Wife of a Puritan Preacher — Mary Greenway

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

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

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

Mildenhall Church. (AI-generated image)  

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

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

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

Petition in support of Alice Tilley signed by Mary.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

One of the Colonial Virginia Elites — John Page

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

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

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

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

John Page. (AI-enhanced illustration)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Up the Coast of Massachusetts — Margaret Norman

B. before 4 Feb 1614 in Charminster, Dorset, England¹
M. (1) about 1637 in (probably) Salem, Massachusetts²
Husband: Robert Morgan
M. (2) before 21 May 1690 in (probably) Salisbury, Massachusetts³
Husband: Samuel Fowler
D. after 20 Feb 1694 in (probably) Salisbury, Massachusetts⁴

Margaret Norman arrived in the Massachusetts colony two years before the Winthrop Fleet, then spent her long life in various towns up the coast above Boston.

There is a baptism for Margaret recorded in Charminster, Dorset, England on February 4, 1614.¹ Her parents were Richard and Florence Norman, and she was the third of their six children. Charminster was just north of Dorchester, which was seeing activity amongst those seeking to colonize New England. Margaret’s father became involved in the Dorchester Company, and sometime around 1628, the family boarded a ship bound for America.¹

Since the motivation for moving was a commercial one, it isn’t certain if the Norman family were Puritans. They settled on Cape Ann in what is now Massachusetts, and this was where Margaret came of age. In about 1637, she married a man named Robert Morgan probably in Salem.² They started a family with the birth of a son in 1638,³ and had eight known children by 1663.

Something happened to the family’s standing in the community in about 1669, and it involved Margaret’s 19-year-old son Benjamin trying to steal some horses.⁴ The young man reacted badly to authorities, and they pushed back by excommunicating him for being a “stupefied sinner.” After this, his father Robert disappeared from town records, which suggested that the family was looked down upon for raising such a son.

Robert passed away in 1672, probably in November or December,⁵ leaving Margaret with an uncertain future. She took a new husband named Samuel Fowler, but the date of their marriage is uncertain. We only know that it was before May 21, 1690, when their names appeared on a document together.³ Samuel lived in the town of Salisbury, and presumably this is where Margaret moved to. Salisbury was about as far north as you could go on the Massachusetts coast, and Samuel Fowler was described as a shipwright. The village was near the mouth of the Merrimack River, but while proximity to the water was important, it was mostly an agricultural community.

Margaret made her mark on the 1690 document.

A document dated February 20, 1694 established that Margaret was still alive.³ It was concerning Samuel having his son look after them in their old age. In it, he stated “Margaret, my now wife, after her return from Beverly, the place of her present sojourning, to my present habitation, or to other as may be provided by or for me for her entertainment, to settle and abide in the time of our old age, and other our present want of sight and decay of other members and faculties.” In return for his son’s promise, he was deeded his entire estate.

After that date, nothing more is known of Margaret, and her death was unrecorded. Samuel passed away in January 1711.⁶

Children (all by Robert Morgan):
1. Samuel Morgan – B. about 1638, Salem, Massachusetts;⁷ D. before 20 Nov 1698, Beverly, Massachusetts;⁸ M. (1) Elizabeth Dixey (1641-1690), 15 Oct 1658;⁷ (2) Mary Phippen (1644-?), about 1692, Massachusetts⁷

2. Luke Morgan – B. before 23 Jun 1650, (probably) Salem, Massachusetts;⁹ D. Apr 1732, Cape Sable, Nova Scotia⁴

3. Joseph Morgan – B. before 23 Jun 1650, (probably) Salem, Massachusetts;¹⁰ D. 23 Oct 1731, Beverly, Massachusetts;¹¹ M. Deborah Hart, 12 Jul 1669, Lynn, Massachusetts¹²

4. Benjamin Morgan – B. before 23 Jun 1650, (probably) Salem, Massachusetts;¹³ D. 1677, Cape Porpoise, Maine⁴

5. Robert Morgan – B. 15 Oct 1650, Salem, Massachusetts¹⁴

6. Bethiah Morgan – B. before 29 May 1653, Salem, Massachusetts;¹⁵ M. Samuel Weed (1652-?), about 12 Mar 1676, Massachusetts¹⁶

7. Moses Morgan – B. (probably) Salem Massachusetts;⁸ D. 1677, Cape Porpoise, Maine⁴

8. Aaron Morgan – B. 24 May 1663, Salem, Massachusetts¹⁶

Sources:
1    “The English Origins of Richard Norman of Salem Massachusetts,” Leslie Mahler, The American Genealogist, V. 77, 2002
2    WikiTree listing of Margaret (Norman) Morgan (read bio under heading “At Massachusetts Bay Colony”
3    The Fowler Family: a Genealogical Memoir of the Descendants of Philip and Mary Fowler, of Ipswich, Mass: Ten Generations: 1590-1882, Matthew Adams Stickney, 1883, pp. 24-25
4    “Whatever Happened to Brother Morgan?” Charles C. Wainwright, Historically Speaking: Stories from the Historical Archive of the First Parish Church in Beverly, Massachusetts
5    WikiTree listing of Samuel Morgan
6    Vital Records of Salisbury, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, 1915
7    WikiTree listing of Samuel Morgan
8    Probate record of Samuel Morgan, Massachusetts, U.S. Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991, Ancestry.com
9    Baptismal record of Luke Morgan, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
10  Baptismal record of Joseph Morgan, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
11  WikiTree listing of Joseph Morgan
12  Marriage record of Joseph Morgan and Deborah Hart, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
13  Baptismal record of Benjamin Morgan, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
14  Baptismal record of Robert Morgan (younger), M., T. C., V. & T. R.
15  Baptismal record of Bethia Morgan, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
16  Birth record of Elizabeth Weed (Bethia’s oldest child), M., T. C., V. & T. R.
17  Baptismal record of Aaron Morgan, M., T. C., V. & T. R.

Virginia House of Burgesses Member — Walter Chiles

B. about 1630 In Bristol, England¹
M. (1) before 1665 in (probably) Jamestown, Virginia^1,2
Wife: ______ Page
M. (2) before 15 Feb 1671 in (probably) Jamestown, Virginia¹
Wife: Susanna ______
D. before 15 May 1672 in (probably) Jamestown, Virginia¹

The earliest settlers of the Virginia colony included many who took on a ruling class status. One man was Walter Chiles, who followed in his father’s footsteps.

Walter’s parents were Walter and Elizabeth Chiles, and they were from Bristol, England, where young Walter was born in about 1630.¹ Not much is known about the family in England, except that there was one other son named William.¹ Walter’s father first went to Virginia by himself in 1636, and two years later, he migrated there with his wife and young sons.¹ They took advantage of the headright system, which offered 50 acres to a man for each person who he brought with him. The Chiles family got 400 acres in Charles City County on the Appomattox River,³ and this was young Walter’s first home in America.

In 1642, Walter’s father became a member of the brand new House of Burgesses,³ an elected body set up to handle colony issues on a local level. At some point, this put the family in Jamestown, and from 1649, they lived in a place known as Kemp House; it had been built in 1638 and is thought to be the first ever brick house in Virginia.³ Walter Sr. died just five years later,³ and he passed the house on to son Walter, who added “a brick house 37 feet in length” to the property.¹

Kemp House. (AI-generated image)

Walter was married twice. His first wife was the daughter of John Page,¹ but there is uncertainty about her first name. Some say it was Elizabeth and others believe it was Mary. In either case, John Page was another prominent man in Jamestown, and a marriage to his daughter would further indicate Walter’s status. His first wife gave birth to at least two children during the 1660s, a daughter and son, but she died not long after,⁴ and Walter remarried to a woman named Susanna.¹ The second marriage brought one son.

After the death of his father, Walter became a member of the House of Burgesses, serving in 1653, 1658, 1659 and 1660.¹ In 1660, Governor William Berkeley appointed him and others to “act during the recess of the Assembly.”¹ Walter also was a justice in Jamestown for a time.¹

Walter made out his will on November 15, 1671, and it was probated May 15th of the following year, so he passed away between those dates.¹ His widow Susanna remarried to Reverend James Wadding,¹ who later became an important figure in Bacon’s Rebellion. Through Walter’s daughter Elizabeth, he was the ancestor of President John Tyler.⁵

Children by _____ Page:
1. Elizabeth Chiles — B. before 24 Feb 1665, Jamestown, Virginia;² D. 19 Jan 1703, Williamsburg, Virginia;² M. Henry Tyler, about 25 Jun 1684, York County, Virginia²

2. John Chiles — B. about 1669, (probably) Jamestown, Virginia;⁶ D. before 5 May 1723, King William County, Virginia;⁶ M. (1) Mary ______, before Sep 1693, Virginia;⁶ M. (2) Eleanor Webber⁶

Child by Susanna _______:
1. Henry Chiles — B. before 4 Apr 1671, Jamestown, Virginia;¹ D. after 29 Apr 1718, Hanover County, Virginia;⁷ M. Mary _____⁷

Sources:
1    WikiTree listing of Walter Chiles Jr.
2    WikiTree listing of Elizabeth (Chiles) Tyler
3    WikiTree listing of Walter Chiles Sr.
4    The approximate date of death is based on the fact children Elizabeth and John were known to be grandchildren of her father John Page (per his will).
5    FamousKin.com listing of Walter Chiles Jr.
6    WikiTree listing of John Chiles
7    Tidewater Virginia Families, pp. 224-227, 2004

A Wise Puritan Settler — William Learned

B. before about 1581 in (probably) Bermondsey, Surrey, England¹
M. (1) 22 Apr 1606 in St. Olave, Southwark, England²
Wife: Goodith Gillman
M. (2) after 1632 in (probably) Massachusetts²
Wife: Jane _______
D. 1 Mar 1645 in Woburn, Massachusetts²

During the 1630s, shiploads of Puritans came over from England to populate Massachusetts. Among them were men above 50 years of age who played leadership roles in their towns, and William Learned seems to fit this description.

As with many immigrants in the 17th century, little is known of William’s life in England. He was likely born by 1581 in a place called Bermondsey.¹ Although described as being in Surrey, today it’s a part of London, and just south of the Thames; the Tower of London was a short distance away. It was in Bermondsey that William first turned up in records with his marriage to a woman named Goodith Gillman on April 22, 1606.² The unusual name Goodith was not a alternate spelling of Judith, nor was it the Puritan “Goodwife” — it was her real name. William and Goodith had at least six children by 1624, with the youngest being their only surviving son. 

William’s signature.

At some point, William became a follower of the Puritan movement, and because he was so near London, he seems to have been enlisted into the Winthrop Fleet. This is known because his name turned up in Charlestown by the end of 1630, and so he must have been on a ship that year.² He and his wife were on the list of founding members of the church in Charlestown. “1632, 10 mo. day 6, William Learned and Goodeth, his wife, were admitted.”² The fact their names were at the top of the list is an indicator he was seen by others as having some status, and in fact he was made selectman in 1636.²

William’s Charlestown property was described in 1638 as being seven parcels of land: “three acres of arable land and meadow … with a dwelling house,” “four acres of arable land … in the East Field,” three and three-quarters cow commons,” “two acres of meadow … in Mystic Marshes,” “five acres of woodland in Mystic Field,” “fifteen acres of woodland … in Mystic Field,” and “forty acres of land … in Rock Field.”² But soon he left this behind to make his home in the new community of Woburn.

The town of Woburn, Massachusetts was first settled in 1640 and incorporated two years later, and William was said to be one of its earliest men. “He was a subscriber to the town orders for Woburn, drawn up at Charlestown, Dec. 18, 1640; [he] was one of the seven original members of the church in Woburn which was gathered Aug. 14, 1642…”⁴

Ordaining the first minister of Woburn in 1642. (AI-generated image)

Sadly, William didn’t live much longer than Woburn’s founding. He served in Woburn as selectman in 1644,⁵ and as constable (who also collected the taxes) in 1644 and 1645,⁵ but he died just before he would have been elected for a third year.⁵ His son Isaac had to settle the accounts he had managed as constable.⁵ William was the ancestor of Abigail Powers Fillmore, Eli Whitney, Clara Barton, Sir Robert Laird Borden (Prime Minister of Canada), George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Jeb Bush, John Ritter, Billie Jean King, Treat Williams and Elon Musk.⁶

Children (all by Goodith Gillman):
1. Sarah Learned — B. before 18 Jan 1607, (probably) Bermondsey, Surrey, England;⁷ M. (1) Thomas Ewer (1593_1638), 13 Jan 1624, Bermondsey, Surrey, England;² (2) Thomas Lothrop, 11 Dec 1639²

2. Bethiah Learned — B. before 29 Oct 1612, Bermondsey, Surrey, England²

3. Mary Learned — B. before 15 Sep 1615, Bermondsey, Surrey, England;² D. about 26 Jul 1625, Bermondsey, Surrey, England²

4. Abigail Learned — B. before 30 Sep 1618, Bermondsey, Surrey, England²

5. Elizabeth Learned — B. before 25 Mar 1621, Bermondsey, Surrey, England;² M. John Hall, before 21 Sep 1645⁸

6. Isaac Learned — B. before 25 Feb 1624, Bermondsey, Surrey, England;² D. 27 Nov 1657, Chelmsford, Massachusetts;⁹ M. Mary Stearns, 9 Jul 1646, Woburn, Massachusetts²

Sources:
1    WikiTree listing of William Learned
2    Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633, Robert Charles Anderson, 1995 
3    William Learned: Winthrop’s Fleet Woburn, Mass. Settler (website)
4    The History of Woburn, Middlesex County, Mass. from the grant of its territory to Charlestown, in 1640, to the year 1680, Samuel Sewall, 1868
5    Genealogies of the Families and Descendants of the Early Settlers of Watertown, Massachusetts, Henry Bond, 1855, p. 333
6    FamousKin listing of William Learned
7    “Updated from English Records for some Great Migration immigrants who came by 1635,” NEHGR, V. 172, 2018
8    WikiTree listing of Elizabeth (Learned) Hall
9    Death record of Isaac Learned, Vital Records of Chelmsford Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, 1914

Woman of the First House In Billerica — Elizabeth Poulter

B. 1 Sep 1633 in Rayleigh, Essex, England¹
M. 22 Nov 1654 in Boston, Massachusetts²
Husband: Jonathan Danforth
D. 7 Oct 1689 in Billerica, Massachusetts³

Like most women of her day, Elizabeth Poulter had the primary identity of being a wife and mother. But there were some other facts about her life as a Puritan settler that give her a bit of a story, including the importance of her home.

The path Elizabeth followed to New England was fairly typical. She was born September 1, 1633 in the town of Rayleigh, England,¹ which was in Essex. Her parents were John and Mary Poulter and she was one of at least three children. The East Anglia region of England was the source of the majority of Puritan settlers to England, and so being in a family that followed that set of beliefs was only natural.

Elizabeth's birth was later recorded in Billerica, Massachusetts records.

Where Elizabeth differs a bit was in the fact that her family didn’t join the mass migration of the 1630s. Her father died in 1639, and Rayleigh records show that his will was proved there on May 30th.¹ Even though Elizabeth was 6-years-old, her father bequeathed her £100 (a substantial amount of money) to be paid to her when she came of age.

It was Elizabeth’s mother who migrated to America, bringing along Elizabeth and her brother John. The date of this move is uncertain and may have been as late as 1653.⁴ At some point, the widow Mary Poulter married John Parker, and their family was part of the first settlers of the new community of Billerica. On November 22, 1654, Elizabeth (presumably with her inheritance awarded) was the bride in the first wedding held at Billerica.² Her husband was Jonathan Danforth, a surveyor from Suffolk, England, and he would become a prominent member of the town.

Elizabeth’s husband and step-father formed a tight relationship, and together took purchased a piece of property called the “Farm Grant.”¹ It was on this land that Jonathan and Elizabeth’s house was built, said to be the first one in Billerica. The style of architecture was called a saltbox, a distinctly-shaped structure of 17th-century New England. These homes had a long, low roof line extending to the back, so that there were two stories in the front and one in the back. This was where Elizabeth presumably gave birth to her eleven children, raising many of them to adulthood. 

17th-century saltbox house. (AI-generated image)

Sadly, Elizabeth didn’t live an especially long life; she passed away on October 7, 1689 at the age of 54.³ Jonathan remarried about a year later,⁵ and he died in 1712.⁶ Their saltbox house was said to have survived until the 1880s.⁷ Elizabeth was an ancestor of Bette Davis.

Children:
1. Mary Danforth — B. 29 Jan 1656, Billerica, Massachusetts;⁸ D. May 1732, Chelmsford, Massachusetts;⁹ M. John Parker (1647-1699)⁹

2. Elizabeth Danforth — B. 27 May 1657, (probably) Billerica, Massachusetts;¹⁰ D. 9 Dec 1739, Westborough, Massachusetts;¹¹ M. Simeon Hayward (1648-1733), 7 Mar 1687, Billerica, Massachusetts¹²

3. Jonathan Danforth — B. 18 Feb 1659, Billerica, Massachusetts;¹³ D. 11 Jan 1711, Billerica, Massachusetts;¹⁴ M. Rebecca Parker (1661-1754), 27 Jun 1682, Billerica, Massachusetts¹⁵

4. John Danforth — B. 23 Jan 1660, (probably) Billerica, Massachusetts;⁷ D. 7 Feb 1661, (probably) Billerica, Massachusetts⁷

5. John Danforth — B. 22 Feb 1661, (probably) Billerica, Massachusetts;⁷ D. 4 Jun 1662, (probably) Billerica, Massachusetts⁷

6. Lydia Danforth — B. 1 Jun 1664, (probably) Billerica, Massachusetts;¹⁶ M. Edward Wright⁷

7. Samuel Danforth — B. 5 Feb 1666, Billerica, Massachusetts;¹⁷ D. 19 Apr 1742, Billerica, Massachusetts;¹⁸ M. Hannah Crosby (1672-1752), 8 Jan 1695, Billerica, Massachusetts¹⁹

8. Anna Danforth — B. 8 Mar 1668, Billerica, Massachusetts;²⁰ D. 13 Aug 1737, Billerica, Massachusetts;²¹ M. Oliver Whiting (1665-1736), 22 Jan 1690, Billerica, Massachusetts²²

9. Thomas Danforth — B. 29 Apr 1670, Billerica, Massachusetts;²³ D. 31 Jul 1670, Billerica, Massachusetts²⁴

10. Nicholas Danforth — B. 1 Apr 1671 Billerica, Massachusetts;²⁵ D. 8 Mar 1694, Billerica, Massachusetts²⁶

11. Sarah Danforth — B. 23 Dec 1676, Billerica, Massachusetts;²⁷ D. 15 Oct 1751, Concord, Massachusetts;²⁸ M. (1) William French (1668-1723), 22 May 1695, Billerica, Massachusetts;²⁹ (2) Ebenezer Davis (1676-1753)²⁸

Sources:
1    “The Poulter Family of Rayleigh, Essex, England and Billerica, Massachusetts,” NEHGR, V. 141, 1987
2    Marriage record of Jonathan Danforth and Elizabeth Poulter, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001
3    Death record of Elizabeth Danforth, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
4    Date of arrival in America roughly based on Elizabeth Poulter’s marriage in 1654.
5    Marriage record of Jonathan Danforth and Esther Converse, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
6    Death record of Jonathan Danforth, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
7    Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, William Richard Cutter, 1908, p. 165
8    Birth record of Mary Danforth, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
9    Find-a-Grave listing of Mary (Danforth) Parker
10  Birth record of Elizabeth Danforth, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
11  Death record of Elizabeth Hayward, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
12  Marriage record of Simeon Hayward and Elizabeth Danforth, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
13  Birth record of Jonathan Danforth (younger), M., T. C., V. & T. R.
14  Death record of Jonathan Danforth (younger), M., T. C., V. & T. R.
15  Marriage record of Jonathan Danforth and Rebecca Parker, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
16  Birth record of Lydia Danforth, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
17  Birth record of Samuel Danforth, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
18  Death record of Samuel Danforth, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
19  Marriage record of Samuel Danforth and Hannah Crosby, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
20  Birth record of Anna Danforth, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
21  Death record of Anna Whiting, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
22  Marriage record of Oliver Whiting and Anna Danforth, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
23  Birth record of Thomas Danforth, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
24  Death record of Thomas Danforth, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
25  Birth record of Nicholas Danforth, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
26  Find-a-Grave listing of Nicholas Danforth
27  Birth record of Sarah Danforth, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
28  Find-a-Grave listing of Sarah (Danforth) Davis
29  Marriage record of William French and Sarah Danforth, M., T. C., V. & T. R.

Early Settler of Reading, Massachusetts — Robert Burnap

B. about 1595 in (probably) Hertfordshire, England¹
M. about 1624 in Amwell, Hertfordshire, England¹
Wife: Anne Miller
D. 27 Sep 1689 in Reading, Massachusetts²

Robert Burnap came from an unknown English family to start fresh in Puritan Massachusetts, and became the patriarch of a large American family.

While we don’t know much about Robert’s origins, he was likely born in about 1595 in Hertfordshire because he later married and raised his family there.¹ His wife was Anne Miller, and they were wed in about 1624 in the town of Amwell.¹ While living in Hertfordshire, they had seven healthy children and another who may have been stillborn; most of the children were baptized at Hoddesdon. One record identified Robert’s profession as a chandler (candlemaker).³

A candlemaker. (AI-generated image)

The town of Hoddesdon is located on the eastern border of Hertfordshire, in close proximity with East Anglia and its population of religious dissenters. Robert became one of them, and in about 1638, he migrated to New England with his family.¹ He settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts, before moving to the new town of Reading as one of its earliest settlers. Robert and Anne may have had more children there, but documentation is sketchy on this.

Robert served for many years as a Reading selectman, an indicator that he had a strong sense of civic duty. During the years 1654 to 1671, there were only two years (1657 and 1661) where he wasn’t one of the town’s selectmen.¹ In May 1678, we find his signature on a petition to the General Court in Boston concerning Reading’s militia.⁴

There is a court case record from 1653 with the testimony of Robert (a bit hard to read): “saith the outside of the dry cask… goods came in, was chalky and one of the panes on it was broken and a hole into it about a foot long. On one side of the cask was rotten [clear] through, as if [chalk?] or some other thing like [chalk?] had gotten into it, which might very well be, for the cask was very bad. Further this deponent saith that he did help unpack all the goods.”⁵ It would seem that Robert had received delivery of something, perhaps from England, that arrived in poor condition. 

1653 testimony of Robert Burnap.

In May 1684, Robert was involved in a land dispute along with son Thomas.⁴ In the ruling it was ordered that 121 acres be divided into three lots, with one part going to the people who sued him (William and Hannah Hawkins). By now, Robert was in his late 80s, and he passed away on September 27, 1689.² Wife Ann preceded him in death in 1681.⁶ Robert and Ann were the ancestors of the first governor of Minnesota, Henry Hastings Sibley, Governor Endicott Peabody of Massachusetts, Kyra Sedgwick, Alan Shepard, and Michael Strahan.⁷

Children:
1. Thomas Burnap — B. about 1625, (probably) Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, England;⁸ D. 10 Feb 1691, (probably) Reading, Massachusetts;⁸ M. Mary Pearson, 3 Dec 1663, Reading, Massachusetts⁸

2. Anne Burnap — B. before 30 Apr 1626, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, England;³ D. 20 Mar 1630, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, England³

3. Robert Burnap — B. before 28 Nov 1627, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, England;³ D. 18 Oct 1695, Reading, Massachusetts;³ M. (1) Ann _______ (~1631-~1661);⁹ (2) Sarah Brown (1650-1713), 28 May 1662, Reading, Massachusetts¹⁰

4. Isaac Burnap — B. before 20 Mar 1630, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, England;³ D. 18 Sep 1667, Reading, Massachusetts;³ M. Hannah Antrim (1638-?), 8 Sep 1658, Massachusetts¹¹

5. Anne Burnap — B. before 15 Apr 1632, Great Amwell, Hertfordshire, England;³ D. 16 Mar 1692, Dorchester, Massachusetts;³ M. (1) John Wight (1633-1653), about 1652, (probably) Massachusetts;¹² (2) Isaac Bullard (~1630-1676), 11 Apr 1655, Dedham, Massachusetts;¹³ (3) David Jones (~1628-1694), 18 Mar 1685, Dorchester, Massachusetts¹⁴

6. Baby Burnap — B. before 18 Oct 1634, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, England; D. before 18 Oct 1634, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, England

7. Edward Burnap — B. before 12 Feb 1636, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, England¹⁵

8. Sarah Burnap — B. before 12 Feb 1636, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, England;¹⁶ D. after 15 Nov 1688, (probably) Massachusetts;¹⁷ M. (1) John Southwick (1624-1672), 3 Feb 1669, Salem, Massachusetts;¹⁸ (2) Thomas Cooper (~1654-1712), 12 Jun 1674, Salem, Massachusetts;¹⁹ (3) Cornelius Browne (1632-1701), 20 Nov 1684, Salem, Massachusetts²⁰

Sources:
1    The Burnett Genealogy, Edgar Albert Burnett, 1941, pp. 6-7
2    Death record of Robert Burnap, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
3    The Burnap-Burnett Genealogy, Henry Wyckoff Belknap, 1925, p. 26
4    Our Colonial and Continental Ancestors: The Ancestors of Mr. and Mrs. Louis William Dommerich, Louis Effingham de Forest, 1930, pp. 62-63
5    Testimony of Robert Burnap, 26 Aug 1653, FamilySearch.org
6    Death record of Ann Burnap, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
7    FamousKin.com listing of Robert Burnap
8    WikiTree listing of Thomas Burnap
9    WikiTree listing of Robert Burnap
10  Marriage record of Robert Burnap and Sarah Brown, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
11  Marriage record of Isaac Burnap and Hannah Antrum, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
12  WikiTree listing of Ann (Burnap) Jones
13  Marriage record of Isaac Bullard and Ann Wight, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
14  Marriage record of David Jones and Ann Bullard, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
15  Christening record of Edward Burnap, England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, FamilySearch.org
16  Christening record of Sarah Burnap, E., B. & C.
17  WikiTree listing of Sarah (Burnap) Brown
18  Marriage record of John Southwick and Sarah Burnap, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
19  Marriage record of Thomas Cooper and Sarah Southwick, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
20  Marriage record of Cornelius Brown and Sarah Cooper, M., T. C., V. & T. R.

Maid Servant in Colonial Massachusetts — Mary Blott

B. before 24 Dec 1609 in Harrold, Bedfordshire, England¹
M. 4 Mar 1635 in Roxbury, Massachusetts²
Husband: Thomas Woodford
D. before 27 May 1662 in (probably) Hartford, Connecticut³

During the Great Migration of the 1630s, thousands of Puritans left England to make a new life in the Massachusetts colony. Most of these people came as families, or were men traveling alone. But a few were single women, and such was the case with Mary Blott.

Mary came from the heart of England, baptized in the village of Harrold in Bedfordshire on December 24, 1609.¹ Her parents were Robert Blott and Susanna Selbee, and she was the oldest of their ten known children. The three who were boys all died young,⁴ so it was a female-dominated household. Mary’s youngest sister was still a baby when she left home.

Mary belonged to a Puritan family during a time when many were migrating to America. Most traveled over together, but Mary preceded her parents by a couple of years.³ We know this because her name turned up in the early records of Roxbury, Massachusetts as the “63rd member” of the church.³ She was described as “a maid servant,”³ which means she must have signed a contract committing to a length of service in the colony. Typically these contracts were for three years, which perfectly fits the timeline for when she arrived until she got married. While male servants would often receive land at the end of their service, women were only given food, clothing and lodging for the time they were servants. 

Working as a servant. (AI-generated image)

Mary’s new husband was Thomas Woodford, and their marriage took place on March 4, 1635 in Roxbury.² Thomas had also come over from England in 1632,⁴ and perhaps they were on the same ship. Mary’s parents and siblings migrated to the colony in about 1634,³ but while they stayed in the Boston area, Mary and her husband moved away to Hartford, Connecticut sometime before 1639.³ Mary gave birth to three known children, all daughters.

The Woodford family moved up the Connecticut River to Northampton, Massachusetts in about 1656,³ but it isn’t certain that Mary was still living. She was never mentioned in Northampton records or her husband’s will dated May 27, 1662,³ and it’s thought that she died in Hartford during the 1650s. Mary had some very notable descendants, including Princess Diana, Prince William, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Nancy Reagan, Bess Truman, Humphrey Bogart, John Lithgow, Glenn Close, Katharine Hepburn, Helen Hunt, Matt Damon, Ethan Allen, Nathan Hale and J.P Morgan.⁵

Children:
1. Mary Woodford — B. about 1636, Roxbury, Massachusetts;⁴ D. 17 Apr 1684, Northampton, Massachusetts;⁶ M. Isaac Sheldon (1629-1708), about 1653, Hartford, Connecticut⁷

2. Hannah Woodford — B. about 1642, Hartford, Connecticut;⁴ M. Samuel Allen (1634-1719), 29 Nov 1659, Northampton, Massachusetts⁴

3. Sarah Woodford — B. before 2 Sep 1649, Hartford, Connecticut;⁴ M.(1) Nehemiah Allen (~1636-1684), 21 Sept 1664, Northampton, Massachusetts;⁴ (2) Richard Burke (1649-1689), 1 Sep 1687, Northampton, Massachusetts;⁸ (3) Judah Wright (1642-1725), 11 Jul 1706, Northampton, Massachusetts⁹

Sources:
1    Christening record of Mary Blott, England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, FamilySearch.org
2    Marriage record of Thomas Woodford and Mary Blott, U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700, Ancestry.com
3    Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633, Robert Charles Anderson, 1995
4    The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Robert Charles Anderson, 1999
5    FamousKin.com listing of Thomas Woodford
6    Sheldons in America (website)
7    “Isaac Sheldon of Windsor, Conn.,” NEHGR, V. 117, Charlotte Alling Hunt, Apr 1963
8    Marriage record of Richard Burke and Sarah Allen, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
9    Marriage record of Judah Wright and Sarah Burke, M., T. C., V. & T. R.