Militia Captain of Hingham, Massachusetts — John Smith

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

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

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

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

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

Captain of the militia. (AI-generated image)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Victim of an Abusive Husband — Susannah __________

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Woman Who Served on a Jury in 1691 — Sarah Smith

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

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

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

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

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

Living in Boston. (AI-generated image)

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

1691 record of jury in the case of Elizabeth Emerson.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Serving Under Lieutenant Washington — John Franklin

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

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

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

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

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

Journey of John Franklin in 1753-1754.

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

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

Building Fort Necessity. (AI-generated image)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wife of a Puritan Preacher — Mary Greenway

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

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

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

Mildenhall Church. (AI-generated image)  

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

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

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

Petition in support of Alice Tilley signed by Mary.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Refusing to Help Support Elderly Mother — Sarah French

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.