TROUBLE IN PARADISE PT4

The petition protesting the disenfranchisement  of Lieut. Robert Pike
was partially successful, as James Currier details in his History of Newbury Part 1
p165:

"The objectionable order relating to public preaching in the
colony was repealed August 30, 1653 ; but at the same time
it was enacted " that every person that shall publish and main-
taine any hetrodoxe and erronjous doctorine shalbe lyable to
be questioned and censured by the County Court where he
liveth according to the meritt of his offence." *

The sentence imposed upon Lieut. Pike was not revoked
until several years later, as appears from the following order
adopted by the General Court October 23, 1657 : —

In ansr to the peticon of Robert Pike, humbly desiring ye courts
favo"" his fine being paid, to remitt to him & release him from the other
pte of the Courts former sentence against him, M"" Worcester ye pastor
of ye church at Salisbury appearing on ye behalfe of the peticoner and
acknowledging himself much bound to the court if they would be
pleased to graunt ye said Pikes request, the court grants his request. t
* Massachusetts Colony Records, vol. iv., part I., p. 151.
 t ibid., p. 313.

Nathan Whitington's article in The New England Magazine gave me a bit
more background on what prompted the General Court's law and Robert Pike's
objections to it.

It seems that there were a Joseph Peasley and a Thomas Macy in Salisbury, who were accustomed to hold forth their doctrine to the people on the Sabbath in the absence of the minister. They were both of a Baptist sect in the town, and were inclined to Quakerism. Macy was the first settler of Nantucket afterwards, and Pike one of the proprietors of the island when Macy emigrated thither. In order to stop the preaching o fthe two sectaries the General Court enacted a law making it a misdemeanor for any one to preach on the Sabbath who was not a regularly ordained minister. With regard to this law Robert Pike declared "that those members who had voted for it had violated their oaths as freemen; that their act was against the liberty of the country, both civil and ecclesiastical, and that he stood ready to make his declaration good."

The old notion that the magistrate holds by divine right and is above criticism still prevailed extensively, notwithstanding the fact that the members of the General Court were chosen by the people of the towns. The Court had never been subjected to adverse criticism before, and the members were horrified at the blasphemy, as it seemed to their sensitive souls. Wherefore they passed an order declaring that Lieutenant Robert Pike had been guilty of defaming the General Court, and ordered that he should be disfranchised, disabled from holding any public office, bound to his good behavior, and fined twenty marks, equal to thirteen pounds, six shillings and eight pence. p29


Once I saw that the controversy involved Quakers I understood why some of my ancestors
had signed the petition. John Emery would be brought before the Salem Court ten years
after the Pike incident for entertaining Quakers in his house. Tristram Coffin likewise was
known to associate with Quakers and several of his children would become Quakers
themselves.

For Robert Pike to speak up against the General Court took a certain amount of courage,
since Quakers in the eyes of the colonial government were only a little better than
Catholics. But it was in total character for the man. Four decades later he would speak out
again and criticize the abuses of the witchcraft trials. I recommend the Whittington article
for anyone interested in more information on his life.

The Robert Pike incident was troublesome, but it was not as divisive and long lasting in
Newbury as the controversy that was slowly simmering before it exploded.
To be continued.

TROUBLE IN PARADISE PT1

If you have Pilgrim or Puritan ancestors, you need to know how religion
affected their lives.
 
Religion was an integral part of life in early colonial Massachusetts. This is no
great surprise, considering it was founded by two religious groups. But I don't think
many of us understand how entwined it was with the colonial government. Awhile
back when I was doing a series on my ancestor William Gerrish, I came across two
stories that about religious disputes in the town of Newbury, Massachusetts. They
involved Gerrish and several other ancestors on both sides of the arguments. My
interest was caught by the fact that many of the men had known each other for years
and had served together as town officials peaceably (well, except for Gerrish). But these
two incidents divided Newbury, the first slightly and the second on a wider scale. One
was started by the government, the other by a congregation and soon involved the
General Court and several neighboring towns as well.

I have to admit here that as a Catholic (and wouldn't my Puritan ancestors be horrified
by that) I don't know much about the finer theological points of Congregationalist
church in 17th century New England, so my focus is more on the social and political
aspects of what took place in Newbury. The first incident took place in 1653, and involved a man named Robert Pike. This is from John James Currier's book History 
of Newbury, Mass., 1635-1902 , Volume 1 pp.162-163:  

PETITION FOR THE RELEASE OF ROBERT PIKE.
The General Court passed an order, May 18, 1653, declaring it to be unlawful for any
person to preach in any town in the colony without the consent of the elders of four neighboring churches or by the approval of the county court. Robert Pike, of Salisbury,
boldly denounced this act as an unjustifiable interference with the personal rights and privileges of freemen, and farther said "several churches had called theire members to accompt which did act in that lawe making, and that some places were about to show
theire minds to the Generall Court about it." *

August 30, 1653, Lieut. Pike was ordered to appear at the General Court and answer for his intemperate zeal and seditious speech. He was disfranchised September 7, 1653) and prohibited from holding public office in the town or in the colony. A fine of twenty marks, equal to thirteen pounds, six shillings, and cightpence, was imposed as an additional penalty; and he was required to give bonds for his good behavior during the court's pleasure.*

The prompt and vigorous measures adopted by the General Court to assert its rights and protect its members from criticism and censure aroused a strong feeling of indignation among the inhabitants of Newbury, Haverhill, Andover, Hampton, and Salisbury. Petitions were prepared and circulated in these towns asking that the fine and punishment imposed upon "Lieutenant Robert Pike" be remitted. Several of these petitions are on file at the State House in Boston, but many of the signatures can hardly be deciphered and some are illegible. The petition from Newbury reads as follows : f—

The humble petition of the inhabitants of Newbury, to the honored General Court now assembled at Boston, showeth:

That whereas our loving friend, Lieutenant Robert Pike, of Salisbury, hath by occasion, as it is witnessed against him, let fall some words for which the honored Court hath been pleased [to censure him] we having had experience that he hath been a peaceable man and a useful instrument ... do therefore humbly desire this honored Court that the said sentence may be [revoked] and that the said Lieutenant Pike be . . restored to his former liberty. So . . . pray &c

* Massachusetts Colony Records, vol. hr., part I., p. 156.
t Massachusetts Archives, vol. B., leaf 209. See also " The New Puritan,** pp. 44 and 45.

There followed a list of the men from Newbury  who signed the petition. In the
book the names are in three columns. I've used red to mark the names of those who
are my ancestors:
   
Richd. Kent, Jun.
Wm Moody
Daniel Peirce
Geo. Little
Saml Moody
Richd. Dole
John Poore
Dan Thurston
Joseph Plummer
Richd Thurly
John Wolcot
John Hull
Rob. Adams
Wm Chandler
John Tillotson
John Baily
John Wheeler
Rob. Cooper
Richd. Kent, Sen.

Wm Titcombe
John Bartlett
Tho. Browne
Richd. Bartlett
Gyles Cromlome
Aquilla Chase
Edw. Richardson
Wm Richardson
John Bishop
Sam Poore
John Hutchins
Wm Sawyer
Richd. Fitts
John Bond
Chris Bartlett
James Ordway
Edwd. Woodman
Stephen Swett
Wm Ilsly
Tho Smith.

Benj Swett
Joseph Swett
Steph. Greenleaf
Anthony Morse
Henry Lunt
Solomon Kyes
Tristram Coffin
Francis Plummer
Sam. Plummer
Dan Thurston
Wm Cottle
John Rolfe
John Muslewhite
John Emery, Sen.
John Emery, Jun.
Sam Moore
Nich. Batt
John Cheney Jr
Daniel Cheney
This petition, along with several others from other towns. would prompt a reaction
from the General Court, and a curt conversation between two of my ancestors.

To be continued..

WILLIAM GERRISH VERSUS THOMAS WOODBRIDGE REVISITED

((Today marks the 325 anniversary of the death of my 9x great grandfather
William Gerrish. He seems to have had one of those abrasive personalities
and was involved in some interesting court cases, including this one.
First posted June 22, 2009. ))

Both Stephen Greenleaf and Stephen Greenleaf Jr. had made good marriages with
women from prominent colonial families. Stephen the elder had married Elizabeth
Coffin, daughter of Tristram Coffin; Stephen Junior married Elizabeth Gerrish,
whose father was Captain William Gerrish.

The Greenleaf, Coffin and Gerrish families ran profitable mercantile and ship
construction businesses in the towns of Newbury and Amesbury as well in Boston.
And despite the religious beliefs of the founding Puritan fathers, the business
world back then was just as competitive as it is today. Take the case of William
Gerrish and Thomas Woodbridge.

Actually, make that cases. They faced each other in court in Essex County at least
three times, twice over debts, and the third time my ancestor William Gerrish took
Thomas Woodbridge to court for slander:

"Capt. Wm. Gerrish v. Thomas Woodbridge. Slander. Withdrawn.:

Caleb Moody testified that he heard Woodbridge say that Captain Gerish 
was a cheating knave, that he had cheated him out of 180li., and that he
had told a damnable or devilish lie. Sworn in court.

Jno. Joanes and Steven Swet testified. Sworn in court.

Joseph Hills, aged about seventy years, deposed that in the presence of 
Mr. Henry Sewall he heard Woodbridge say that there were fifty men in 
Newbury who would say that Capt. Gerrish had cheated them and that
he would be cast out of the church. Deponent asked Rev. Mr. Jno.  
Woodbridg to give him a meeting at his son's house, which he did,
and said Hills then declared that the meeting was to prevent contention 
between Capt. Gerrish and Woodbridge. Mr. Jno. Woodbridg said he 
was very much troubled at his son's speeches many times and he had 
counselled him to moderation, and asked deponent to advise him how 
to act. "I answered yt he was more able to advise himselfe also ye sd 
Tho. Woodbridg then said yt what he had spoken to mee about Cheating 
he had spoken to som others and bid them goe tell Capt Gerrish."  
Sworn in court.

Anthony Somerby, aged sixty-six years, deposed that Woodbridge said
Gerrish had without question cheated the town of Newbury of many a
pound, and that he doubted not that he had taken away the boards 
from Mr. Richardsun's house. Sworn in court.

Tristram Coffin, aged forty-four years, deposed that Woodbridge called 
Capt. Gerrish a cheating knave and that he made a profession of religion
to cover his knavery, whereupon deponent advised Woodbridge to be more 
moderate in his words, for Capt.Gerrish was a rational man and would do
what was right. Also at said Woodbridge's house, the latter asked deponent 
why he told Gerrish he was drunk. Deponent said he did not tell him so but 
he did say that he believed "that he wass six and twenty." Woodbridge said 
that he was as well then as at this present time, and also that there were 
only five men in town who would not say that Gerrish had cheated them, to
which deponent replied that he had traded with Capt. Gerrish for many 
score pounds and he had never cheated him. Daniell Lunt said the same. 
Woodbridge replied that Lunt, deponent and Rich. Doell were three of the 
five, that he would make Capt. Gerish's house a dung hill and would make 
Capt. Gerish "fly the town" or else he should make him fly the town, and 
within eight months he would make it appear what Capt. Gerish was, etc.
Sworn in court."

Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts 
Vol.VI 1675- 1678 Essex Institute, Salem, Ma. 1917 pp125-126

I think "180li" must be 180 pounds. I'm also not sure what the reference about
being "six and twenty" means in reference to drunkeness unless it was the 17th
century equivalent of "three flags to the wind" or something? I feel some
sympathy for poor John Woodbridge asking for advice in how to deal with his
verbose son Thomas!

You can read the particulars of the other two cases in the same book on
Googlebooks which includes very long lists of trade goods with fascinating
names!

WILLIAM GERRISH VERSUS THOMAS WOODBRIDGE

Both Stephen Greenleaf and Stephen Greenleaf Jr. had made good marriages with
women from prominent colonial families. Stephen the elder had married Elizabeth
Coffin, daughter of Tristram Coffin; Stephen Junior married Elizabeth Gerrish,
whose father was Captain William Gerrish.

The Greenleaf, Coffin and Gerrish families ran profitable mercantile and ship
construction businesses in the towns of Newbury and Amesbury as well in Boston.
And despite the religious beliefs of the founding Puritan fathers, the business
world back then was just as competitive as it is today. Take the case of William Gerrish
and Thomas Woodbridge.

Actually, make that cases. They faced each other in court in Essex County at least
three times, twice over debts, and the third time my ancestor William Gerrish took
Thomas Woodbridge to court for slander:

"Capt. Wm. Gerrish v. Thomas Woodbridge. Slander. Withdrawn.:

Caleb Moody testified that he heard Woodbridge say that Captain Gerish was a cheating knave, that he had cheated him out of 180li., and that he had told a damnable or devilish
lie. Sworn in court.

Jno. Joanes and Steven Swet testified. Sworn in court.

Joseph Hills, aged about seventy years, deposed that in the presence of Mr. Henry Sewall
he heard Woodbridge say that there were fifty men in Newbury who would say that
Capt. Gerrish had cheated them and that he would be cast out of the church. Deponent
asked Rev. Mr. Jno. Woodbridg to give him a meeting at his son's house, which he did,
and said Hills then declared that the meeting was to prevent contention between Capt.
Gerrish and Woodbridge. Mr. Jno. Woodbridg said he was very much troubled at his
son's speeches many times and he had counselled him to moderation, and asked
deponent to advise him how to act. "I answered yt he was more able to advise himselfe
also ye sd Tho. Woodbridg then said yt what he had spoken to mee about Cheating he
had spoken to som others and bid them goe tell Capt Gerrish." Sworn in court.

Anthony Somerby, aged sixty-six years, deposed that Woodbridge said Gerrish had
without question cheated the town of Newbury of many a pound, and that he doubted
not that he had taken away the boards from Mr. Richardsun's house. Sworn in court.

Tristram Coffin, aged forty-four years, deposed that Woodbridge called Capt. Gerrish a cheating knave and that he made a profession of religion to cover his knavery,
whereupon deponent advised Woodbridge to be more moderate in his words, for Capt.
Gerrish was a rational man and would do what was right. Also at said Woodbridge's
house, the latter asked deponent why he told Gerrish he was drunk. Deponent said he
did not tell him so but he did say that he believed "that he wass six and twenty."
Woodbridge said that he was as well then as at this present time, and also that there
were only five men in town who would not say that Gerrish had cheated them, to
which deponent replied that he had traded with Capt. Gerrish for many score pounds
and he had never cheated him. Daniell Lunt said the same. Woodbridge replied that Lunt, deponent and Rich. Doell were three of the five, that he would make Capt. Gerish's house
a dung hill and would make Capt. Gerish "fly the town" or else he should make him fly
the town, and within eight months he would make it appear what Capt. Gerish was, etc. Sworn in court."

Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts Vol.VI 1675-
1678 Essex Institute, Salem, Ma. 1917 pp125-126

I think "180li" must be 180 pounds. I'm also not sure what the reference about being "six
and twenty" means in reference to drunkeness unless it was the 17th century equivalent of
"three flags to the wind" or something? I feel some sympathy for poor John Woodbridge
asking for advice in how to deal with his verbose son Thomas!

You can read the particulars of the other two cases in the same book on Googlebooks
which includes very long lists of trade goods with fascinating names!