1669, he died at the age of 42.⁴ This left Sarah to manage a household filled with young children; likely her 17-year-old son stepped in to help out. It wasn’t until August 4, 1675 that Sarah remarried to John Waite of Malden, Massachusetts;³ he was a widower with several children to look after. It’s interesting to note that both of Sarah’s husbands came from Essex, England, which would suggest that perhaps that’s where she was from.

John Waite was a noted settler of Malden, and he took command of a company during King Philip’s War.⁵ At some point, though, he became blind,⁵ and presumably Sarah took on a greater role in running the household. John died on September 26, 1693,⁶ leaving her a widow again. With many descendants, Sarah was presumably surrounded by loved ones when she passed away on January 18, 1708 at the age of 82.¹ She was the 3G grandmother of President Franklin Pierce.

When Sarah was buried in Malden’s Bell Rock Cemetery, the trend was to make a gravestone carved with lots of symbolism. On her marker we see a skull with wings, a basic representation of death. Beneath that is a panel containing an hourglass bookended by two Latin phrases. “Memento Mori” meant “remember to die,” a nod to mortality, and “fugit hora” was another way of saying that time flies, or that life is short. 

Grave of Sarah Wayte. (Source: Find-a-Grave)

One other element of Sarah’s tombstone is a distinct design of two narrow panels on either side with a face at the top and some inverted flower or foliage below it. This was a more unusual design; another gravestone that has it appears to be the work of the same carver and was roughly the same time and place as Sarah’s death.

Children (all by Jacob Parker):
1. Jacob Parker — B. May 1652, Massachusetts;² D. 31 Oct 1694, Malden, Massachusetts;² M. Joanna Call (1659-1737), before May 1677, Malden, Massachusetts²

2. Sarah Parker — B. 14 Jan 1654, Chelmsford, Massachusetts;⁷ D. 26 Sep 1739, Chelmsford, Massachusetts;⁸ M. Nathaniel Howard (1640-1709)⁸

3. Ruth Parker — B. about 1655, Chelmsford, Massachusetts;⁹ D. 18 Sep 1719, Chelmsford, Massachusetts;⁹ M. Pelatiah Adams (1646-1725), about 1673, Chelmsford, Massachusetts⁹

4. Thomas Parker — B. 28 Mar 1656, Chelmsford, Massachusetts;¹⁰ D. 8 May 1698, Chelmsford, Massachusetts;¹¹ M. Mary Fletcher (1658-1714), 21 Oct 1678, Chelmsford, Massachusetts¹²

5. Tabitha Parker — B. 26 Feb 1658, Chelmsford, Massachusetts;¹³ D. 31 Jan 1742, Chelmsford, Massachusetts;¹⁴ M. Stephen Peirce (1651-1733), 18 Nov 1676, Chelmsford, Massachusetts¹⁵

6. Rebecca Parker — B. 29 May 1661, Chelmsford, Massachusetts;¹⁶ D. 25 Mar 1754, Billerica, Massachusetts;¹⁷ M. (1) Jonathan Danforth (1659-1711), 27 Jun 1682, Billerica, Massachusetts;¹⁸ (2) Joseph Foster (1650-1721), 1718, Massachusetts¹⁷

7. Benjamin Parker — B. 8 Aug 1663, Chelmsford, Massachusetts;¹⁹ D. 14 Apr 1742, Chelmsford, Massachusetts;²⁰ M. Sarah Howard (1667-1741), 14 Jan 1691, Chelmsford, Massachusetts²¹

8. Rachel Parker — B. 9 Mar 1665, Chelmsford, Massachusetts;²² M. John Floyd, 1665-1724), before 20 Feb 1696, (probably) Massachusetts²³

9. Mary Parker — B. 8 Sep 1667, Chelmsford, Massachusetts;²⁴ D. 6 Jan 1763, Massachusetts;²⁵ M. Thomas Waite (1660-1742), before 19 Aug 1687, (probably) Massachusetts²⁶

Sources:
1    Find-a-Grave listing of Sarah (Wyman) Wayt
2    Find-a-Grave listing of Sergt. Jacob Parker (her son)
3    Marriage record of John Wayte and Sarah Parker, Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910, 1921-1924, FamilySearch.org
4    Death record of Jacob Parker, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
5    The Waite family of Malden, Mass., Deloraine Corey, 1913
6    Death record of John Waite, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
7    Birth record of Sarah Parker, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
8    Find-a-Grave listing of Sarah (Parker) Howard
9    Find-a-Grave listing of Ruth (Parker) Adams
10  Birth record of Thomas Parker, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
11  Death record of Thomas Parker, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
12  Marriage record of Thomas Parker and Mary Fletcher, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
13  Birth record of Tabitha Parker, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
14  Death record of Tabitha Parker, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
15  Marriage record of Stephen Peirce and Tabitha Parker, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
16  Birth record of Rebecca Parker, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
17  Find-a-Grave listing of Rebecca (Parker) Danforth -Foster
18  Marriage record of Jonathan Danforth and Rebecca Parker, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
19  Birth record of Benjamin Parker, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
20  Death record of Benjamin Parker, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
21  Marriage record of Benjamin Parker and Sarah Howard, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
22  Birth record of Rachel Parker, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
23  Birth record of John Floyd (Rachel’s son), M., T. C., V. & T. R.
24  Birth record of Mary Parker, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
25  Death record of Mary Waite, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
26  Birth record of Thomas Waite (Mary’s son), M., T. C., V. & T. R.

King’s Engineer in 1600s Paris — Bonaventure Desnaguets

B. about 1595 in France¹
M. about 1620 in France¹
Wife: Anne de Gauthier
D. before 29 Mar 1642 in Paris, France²

The first few decades of the 17th century were turbulent times in France, with its kings often engaged in religious warfare. This caused a need for men with the skills to design and maintain military fortifications, and Bonaventure Desnaguets was hired as an engineer.

Bonaventure was likely born somewhere near Paris in about 1595;¹ nothing is known of his family. His surname has been spelled many ways: Desnaguetz, Desnaguelz, Desnaguez; one researcher speculated that it had Flemish origins. After he came of age, Bonaventure married a woman named Anne de Gauthiers, possibly in Paris;¹ the “de” may suggest a noble status. They had five known children, one of whom was buried on June 24, 1627.² The other four children lived at least until 1642.²

During this time, Bonaventure worked as an Ingénieur du roi pour l'artillerie en France, which translates as “King’s engineer for artillery in France.”² The king at that time was Louis XIII, who reigned from 1610 to 1643, and was very active in confronting the Protestants in France. This meant civil war, and the construction of forts and barricades in various parts of the country. For this, the king had about 50 men who could plan what was needed; from the description of Bonaventure’s role which specifies “artillery,” it can be assumed that he had something to do with setting up and maintaining the weapons used in the fighting. 

Working on artillery in 17th-century France. (AI-generated image)

Bonaventure passed away while still a young man, and he was buried at St-Paul’s Church in Paris on March 29, 1642.² His children Anne, Antoine and Gaston were present at the burial. Wife Anne died in September of 1644.² The memory of this couple survives because oldest daughter Catherine-Françoise married a man who took her to Canada, where she left many descendants.

Children:
1. Catherine-Françoise Desnaguets — B. about 1621, Paris, France;³ D. before 10 Sep 1691, (probably) Paris, France;² M. Pierre Petit (~1621-?), after 21 Mar 1646, Paris, France²

2. Charles Desnaguets — D. 24 Jun 1627, Paris, France²

3. Anne Desnaguets — B. before 1642, (probably) Paris, France²

4. Antoine Desnaguets — B. before 1642, (probably) Paris, France²

5. Gaston Desnaguets — B. before 1642, (probably) Paris, France²

Sources:
1    Birth and marriage years estimated from estimated birth of daughter Catherine-Françoise
2    Fichier Origine listing of Catherine Desnaguetz
3    Marriage record of Antoine Juchereau and Anne-Charlotte Petit, which names mother of bride as deceased, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org

Victim of an Abusive Husband — Susannah __________

B. about 1626 in England¹
M. about 1647 in (probably) Massachusetts¹
Husband: Thomas Dutton
D. 27 Aug 1684 in Billerica, Massachusetts²

The story of Susannah Dutton sounds almost contemporary: her husband acted violently against her, the neighbors reported it as a crime, and under oath, she claimed it never happened. Remarkably, this took place in a town in New England — in the year 1661.

Susannah has unfortunately sketchy origins. Some have said her maiden name was Palmer, and she was born sometime during the 1620s, but there is no documentation for this.¹ Almost certainly she was born in England, not America, because migration to the Massachusetts colony more or less began in 1630. In about 1647, she married Thomas Dutton,¹ and the couple settled in the village of Reading. The first record of her was the birth of her first child, Thomas, on September 14, 1648.³

By September 1659, the family had moved to the town of Woburn,⁴ and Susannah had five more children, with the youngest having been born that year. She was holding the baby when the incident occurred that was overheard by the family next door — in some sort of argument, Thomas repeatedly hit her with a stick. What brought on his anger isn’t known, but Susannah was afraid he would hurt the child, and perhaps kill him. Two of the witnesses reported that she was “crying out between blows.” Susannah’s oldest daughter, 10-year-old Mary, ran away in fear, and hid at a neighbors’ house.⁵

The family who reported the beating was named Carter. It was two teenaged daughters who both heard and saw what happened, perhaps by peeking through the window of the Duttons’ house. The next day, their father, John Carter, went over to confront Thomas, and he could see that Susannah was still crying from the attack of her husband. And a day or so later, she confided to the Carters that she could “still feel the blows.”⁵

But when the case came to trial, Susannah told the court that her husband never hit her. He of course denied the charges, and presented character witnesses in the form of his neighbors from Reading: twenty-one people signed a statement saying his treatment of Susannah was always “tender and loving.”⁵ It’s easy to understand why Thomas claimed innocence, but why would Susannah go along with it? Perhaps she was embarrassed by her private situation being made public, but more likely was that her only future was with her husband, so the matter needed to be brushed aside. The court nonetheless decided that Thomas was guilty, and he was fined £5 for beating his wife.⁵

Testifying to the charges of abuse. (AI-generated image)

There was no further reported violence between Susannah and her husband. She had three more children with him, the youngest being born in 1669.⁶ The family moved to Billerica, where Susannah died on August 27, 1684.² Thomas remarried soon after, but passed away in 1687.⁷

Children:
1. Thomas Dutton – B. 14 Sep 1648, Reading, Massachusetts;³ D. 1 Jan 1728, Middlesex County, Massachusetts;³ M. (1) Rebecca Brabrook (1648-1721), 1 Jan 1679, Billerica, Massachusetts;⁸ (2) Sarah Converse (~1648-1738), Nov 1721⁹

2. Mary Dutton – B. 14 Sep 1651, Reading, Massachusetts;¹⁰ D. 9 Jul 1678, Billerica, Massachusetts;¹¹ M. Jacob Hamlet (~1641-1703), 21 Dec 1669, Billerica, Massachusetts¹²

3. Susannah Dutton – B. 27 Feb 1654, Reading, Massachusetts;¹³ D. Dec 1723, Billerica, Massachusetts;¹⁴ M. (1) John Durrant (1650-1692), 16 Nov 1670, Billerica, Massachusetts;¹⁵ (2) Justinian Holden (1644-1699), 6 Dec 1693, Woburn, Massachusetts¹⁴

4. John Dutton – B. 2 Mar 1656, Reading, Massachusetts;¹⁶ D. 7 Apr 1735, Billerica, Massachusetts;¹⁷ M. (1) Sarah Shedd (1658-1721), 20 Sep 1681, Billerica, Massachusetts;¹⁸ (2) Ruth Frost (?-1738), May 1721, Billerica, Massachusetts¹⁹

5. Elizabeth Dutton – B. 28 Jan 1659, Woburn, Massachusetts;⁴ D. 7 Apr 1698, Concord, Massachusetts;²⁰ M. William Baker (1650-1702), 5 May 1681, Woburn, Massachusetts²¹

6. Joseph Dutton – B. 25 Jan 1661, Woburn, Massachusetts;²² D. 24 Jan 1734, Haddam, Connecticut;²³ M. (1) Rebecca Merriam (1662-1693), 19 Aug 1685, Reading, Massachusetts;²⁴ (2) Mary Cutler (1663-1744), 7 Dec 1693, Charlestown, Massachusetts²⁵

7. Sarah Dutton – B. 5 Mar 1662, Woburn, Massachusetts;²⁶ D. about 1750, (probably) Reading, Massachusetts;²⁷ M. Samuel Lewis (1641-1698), 2 Apr 1683, Charlestown, Massachusetts²⁸

8. James Dutton – B. 22 Aug 1665, Woburn, Massachusetts;²⁹ D. 12 Jul 1755, Chelmsford, Massachusetts;³⁰ M. Mary Robbins, 9 Dec 1690, Groton, Massachusetts³⁰

9. Benjamin Dutton – B. 19 Feb 1669, Woburn, Massachusetts⁶

Sources:
1    Find-a-Grave listing of Susanna (Palmer) Dutton
2    Death record of Susannah Dutton, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
3    Find-a-Grave listing of Thomas Dutton Jr.
4     Birth record of Elizabeth Dutton, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
5    Sex in Middlesex: Popular Mores in a Massachusetts County, 1649-1699, Roger Thompson, 1989
6    Birth record of Benjamin Dutton, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
7    Find-a-Grave listing of Thomas Dutton, Sr.
8     Marriage record of Thomas Dutton and Rebecca Draper, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
9     Marriage record of Thomas Dutton and Sarah Converse, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
10  Birth record of Mary Dutton, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
11  Death record of Mary Hamlet, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
12   Marriage record of Jacob Hamlet and Mary Dutton, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
13  Birth record of Susannah Dutton, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
14  WikiTree listing of Susannah (Dutton) Holden
15  Marriage record of John Durrant and Susannah Dutton, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
16  Birth record of John Dutton, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
17  Find-a-Grave listing of John Dutton
18  Marriage record of John Dutton and Sarah Shedd, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
19  Marriage record of John Dutton and Ruth Frost, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
20  Death record of Elizabeth Dutton Baker, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
21  Marriage record of William Baker and Elizabeth Dutton, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
22  Birth record of Joseph Dutton, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
23  Find-a-Grave listing of Joseph Dutton
24  Marriage record of Joseph Dutton and Rebecca Hitch, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
25  WikiTree listing of Joseph Dutton
26  Birth record of Sarah Dutton, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
27  WikiTree listing of Sarah (Dutton) Lewis
28  Marriage record of Samuel Lewis and Sarah Dutton, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
29  Birth record of James Dutton, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
30  WikiTree listing of James Dutton

Woman Who Served on a Jury in 1691 — Sarah Smith

B. before 19 Jul 1646 in Hingham, Massachusetts¹
M. (1) 14 Mar 1664 in Hingham, Massachusetts²
Husband: James Stevens
M. (2) before 21 Dec 1687 in (probably) Hingham, Massachusetts³
Husband: Jonathan Franklin
M. (3) 30 Aug 1694 in (probably) Massachusetts⁴
Husband: John Field
D. before 8 Jun 1708 in (probably) Massachusetts⁵

It takes some very unusual circumstances for a female in Puritan New England to have served on a jury, but that’s what happened with Sarah Smith Franklin of Haverhill, Massachusetts.

Sarah’s parents were John Smith and Sarah Woodward, and she was christened on July 19, 1646 in the town of Hingham, Massachusetts.¹ She was the oldest of their 7 known children. Sarah’s father was a large landowner in town, and served as selectman and captain of the militia for many years.⁶

On March 14, 1664, Sarah married James Stevens, who was also from Hingham.² They had several children, but only two are known, a daughter born in 1670,⁷ and another born in 1677.⁸ James moved the family to Boston by 1674, but he seems to have abandoned Sarah for a while, causing his father Henry Stevens to step in and provide for her.⁹ James did return, but he passed away by the time his father wrote a will on September 12, 1688.¹⁰

In fact, he must have been dead before December 21, 1687 because Sarah was married to another man, Jonathan Franklin, an immigrant from England. That was the date Sarah gave birth to a son fathered by Jonathan,³ and by 1692, she had two more. They lived for a time in Hingham where Jonathan worked as a tanner,¹¹ and during this time, Sarah appeared in court records, consulted for her expertise in childbirth. 

Living in Boston. (AI-generated image)

The court case that solicited the participation of Sarah concerned a neighboring family in Hingham, Michael Emerson and his unmarried daughter Elizabeth. She was 26-years-old in May 1691 when she apparently gave birth to twins, and then proceeded to murder them. The bodies were discovered at her father’s house, buried in a shallow grave in the yard. And while six men were summoned to the house to examine the corpses, six women including Sarah were tasked with looking at Elizabeth to determine whether she had just given birth. This was probably the only type of instance where a woman was brought into the legal process in this way; a document was produced afterwards with the twelve people listed as “jurors.”¹²

1691 record of jury in the case of Elizabeth Emerson.

Elizabeth was found guilty and was hung from gallows in Boston on June 8, 1693.¹³ By that time, Sarah was no longer living in the Boston area and had her own violent tragedy to deal with. The family had moved to the town of Haverhill, on the northern border of Massachusetts. The region was often threatened by raids of tribes who lived nearby, and on March 19, 1693, Sarah’s husband Jonathan was murdered and scalped.¹⁴ Soon after, Sarah returned to Hingham with her three boys, and on August 30, 1694, she remarried to a man named John Field.⁴

Sarah had one more child with her third husband who was born in 1695.¹⁵ She died before June 8, 1708 when her underaged son David was mentioned as being assigned her brother as a guardian.⁵

Children by James Stevens:
1. Judith Stevens — B. 11 Dec 1670, Hingham, Massachusetts;⁷ D. 31 Oct 1732, Preston, Connecticut;¹⁶ M: (1) Jonathan Brewster (1664-1704), 18 Dec 1690, Norwich, Connecticut;¹⁷ (2) Christopher Huntington, Oct 1706, Norwich, Connecticut¹⁸

2. Elizabeth Stevens — 11 Jun 1677, Boston, Massachusetts;⁸ D. 17 Apr 1740, Middleborough, Massachusetts;¹⁹ M. Joseph Palmer (1665-1743), 9 Jan 1699, Hingham, Massachusetts²⁰

Children by Jonathan Franklin:
1. John Franklin — B. 21 Dec 1687, Boston, Massachusetts;³ D. before 1729;²¹ M. Lydia Tower (1687-), 15 Mar 1712, Hingham, Massachusetts²²

2. Jonathan Franklin — B. about 1690, (possibly) Hingham, Massachusetts;²³ M. Esther Parmalee (~1698-1788), 2 Dec 1718, Killingsworth, Connecticut²⁴

3. David Franklin — B. 4 May 1692, Haverhill, Massachusetts;²⁵ D. before 11 Sep 1739, (probably) Boston, Massachusetts;²⁶ M. Elizabeth Ayers (~1691-1752), 18 Jun 1713, Boston, Massachusetts²⁷

Child by John Field:
1. John Field — B. 19 Jan 1695, Massachusetts;¹⁵ D. after 21 Nov 1728²¹

Sources:
1    Christening record of Sarah Smith, Massachusetts, Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, FamilySearch.org
2    The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Vol. 6, Robert Charles Anderson, p. 508
3    Birth record of John Franklin, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
4    Marriage record of John Field and Sarah Franklin, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
5    David Franklin’s letter of Guardianship to his uncle John Smith, Suffolk County (Massachusetts) probate records, 1636-1899, FamilySearch.org
6    History of the Town of Hingham, Massachusetts, Solomon Lincoln, 1893
7    Birth record of Judith Stevens, M., B. & C.
8    Birth record of Elizabeth Stevens, M., B. & C.
9    Henry Smith’s 1674 proclamation about Sarah Stevens, Suffolk Deeds, Liber IX, 63, 64
10  Henry Smith’s will, 1688, Boston Probate Records, 1636-1766, FamilySearch.org
11  Land deed involving Jonathan Franklin refers to him as “skinner and glover,” Essex Deeds, 1701-1705, FamilySearch.org
12  1691 court record naming the 12 members of the jury for the case of Elizabeth Emerson
13  “Puritan Child Killers: Hannah Duston and Her Sister,” New England Historical Society
14  Death record of Jonathan Franklin, Haverhill Vital Records, 1640-1849, FamilySearch.org
15  Birth record of John Field, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
16  Find-a-Grave listing of Judith (Stevens) Brewster Huntington
17  Marriage record of Jonathan Brewster and Judith Stevens, Connecticut, Vital Records, Prior to 1850, FamilySearch.org
18  Marriage record of Christopher Huntington and Judith Brewster, C., V. R., P. to 1850
19  Find-a-Grave listing of Elizabeth (Stevens) Palmer
20  Marriage record of Thomas Palmer and Elizabeth Stevens, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
21  Probate file of John Smith of Roxbury, Massachusetts, Probate Records, 1636-1899, FamilySearch.org
22  Marriage record of John Franklin and Lydia Tower, Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, Ancestry.com
23  Estimated birth year based position as middle child of Jonathan and Sarah Franklin.
24  Marriage record of Jonathan Franklin and Esther Parmalee, C., V. R., P. to 1850
25  Birth record of David Franklin, M., B. & C.
26  Marriage record of David Franklin and Elizabeth Ayers, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
27  Probate file of David Franklin, M., P. R.

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.