10th

Thomas Judd b. 1608

/ Kirstin Miller

Thomas Judd 10th great grandfather on RootsMagic tree.

judd, thomas landThomas Judd was born in England, about 1608. He landed in Cambridge, Massachusetts Bay in 1634. In Cambridge he was admitted to the church and made a freeman in May of 1636. Thomas left Cambridge for Connecticut, first Hartford, probably with Puritan minister Thomas Hooker. Both Hooker and Thomas Judd were landowners on a map of Hartford in the 1640s, these were original settlers. The map was “prepared from the original records by vote of the town” and created in the 1800s. Thomas Judd is in the bottom left corner No. 154. Other Miller ancestor landowners on this map in this same area in 1640 are Jeremy Adams, Thomas Bliss and Richard Risley.

UCONN libraries provides a digital copy of this map and details.
A list of the landowners ‘freeholders’ here
More details on the map here.

Thomas left Hartford for Farmington where he held lots of town service positions including, in August of 1658, “to communicate the mind of the court to the Indians”. The church records of Farmington, Connecticut name Thomas as the second Deacon of the church. “The number of such as are in full communion in the church in Farmington March 1 1679/80. Deacon Judd. Benjamin Judd and his wife. John Judd and his wife. William Judd and his wife”. Finally Thomas moved to Northampton, Massachusetts where he is buried and has a headstone credited to a descendant: Sylvester Judd of 1858.

Thomas didn’t leave a will at his death but there is a probate record, 15 pages, handwritten mostly land deeds and an inventory.

judd, thaoms estateThis page from the will lists the children and their inheritance, Benjamin Judd 4th on the list is the Miller ancestor through Mary Ella Gaines, grandma of Faber Miller who married Gladys Cable.

Sources

Francis Bushnell b. 1609

/ Kirstin Miller

Francis Bushnell 10th great grandfather on RootsMagic tree.

Francis was born in 1609 probably in Sussex England. On June 27, 1631 he married Mary Grombridge in Horsham Parish, Sussex, England. Page 46 The parish register of Horsham at HathiTrust.

April 10, 1635 Francis and Mary sailed from London on The Planter and landed in Boston on June 7. On the ship were farmers, curriers, servants, shoemakers, tailors, glovers. From Boston the Bushnells went to Saybrook, Connecticut – now called Old Saybrook. Francis was a carpenter and a miller. He built the first gristmill in Saybrook and received land in exchange for running the mill. Francis was a deacon in the Saybrook Church. Page 75 The First Church of Christ (Congregational), Old Saybrook, Conn.

Frances and Mary had 8 children. Francis’s death is recorded, “ Deacon Francis Bushnell deceased this life December 4th, 1681” he was 72.

StMaryHorshamSt Marys Horsham image at The History of St. Marys 2015

William Lewis b. 1594

/ Kirstin Miller

William Lewis 10th great grandfather on RootsMagic tree

William Lewis was born in Cardiff, Wales January of 1594. In 1620 he married Felix Collins also of Wales. On June 22, 1632 William, Felix and their young son William Jr. sailed from London to New England, arriving in Boston on September 16, 1632.

Lewis, Wm and family

Page 101, Planters of the Commonwealth by Banks, an Ancestry . com source

John Winthrop of New England kept a journal in 1630s and 40s, one thing he recorded was ships arriving and leaving. “He brought one hundred and twenty three passengers whereof fifty children, all in health, they had been twelve weeks aboard and eight weeks from Land’s end.”

Winthrop the Lyon

Volume 1 page 92 The Winthrop journals at HathiTrust

The Winthrop Journals are at HathiTrust  more info on John Winthrop at Wikipedia 

William settled first in Cambridge and was a freeman on Nov 6, 1632. He moved to Hartford then Farmington, Connecticut where he was a selectmen, constable and deputy. As a selectmen William would have helped put his new town together, selectmen explained at Wikipedia  “In most New England towns, the adult voting population gathered annually in a town meeting to act as the local legislature, approving budgets and laws. Day-to-day operations were originally left to individual oversight, but when towns became too large for individuals to handle such work loads, they would elect an executive board of, literally, select(ed) men to run things for them.”

William wrote and signed a will August 30, 1683, his estate was settled December 18 1683, his son William was executor. “I William Lewis, being stricken in years, do think it meet to set in order the Estate which God hath graciously given me.” Volume 1 page 331 A digest of the early Connecticut probate records at HathiTrust.

William Lewis 1594 – 1683
William Lewis 1620 – 1690
Mary Lewis  1645 – 1690
Hannah Judd  1681 – 1747
Hannah Smith  1711 – 1785
Prudence Risley  1735 – 1816
Joseph Gaines  1756 – 1841
Obed Gaines  1793 – 1877
William Newcomb Gaines  1825 – 1907
Mary Ella Gaines  1855 – 1917
William E Miller  1879 – 1949
Faber W Miller  1905 – 1957

Roger Williams b. 1602

/ Kirstin Miller

Roger Williams 10th great grandfather on RootsMagic tree

Williams, Roger A Key_ Of the WordsRoger Williams was born in 1602 in London and is known for a lot: he founded Rhode Island, he wrote many books including A key into the Language of America: A help to the Language of the Natives in that part of America called New England, he founded the still standing First Baptist Church and so much more.

Direct descendancy from Roger Williams is pretty well proven through Dexter Angell (VII 1.) who mentions daughter Delia in his will. Delia is the bonafide mom of Matilda Flood who married Richard Mockford and they are parents of Philippa Flood Mockford Speedy, aka great grandma Speedy. Roger Williams of Province, RI by Anthony, Bertha Williams at HathiTrust this same book is used by the Roger William Family Association as a source.

Roger Williams Park and Betsy's houseIn 1871 Roger Williams’s 3rd great granddaughter Betsy Williams donated 100+ acres of land to the state of Rhode Island with the condition that it be used as a public space for everyone and have a statue of Roger Williams. There is actually a book saved about this whole event, Ceremonies at the unveiling of the monument to Roger Williams at HathiTrust

And the People’s Park

Thomas Clemence b. 1634

/ Kirstin Miller

Thomas Clemence 10th great grandfather on RootsMagic tree

Thomas Clemence may have sailed to America in 1642. He was definitely married and living in Rhode Island by 1655 when he took the Freeman’s Oath and purchased land. In the early days of America he supported -Salus populi- very generally “The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law”.

In Providence he was a town treasurer, deputy and stayed to defend the colony during King Philips War. Thomas in his will dated May 16, 1668, leaves land to his son Richard “60 acres of upland, meadow, etc not upon sudden motion but upon deliberate consideration”.Clemence house

And Richard built a house, that is still standing. The Historic New England Clemence Irons website is here. 

Photos, floor plans and more at the Library of Congress here.

Henry Gaines b. 1612

/ Kirstin Miller

Henry Gaines 8th great grandfather of Faber Miller who married Gladys Cable.

Henry was born about 1612 in England, near Olney, Buckinghamshire, England. On May 17, 1634 Henry married Jane Partridge. Around 1637 Henry and his brother in law William Partridge sailed to America. Their spouses may have sailed with them or come later.  In the Massachusetts Bay Colony on March 14, 1638 Henry and William become Freemen: they vowed to defend the Colony and to not overthrow their British rulers.  

Lynn Marshes

Henry settled in Lynn, Massachusetts where he was a juryman, owned land and farmed. The Gaines family probably lived near the seashore. Both Henry and Jane died in their 30s. Henry didn’t leave a will but Jane’s will gives and inventory and information on the 3 son’s apprenticeships. John was apprenticed to Francis Dowse of Boston, a shoemaker. Daniel was apprenticed to Luke Potter of Concord a tailor. Samuel was apprenticed to Nathaniel Handforth. 

Sources

Thomas Bliss b. 1588

/ Kirstin Miller

Thomas Bliss b. 1588, 10th great grandfather on RootsMagic Tree

Thomas Bliss came to America with other Bliss family members and is frequently mixed up with other Thomas Blisses, probably relatives. One sure thing is this Thomas Bliss’s will names Nicholas Ide, Thomas’s son-in-law, husband of Martha Bliss. A will provides great proof when children or married daughters are mentioned. Thomas also names his (best) oxen: Spark and Swad, Quick and Benbo; and cows: Traveler and Damson.

This Thomas Bliss arrived in America around 1640. In 1642 May 18, he is in the list of Freeman of Massachusetts Bay Colony. 1644 June 31 his name is in a list of land lots, No. 29. In 1644 July 3 Thomas signed the Rehoboth, now Seekonk, Compact. Similar to other colony or plantation Compacts of the time male residents made a pact to live in and protect the community to the best of their ability, etc. Thomas married Dorothy, probably in England, they had 9 children. Thomas was a farmer, blacksmith and surveyor.

Sources
Thomas’s will. Volume 8 page 85 Society of Mayflower Descendents (Mass.). The Mayflower Descendant. Boston: 1899-1940 at HathiTrust

Freeman. No pages image 15 Andrews, H. Franklin. List of Freemen, Massachusetts Bay Colony From 1630 to 1691,  Exira, Iowa: Exira Print. Co, 1906 at Archive.org

Land lots page 27, Rehoboth compact page 28. Bliss, Leonard. The History of Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts, Boston: Otis, Broaders, & Co, 1836 at HathiTrust

Thomas Bliss 1588-1647
Martha Bliss 1622-1676
Martha Ide 1654-1700
Timothy Walker 1687-1745
Eunice Walker 1728 – 1772
Cynthia Hill 1763 – 1830
Dexter Angell 1794 – 1854
Delia Viola Angell 1839 – 1916
Matilda Flood 1858 – 1940
Philippa Flood Mockford 1891 – 1979
Elizabeth Speedy 1917 – 2005 m. Stanley Roose 1915 – 2004

John Field b. 1616

/ Kirstin Miller

John Field 8th great grandfather of Elizabeth Speedy who married Stanley Roose Sr.

John Field b. 1616 in Yorkshire, England to William and Jane Sotwell Field. John Field was in Providence, Rhode Island before August 1637 and was one of the young crowd. He and his young crowd were looking for the same rights as the older settlers: Roger Williams, Thomas Olney, William Arnold, etc. So the old and young worked together and created the 1637 Providence Civil Compact. Pages of details here, summarized here.

“We, whose names are hereunder, desirous to inhabit in the town of Providence, do promise to subject ourselves in active or passive obedience to all such orders or agreements as shall be made for public good of our body, in an orderly way, by the major assent of the present inhabitants, master of families, incorporated together into a town fellowship, and others whom they shall admit unto them only in civil things.”

By 1640 citizens of Providence needed a more precise civil compact so a committee of representatives (Robert Coles, Chad Browne, William Harris, John Warner) met and wrote up the 1640 Providence Agreement.

Providence agreement 1640
The representatives took their task seriously “in all differences amongst us, being so betrusted, we have seriously and carefully endeavored to weigh and consider all these differences, being desirous to bring them to unity and peace.”

They were modest: “although our abilities are far short in the due examination of such weighty matters, we have gone the fairest and equallest way to produce our peace.” Page 40 of Annals of the Town of Providence.

39 Citizens old and young signed the new compact including John, his brother William and his daughter’s future father in law Thomas Angell. The Angell, Arnold, Fields, Olney, Powers and Williams families are direct ancestors of Elizabeth Speedy Roose.

John Field stayed involved in town services with meetings at his home. “Meet at John Fields home: Ordred yt a declaration be set up under the hand of ye Towne Clerke to give notice to all ye Creaditors of John Smith, (deceased) to repaire on Munday ye 19th: instant, unto the house of John ffield about 9: or 10: of the Clock there to receive theire dues of ye said Estate.” Volume 6, page 117 of The Early Records of the Town of Providence.

John Field (1616 – 1686)
Ruth Field (1649 – 1726)
Hope Angell (1685 – 1759)
Oliver Angell (1717 – 1799)
Israel Angell (1740 – 1832)
Asa Angell (1771 – 1842)
Dexter Angell (1794 – 1854)
Delia Viola Angell (1839 – 1916)
Matilda Flood (1858 – 1940)
Philippa Flood Mockford (1891 – 1979)
Elizabeth Speedy (1917 – 2005) m. Stanley Roose (1915 – 2004)

Thomas Tracy b. 1610

/ Kirstin Miller

Thomas Tracy 10th great grandpa on RootsMagic tree.

Thomas Tracy was born in 1610 in England.  Thomas sailed for New England and arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1636.  Thomas was a carpenter and ship builder. He held many community posts including leader of the Train Band (militia company of early America), member of the Colonial Assembly and Lieutenant of the New London County Dragoons.

The Tracy family was one of the first to settle in Norwich CT where Thomas died Nov. 7, 1685, age 76. His estate included 5000 acres of Norwich land, he left this to his children. 

Some Tracy family history books state that “No family can claim armorial bearings more ancient than the Tracys, for they were handed down from the middle of the twelfth century”. This may or may not be proven.  Thomas Tracy has a memorial at Find A Grave with more information and a huge headstone erected by ancestors after his death. Find a Grave is generally completely unverified but still has good information.  Thomas Tracy Find a grave memorial 21945755

Michael Metcalfe b. 1587

/ Kirstin Miller

Michael Metcalfe 10th great grandfather on RootsMagic tree.

Michael Metcalfe was b.1587 into a long line of Metcalfs. He lived in Tatterford and Norwich, England, was a weaver and married Sarah Ellwyn. Michael was a Puritan in England which led to trouble in the 1630s when he felt persecuted by Archbishop Laud and Bishop Wren. Both bishops were eventually charged with various crimes and locked in the Tower of London. Wren was let go and Laud was executed.

Michael wrote a letter, “I was persecuted in the land of my fathers’ sepulchres for not bowing at the name of Jesus and observing the ceremonies inforced upon me at the instance of Bishop Wren of Norwich, and his Chancellor Dr. Corbet, whose violent measures troubled me in the Bishop’s court, and returned me into the High Commissioner’s Court. Suffering many times for the cause of religion, I was forced for the sake of the liberty of my conscience to flee from my wife and children to go into New England; taking ship for the voyage at London, 17th Sept., 1636, and being by tempests tossed up and down the seas till the Christmas following; and then veering about to Plymouth in Old England. Leaving the ship I went down to Yarmouth, in Co. Norfolk, whence I finally shipped myself and family to come to New England; sailed April 15, 1637, and arrived three days before Midsummer with my wife, nine children, and a servant, Thomas Comberbach, aged 16.”

In April 1637 the Metcalf family got ready to sail to America: The examinacion of Michill Metcalfe of Norwich, Dornix weauer, aged 45 yeares and Sarrah his wife, aged 39 yeares, with 8 Children, Michill: Thomas: Marey: Sarrah: Elizabeth: Martha: Joane: and Rebeca: and his Saruant Thomas Comberbach, aged 16 yeares, are desirous to passe to boston in New England to inhabit. 

The family with Michael, Sarah, 9 kids and a servant landed in Boston on or about June 24, 1637. The Metcalfs settled in Dedham, Connecticut. Michael was a townsmen, a selectman and on the committee to create the meeting house. His will left various possessions and money amounts to his 2nd wife Mary, children and grandchildren with one grandchild getting the ‘Largest gray Horsmann’s coate’ and son John getting all the books.

Michael Metcalfe (1587 – 1664)
Jane Metcalfe (1632 – 1701)
Samuel Walker (1655 – 1712)
Timothy Walker (1687 – 1745)
Eunice Walker (1728 – 1772)
Cynthia Hill (1763 – 1830)
Dexter Angell (1794 – 1854)
Delia Viola Angell (1839 – 1916)
Matilda Flood (1858 – 1940)
Philippa Flood Mockford (1891 – 1979)
Elizabeth Speedy (1917 – 2005) m. Stanley Roose (1915 – 2004)

Sources

  • Excerpts from a letter written in Plymouth England January 13, 1636 the New England Historical and Genealogical Register NEHGR Volume 6 page 171 at Archive.org
  • New England Historical and Genealogical Register NEHGR Volume 14 page 325 at Archive.org