Sunday, August 23, 2020

Henry Robie of Castle Donington and Hampton, New Hampshire



English Origins

Henry Robie is believed to the son of Thomas and Mary Coxon Robie of Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England. If so, he was baptized on 12 February 1618. His family ancestry can be reliable traced for several generations and the family name is found in local records for centuries. 

Coming to America

The ship and date of sailing are unknown, but Henry's name is found in the Dorchester records by 1639. He didn't stay long in Massachusetts and by 1640 he was in Exeter, New Hampshire and later by 1650, he removed to Hampton, where he spent the remainder of his life. Like all upstanding citizens, Henry performed his civic duties, he acted as constable for the year 1661 and was chosen to be a selectman in 1656. He served as a justice of the peace for many years as well as that of judge of the court of sessions. 

Exeter was known as a lumber town and while there, Henry joined in the building of a sawmill. Later in life he was an innkeeper. 

Family

Henry married three times. [1] Ruth Moore who died 5 May 1673
                                            [2] Elizabeth (Philbrick)(Chase) Garland who died 11 Feb 1677
                                            [3] Sarah (Unknown) who died 23 Jan 1703 

Children: Mary, b. abt. 1644, m. 1663, Samuel Folsom, named in fathers will
                Thomas b. 1 March 1645/6, d. 1689 Falmouth
                 John b. 2 Feb 1648 my ancestor
                 Judith had an illegitimate child, named in fathers will
                 Ruth b. 3 March 1654, named in father's will
                 Deliverance b. 22 March 1657, m. Nathaniel Haseltine, not in father's will
                 Samuel b. 4 August 1659
                 Icabod b. 26 November 1664
                 Sarah b. 19 April 1679, not named in father's will

Life in Exeter and Hampton

Much of what we know about Henry Roby comes from the records of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County of which Exeter and Hampton were a part. I'm not sure when I last saw a name mentioned quite so many times as our Henry. Beginning in 1643 his name is found year in year out. He took the oath of fidelity in 1648. The following year he was made Clerk of the Market, and in 1650 he was a sworn commissioner for Exeter. 

Henry was sued by his neighbor and sued them in return. He once sued the very contentious Edward Colcord for suing him too much. Henry was also in court representing clients as their attorney. He was the town attorney for Hampton for several years. 

Henry seems to have been something of a hot head and was admonished in court in 1664 for reproaching the minister in reviling speeches concerning the ordinance of baptism. At the time there was huge dissent over the act of baptism, which caused hard feelings on both sides. Henry's wife, Elizabeth was ordered to be sent to jail in Boston for her 'contemptuous carriages' in court. She apologized and avoid prison. 

In 1647 in Exeter, Henry was fined for 'drawing wine and beer without a license'. In 1670 in Hampton he was granted a license, which was renew for many years. The court ruled he could keep an Ordinary but was bound not to let the town's children and servants 'lie tippling in his house'. This order was reinforced in 1679 when the court reminded him that the Ordinary was for travelers only, no townfolk could be served. Henry apparently like to serve himself. He was excommunicated from the church of Hampton by Rev. Moody for being a common drunkard. 

Henry's daughter Judith found her way into the court records when she had a child out of wedlock. The court ordered John Young, the father, to pay maintenance for the child. Apparently the couple never married and the Robys were often in court seeking payment. 

Henry died in 1688. The Reverend Cotton said of him, 'he would not have so honorable a burial as an ass'. This seems to be the case and it is said that 'when dead, his body was taken and thrown in a hole near the great rock in the rear of the old meeting house sometime in the night'. This was to avoid his creditors putting a lien on the body. 

Henry left a lengthy will and codicil. The inventory was extensive and include a 'looking glass that was bought in England'. He was evidently a successful businessman, despite his drinking. 


Sources: 


Sunday, August 16, 2020

Ancestry of Henry Robie of Castle Donington and Hampton, New Hampshire

 



Henry Roby/Robie was an English immigrant who came to New England by the year 1639 making him part of the Great Puritan Migration. It is said that he was the Henry Roby baptized in Castle Donington, Leicestershire on 12 February 1618, the son of Thomas and Mary (Coxen) Robie. His ancestry has been traced back to the 15th century. The name Robie can be found in local records as far back as the 13th century, but there is not enough to trace his lineage that far. 

*John b. about 1455 d. about 1515, wife unknown

        *Thomas b. about 1500, m. Elizabeth Swaine abt. 1530, bur. 5 December 1552

            *Thomas b. 12 April 1536, styled a yeoman, m. 25 Nov. 1569 Joanne Cowley, d/o George Cowley (she d. 10 Oct. 1579), m. (2) 20 Feb 1582/3 Mary Gatley, he d. 12 Sep. 1588

                *Thomas b. 20 April 1576, m. 29 Nov 1606 Mary Coxen b. 20 April 1586 she d. 26 April             1641,  he died 27 March 1653.


Castle Donington is a small market town in the midlands. It was awarded it's market by King Edward I in the 13th century. The parish church is St. Edward King and Marytr, this ancient structure was begun in the 12th century and added to over the years. 




**Photos from Geograph.org 
The house is called the Key Roby house and was built by a Thomas Roby in 1636.

Monday, August 10, 2020

George Corliss: Immigrant to New England

 


english origins
George Corliss is said to hail from Devonshire. There is no proof to confirm his origins, his parents are unknown. He is supposed to have been born about 1617. His arrival in New England cannot be pinpointed. 

haverhill
George is first recorded in Massachusetts in 1639 in the town of Newbury. He gave his age as 22. On 26 October 1645, George Corliss married Joanna Davis, daughter of Thomas and Christian Bellshire Davis of Haverhill. They settled in the West Parish of Haverhill on a farm called Poplar Lawn. He was also made a freeman of the colony in 1645.

Like all men of good standing he did his civic duties. George served as constable in 1650 and as Selectman in 1653, 1657, 1669 and 1679. 

children

Mary 1646, married William Neff
John 1648
Joanna 1650, married Joseph Hutchins
Martha 1652, married Samuel Ladd
Deborah 1655, married Thomas Eastman, Thomas Kingsbury
Ann born 8 November 1657, married John Robie
Huldah 1661, married Samuel Kingsbury
Sarah 1663, married Joseph Ayer

rip
George died in Haverhill on 19 Oct 1686. Joanna died 17 April 1688. George left a substantial estate, and bequeathed land of some sort to most of his children. 

Sunday, August 9, 2020

Thomas Davis and Christian Bellshire; Immigrants to New England



English Origins
Thomas Davis is believed on strong circumstantial evidence to be the son of John and Agnes Unknown Davis of Acton Turville, Gloucestershire a parish of Chipping Sodbury. Agnes was not Agnes Chandler. This was a different couple. Thomas and Agnes had the following children, known from his will. Samuel, Thomas, James, and a daughter Sarah. James had two sons, James and John, also named. At the time of its writing, John Davis was married to a Sarah Reede. The date of death of Agnes is unknown. 


Summary of the will of John Davis:
- my son Samuel...
- my son Thomas...
- James and John Davis, sons of my son James...
- Sarah, daughter of my son James...
- Sarah my now wife...
- remainder of estate to son James who is to be excecutor.

Abstract of will of JOHN DAVIS, Acton Turville, 1626:
In the name of God Amen, I, John Davis of Acton Turville in the countye of Glouc., yeoma', sycke in bodye but of good and p'fect memory, do make thys my laste will and Testament in manner and form following. My bodye to be buryed in ye Churchyarde of Acton Turville aforesaide. It' I gyve unto my sonne Samyll in regard of one cowe whych . . . Item I gyve unto my sonne Thomas twelve pence. Item I guve unto . . . sonne twelve pence. Item I geve unto James Davys and John Davis my sonne James his sonness...shillings a peece. I gyve unto Sara my sonne James his daugher (ten shillings?). Item I gyve unto Sara my nowe wyfe on coffer. ffurther my will is that I...which I gyve unto my Sonn Samyll in regard of his...him bymy executor when he have served his apprentis...not then to remayne to my sonne James his children. It'l al the est of my goods moveable and unmoveable andye executorsyeare of my lease...my sonne James Davys whome I make my executor of this my last will and testament. Also I do Intreate and Apoynt will p'formed...Apryll 1626.
The marke of John x Davis. Wytness to this will John Sloper"

James Davis of Haverhill, Massachusetts in a known son of John Davis of Acton Turville. This seems to cement the relationship between Thomas and the Davis' of Acton Turville. 

marriage
Thomas is believed to have been born about 1603 and married Christian Bellshire in Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire, England on 14 November 1622. This would put Thomas at age nineteen, a bit on the young side for marriage but it seems to check out. 

children
Joanna b. about 1625, married Oct. 1645 George Corliss, 4 Oct. 1687 James Ordway
Joseph b. about 1627, d. 15 Nov. 1671, unmarried and childless.
Mary bp. 29 March 1629 Chipping Sodbury, nothing further

coming to new england
Thomas Davies, Sawyer, of Marlborough, sailed on the James in 1635 out of Southampton. He had two children; Joanna and Joseph. He first settled in Newbury before removing to Haverhill where he was known to be by 1641 where he became a freeman on 2 June. He was not only a sawyer but also a mason, and was known as a yeoman. Although he owned books, he made his mark on various documents. 

Like most men of the time, Thomas performed his civic duties, serving on juries, both petit and grand, commission to end small causes and once served as constable. He would have served with thl local militia until he was dismissed in 1662. This was usual for men when they reached about age 60 or so. 

He owned and sold various properties and in 1661 he deeded land to his son Joseph adjoining his in Haverhill. When he died on 27 July 1683, the majority of the value of his estate was in property.

rip
Christian died in Haverhill on 7 April 1668. Thomas lived a good long life and died at about age 80 on 27 July 1683.


Sources:

Chase, George Wingate, 1826-1867. The History of Haverhill, Massachusetts: From Its First Settlement In 1640 to the Year 1860. Haverhill [Mass.]: Published by the author, 1861.

Great Migration 1634-1635, C-F. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume II, C-F, by Robert Charles Anderson, George F. Sanborn, Jr., and Melinde Lutz Sanborn. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001.

https://www.americanancestors.org/DB115/i/7373/315/22175288

Thursday, August 6, 2020

Henry Ambrose of Salisbury Massachusetts b. 1649 d. 1724



Here is the fourth Henry Ambrose of his line. He was born probably in Salisbury where his father was known to have lived at the time. His father moved about in his later years, living in Hampton, Charlestown, Salisbury, and Boston where he died. His son, Henry was only ten at the time of his father's death. His mother, Susanna, remarried in 1663 and lived with her husband, John Serverence in Salisbury.

Henry spent his entire life in Salisbury. He worked as a weaver. In 1672 he married Susanna Unknown Worcester, widow of Timothy. Surprisingly, they had only three children, one of which died as an infant or small child. Not much else is known about this couple. He took the oath of fidelity in 1677 and they both became full members of their church in 1715. Susanna died on 22 December 1730, a widow, Henry's death is unknown, but according to an article in the Essex Antiquarian, he died before 1724.

Their first child, Dorothy married Samuel Colby in 1693.

Sources:

[1] Hoyt, David Webster, 1833-1921. The Old Families of Salisbury And Amesbury, Massachusetts: With Some Related Families of Newbury, Haverhill, Ipswich And Hampton. Providence, R.I.: [Snow & Farnham, printers], 18971917.

[2] The Essex Antiquarian. Salem, MA: The Essex Antiquarian, 13 vols. 1897-1909. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2006.)

https://www.americanancestors.org/DB96/i/7532/74/6834329

Photo by Johannes Plenio

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