Churchill, lO'- and to Mary Andreires, lO"'
Acknowledged by y"^ Testator betore sealing, in presence of Peeter
Olliver. Samuell Prince.
Peeler Olliver deposed, 9 Sept 1658.
Inventory taken Sept. 165S, by Josh. Scottow, Thomas Savage. [See
Reg. Vol. VII, p. 339.]
T, sole Executors. Over- ^ .a, ) n^ ' fj
^,Mr Henry Shrimptoji, Mr. '-"-yy i,/iu{/ -rj^ ^ i/^/^
â– )h Sheafe, Mr Thomas Lake, , -/^
Richard Walters, Mariner. — Inventory taken 30 Aug 1653 Major
Symon Willard and Mr Jacob Sheafe deposed 22 June 1654. [See Vol.
VII, (1853) p. 337.]
Jno. Samson, late of Marblehead. — Inventory taken 28: 7 mo: 1G54,
by Francis Johnson, Jolin Smith. Amt. =£32. 14'. W'" Sampson deposed.
Arthur Gill. — An Invoyce of such goods and debts as were lefi in the
hands o( John Sweete by Arthur Gill at his goeing for England. One
bill of W" Garscay, one of Alexander Adams; due from Andrew Ayger,
John Gill, TF" White, Thomas Chadwcll. Francis Hutson, &zc. &c.
Amt. ,£106. 04'- 09'- ' Rec'^ from TF"" Elliway of Cape Anne, 20-. Jolia
Sweete deposed 10: 11: 1654.
Rebeccah Webb, Widdow. Late of Boston, deceased. — Inventory
taken 22 Dec. 1654, by W/^ Davis, Robert Suj)iner, Tho: Clarke, Leift
Peeter Olliver, Thomas Buttolph, G-odfreu Armitase, overseers of the
Last Will of Rebeccah Webb, deposed 16 Alarch 1654. [See Will, Vol.
V, (1851) p. 303.]
{To be Continued.)
1854.] Dutch Invasion. — Humphry, Rayidall and Hunt. 357
THE DUTCH INVASION.— LETTER OF RICHARD SMITH OF
NARRAGANSET.
[Communicated by Hon. G. A. Bkayton of Warwick, R. I.]
To whom this shall come
Oil Monday the 4"' instant August 1673 Just now certain intelligence
came to me by post convoyed along by coast from York thai on Wed-
nesday last the Dutch fleet came in thither & fell on the town so that
their guns were heard to Stratford point that day all the westward being
up in arms & in a posture to provide for their safety as well as they can
which news being certain I thought good to communicate along d; sub-
scribe my naime Rich Smith
Naroganset y^ 4"^ August 1673
Convoy it along with all »
possible post haste to y«
next towns
For M^' Walter Tod at Warwick to be convoyed to Providence to Ee-
hoboth Taunton and elsewhere Pray send it along post haste
HUMPHRY, RANDALL AND HUNT.
[Copied from Vol. 129, p. 16,. Mass. Archives, by W. B. Tkask]
The Deposition of Jonas Humphry* aged Sixty Eight yeares or there-
about, and Robert Randall aged Eighty yeares or thereabouts both In-
habitants of the Town of Waymouth in the County of Sutfolke within his
Majesties Territory and Dominion of New England in America, sworn
say. That they the Deponents and each of them liveing for some time in
Wendover in the County of Bucks within the Realm of England, did well
know and were acquainted with Enoch Hunt of Titendenin the Parish of
Lee about two miles distant from Wendovert Blacksmith, and Ephraim
Hunt Blacksmith the reputed Eldest Son of him said Enoch Hunt, And
the said Enoch Hu.it and his Son Ephraim Hunt both of them afterwards
removed into New England and for sometime dwelt in Waymouth afore-
said, the said Enoch Hunt the Father soon returned back again to Eng-
land But his Son Ephraim Hunt remained and Settled himselfe at Way-
mouth and there married, a wife by whome he had issue Several Sons,|
and continued his dwelling there unto the time of his decease which v.-as
about Sixteen months since, his reputed Eldest Son Thomas Hunt now a
dweller and Inhabitant of the Town of Boston within the aforesaid County
of SufTolkc Blacksmith still Surviving being present with the Deponents at
the time of their making this AtTidavit, whome they have known from his
Childhood. And farther the Deponents Say not.
2^ July 16SS. Jonas Humphry
Sworne y^ 2'' day of June ' Robert X Randall
16S8 before me. E Andres.
* Jonas Humphry came to Dcrchester, Mass., about 1635, with his elder brother,
JaiTies, and their father, Jonas. See Reg. Vol. II, p. 3S3 ; IV, 198: VIII, 250.
fin Buckinghamshire, 5 niiliii N. W. of Chesham, and 35 W. N.W. from London,
the biahplace of John Hampden the patriot.
X The territory comprisins the town of Ashfisld, Franklin Co., JIass., " was granted
to Cap' Ephraim Hunt, of Weymouth, as a compensation for services rendered in the
Canada expedition of 1G9U. It was actually conveyed to his heirs forty-sii years af-
I'^ru^ards, and was settled by a few families in 1742. It was incorporated as a town
!n 176t ; previous to that lime it went by the name of Iluntstomn, from the name of
us original proprietor."— Barber's Hist. Coll. Ma:s., p. 233.
35S
The Johnson Family,
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1S5-1.] The Johnson Famihj. 359
THE JOHNSON FAMILY.
[Communicated by Pishet Thompson, Esq., of Boston ia Lincolnshire, England.]
Note. — Mr. Thompson, many years ago published an account of Bos-
ton, [Eiig.] He is now about to publish its '•''History and Aiiliquities,'^
upon which he has bestowed a great amount of labor. In the course of his
researches he discovered the materials from which the following Articl-3
has been prepared. In his letter accompanying it he says, "The Jolin;ua
family is scarcely enough connected wiih this BosZo/r, to justify tlie ap-
propriation of much space therein to details respecting it. I also forward
you a copy of the authentic pedigree of the Johnson family, and also a
copy of a very curious paper in the hand-writing of the father of Isaac,
relative to his marriage, &c. The details of this paper may be depended
upon as being correct, but the inferences are, probably, too severe."
Dated Boston, Lincolnshire, 2 June 1854. — Editor.
Extracts from a paper Krilten hy Ahraham Johnson, " Gentleman and Es-
quire,'''' 163S, and identified as liis icriting ly a relative. The paper in
possession of W-^ Hopkinson, Esq., of Stamford, Lincolnshire.
The writer describes himself as Abraham Johnson, Gentleman, now
of Cambridge, and late of South Lutienham, in the county of Rutland,
Esq. He desires searches to be made in the Herald's office, tScc, for the
family arms which he is entitled tabear; and apologizes for his deficiency
of knowledge in that respect, through " having been deprived of the me-
morials thereof as touching his bearings, by his Mother's ancestors, bv
Strangers and Adversaries, and as for' those by his Father's ancestors.
by his own Sons.^'' '
The narrative recites that the writer's father was"]Mr. Robert Johnson,
Gentleman, and his mother [Mrs. !Mary Johnson, " a Gentlewoman too.
His father's education, titles, actions and good works" he sets forth, " not
passing in silence his mother's worth." He himself had held the offices
of High SheritTand Justice of Peace."
Abraham: Johnson was born at North Luffenham, in the county of
Rutland, July 6, 15"/ 7, being the only child of the Robert and ^Iary
JoHNSoN abovementioned. His father's father was Mooris or Maurice
Johnson of Stamford, Gentleman. His father was Chaplain to Sir Nich-
olas Bacon, and afterwards Vicar of North LutTenham, where he resided
in that capacity for nearly 50 years, never having any other church pre-
ferment. He was B. D., Prebendary of Windsor and Rochester, and
Archdeacon of Leicester. - He gave 20 marks a year to the' Preacher
at Paul's Cross, and is there always mentioned among the benefactors
and maintainei's of those preachers." He founded also two Schools and
two Hospitals of Christ in Oakham and Uppingham, in the county of
Rutland, with four hundred marks Hereditaments yearly for ever. He
died in July, 1625.
Abt^aham Johnson recites that his education was early cared for, and
consisted of a thorough knowledge of the Latin, Greek and Ilcbrev,- lan-
guages, and also of the French, Spanish and Italian ones ; and of Rhet-
oric, Lojric, Arithmetic, Geometiy and Natural Philosophy; and of ?»Iusic,
both vocal and instrumental. His writing seems to have been par-
ticularly cared for, having been taught bv the best masters "which those
times," and he " thinks any times 'atTorded, to write Secretary, Romain,
360 , The Johnson Family. [Oct.
Court or Chancery hand, Text hand, Bastard hand." He could write
also, foirly, both Greek and Hebrew. All these things he had attained
when he was 13 years of age.
He entered ^t Emanuel College, Cambridge, when he was little over
13, where he remained 4 years. He then entered as a student of the
law at Lincoln's Inn, where he remained several years, when he was
called to the bar. lie never constantly followed the law as a profession,
being more attached to "an academical life." He studied Divinity, Math-
ematics, Natural Philosojjhy, "and new, hard, profitable inventio.ns or
ExGiXEs, both to contrive them, and cause them to be made." He pur-
chased a house and fartn at South LutFenham, about half a mile from his
native town, in 1618, for which he paid about c£l,000. He was ap-
pointed Sheriff of Rutlandshire, dwelling at North Luffenham, to be near
his father. In the same year he waited on his Majesty, when in these
parts, and had an offer of Knighthood made him, which he did not accept,
but was afterwards placed in Commission of the Peace, From this
position he afterwards retired, " and used his freedom for his own
studies." After an absence of 21 years he retiwned to Cambridge, " his
honoured and dear mother ;" he also occasionally resided in London.
W'^ith respect to the Arms he was entitled to bear, he says that he
knows that he was descended from the Lacy''s, Earls of Lincoln, Wil-
Li.A.M Lacy of Deeping St. James, in Lincolnshire, Gentleman, being his
father's uncle, and always addressing him as nepheic. He was also al-
lied to the Smiths of Standground, near Peterborough. His father always
called the representative of that family, {Robert Smith,) uncle and patron,
having been appointed his guardian by his father, Maurice Johnson. His
family was also connected or allied with the Bevills of Sawtrv, in Hun-
tingdonshire, and the Clarkes of Elmington, in Northamptonshire. His
father had three wives ; the first was Susanna Davers, whose brother,
Jeremy Davers, was a fellow of Clare Hall, Cambridge. This first wife
did not live more than a year with his father, c.nd died without issue. The
second wife was mother to the writer, and was Maria Hird, sister to
Richard Hird, who was Steward to Sir Francis IValsingham, Secretary
of State to Queen Elizahetk. He knows that, by his mother, he is de-
scended from or allied to the Byngs of Kent, and with the Gamas^es of
London, and the Woodwards of Hoddesdon, of whom Sir John Wood-^
icard was called the Royal Merchant. Abraham Johnson gives a long
account of a quarrel between the different branches of his mother''s fam-
ily, during which the personal estate, "consisting of movables, books,
writings and papers, coats, seal rings, jewels and medals," were ab-
stracted by a dishonest executor.
Abraham Johnson married 1st, Anna Meadou-s, dau. of Robert Mead-
ows of Stamford. The Meadows were allied to or descended from the
Wimhlcby and Lovcday families. This lady was the mother of Isaac
Johnson,* who emigrated to America; "he was, in courtesy,- written
Esquire, after he had married the Lady x\rbella" (not Arabella) " Fines,
one of the sisters of the now Earl of Lincoln, who both went into New
England to inhabit, and in a few months after their arrival, both died
there, never leaving any issue." " That over high match,"' continues
Abraham Johnson, " was not blessed by him, nor assented to, but forbid-
* There was no other child by this marriage, excepting a daughter, Mary, who
died a child.
1854.] The Johnsori Famihj. 361
den by him, who foresaw and foretold the inconvenience which fell out
accordingly, proving uncomfortable to tliemselvcs and injurious to him
and his second now wife, and their six sons and a daughter ; because hi?
father" (Isaac's Grandfather) "being of some 82 years, and in infirmities.
Emd not continuing so deeply wise as he had been in liis former consistent
age, and green old age ; and always contran,' to the principles he had
given him (Abraham) in charge, that he would not marry above his own
degree, w^ he fortified with many reasons — was misled by meddling,
tatling women with an opinion of raising his house, nobody knows how
high. Whereas he (Abraham) had so convinced his said father, tliat he
seemed satisfied, that there was an inherent greatness or nobleness of
blood in the lady w^ was not impartible or derivable to his son, or any
child he might have by her. But eagerly pursuing till they had got a
clandestine marriage, never daring to own or tell the father who married
them ; they had got the Gr.^ndfather to state all his lands upon the said
Isaac and his heirs, (except a quillet not worth taking up, which he had
cast upon the right heir) with an utier prostration of him the father, that
he did not 40 years before his death, estate any land upon him in fee simple
or fee taile, no not so much as for his life, or for years. And if he die
for years, he w^ and did ask him to part with it again, w^* he, in his obe-
dience to him, did. And at his death (the grandfathers) they got him —
using a lewd fellow that was his Clerk — (one Richard Butcher,) who being
worthless, when he came to that service, yet without that wealth w'' he
got while he was in it, bought the Towne Clerkship of Stamford, from
w^ he was afterwards put, for his ill deserts ; and who is an enemy to
good ministers and religion and goodness — to make the said Isaac also his
Executor, and not so much as any valuable legacy given to Abraham
Johnson the father. So the said son in his covetousness and ambition,
unnaturally got from him and kept from him, his father's whole estate in
lands, annuities, houses, cattle, corn, plate,' &c., esteemed at some
df20,000. And besides by this manner, the said grandchild carrying
away all the Grajadfather's books and papers, and coats and seal-rings.
whereof he had been a great gatherer and hoarder. Living sometime ar
his manor of Clipsham in Rutlandshire, (worth about 500"" p' year.)
Sometimes at Boston, 30 miles off in Lincolnshire, sometime at Sem-
, pringham one of the Earl of Lincoln's houses. Sometime at Tuttershatl.
another of his houses, and sometimes at London, using strangers in his
business, and making many strangers his * * * *^ who scarcely knew
any of his family but himself, and who scarcely any of his family knew
but himself. The said Abraham Johnson is thus deprived of such knowl-
edge of his pedigree, and of such marriages and other things as might
better satisfy and instruct him, and enable him to direct the intended en-
quiry for the better. Whereas, now that very chief coat the Johnsons
bear — viz. Argent, a Chevron Sable between three Lion heads coupe
Gules, crowned Or between two ostrich feathers Argent, is taken from
him and all his, and is either lost, or in some stranger hand they know
not who nor where. The grandfather's picture was, and, he really thinks
is still, loft at Boston, in a strange Gentleman's house, that never knew
Robert Johnson, nor had any cause to care for him. And diverse of his
chief books and papers Isaac took with him into New England, in which
expedition he spent from ^"5,000 to .£6,000. And was so sett upon it.
that had he again come over, as he intended the .spring after, he had sold
every foot of land his grandfather left him ; aod whether any writing be
46
362 ' Case of Richard Chasmore. [Oct.
there or no that conduceth to these things, he knows not. But chiefiy
> by being deprived of these books and paners he is verv deficient as above
too plainly appears.' But he verily thinks Isaac had some good memori-
als of all these things, for his Grandfather was a great and painful putter
down of any comment almost that concerned him. though some but of
mean nature. Therefore it is not to be thought but that he had set down
the marriages and alliances of former times. The rather seein<T he
was careful to obtain the exemplification or attestation of our before de-
scribed bearing of the three Lions' heads d:c.
"The mother of the said Isaac being taken from him ere she was 20
yearsold, who was so obedient to him, and loved him so well that in his
conscience and full persuasion he believes had she lived, she w^ either
have dissuaded the Grandfather and the son of her own bowels from such
unnaturelness against him his father, or else mourned for it. When he
was some 27 or 28 years of age he married EUzaleih Chaderton the sole
child and heir apparent of Laurence Chaderton Gcn\? and of Cicely his
wife— He had by this second \\\^e— Samuel, Eztkiel, Daniel, James. iW-
thaniel and Francis, and one daughter EHtaleth married to Henr>- Sal-
mon a Gent" of Cheshire, a Scholar and Divine, and Vicar of Stand-
ground near Peterbro'. Their eldest child was a daughter named Eliz-
abeth.
CASE OF 'RICHARD CHASMORE.
[Communicated by Hon. Geo. A. Bkatton of War\\kk, E, I., to illustrate the Arti-
cle inserted in page 293 of the present volume.]
To our much Honoured Friends the Town of Warwick Peac^and safety.
We thought it necessary to signify to you our Lo. friends that the mar-
shal of the Massachusetts have apprehended Richard Chasmore broufrht
him mto the hoijse of Rich Ray to carry him into the Bay. °
We thought it our duty to send to the marshal to request him to show
us his authority, but he refusing we sent and required him & the pris-
oner to us & and after some debate about it & and the right of his com-
mission judged it contrarie to all reason that the prisoner should be so dis-
orderly carried away, for these causes.
First He was bound to answer in this colony by the President.
2°^ He is no subject to the Bay.
3 He had petitioned for a trial at our Gen Court.
4 The fact alleged against him is laid to be done within the bounds of
our Charter.
Sthiy Without all peradventure he had no just authority to keep a pris-
oner in Providence.
_ Wherefore we remanded him to the constable of Providence who had
m his hands a warrant from the Honourable President to apprehend him
to be answerable to the Honourable Court of trials in our colonie.
Thus having already & shall again as need requireth returned a reas-
. enable answer to what may be objected we rest.
In the name & by the appointment
of the town of Providence,
March,4 1656-7. ^ Jon Sayles Town Clark.
1854.] Researches among Funeral Sermons. 36^
RESEARCHES AMONG FUNERAL SERMONS, AND OTHER
TRACTS, FOR THE RECOVERY OF BIOGRAPHICAL AND
GENEALOGICAL MATERIALS.
[Continued from page 262.]
CHECKLEY. — " A Discourse occasioned by the Death of the Rev-
erend Samuel Checkley, M. A., Late Colleague Pastor of the New
South-Church of Christ in Boston : who departed this life on the First of
December, 1769, in the 74th j-ear of his age, and 51 of hi^ ministry-.
Delivered in the Afternoon of the Lord's-Day after his Funeral. By
Penuel Bou-en, A M. Surviving Pastor of said Church. Published by-
Desire of the Society. Boston : Printed by Edes Sf Gill, in Queen-
street, 1770." 8vo. pp. 42.
This Sermon is dedicated " To the Church and Congregation usually
meeting in the House called the New-South, in Boston ;" in v/hich the
Author says it " is against his own inclination and desire to publish his
Sermon, but that he had complied with their desire, because their reasons
for so doing were good, namely, to give some lasting token of their
respect to the memory of their deceased pastor, and to have honor done
his character ; both which they were candid enough to think might be
answered by this publication." ' ,
At page 26, Mr. Bowen refers to other ministers lately deceased in
Boston, whose " place has not been supplied again, as remarkable at
present. In the space of a few months, three, the three eldest have de-
ceased, and none has been introduced into their place !" To this is added
in a foot note, " The Rev. Dr. Sewall and Mr. Foxcroft died in June last ;
and now Mr. Checkley." — In another place he says, " Mr. Checkley was
very happy in his family connections,, and at first settling in life had a fair
prospect of great domestic felicity ; but soon was he made to experience
the vanity of earthly comforts. His children, which were many and very
promising, were almost all cut down in the flower and prime of life ;
some from settled stations which they filled very reputably. So that out
of twelve, there is but one survives him, — Mr. William Checkley no\v of
Providence. And the partner of his years (that excellent woman whom
ye well knew) departed likewise before him ; after long breaking, and
languishing in circumstances very atfecting." — There has been published
in the second volume of the Register some account of the Checkley fam-
ily. A few additional facts will be found in the^" Hist, and Antiquities of
Boston," p. 459, and elsewhere.
CLARKE. — " The future inheritance, of Promise. — A Discourse de-
livered at the Funeral of the Reverend Mr. Peter Clarke, late Pastor of
the Second Church and Congregation in Danvers, June 16, 17GS. By
Thomas Barnard, A. 31. Pastor of the First Church in Salem. Salem :
1768." 8vo. pp. 23.
" He had a liberal education, and settled in the gospel ministry here,
June 5th, A. D. 1717 ; so that you had the bc-nefit of his labors for more
than half a century ; in all which time he failed of his public services but
a few Lord's-Days, till within these few months." His " family," present
at the funeral, is mentioned, but nothing of the personal history of Mr.
Clarke or any of his connections, except, that " he was born, and his
364 Researches among Funeial Sermons. [Oct.
early years spent, at some distance from home, and such a length of time
has passed since, that but {q\v can recollect them."
FOXCROFT. — " A Discourse occasioned by the Death of the Rev-
erend Thomas Foxcroft, M. A. Late colleague-Pastor of the First
Church of Christ in Boston : who departed this Life on Lord's-Day Fore-
noon, June 18, 1769. In the 73d year of his Age. Delivered the Lord's-
Day after his Decease. By Charles Chauncy, D. D. Surviving Pastor
of said Church. Boston : Printed by Daniel Kneeland, at his Printing
Office in Hanover street, for Thomas Leverett in Cornhill. 1769." 8vo.
pp. 39, and Appendix 4.
" The manner of God's calling him out of the world was sudden and vio-
lent. He was so deeply struck, as, in a few minutes, to be deprived both of
his reason a;.d his senses ; and, in this lethargic state, he continued about 28
hours, when he fell asleep in Jesus." Page 2S. The Appendix to the Ser-
mon is from the Mass. Gazette of June 22, 1769, from which the fol-
lowing facts are taken : " Mr. Foxcroft was struck on last Saturday morn-
ing. His disease was partly apoplectic and partly palsaic, which put an
end to his life the following day, about eleven of the clock, in the 73 year
of his age. He was born in Boston, but in early childhood became an in-
habitant of Cambridge. M. A. at H. C. 1714, '1717. His Father, Fran-
cis Foxcroft, Esq. was a member of the Church of England, and intended
Francis for an Episcopal Clergyman. He came to preach to the First
Church in Boston in March, 1717, and Nov. 20th following was ordained
their Minister in partnership with the Rev. Mr. Benjamin Wadsworth.
Perhaps no Minister in Boston, upon hTs first settlement, was ever more
universally admired. He has left behind a son and five daughters."