B. about 1742 in Essex County, New Jersey1
M. (1) before 14 Jun 1779 in (probably) New Jersey2
Wife: Nellie ________
M. (2) after Aug 1801 in (probably) Kentucky3
Wife: Ann Trotter
D. after Aug 1801 in Kentucky or Ohio4
John “Jesse” Hand left a trail of adventures during his life, but unfortunately not much of a trail of paper. Most of what we know about him (or think we know) comes from stories passed down through his son Eli. Without documents, a lot of his saga is speculative, but one thing seems certain: I inherited a significant amount of DNA from Jesse and his wife, and this has led me to draw my own conclusions (see below).
There is some uncertainty as to what his name actually was. Eli Hand’s descendants used the name Jesse, so that’s what I will call him here, but they also admitted that his real name might have been John.5 If you consider that it was, he appears to have been the youngest child of Nehemiah and Lydia Hand of Essex County, New Jersey, and was born in about 1742.1 Nehemiah’s will written in 1772 mentions a son named John, but it seems that his older brothers got all of their father’s land.6
Eli Hand’s descendants claimed that Jesse had worked on a boat up and down the Delaware River, but this is unproven. If it was true, this may be how he came to marry a young woman who was “a Swede” named Nellie. According to family stories, Nellie had children, named Hannah, Eli and George, but my DNA suggests they also had a daughter who was the mother of my 4G grandmother Mary Fleming (1819-1907), and two sons named Aaron and Jeremiah.7 There may also have been a son James, but he’s too speculative to include here.8 At least three of the children were probably born in New Jersey,9 probably in Essex County and possibly Scotch Plains, and the youngest child, George, was probably born in Virginia.10
Jesse seems to have moved to Kentucky shortly after the American Revolution, just as land opportunities were opening up. The few documents where Jesse’s name seems to have appeared were on Kentucky tax lists, first in Washington County, then in Bourbon County. The tax lists refer to a “John Hand,” not Jesse Hand, so if these lists really show Jesse, he seems to have been in Washington County from 1792 to 1800,11 and in Bourbon County from 1801 to 1804.12 His farm ranged in size from 50 to 100 acres, and in the later years he was shown to have owned a couple of slaves.
One of the most colorful anecdotes about Jesse concerned his “religious conversion” at an event called the Cane Ridge Revival Meeting. In 1801, a large tent was pitched in a Bourbon County field, and people came from miles around to attend.13 Jesse and Nellie were among them, and as the story goes, Jesse was at first reluctant to join in. After the first day of the revival, he said to Nellie that if she “shouted,” he would, too. To shout from the audience meant that a person embraced the religious message. The next day, Nellie shouted, so they were both now believers.14 A modern-day way to say this was that they were born again.
Nellie died within a couple of years, and Jesse was said to have remarried to a woman named Anne Trotter.3 Sometime around 1810, several members of the Hand family left Kentucky for a location in Ohio near Chillicothe,3 and this was where Jesse likely passed away.4 His widow, known to the family as Granny Ann, was remembered fondly by Jesse’s grandchildren,3 and so survived him by many years.
DNA that ties the Hands together
My connection to John “Jesse” Hand has no paper trail, and there are also no documents leading to the families of Aaron or Jeremiah. But I determined the relationship by doing a deep dive into one long shared segment of over 75 cM on chromosome 5. I’ve detailed this in my report, Joining Hands: Using my DNA to Reunite a Midwest Family Named Hand. This segment is shared with me by descendants of Eli, George, Jeremiah and Aaron, and has a recombination line roughly in the middle of it that was created by one of my ancestors. The descendants of the four Hand men do not cross the line, and many matches butt up against it, with Eli, Jeremiah and Aaron on one side, and George on the other. In my report I give a detailed explanation why I think this can only mean they are brothers, and that my Hand ancestor and Hannah are their sisters.15
Debunking Jeremiah Hand’s incorrect pedigree
Some researchers have erroneously identified Jeremiah Hand who died in Greene County, Illinois in 1851 as being the son of David and Martha (Yates) Hand of Cape May, New Jersey.16 The assumption was made purely on the fact that Jeremiah was born in New Jersey, and his rough age on the 1850 census matches the Cape May guy. The name “Jeremiah Hand” appeared as the oldest son on the will of David Hand, written on May 16, 1796 at Cape May, New Jersey.17 The will was probated with Jeremiah being sworn in as one of the executors on April 10, 1804 in Cape May.18
A biography of one of the descendants of our Jeremiah written in 1905 said that Jeremiah was “reared in Hardy County, Virginia.”19 That doesn’t jive with the story of David and Martha Hand who lived their entire lives in Cape May. Jeremiah’s wife was Mary Badgley, born December 14, 1775 in Hardy County, Virginia,20 and died before the 1850 census.21 She was the daughter of Reverend David Badgley, who was a minister and one of the first non-French white settlers of what is now Illinois.22 The 1850 census showed that Jeremiah’s son Solomon was born in Illinois in about 1802, so Jeremiah appears to have been living way out west by the time his supposed father died in 1804.
This is where the context of history plays into identifying a false genealogical claim. It’s highly unlikely that our Jeremiah could have travelled back to Cape May to act as executor on his father’s will. In an era before railroads, to get from Illinois to the east coast at that time was very difficult. Communication was slow, too, and someone out in Illinois wouldn’t even get the news about a family member’s death for months.
For all of these reasons, supported by what I have found in my DNA, Jeremiah Hand of Greene County, Illinois was definitely not the son of David and Martha Hand of Cape May, New Jersey. This link should be removed from all genealogy data on the Internet.
Children (all by Nellie ______):
1. Aaron Hand — B. before 1770, (probably) Essex County, New Jersey;23 D. before 1840, (probably) Jackson County, Indiana;24 M. Ruth Benjamin, before Apr 182025
2. Jeremiah Hand — B. about 1772, (probably) Essex County, New Jersey;21 D. Nov 1851, Greenfield, Greene County, Illinois;26 M. Mary Badgley (1775-?), before about 1796, (probably) Hardy County, Virginia (now West Virginia)19
3. Hannah Hand — B. before 1779, (probably) Essex County, New Jersey;27 D. before 1850, (probably) Crawford County, Illinois;28 M. Jacob Smith (~1767-1860), before 2 Jul 1795, (probably) Hardy County, Virginia29
4. Eli Hand — B. 14 Jun 1779, Scotch Plains, New Jersey;30 D. 26 Mar 1857, Crawford County, Illinois;31 M. Jane Fleming (~1779-1854), 14 Jul 1804, Washington County, Kentucky32
5. ________ Hand — B. about 1780, (probably) Essex County, New Jersey;33 D. after 1830, (probably) Parke County, Indiana;34 M. “James” Fleming (~1780-?), before 24 Jan 1802, (probably) Washington County, Kentucky35
6. George Callahan Hand — B. about 1789, (probably) Hardy County, Virginia;36 D. 25 Sep 1845, McLean County, Illinois;37 M. Barbara Ann Crose (1787-1870), 7 Jun 1808, Ross County, Ohio38
Sources:
1 Jesse’s birth year is a rough estimate based on that he was the youngest child of Nehemiah and Lydia Hand, plus that he had a child Aaron who was born in the 1760s.
2 Nellie is the name remembered by the descendants of Eli Hand in the book Hand Family Scrapbook, compiled by Margaret Smith Isaac, 1986 (p. 3). The estimated date of their marriage is based on that their son Aaron was born during the 1760s.
3 Hand Family Scrapbook, p. 5
4 It’s unknown if Jesse died before or after the Hand family moved to Ohio, but it was after the date of the Cane Ridge Revival Meeting, which was in August of 1801.
5 The Hand Family Scrapbook says on page 1: “Our searching has been further confounded by a suggestion that Jesse Hand’s given name might have been John instead of Jesse.” The footnote for this (on page 7) says: “From a letter written August 11, 1932, by John Raymond Hand of Downers Grove, Illinois … to Arthur W. Hand of Robinson, Illinois … ‘As your grandfather and I worked it out, Eli Hand was the son of Jesse (or John) …’ “ Later in the footnote is this: “Jesse Hand’s great-granddaughter, Margaret Lucretia (Shepherd) Mitchell, Hand family historian, in one of her papers on the Hand family stated that her mother, Mary Ann (Hand) Shepherd Franklin, was not sure if her grandfather’s name was Jesse or John.”
6 Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Vol. V, 1771-1780, p. 226
7 Joining Hands: Using my DNA to Reunite a Midwest Family Named Hand, Laura Mitchell, 2026
8 Montgomery County, Kentucky Tax Books, 1797-1875, FamilySearch.org
9 Jeremiah Hand and Eli Hand were listed in the 1850 U.S. Census each with New Jersey as a birthplace. The sister who was married to “James” Fleming had two daughters Eleanor and Mary who each gave New Jersey as their mother’s birth place on the 1880 U.S. Census.
10 George’s supposed birth place of Virginia is based on where the family likely lived in 1789. His children who were alive for the 1880 U.S. Census gave Virginia, Ohio or Kentucky as their father’s birth place.
11 Washington County, Kentucky Tax Books, 1792-1875, FamilySearch.org
12 Bourbon County, Kentucky Tax Books, 1787-1878, FamilySearch.org
13 Cane Ridge Revival (Wikipedia article)
14 Hand Family Scrapbook, p. 4
15 See pages 26 to 37 of Joining Hands: Using my DNA to Reunite a Midwest Family Named Hand
16 This wrong connection is on Jeremiah’s Find-a-Grave listing, on his WikiTree listing, on the FamilySearch family tree, and on 562 Ancestry family trees.
17 New Jersey, U.S., Abstract of Wills, V. 39, p. 196
18 David Hand’s probate records, Wills, Surrogate’s Office, Cape May county, 1804-1862
19 Past and Present of Greene County, Illinois, The S.J. Parke Pub. Co.,1905, pp. 350-351
20 Find-a-Grave listing of Mary (Badgley) Hand
21 1850 U.S. Census, Greene County, Illinois
22 Find-a-Grave listing of Rev. David Badgley
23 1830 U.S. Census, Jackson County, Indiana
24 Aaron Hand was not listed on the 1840 U.S. Census and is presumed to have died before that date.
25 The name Ruth Benjamin appears on the death certificate of their daughter Matilda Hosea, who died on August 17, 1915 (Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017, Ancestry.com). Their oldest known son Hiram was born in April 1820, according to his listing on the 1900 U.S. Census in Barr, Daviess, Indiana.
26 WikiTree listing of Jeremiah Hand
27 The 1840 U.S. Census in Crawford County, Illinois establishes her birth year. This was before the family moved to Virginia, so she was born in New Jersey.
28 She was not with her husband Jacob Smith on the 1850 U.S. Census in Crawford County, Illinois.
29 Illinois Historical: Crawford County Biographical, 1909, edited by Paul Selby, p. 738
30 Hand Family Scrapbook, p. 33
31 Hand Family Scrapbook, p. 34
32 Marriage record of Eli Hand and Jane Fleming, Kentucky County Marriages, 1797-1954, FamilySearch.org
33 In the 1830 census in Parke County, there was a woman in her 40s living in her son Eli H. Fleming’s house. It’s likely that this was his mother as a widow, establishing a rough age for her. Daughters Eleanor and Mary gave their mother’s birth place as New Jersey on the 1880 U.S. Census.
34 She seems to have been her son’s household in 1830, but doesn’t seem to be in the 1840 U.S. Census.
35 The Find-a-Grave listing of her oldest known child James Fleming gives his birth date as June 24, 1802.
36 His age was 50-59 on his listing in the 1840 U.S. Census in McLean County, Illinois. Judging from the stories of Eli Hand’s descendants, the family had relocated to Hardy County, Virginia by that time.
37 Find-a-Grave listing of George Callahan Hand
38 Marriage record of George Hand and Barbara Ann Crose, Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993, Ancestry.com
Thursday, September 24, 2026
Friday, August 28, 2026
Of a Staten Island Family — Jan Jansen Van Pelt
B. about 1680 in (probably) Staten Island, New York1
M. before 22 Oct 1710 in (probably) Staten Island, New York2
Wife: Aeltje Hooglandt
D. before 22 Mar 1762 in (probably) Staten Island, New York3
There is little known about the life of Jan Jansen Van Pelt, aside from the detailed will that he left, and a few baptismal records from his church.
Jan’s parents were said to be Jan Teunissen Van Pelt and Maria Pieterse, and he was one of nine children. His birth was in about 1680, although this a rough estimate; he was likely born on Staten Island, where his father was a prominent man.1 Staten Island was in the process of being settled by Dutch families and others from Manhattan and Brooklyn, and by 1698, the population was 727.4
Jan first appeared in records on a 1710 baptism of a daughter, Marritje (a Dutch variation of Mary), at the Reformed Dutch Church of Staten Island;2 the records for that year didn’t list the mother of the child, so it’s an assumption that this was him. Two other baptisms with Jan Van Pelt as the father gave the mother’s name as Aeltije Hooglandt.5,6 It’s unknown what her connection is to the Hooglandt family of early New York. Some sources claim that there were several other children,2 but they can be eliminated because the baptisms identified the father as “Jacob Van Pelt,” which was clearly not him. Jan and Aeltje were named as witnesses in many baptismal records of the Reformed Dutch Church of Port Richmond.
It’s likely that Jan, or John as he was known later in life, worked as a farmer. Books on the Van Pelt family say that he was the captain of a sloop that sailed from New York to North Carolina, but there is no original source for this.2 Given that Staten Island had easy access to the New York Harbor, it’s possible that it was true.
Jan was about 80-years-old when he made out his will dated November 11, 1761,3 revealing most of what we know about him. He mentioned his wife Aeltje, leaving her their furniture, and suggesting that the executors of his estate would make sure she would get the support she needed. Of his children, he only named daughters Mary and Sara, and both of them were already dead, so the heirs were their children. Specifically he listed Mary’s son John Van Tuyl, and Sara’s children Aylte Symonsen, Van Pelt Symonsen, Akert, Marytie, Elizabeth, Symon, Johanes, and Evert.
Jan’s probate was complete on March 22, 1762, so he passed away by that date.3 It isn’t known what became of Aeltje after he was gone.
Children:
1. Maritje (or Mary) Van Pelt — B. (possibly) 22 Oct 1710, Staten Island, New York;2 D. after 2 Jun 1734, Staten Island, New York;7 M. Abraham Van Tuyl (~1714-1791), (probably) Staten Island, New York7
2. Sara Van Pelt — B. before 25 Jan 1719, Staten Island, New York;5 D. before 11 Nov 1761;3 M. Simon Simonse, before 1736, Staten Island, New York2
3. Catalyntje Van Pelt — before 16 Oct 1720, Staten Island, New York6
Sources:
1 Birth year is rough estimate based on older brother Pieter being born in 1680
2 A Genealogy of the Van Pelt Family, Effie M. Smith, 1913
3 Abstracts of Wills on File in the Surrogate’s Office, City of New York, 1893, pp. 282-283
4 Timeline of Staten Island (Wikipedia article)
5 Baptismal record of Sara Van Pelt, U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639-1989, Ancestry.com
M. before 22 Oct 1710 in (probably) Staten Island, New York2
Wife: Aeltje Hooglandt
D. before 22 Mar 1762 in (probably) Staten Island, New York3
There is little known about the life of Jan Jansen Van Pelt, aside from the detailed will that he left, and a few baptismal records from his church.
Jan’s parents were said to be Jan Teunissen Van Pelt and Maria Pieterse, and he was one of nine children. His birth was in about 1680, although this a rough estimate; he was likely born on Staten Island, where his father was a prominent man.1 Staten Island was in the process of being settled by Dutch families and others from Manhattan and Brooklyn, and by 1698, the population was 727.4
Jan first appeared in records on a 1710 baptism of a daughter, Marritje (a Dutch variation of Mary), at the Reformed Dutch Church of Staten Island;2 the records for that year didn’t list the mother of the child, so it’s an assumption that this was him. Two other baptisms with Jan Van Pelt as the father gave the mother’s name as Aeltije Hooglandt.5,6 It’s unknown what her connection is to the Hooglandt family of early New York. Some sources claim that there were several other children,2 but they can be eliminated because the baptisms identified the father as “Jacob Van Pelt,” which was clearly not him. Jan and Aeltje were named as witnesses in many baptismal records of the Reformed Dutch Church of Port Richmond.
At a Staten Island baptism. (AI-generated image)
It’s likely that Jan, or John as he was known later in life, worked as a farmer. Books on the Van Pelt family say that he was the captain of a sloop that sailed from New York to North Carolina, but there is no original source for this.2 Given that Staten Island had easy access to the New York Harbor, it’s possible that it was true.
Jan was about 80-years-old when he made out his will dated November 11, 1761,3 revealing most of what we know about him. He mentioned his wife Aeltje, leaving her their furniture, and suggesting that the executors of his estate would make sure she would get the support she needed. Of his children, he only named daughters Mary and Sara, and both of them were already dead, so the heirs were their children. Specifically he listed Mary’s son John Van Tuyl, and Sara’s children Aylte Symonsen, Van Pelt Symonsen, Akert, Marytie, Elizabeth, Symon, Johanes, and Evert.
Jan’s probate was complete on March 22, 1762, so he passed away by that date.3 It isn’t known what became of Aeltje after he was gone.
Children:
1. Maritje (or Mary) Van Pelt — B. (possibly) 22 Oct 1710, Staten Island, New York;2 D. after 2 Jun 1734, Staten Island, New York;7 M. Abraham Van Tuyl (~1714-1791), (probably) Staten Island, New York7
2. Sara Van Pelt — B. before 25 Jan 1719, Staten Island, New York;5 D. before 11 Nov 1761;3 M. Simon Simonse, before 1736, Staten Island, New York2
3. Catalyntje Van Pelt — before 16 Oct 1720, Staten Island, New York6
Sources:
1 Birth year is rough estimate based on older brother Pieter being born in 1680
2 A Genealogy of the Van Pelt Family, Effie M. Smith, 1913
3 Abstracts of Wills on File in the Surrogate’s Office, City of New York, 1893, pp. 282-283
4 Timeline of Staten Island (Wikipedia article)
5 Baptismal record of Sara Van Pelt, U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639-1989, Ancestry.com
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Among the Gentry of Colonial Virginia — John Chiles
B. about 1666 in Jamestown, Virginia1,2
M. (1) before 29 Sep 1693 in (probably) King and Queen County, Virginia2
Wife: Mary _______
M. (2) before 23 Oct 1698 in (probably) King and Queen County, Virginia2,3
Wife: Eleanor (possibly) Webber
D. about 1723 in King William County, Virginia2
The House of Burgesses in colonial Virginia was a legislative body that worked in tandem with the English crown, giving the men who lived in the colony a voice in their own affairs. Inspired by the English House of Commons, it would in turn one day inspire the creation of the U.S. House of Representatives. And one man who served in it during the early 18th century was John Chiles.
John had been born in about 1666 to Walter Chiles and Mary Page, the second of their two children.1 He was likely born at Kemp House in Jamestown,2 which claims to have been the first brick dwelling in America.4 His father and both of his grandfathers had also been members of the House of Burgesses,2 and his paternal grandfather was elected to it the first year it existed.5
All of John’s heritage was from the gentry class of Virginia, defined as large land-owners of English descent who were not of the nobility. The colony was founded in 1607 by a rougher mix of men; the success of it didn’t take hold until the 1620s and 1630s when men with a little money came over and acquired huge amounts of land. The families of these settlers would dominate Virginia for centuries, and many of course were among the founding fathers of the United States. Unfortunately slavery was also a big part of their story, and accumulating wealth off the labor of others allowed the gentry class to participate in local government.
In addition to inheriting Kemp House after his father died, John owned over 1,200 acres in what is now King William County, Virginia.6 This was a narrow strip of land formed by two small rivers (the Pamunkey and Mattaponi) coming together to form a larger river (the York). Wealthier Virginians were acquiring rich-soiled farmland along the rivers and turning them into successful tobacco plantations, and this seems to be what John did.
There is only sketchy information about John’s two marriages and his children. We know that his first wife was named Mary from a document dated September 29, 1693,2 and that by about 1697, they had produced a son and two daughters. The girls aren’t identified by their first names, but the boy was called Walter.2 Then Mary died, and John married a woman named Eleanor,2 with whom he fathered four more children. As with most families of colonial Virginia, the lack of vital records doesn’t offer us complete lists of offspring, and there may have been many more children in John’s family.
As early as 1693, John was elected to the House of Burgesses.7 Twice he was mentioned as a messenger, which was a person who sometimes interacted with other English colonies. And in 1702, John performed the duties of “mace bearer.”2 The mace was a ceremonial staff which represented the authority who ruled above the House — in this case the crown of England. When the members gathered, the bearer marched in holding the mace in front of him, to signal that the session could officially begin. The tradition of mace bearer is still practiced today in the U.S. House of Representatives with an eagle emblem instead of a crown.
Besides his plantations, one of John’s business interests included part ownership of a ship named The Westover from 1700 to 1702.2 It was a sloop of forty tons, built in Virginia in 1693, and he owned it with William Byrd and William Randolph, two important members of Virginia’s gentry class. Byrd was considered the founder of Richmond, Virginia, and Randolph would become the great-grandfather of Thomas Jefferson.
John continued serving in the House of Burgesses until 1723 when he was mentioned in a report issued on May 10th that implied that he had just died.2 He was only about 57 at the time of his death and didn’t seem to leave a will. John’s wife Eleanor survived him, remarrying to a man named Edward Hickman, and moving to Albemarle County.8 She was still living in 1758.8
Children by Mary _______:
1. Walter Chiles — B. 1690s, (probably) King and Queen County, Virginia;2 D. 1760, Amelia County, Virginia2
2. _______ (female) Chiles — B. 1690s, (probably) King and Queen County, Virginia;2 D. before 1760;2 M. William Carr2
3. _______ (female) Chiles — B. 1690s, (probably) King and Queen County, Virginia;2 D. before 1760;2 M. Joseph Sutherland2,9
Children by Eleanor ________:
1. Henry Chiles — B. 23 Oct 1698, King and Queen County, Virginia;10 D. 10 Jun 1763, Spotsylvania County, Virginia;10 M. (1) Mercy Webb (1696-1750), 1735, Virginia;10 (2) Mary Chiles (1704-1759); (3) Susannah Dicken (1713-1784)10
2. Susannah Chiles — B. 28 Apr 1700, King and Queen County, Virginia;11 D. 29 Jun 1754, Louisa County, Virginia;11 M. Joseph Martin (~1700-?), 1736, Virginia11
3. John Chiles — B. about 1700, (probably) King and Queen County, Virginia;12 D. before 10 Oct 1774, (probably) Louisa County, Virginia12
4. Jane Chiles — B. about 1704, Virginia;13 M. John W. Wright13
Sources:
1 The year 1666 is a rough estimate based on his parents and his own adulthood. According to one source, John Chiles witnessed a deed in 1674, and assuming he was an adult, his birth year would have been in the mid-1650s. But his mother Mary (Page) Chiles could not have been born before the 1640s.
2 “Walter Chiles II,” Virginia Lee Hutchinson Davis, Tidewater Virginia Families, 2004, pp. 215-220
3 WikiTree listing of John and Eleanor’s oldest son Henry Chiles
4 A Timeline for Structures at Jamestown related to the Chiles Family (website)
5 “Walter Chiles I,” Virginia Lee Hutchinson Davis, Tidewater Virginia Families, 2004, pp. 209-213
6 WikiTree article of John Chiles
7 The Compendium of American Genealogy, Volume VII, p. 194
8 WikiTree listing of Elender (Webber) Hickman
9 Joseph Sutherland’s son Fendall appears on several documents associated with Walter Chile’s property and estate, but Fendall is too young to be the Sutherland man who married the Chiles woman, so it’s inferred it was his father Joseph.
10 WikiTree listing of Henry Chiles
11 WikiTree listing of Susannah (Chiles) Martin
12 WikiTree listing of John Chiles (the son)
13 WikiTree listing of Jane (Chiles) Wright
M. (1) before 29 Sep 1693 in (probably) King and Queen County, Virginia2
Wife: Mary _______
M. (2) before 23 Oct 1698 in (probably) King and Queen County, Virginia2,3
Wife: Eleanor (possibly) Webber
D. about 1723 in King William County, Virginia2
The House of Burgesses in colonial Virginia was a legislative body that worked in tandem with the English crown, giving the men who lived in the colony a voice in their own affairs. Inspired by the English House of Commons, it would in turn one day inspire the creation of the U.S. House of Representatives. And one man who served in it during the early 18th century was John Chiles.
John had been born in about 1666 to Walter Chiles and Mary Page, the second of their two children.1 He was likely born at Kemp House in Jamestown,2 which claims to have been the first brick dwelling in America.4 His father and both of his grandfathers had also been members of the House of Burgesses,2 and his paternal grandfather was elected to it the first year it existed.5
All of John’s heritage was from the gentry class of Virginia, defined as large land-owners of English descent who were not of the nobility. The colony was founded in 1607 by a rougher mix of men; the success of it didn’t take hold until the 1620s and 1630s when men with a little money came over and acquired huge amounts of land. The families of these settlers would dominate Virginia for centuries, and many of course were among the founding fathers of the United States. Unfortunately slavery was also a big part of their story, and accumulating wealth off the labor of others allowed the gentry class to participate in local government.
In addition to inheriting Kemp House after his father died, John owned over 1,200 acres in what is now King William County, Virginia.6 This was a narrow strip of land formed by two small rivers (the Pamunkey and Mattaponi) coming together to form a larger river (the York). Wealthier Virginians were acquiring rich-soiled farmland along the rivers and turning them into successful tobacco plantations, and this seems to be what John did.
There is only sketchy information about John’s two marriages and his children. We know that his first wife was named Mary from a document dated September 29, 1693,2 and that by about 1697, they had produced a son and two daughters. The girls aren’t identified by their first names, but the boy was called Walter.2 Then Mary died, and John married a woman named Eleanor,2 with whom he fathered four more children. As with most families of colonial Virginia, the lack of vital records doesn’t offer us complete lists of offspring, and there may have been many more children in John’s family.
As early as 1693, John was elected to the House of Burgesses.7 Twice he was mentioned as a messenger, which was a person who sometimes interacted with other English colonies. And in 1702, John performed the duties of “mace bearer.”2 The mace was a ceremonial staff which represented the authority who ruled above the House — in this case the crown of England. When the members gathered, the bearer marched in holding the mace in front of him, to signal that the session could officially begin. The tradition of mace bearer is still practiced today in the U.S. House of Representatives with an eagle emblem instead of a crown.
Mace bearer in the House of Burgesses. (AI-generated image)
Besides his plantations, one of John’s business interests included part ownership of a ship named The Westover from 1700 to 1702.2 It was a sloop of forty tons, built in Virginia in 1693, and he owned it with William Byrd and William Randolph, two important members of Virginia’s gentry class. Byrd was considered the founder of Richmond, Virginia, and Randolph would become the great-grandfather of Thomas Jefferson.
John continued serving in the House of Burgesses until 1723 when he was mentioned in a report issued on May 10th that implied that he had just died.2 He was only about 57 at the time of his death and didn’t seem to leave a will. John’s wife Eleanor survived him, remarrying to a man named Edward Hickman, and moving to Albemarle County.8 She was still living in 1758.8
Children by Mary _______:
1. Walter Chiles — B. 1690s, (probably) King and Queen County, Virginia;2 D. 1760, Amelia County, Virginia2
2. _______ (female) Chiles — B. 1690s, (probably) King and Queen County, Virginia;2 D. before 1760;2 M. William Carr2
3. _______ (female) Chiles — B. 1690s, (probably) King and Queen County, Virginia;2 D. before 1760;2 M. Joseph Sutherland2,9
Children by Eleanor ________:
1. Henry Chiles — B. 23 Oct 1698, King and Queen County, Virginia;10 D. 10 Jun 1763, Spotsylvania County, Virginia;10 M. (1) Mercy Webb (1696-1750), 1735, Virginia;10 (2) Mary Chiles (1704-1759); (3) Susannah Dicken (1713-1784)10
2. Susannah Chiles — B. 28 Apr 1700, King and Queen County, Virginia;11 D. 29 Jun 1754, Louisa County, Virginia;11 M. Joseph Martin (~1700-?), 1736, Virginia11
3. John Chiles — B. about 1700, (probably) King and Queen County, Virginia;12 D. before 10 Oct 1774, (probably) Louisa County, Virginia12
4. Jane Chiles — B. about 1704, Virginia;13 M. John W. Wright13
Sources:
1 The year 1666 is a rough estimate based on his parents and his own adulthood. According to one source, John Chiles witnessed a deed in 1674, and assuming he was an adult, his birth year would have been in the mid-1650s. But his mother Mary (Page) Chiles could not have been born before the 1640s.
2 “Walter Chiles II,” Virginia Lee Hutchinson Davis, Tidewater Virginia Families, 2004, pp. 215-220
3 WikiTree listing of John and Eleanor’s oldest son Henry Chiles
4 A Timeline for Structures at Jamestown related to the Chiles Family (website)
5 “Walter Chiles I,” Virginia Lee Hutchinson Davis, Tidewater Virginia Families, 2004, pp. 209-213
6 WikiTree article of John Chiles
7 The Compendium of American Genealogy, Volume VII, p. 194
8 WikiTree listing of Elender (Webber) Hickman
9 Joseph Sutherland’s son Fendall appears on several documents associated with Walter Chile’s property and estate, but Fendall is too young to be the Sutherland man who married the Chiles woman, so it’s inferred it was his father Joseph.
10 WikiTree listing of Henry Chiles
11 WikiTree listing of Susannah (Chiles) Martin
12 WikiTree listing of John Chiles (the son)
13 WikiTree listing of Jane (Chiles) Wright
Saturday, August 8, 2026
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
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.
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.
Monday, July 27, 2026
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 record of him in America was on June 24, 1638 when he was 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
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
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 record of him in America was on June 24, 1638 when he was 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
Sunday, July 19, 2026
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 that both of Sarah’s husbands came from Essex, England, which would suggest 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.
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.
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 that both of Sarah’s husbands came from Essex, England, which would suggest 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.
Friday, July 10, 2026
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.
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
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
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