|
RATHBONE.
the family name of Rathbone is derived
from the Saxon language, and signifies
an early gift. There have been various
spellings of the name in this country,
but some of them result from mistake.
It is best to speak only of those who,
belonging to the same family by various
lines of descent, have adhered to definite
forms. It is declared, with good
authority that the similar name of Rabone
(Rabun) was of the same origin, as were
also Rawsbone and Rathbun. In James
Savage's "Genealogical Dictionary,"
prominent mention is made of George Rabun,
and in Belknap's "History of new
Hampshire" it is stated that this
was probably a mistake for George Rathbone,
who was in Exeter in 1639. The year
previous he had sympathized with Rev.
Mr. Wheelwright, a man of considerable
learning, piety and position and the brother
of Mrs. Anne Hutchinson. With him
Rabun or Rathbone was banished from Boston
for defending his religious opinions.
Having been deprived of his privileges
he combined with some others suffering
the same fate, about thirty-five in all,
and set up an independent government at
Squamscot Falls, New Hampshire, naming
the place Exeter. The Rathbone arms
consist of a shield argent three doves
azure. Crest: A dove
proper holding an olive branch.
Motto: Suaviter et fortiter.
Regarding the
origin of the family in America there were
several accounts formerly current. It was
asserted that this family descended from
Thomas Rathbone, who came from England in
1621. A second statement is to the effect
that those of the name came from John
Rathbone, a member of a Liverpool family,
who came to American in 1625. Another
explanation is that they are descended from
an elder brother of Colonel John Rathbone,
who was an officer of the parliamentary army
of 1658, noted for his devotion to
republican principles. The earliest
authentic records point to Rev. William
Rathbone as the first of the name appearing
in America, and allusion is made to him in
a work published in 1637, which item was
reprinted in the "Historical Collections of
Massachusetts." This man was an author. It
is shown that his doctrinal views were not
in accord with those of the members of the
Massachusetts colony. It is believed that
he and his descendants were not admitted
into the New England Church, with the
consequence that they were not permitted to
participate in general public affairs. The
Rhode Island colonial records mention John
Rawsbone, of New Shoreham, as one who was
admitted to full political rights as freeman
on May 4, 1664, being the same person whom
the Block Island records name John
Rathbone. the latter was ne of those who
met at the house of Dr. Alcock on august 17,
1660, to confer regarding the purchase of
Block Island, and was one of the original
sixteen purchasers of that island from
Governor Endicott and three others, to whom
it had been granted for public services;
hence, he will long continue to figure in
the country's history. John Rathbone was
chosen in 1676 one of the surveyors of
highways. He occupied a place in the Rhode
Island general assembly in 1682-83-84 as
representative from Block
Page 103
Island. He was
one of the petitioners to the King of
Great Britain in 1686 in reference to
the "Quo Warranto," and was
one of the Rhode Island grand jury in
1688. He had an interesting experience
during the French and Indian Wars, which
has been handed down with authenticity
as family history. In July, 1689,
Mr. Rathbone had a narrow escape from
the French, who had come in three vessels
and were then pillaging the island.
They inquired of someone or more of the
people "who were the likeliest among
them to have money" They were
told of John Rathbone as the most likely.
The French proceeded to capture him, as
they supposed, and demanded money.
The captive denied having any but a trifling
sum. They endeavored to make him
confess that he had more and to deliver
it to them, by tying him up and whipping
him barbarously. While they were
doing all this to an innocent man whom
they mistook for the monied John Rathbone,
the latter escaped with his treasure.
They had mistaken the son, who by submitting
to this cruelty in the room of his father
saved the latter from being robbed.
That the
lives of the early Rathbones who settled on
Block island were fraught with severe
hardship and almost continuous danger may
well be believed from all accounts. In his
history of Rhode Island Arnold makes his
reference: "The local history of Block
Island, truthfully written, would present an
interesting study. The traditional history
of the aborigines is full of the romance of
the war. Their authentic history in
connection with the whites abounds in
stirring incidents, the peculiarities of the
English settlers and their posterity, their
customs, laws and domestic institutions are
among the most singular and interesting
developments of civilized life, while the
martial defense of a people, within and
around whose island there has been more hard
fighting than on any territory of equal
extent in America, and where the horrors of
savage and of civilized warfare have
alternately prevailed, almost without
cessation from the earliest traditiionary
period down to a recent date would
altogether furnish material for a thrilling
history that might rival the pages of a
romance. The dangers of the sea and the
sterner perils of war untied to produce a
race of men whose courage and hardihood
cannot be surpassed. It was out of such
material that naval heroes were made" Of
this character were the men and women also,
of the earlier generations of the Rathbone
family.
(I) John
Rathbone, of Block Island, was born about
1634, died there between February 12, 1702,
the day on which he signed his will, and
October 6, 1702, the date on which Simon
Ray, warden, took oath that William Hancock,
Jr., James Welch and Roger Dickens appeared
before him to testify "that they were
testimony to the signing and sealing." It
is an interesting family document, and a
portion of it is worth citing. "I give and
bequest to my son Samuel Rathbone the table
and cubbard which stand now in his house as
for are lomes (Heirlooms?) to the house, and
I leave my wife Margaret Rathbone my
executrix of all my movable and household
goods, houses and chattels, cattle, sheep
and horse kind; and I leave (her?) the
income of my house at Newport for her
lifetime, and at her decease the westward
(end?) of my house at Newport, and the
leanto of that end so far as the post that
the door hangs on, and the shop to be left
for my son John Rathbone's son John, and his
heirs forever; and the yard to be equally
for their use. And I leave to my wife for
her life-time the twenty acres of land,
which I bought of henry hall, and the
running of two cows and a horse and the end
of the house which I now live in; and I
leave that my four sons shall pay to my wife
during her life-time forty shillings apiece
a year. and I leave to my wife during her
life-time my nigger man, and at her
disposing, and at her decease to my son
Thomas Rathbone for three years, and at the
end of the three years, to give him as good
clothes as his mistress leaves him, and then
to set him free." It may be said in his
connection that Th. family lands at Newport
greatly increased in value, as did the
estate situated on Block Island, and while
he gave evidence of abolition tendencies by
his provision for this negro he did not care
to put his ideas into effect while he yet
lived. John Rathbone
Page 104
Married Margaret Dodge.
Children: 1. William, married,
December 18, 1680, Sarah -----------.
2. Thomas, married April 21, 1685,
Mary Dickens. 3. John, of
whom further. 4. Joseph, married,
May 19,m 1691, Mary Mosher. 5.
Samuel, died January 24, 1757; married,
November 3, 1692, Patience T. Coggeshall.
6. Sarah, born June 10, 1659; married
(first) December 20, 1678, Samuel George;
(second) September 1, 1710, John Ball.
7. Margaret. 8. Elizabeth.
(II) John
(2), son of John (1) and Margaret (Dodge)
Rathbone, was born in Roxbury,
Massachusetts, in 1658. He was admitted a
freeman by the assembly of Rhode Island, may
5, 1696. He received from his father, just
previous to his marriage, a deed for sixty
acres of land on Block Island, the nominal
consideration for which was "one barrel of
pork on demand." It may be concluded that
this farm was, therefore, a wedding present
or settlement. It is known that the father
some years before his death settled his sons
on farms on the island where he lived, and
entertained great hopes that his descendants
would dwell there forever. Their
grandchildren, however, scattered, leaving
Samuel Rathbone's descendants the only ones
of the name on that island. The original
settler's grandson Jonathan, son of John
Rathbone (2), removed to Colchester,
Connecticut, and is the ancestor of the
Rathbones of Albany, New York, as well as
those of Otsego County, New York. Joshua,
another son of John (2), settled at
Stonington, Connecticut, and is the ancestor
of the Rathbones of New York City. Other
sons of the same, John, Benjamin, Nathaniel,
and Thomas settled in Exeter, Rhode Island.
Elijah, son of Samuel, settled in Groton,
Connecticut, and in this way the family
spread to various sections of the country,
while very few represented the old stock at
the place of original settlement. On
December 13, 1698, "Great James" and Jane,
his wife, two Indians, bound their daughter,
Betsey, to John Rathbone (2) and his wife as
an indented servant for eighteen years, the
consideration being only one gallon of rum
and one blanket in hand, and five years
after one gallon of rum, and yearly
thereafter. If she remained five years then
the said Rathbone was to pay four blankets,
and one very third year thereafter. John
(2) Rathbone married, January 10, 1688, Ann
Dodge. Children: 1. Mary, born October 3,
1688. 2. Jonathan, of whom further. 3.
John, born December 23, 1693; married,
December 20, 1720, Patience Fish. 4.
Joshua, born February 9, 1696; married,
February 16, 1724, Mary Wightman. 5.
Benjamin, born February 11, 1701. 6. Annah,
born August 9, 1703. 7. Nathaniel, born
February 7, 1708. 8. Thomas, born March 2,
1709.
(III)
Jonathan, son of John (2) and Ann (Dodge)
Rathbone, was born May 22, 1691, died April
1, 1766. Possessing the same sort of
pioneering spirit that had characterized so
largely many of his ancestors, while still a
young man he set out for other parts,
removing before 1715 to that part of New
London County, Connecticut, formerly known
as Colchester, later the town of Salem.
Here he purchased a tract of land from the
Mohegan Indians, on which he settled, and a
portion of this estate has continued
uninterruptedly in the possession of his
descendants of the same name for centuries.
He was a member of the Baptist Church there
in 1726. He married Elizabeth --------.
Children: 1. John, born January 1, 1715,
died November 27, 1755; married March 30,
1737, Anna Tennant. 2. Benjamin, married,
November 11, 1752, Mary Cahoon. 3.
Jonathan, married, November 8, 1744, Abigail
Avery. 4. Joshua, of whom further. 5.
Isaiah, born September 7, 1723; married, May
9, 1764, Fanny Lamphear. 6. Joseph. 7.
Elizabeth. Probably others.
(IV) Deacon
Joshua Rathbone, son of Jonathan and
Elizabeth Rathbone, was born September 7,
1723, being twin brother of Isaiah. It is
said that "he was a godly truth-seeking
man," and was always known as "Deacon
Rathbone." He married, December 4, 1745,
Sarah Tennant. Children: 1. Elizabeth,
born June 9, 1747. 2. Tabitha, born August
4, 1749; married, (first) -------- Treadway,
(second) 1806, --------Holmes. Children by
first marriage: Sarah and Mary. Child by
second marriage: Clarissa. 3. Joshua, born
May 7, 1751; married Eunice Martin. 4.
Sarah, born November 23, 1752; married
-------Chamberlain, and removed to Richfield
Springs, New York. 5. Moses, born
November 12, 1754; married, Olive Ransom.
6. Samuel, of whom further. 7.
Page 105
Anna, born September
12, 1758; married --------- Holmes.
(V) Samuel,
son of Deacon Joshua and Sarah (Tennant)
Rathbone, was born September 12, 1758, twin
brother to Anna, died at Colchester,
Connecticut, February 16, 1831. His life had
been spent on a farm of several hundred
acres, which had been bequeathed to him by
his father. He married, March 1, 1785,
Lydia, daughter of Simon and Lydia (Brown)
Sparhawk. She died July 13, 1825, aged
Sixty years. Children: 1. Samuel, born,
August 8, 1786, died October 9, 1787. 2.
Valentine Wightman, born September 13, 1788,
died May 18, 1833; married, in 1814, Nancy
Forsyth. 3. Jared Lewis, Salem,
Connecticut, born October 2, 1791, he was
successful merchant of Albany, New York, for
several years elected tot he common council,
and thrice called to fil the position of
mayor of the capitol city, being the last
mayor chosen by the council and the first
elected by the vote of the people. He
assumed that office first as the forty-first
mayor, January 24, 1839, and the third time,
on election day by popular vote, on May 12,
1840, at which time only four thousand five
hundred and eighty-eight votes were cast at
that important municipal election. He
resided at No. 28 Eagle Street, corner of
State Street, Albany. He married, June 26,
1834, Pauline Noyes, daughter of Joel
Penney, of Buffalo, New York. Children: 1.
Charles. 2. Henry R. 3. Anna Pauline, and
4. Jared Lawrence. 4. Lydia, born March
21, 1794, died August 7, 1873; married,
November 17, 1819, William W. Reed. 5.
Samuel, born November 6, 1796, died
unmarried, October 17, 1818. 6. Sabria
Lewis, born July 3, 1709; married, February
10, 1818, Clark Ransom. 7. Anna, born
November 6, 1803, died November 12, 1865;
married, David Jewett, no children. 8.
Joel, of whom further.
(IV) Joel,
son of Samuel and Lydia (Sparhawk) Rathbone,
was born in Salem, Connecticut, August 3,
1806, died in Paris, France, Sunday,
September 13, 1863. He came to reside in
Albany, New York, in the fall of 1822, as a
clerk in his brother Valentine W. Rathbone's
wholesale grocery store, on the corner of
Hudson Avenue and Quay Street, then the
busiest section of the city. Two years
later he became associated with his brother
in the business. In 1827 as one of the firm
of Hermans, Rathbone & Company he commenced
the wholesale stove business. By reason of
certain modifications and improvements in
the patterns of stoves made under his
directions, he secured a very large and
lucrative business, which became known all
over the country, and doubtless was the most
important concern of the kind then in
America, destined to make the name of
Rathbone known for the century or more.
Following the death of Mr. Hermans in 1829
Mr. Rathbone succeeded to the entire
business, which he continued in his own name
until 1841. At the early age of thirty-five
years with a well-earned fortune he then
retired from active mercantile pursuits to
the enjoyment of country life. He purchased
a large estate bordering the southern end of
Albany, which he laid out and made
beautiful. "Kenwood," as it was named,
became his residence for a number of years.
although retiring from business cares so
early he was still connected with many of
the public enterprises of Albany, being
vice-president of the New York State Bank,
the oldest institution in the city;
president of the Exchange Company, doing
business where the Federal Building was
located in 1910; and an active cooperator in
and generous contributor to most of the
benevolent enterprises of Albany. He was
known as a conscientious and consistent
Christian, a gentleman of unusual taste and
refinement.
He married,
May 5, 1829, Emeline Weld, daughter of Lewis
and Louisa (Weld) Munn, and she died in
Newport, Rhode Island, August 25, 1874.
Lewis Munn was born December 14, 1784, died
July 8, 1810. Louisa (Weld) Munn was born
April 1, 1791; died December 6, 1808.
Children of Joel Rathbone: 1. Jared Lewis,
born April 23, 1830, died August 20, 1831.
2. Erastus Corning, born January 1, 1832,
died February 2, 1832. 3. Joel Howard,
born June 11, 1835, died March 29, 1865,
unmarried. 4. Sarah, born December 29,
1837., died March 13, 1910; married,
November 19, 1863, General Frederick
Townsend, born in Albany, September 21,
1825. He was a graduate of Union College,
1844; admitted to legal practice , 1849;
adjutant-general of New York State, 1857-61;
raised and commanded the
Page 106
Third Regiment New York
Volunteers, May, 1861; breveted brigadier-general
and resigned from army, 1868; again appointed
adjutant-general by Governor Cornell in
1880, serving until January 1, 1883, and
died at Albany. Children:
1. Annie Martin, born in Paris November
1, 1866, 2. Sarah Rathbone, March 23,
1569, in Albany, 3. Frederick (2), October
28, 1871, 4. Joel Rathbone, October 13,
1879, died October 15, 1879. 5.
Albert, born May 27, 1841, died December
10, 1865, unmarried. 6. Clarence,
of whom further. 7. Edward Weld,
born October 20, 1848, died July 30, 1849.
(VII)
Clarence, son of Joel and Emeline (Munn)
Rathbone, was born on his father's handsome
estate, "Kenwood," on the southern outskirts
of Albany, New York, November 17, 1844. He
received his education at Farmington,
Connecticut, and at Charlier's French
Institute in New York City. He entered the
Naval Academy, then located at Newport,
Rhode Island, in September, 1861, and was
graduated fifth in his class, 1863, having
successfully undertaken the three-year
course in the space of two years. He
received his commission as an ensign in the
United States Navy, and was ordered to the
"Niagara," in the fall of 1863, then on duty
at Newport. In June, 1864, he was ordered
to new Orleans, and given duty in the
squadron of Admiral Farragut. He served
during the latter part of the war of the
rebellion, taking part in the celebrated
battle of Mobile Bay, where he was wounded
slightly. Subsequently he served on
blockade duty off Galveston, Texas. At the
termination of the civil war he returned to
New York, June, 1865, and shortly thereafter
resigned his commission on account of his
being left the only son of his widowed
mother upon the death of his brothers, Joel
Howard and Albert, which had occurred in
1865. For several years following this
period of his life he was the head of a
large manufactory of stoves, but while still
in the prime of life retired from active
business. He is a trustee of the Albany
Savings Bank, the Albany Medical College,
and the Dudley Observatory. When first
married he resided at No. 5 Elk Street, his
handsome residence fronting on the Academy
Park, and later removed to his present
spacious home nearer the city outskirts.,
No. 576 Western Avenue. He is an
Episcopalian, and in politics a Democrat.
He is also a past master of Masters Lodge,
No. 5, Free and accepted Masons. Mr.
Rathbone is a member of the following
clubs: Army and Navy, and Manhattan, of New
York; the Loyal Legion of America; and the
Graduates Association of the United States
Naval Academy.
Clarence
Rathbone married, at Albany, New York,
September 11, 1866, Angelica Bogart Talcott,
born at Albany, February 24, 1846. Her
father was Brigadier-General Sebastian
Visscher Talcott, son of George and Angelica
(Bogart) Talcott, born in New York City,
November 24, 1812, died at his residence,
No. 748 Broadway, Albany, November 10,
1888. He attended Yale and became a civil
engineer, doing considerable excellent work
in the survey of the boundary line between
the United States and Canada, and also in
the improvement of navigation in the Hudson
river near Albany, which work has endured as
a specimen of the best construction of its
kind along the length of the entire river.
He was appointed quartermaster by Governor
Horatio Seymour in 1862, with the rank of
brigadier-general. General Talcott has left
an enduring memorial of himself in several
volumes of genealogies which he prepared
with indefatigable labor, notably his
"Genealogical Notes of New York and New
England Families," published by him in
1883. He married Olivia Maria Shearman on
November 23, 1843. She was born in Utica,
New York, October 14, 1823, died in Albany
January 29, 1888. She was the only child of
Robert Shearman, son of Robert and Honor
(Brown) Shearman, who was born at South
Kingston, Rhode Island, September 10 1790,
died at Westmoreland, new York, September 6,
1838, and married Anna Maria, daughter of
Watts and Olivia (Gillson) Sherman. She was
born September 17, 1800, died at St.
Augustine, Florida, March 9, 1825. Children
of Clarence Rathbone: 1. Albert, of whom
further. 1. Joel, of whom further. 3.
Angelica Talcott, of whom further, 4. Ethel,
of whom further.
(VIII)
Albert, eldest son of Clarence and Angelica
Bogart (Talcott) Rathbone, was born July 27,
1868, in Albany. He received his early
education in the Albany Boys'
Page 107
Academy. Following
this he entered Williams College, where
he was a member of the Alpha Delta Phi
Society, and the class of 1888.
He pursued the study of law in the Albany
law School , a branch of Union University,
and was admitted to the bar in 1890.
He engaged in the practice of law about
ten years in his native city, becoming
a member of the firm of Tracy, cooper
& Rathbone. Removing to New
York City he became a member of the firm
of Butler, Norman, Joline & Mynderse.
Upon the dissolution of this firm Mr.
Rathbone became a partner in the firm
of Joline, Larkin & Rathbone, which
is now engaged in general practice in
New York City, with offices in Wall Street.
Mr. Rathbone affiliates with the Democratic
Party in political action. He is
a member of numerous clubs, including
the Metropolitan, Down Town, Racquet &
Tennis, Ardsley, Automobile of America,
Sleepy Hollow Country, Riding & Driving,
Rumsen Country, Fort Orange, and Albany
Country. He is also a member of
the Alpha Delta Phi Club, St. Nicholas
Society of New York City, and Military
Order of the Loyal Legion. He married,
April 14, 1891, at Albany, Emma Marvin,
daughter of Thomas Worth and Emma (McClure)
Olcott. Children, born in Albany:
1. Grace Olcott, born December 9, 1894.
2. Anna Talcott, August 14, 1897.
(VIII) Joel,
son of Clarence and Angelica Bogart
(Talcott) Rathbone, was born in Newport,
Rhode Island, September 12, 1869. He was
educated at the Albany Academy. He entered
the employ of the National Commercial Bank
of Albany, and afterwards was the treasurer
of the Albany Railway Company. In 1895 he
left for New York City, where is he first
vice-president of the National Security
Company, he married in New York City,
October 4, 1894, Josephine, daughter of
Carlisle and Ethel Josephine (Hanbury)
Norwood. Child: Carlisle Norwood, born at
Saratoga Springs, New York, July 26, 1895.
(VIII)
angelica Talcott, daughter of Clarence and
angelica Bogart (Talcott) Rathbone, was born
in Albany, New York, March 13, 1871. She
received her education at St. Agnes' School
in her native city. She married in New York
City, December 25, 1899, Dr. Charles Russel
Lowell Putnam, of Boston, Massachusetts, who
is now practicing medicine in New York
City. Child: Patrick Tracey Lowell Putnam,
born in New York City, September 15, 1904.
(VIII) Ethel,
daughter of Clarence and Angelica Bogart
(Talcott) Rathbone, was born in Albany, New
York, December 11, 1877. She married, in
Paris, March 14, 1907, Jean Marty, son of
Jean Marty of Carcassone, and his wife,
Marie Claudine (Chaumien) Marty, of Alligny
en Moreau, France.
BREWSTER.
The name of Brewster appears among
the old families in the reign of Edward
III, as ranking among the "English
Landed Gentry." John Brewster
was witness to a deed in the parish of
Henstead, in Suffolk, in the year 1375,
and not long after, in the reign of Richard
II, a John Brewster was presented to the
rectory of Godwich, in the county of Norfolk.
This Norfolk branch became connected by
marriage with the distinguished houses
of DeNarburgh, Spelman, Gleane and Coke,
of Nolkham; and, in the county of Suffolk,
Robert Brewster, of Murford, possessed
also lands in Henstead, and Robert Brewster,
of Rushmore, died possessed of these estates
prior to 1482. From this Suffolk
connection a branch became established
at Castle Hedingham, in Essex and formed
connection with several knightly families.
Elder william Brewster was probably of
this connection. It is supposed
that Scrooby, a Nottinghamshire
village, was his birthplace, whither he
went after leaving a responsible position
in the service of Mr. William Davison,
who was one of Queen Elizabeth's ambassadors,
and afterwards one of her principal secretaries
of state.
(I) William
Brewster Sr. lived in Scrooby,
Nottinghamshire, England, as early as
1570-71, in which year he was assessed in
that town on goods valued at £3. In 1575-76
he was appointed by Archbishop Sandys
receiver of Scrooby and bailiff of the
bishop, to have life tenure of both
offices. Some time in the year 1588, or
possibly before, he was appointed to the
additional office of postmaster under the
Crown. He was known as the "Post" of
Scrooby, and was
Page 108
master of the court mails,
which were accessible only to those connected
with the court. He died in the summer
of 1590. His wife was Prudence ------.
Child: william, mentioned below.
(II) Elder
Willian Brewster, who came in the
"Mayflower," was born during the last half
of the year 1566 or the first half of 1567,
the date being fixed by an affidavit made by
him at Leyden, June 25, 1609, when he
declared his age to be forty-two years. the
place of his birth is not known, but it is
supposed to have been Scrooby. The parish
registers of Scrooby do not begin until
1695, and no record of Brewster's birth,
baptism or marriage, has ever been
discovered. He matriculated at Peterhouse,
which was then the "oldest of the fourteen
colleges grouped into the University of
Cambridge," December 3, 1580, but does not
appear to have stayed long enough to take
his degree. He is next found as a
"discreete and faithfull" assistant of
William Davison, secretary of state to Queen
Elizabeth, and accompanied that gentleman on
his embassy to the Netherlands in August,
1585, and served him at court after his
return until his downfall in 1587. He then
returned to Scrooby, where he was held in
high esteem among the people of that place,
and did much good "in promoting and
furthering religion." In 1590 he was
appointed administrator of the estate o his
father, who died in the summer of that year,
and succeeded him as postmaster,. Which
position he held until September 30, 1607.
While in Scrooby he lived in the old
manor-house, where the members of the
Pilgrim church were accustomed to meet on
Sunday. When the Pilgrims attempted to
remove to Holland in the latter part of
1607m they were imprisoned at Boston.
Brewster was among those imprisoned and
suffered the greatest loss. After he
reached Holland he endured many unaccustomed
hardships, not being as well fitted as the
other Pilgrims for the hard labor which was
their common lot, and spent more of his
means in providing for his children. During
the latter part of the twelve years spent in
Holland he increased his income by teaching,
and by the profits from a printing press
which he set up in Leyden. When after the
twelve years I was decided that the church
at Leyden should emigrate to Virginia,
Brewster, who had already been chosen elder,
was desired to o with the first company. He
was, therefore, with his wife Mary and two
young sons, among the passengers of the
"Mayflower," which landed in Plymouth
harbor, December 16, 1620. Here he bore an
important part in establishing the Pilgrim
republic, was one of the signers of the
famous compact, and believed to have drafted
the same. He was the moral, religious and
spiritual leader of the colony during its
first years, and its chief civil adviser and
trusted guide until his death. His wife
Mary died April 17, 1627, something less
than sixty years old. Elder Brewster died
April 10, 1644, in Plymouth, and a final
division of his estate was made by Bradford,
Winslow, Prence and Standish, between
Jonathan and Love, his only remaining
children. 1. Jonathan, born august 12,
1593, at Scrooby. 2. Patience. 3. Fear.
4. Child, died at Leyden, buried June 20,
1609. 5. Love. 6. Wrestling, .came in the
"Mayflower" with his parents and brother
Love, was living at the time of the division
of cattle, May 22, 1627.
(III)
Jonathan, son of Elder william Brewster, was
born August 12, 1593, in Scrooby,
Nottinghamshire, England, and came over in
the ship "Fortune," 1621. He married
Lucretia Oldham, of Darby, April 10, 1624,
doubtless a sister of John Oldham, who came
to Plymouth about 1623. She died March 4,
1678-79. He had married before at an early
age, and buried his wife and a child by this
marriage in Leyden, May 10, 1619; one child
surviving, Nathaniel, mentioned below. He
moved from Plymouth to Duxbury about 1630,
and from there was deputy to the general
court, Plymouth colony, in 1639-41-43-44.
From there he removed to New London about
1649, and settled in that part later
established as Norwich, his farm lying in
both towns. He was admitted an inhabitant
there February 25, 1649-50, and was deputy
to the general court of the colony in
1650-55-56-57-58. He engaged in the
coasting trade, and was master of a small
vessel plying from Plymouth along the coast
of Virginia. In this way he became
acquainted with Pequot harbor, and entered
the river to trade with the Indians. He was
clerk of the town of Pequot, Sep-
Page 109
tember, 1649, and received
his first grant of land in that town in
the same month from Uncas, Sachem of the
Mohegans, with whom he had established
a treading house. At this latter
place, still called by his name, Brewster's
Neck, he laid out for himself a large
farm. The deed of this land was
confirmed by the town November 30, 1652,
and its bounds determined. In 1637
he was a military commissioner in the
Pequot war, in 1642, a member of the Duxbury
committee to raise forces in the Narragansett
alarm of that year, and a member of Captain
Myles Standish's Duxbury company in the
military enrollment of 1643. He
was prominent in the formation of the
settlement of Duxbury and in the establishment
of its church; sometimes practiced as
an attorney, and was also styled gentlemen.
He died august 7, 1659, and was buried
in the Brewster cemetery at Brewster's
Neck, Preston. A plain granite
shaft, about eight feet high, was erected
in 1855 to his memory and that of his
wife. The original footstone is
still in existence, and leans against
the modern monument. No probate
papers relating to his estate have been
found, but bills of sale are recorded,
dated in 1658, which conveyed all his
property in the town plot, and his house
and lands at Poquetennuck, with his movable
property, to his son Benjamin and son-in-law,
John Picket. His widow was evidently
a woman of note and respectability among
her fellow citizens. She had always the
prefix of Mrs. or Mistress, and was usually
recorded in some useful capacity as nurse,
or doctor, as a witness to wills, etc.
Children, the first three born in Plymouth,
the fourth in Jones River, the others
in Duxbury. 1. William, March 9,
1625. 2. Mary, April 16, 1627.
3. Jonathan, July 17, 1629. 4. Ruth,
October 3, 1631. 5. Benjamin, November
17, 1633. 6. Elizabeth, May 1, 1637.
7. Grace, November 1, 1639, married Captain
Daniel Wetherell, had child, Mary, married
George Denison. 8. Hannah, November
3, 1641.
|
