52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS #11: WILLIAM PINSON PT7

There's a total of eight pages of testimony in Thomas Robbin's case against my
ancestor William Pinson for verbal and physical abuse. I've picked out some
passages from them

Rebecca Bligh. aged about forty-three years, testified that she had often come into
the house of her father Robbins where she heard her mother complain of the abuse by
William Pynson by his frequent bawling and railing in the house. Her mother told her
that she would rather die than live in such a place where there was continual scolding
and such contention and disturbance in the family, said Pynson usurping such authority
over them. Sworn, Feb.14 , 1684-85 before John Hathorne, assistant. p480
Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County Volume IX Published and Copyrighted by the Essex Institute 1975 
 
From  John Bligh Jr, grandson of Thomas Robbins ...one tyme some Indians being
there drinking Pynsons wife came in & fetcht away ye skillett, reproueing him for
doeing so, he said he would rather drinkwith them then with her for he said he was
sure that Peter ye Indians squaw was handsomer then shee... p482

Thomas Robbins aged about sixty-eight years, testified that three years ago, the
night before Thanksgiving, Pynson threatened to have his own wife whipped and
deponent objected to  his treating his cousin, Pynson's wife, in such a manner and struck him on the head with his shoe, although his hands were lame.Pynson through
 the shoe into the fire and tried to throw him in also.... He ordered his wife to kill some cocks before he went into the woods and when he came home and found them, he cursed her until she cried bitterly and said if he didn't kill the other two cocks before he slept, he would cut his own throat."But as yet he hath neither cutt his own throate nor killed ye Cocks" p483

George Thomas, aged about forty-eight years, testified that when Robbins lay very sick
upon a low bed, he was a witness to the writing and Robbins was not capapble of
knowing what he did, and had to be helped in guiding his hand. Sworn June 29 1685
before John Hathorne, assistant. p484

Once again the question was raised whether the document giving William Pinson control
of Thomas Robbins' estate was legitimate. And what of the Blighs? In that land transaction
Robbins had stated that his niece Rebecca Pinson was his only heir, yet it seems he had
a daughter and grandson as well.

So, what was the final verdict given in the case against William Pinson, who celebrated
Christmas, drank with Indians, who behaved abominably to his wife and her elderly
uncle and aunt, and who may have tricked an old sick man into signing over all his
possessions?

William Pinson, presented for cursing and swearing, was admonished, it not being
proved that it occurred within the year. Tho. Robbins declared he went in fear of his
life and court sentenced  Pinson to give bond for good behavior.p485

I have to admit, I was astonished by this. What did the Court know that could possibly
justify letting off William Pinson so lightly? This is not the first time I wish that there had
been some sort of commentary included that explains the ruling in a case.

But still, it's a fascination story. And I love that aside about "But as yet he hath neither cutt his own throate nor killed ye Cocks"

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS #11: WILLIAM PINSON PT6

The previous statement from Thomas Robbins appears to have been a request for
the Court to hear his case against my ancestor William Pinson. When the case was
actually heard on 30June 1685, he went into a little more detail in his accusations.
First, a few observations:

-Notice how many times William Pinson's last name is spelled differently in the petition.

- I wish I knew what the rule was in Puritan times as to when the letter "v" was to be written as the letter "u". I don't know how many times I typed "v" and had to change it
while doing this transcription(of another transcription)

Here's Thomas Robbins' petition:


Petition of Thomas Robbins June 30, 1685, to Salem Court "whom sence of ye greate afflction he now doth& hath a Long Tyme undergon both himself & his wife in ye howse where I live with William Pincen of wch seuerallof my Friends & neighbors haue bin ey witnesses unto & ye great grieuance that I labor under with this Pynson compells me to trouble this honored Court with a declaration of ye same unto you in wch ye seuerall euidences herewith presented you will sufficiently make manifest unto you how grossely I am abused by him ; as I hope ye honors will find cause not to Judge me Blame worthy in this my Complaint against ye gd Pynson but on ye contrary be solicitious  for me & poore wife to direct unto a way for or help & redress. I would not be ouer tedious in excerising yor patience with too Long a rehearsall of matters agt him but referr to ye euidences sworne: This Pynson in  ye tyme of my greate sickness when to all peoples apprehension about me neer my dissolution & uinsensible of what I did, obtained from me an Instrument of conveyance of my estate unto him,wch I was humbly Judge of noe more value than if a dead man if it was possible had don it ye said writeing being not made by my knowledge understanding or approbation neither was it made in my howse or hearing & so doe hope that ye will Judge the thing to be Fraudently obtained from  me & besides manifest proofe is against him that he hath not onely attempted to murder me in a Barbarous manner by throweing me on ye Fire ; & other horrid & absurd abuses to me & my poore [wife] at Seurall other Tymes both by word & deed but& also in selling & disposeing of my estate contrary to my allowance or consent; wch absolutely hath broken & Forfeited his pretended Interest to my estate & morour as for ye Instrument of Gift wchby that manner he obtained from me since I came to see it ; I find therein mentioned according to conditions as a Bond given me; whereas Indeed that wch he termed a Bond is noe&nbsp Bond as may appeare to ye honord Court & when I asked him for it he tooke it  to me & bid me doe what I would with it he cared not for it--now ye honord  Court may please to think that if I had bin Rational & had taken a Bond from him, whether or noe I should have Left it with him to have kept for me."
-pp479-480 
Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County Volume IX Published and Copyrighted by the Essex Institute 1975


Now, this puts another spin on things. Besides accusing William Pinson of physically
and verbally abusing him, Thomas Robbins is now adding the claim that the document which gave William control of the Robbins estate was fraudulently obtained while Thomas was ill and not capable of making such a decision.

I'll have some of the testimony in the case next.

To be continued.

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS #11: WILLIAM PINSON PT5

The third court record involving William Pinson is not very pleasant to read. It seems my
8x great grandfather was not a nice person, according to the testimony of Thomas Robbins
and others before the Essex County Court in Salem. The case took place in June 1685. I
had some trouble finding the records, but luckily genealogy friend Genj Composer
located Vol IX on the University of Virginia's Salem Witch Trials website.

Five years earlier Thomas Robbins  had signed over all his property to his nephew by
marriage, William Pinson, in exchange for William' s promise to provide food, clothing
and shelter to Robbins and Robbins' wife. Apparently, he failed miserably:


"June 1686
Thomas Robbins of Salem v. William Pinson of Salem. Foer xuesing, swearing, and
reproachfully speaking speaking of persons and abusing him by throwing him in
the fire. *

*William Pinson's bond for good behavior, dated July 4, 1685, and giving his house and
land  for security, the said land being eleven acres, bounded by Mr. John Clifford on the west, land of Jacob Allen on the north, Mrs. Hollinworth on the east and by the sea on 
the south. Owned in court.

Thomas Robbin's request, dated Jan.10, 1684-5, of the Worsh. John Hathorne, Esq.:
Under ye sence of greate grievance which I haue Just cause to complaine of against
William Pynson. The concerne between us being not unknowne to ye most of ye
Inhabitants of this Towne of Salem. First I declare against him that he hath forfeited
his bond in not prouiding for me & my wifeaccording to the Couenenant, not prouiding
this winter nor other tymes before since he hath bin in ye enjoyment of my Estate
neither cloathing nor drink or severall other things necessary & suitable for ye age of
such people as myself & my aged wife but on ye contrary hath not only much neglected
us in this respect but shamefully abuses us both in word & deed This Pyson hath
notwithstanding taken care of his owne belly  as in getting fresh meat & strong liquor
for himself but wee ye poore Ancient people might have starved for all his care & regard
of us & whereas he made out of my orchard about 15 or 16 barrels of syder: he hath in
a most profuse &Lauish manner wasted & consumed it for about a month or six weeks
agoe so that now not any to be had in ye howse & not aboue one peck of wheate
brought into ye house for neer upon a Twelve month & this peck was brought at
Christmas Last for him & his friends to make merry withall & for my apparrell I am in
such a condition as I am ashamed to relate & hath threatened me that this weeke
he will dispose of of me too as Benj.Fuller can Testifie: & also said that I should be
in hell before Long my wife will owne ye relation aforesaid & to ye grief of her
heart desires that her condition may be considered."-p478-479 Records and Files
of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County Volume IX Published and Copyrighted by
the Essex Institute 1975

Two things about this excerpt:
- From the description of the land William Pinson gave up for security I now know
William's land was somewhere along the coast in Salem.

- I knew already that that the Puritans didn't usually celebrate Christmas. So when
I saw the testimony from Thomas Robbins' that Pinson and his friends had celebrated
Christmas I looked into it. After the Restoration of the Stuart kings in England the law
that punished anyone celebrating Christmas was repealed in 1681. Still, most colonists
held to the Puritan view of the holiday, and the story of William Pinson "making merry"
was not going to help his defense against his father-in law's accusations.

To be continued. 

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS #11: WILLIAM PINSON PT4

On 19 April 1681 Thomas Robbins filed this document which he'd drawn up
the previous day. In it, he  transfers all his possessions to his nephew by
marriage, William Pinson and William's wife Rebecca, who was Thomas'
niece. In what was a common practice in colonial New England, the
transaction is based on the condition that the Pinsons take care of Thomas
Robbins and his wife for the rest of the older couple's lives:

 
"19: Aprill:81
To all people to whome this present writing shall come: I Thomas Robbins of ye towne
of Salem in New England, send greeting: Know yee that I ye sd Thomas Robbins, as well for and in consideration of ye natural affection of ye naturall afection wch I have & doe beare unto my Kinsman William Pinson & his wife Rebecka (who is my sister's daughter) as alsoe for divers other good considerations & re moving thereunto, more especially for that ye sd William Pinson hath engaged himselfe, heires, executors, & adminsistrators, as by a bond under his hand bearing date ye date of these presents,more fully will appeere, well & sufficiently to provide for me & my wife Mary, both in sickness & in health, during my naturall life, for ye considerations aforesd. I say I the said Thomas Robbins, have given, granted & by these presents doe give give, grant, & confirm unto ye sd William Pinson & his wife Rebecka all & singular my goods, chattells, lands, housing, cattell, money, plate, dues debts, rings, household stuff, brass, pewter, & all other my substance whatsoever, moveable & imoveable. quick & dead, of what kind & nature soever, condition or qualitty soever ye same may be, either in my owne custody or possession, or in the custody & possession of any other p'son whatsoever: all which aforesaid I say. I, Thomas Robbins doe by these presents give, grant & confirme unto ye sd William Pinson & his wife Rebecka,excepting what I have already given & disposed by my will bearing date the date of these presents. To have & to hold all & singular ye said goods, chattells, debts, & all others ye aforesd premises unto ye only use & behoofe of him ye said William Pinson & his wife Rebecka, their heirs, executors, administrators & assignes forever freely & quietly, without any matter of challeng, claime or demand of me Thomas Robbins, or any other prson or prsons wtsoever by my cause, meanes or procurement & I Thomas Robbins, all or singular, ye aforesd goods, chattells & procurements to ye said William Pinson & his wife Rebecka, theire heirs, executors, administrators or assignes, against all people, will warrant & defend by these presents, & further Know yee yt I ye sd Thomas Robbins, have put ye sd William Pinson & his wife Recka in peaceable & quiet possession of all & singular ye aforesd premises by delivering unto them at the ensealing hereof one coyned peece of silver comonly caled a shilling & in witness of the truth hereof I Thomas Robbins have hereunto sett my hand & seale this eighteenth day of Aprill in ye yeare of our Lord one thousand six hundred eighty one provided & it is to be understood that the true meaning of the above written is to invest William Pinson & his heires in the present continued possession of ye premisses conditionally, that he doe & performe as my executor what is contained in my will, alreddy made, signed & acknowledged before signing, sealing,and delivery of this above written instrument which will beare date the date of these presents."

The document is signed with Thomas Robbins' mark.

It's pretty straight forward: William and Rebecca Pinson received all of Thomas
Robbins' worldly goods in exchange for  taking care of Thomas Robbins in his
old age.

And yet, five years later, Thomas Robbins would be in the Salem Court, charging
William with violating the terms of their agreement.

To be continued.

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS #11: WILLIAM PINSON PT3

Continuing the case of my ancestor William Pinson vs Walter  Munjoy from the
case files of the Essex County court, it appears that William felt Munjoy had
not given him his fair share of the catch. Among other items of interest to me
(other than how many ways everyone's name, including the ship could be misspelled)
 are:

-How did William Pinson injure his hand? Was it a "Deadliest Catch" type
accident or did he pull something in the hand hauling in the heavy nets?

-This is the earliest mention of Thomas Robbins and William Pinson knowing
each other.

-What was "Reffuse fish?"


"Nathaniell Sharpe, aged thirty-five years, and Charles
Knight, aged about thirty-five years, deposed that they and
Gilburd Peeters, Jno. Tapley and William Pinson shipped
in Mr. Jno. Curwen's ketch called the Lewse in Jan., 1676,
and agreed with Wallter Monjoy to make and weigh the
fish as their shoreman. Sometime in February they went
out to sea to make the first fare and before they came home
William Pinson was taken lame in one of his hands, being
unable to go out for the second fare. Pinson then hired
Pascoe Foot to take his place and he was accepted by the
whole company and did his work well. For the third fare,
Pinson shipped William Nouell, who also was acceptable to
the company. Each man's share for the three fares was to
the value of twenty-five pounds, as Walter Munjoy informed
them. Deponents had been engaged in this employment for
seven or eight years. Sworn in court.

Thomas Robens, aged about sixty-two years, and Jno.
Whefen, aged about fifty-two years, deposed that Peeters
bought Pinson's share in the voyage for 171i. 10s. after Pinson's
hand was disabled and gave him a bill, but afterward Peeters
told him that he might have the fish and the bill was declared
null and void. Sworn in court.

Walt. Mungoy, aged about forty-six years, testified that
being shoreman to Gilbertt Peters and company in 1677, he
paid for him in fish to Wm. Pincent or order and to Cap. Jno.
Corwine for his account 15li. 10s. 6d. Sworn, Sept. 20, 1678,
before William Browne, t commissioner. Owned in court.

Thomas Jeggells, sr., aged about fifty-seven years, deposed
that for thirty years past he had been engaged in fishing in
Salem, and as a shoreman. Sworn in court.

John Taply, aged about forty years, testified concerning
the sale of the fish to Gilbord Peters. Sworn, Aug. 7, 1678,
before William Browne, t commissioner. Owned in court."
-RECORDS AND FILES OF THE QUARTERLY COURTS
OF ESSEX COUNTY MASSACHUSETTS VOLUME VII 1678-1680
SALEM,MASS. PUBLISHED BY THE ESSEX INSTITUTE 1919
pp305-306

After I read all this I went searching online for what "reffuse fish" might be
and discovered something I had never known about the early New England
fishing industry. One of the main reasons the colonies began to thrive was
the codfish, so much so that a carving of a codfish has hung from the ceiling
of the Massachusetts State House for three centuries. The top grade cod
was salted and shipped off to be sold in England and Europe. The lesser
grade (and I have no idea how such things are determined. I assume they were
smaller in size) cod and other fish were likewise salted but were shipped off
to the Caribbean to feed the slaves working on the British owned plantations.
It's one of those "inconvenient truths" of New England history.

In the first two court cases I've discussed here, William Pinson was or claimed to
be the injured party. In the third case, he's the one facing charges for his actions.

To be continued.

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS #11: WILLIAM PINSON PT2

Since my Dad's family has been here in New England for nearly four centuries
now, you'd think more of our ancestors would have made their living from the
sea, but most of them were farmers or timber-men. The few who were sailors
or fishermen lived in the 17th century, and among them was William Pinson,
my 8x great grandfather. The second case I found in the Essex County Court
case files gave me a little insight into his life.


I don't quite understand some of what's going on in the court battle. I need to
do some research on the fishing industry in Puritan times. Also, this is a long
case so I'm posting it in two parts instead of summarizing it. I hope that by
doing so, some other genealogist will find the name of an ancestor among
those who testified:


November 25 1679
William Pinson v. Walter Munjoy. Verdict for defendant.*

*Writ: William Pinson v. Walter Munjoy; for withholding
an account of his part or share in a fishing voyage made in
1677, Gilbert Peeters being master, and defendant being a
shoreman and as shoreman weighed and delivered the fish;
dated 18 : 9 : 1679; signed by Hilliard Veren,t for the court
and town of Salem; and served by Peter Cheever,t constable
of Salem. Bond of Waltar (his mark) Mongy, with Edmond
Bridges t and Peter Miller t as sureties.

William Pinson's bill of cost. 1li. 2s.

William Penson's t receipt to Walter Mountjoy, dated
Salem, 12 mo. 1677, for five quintals and a half of refuse cod
fish at 10s. per quintal, on account of Gilbert Peters.

"Walter Munjoy Delever to Robt Kitchen fower quintal
of Reffuse fish, hake & pollock, for your freind William Pen-
son. t  Novemb : 9 : 1677." Receipt, dated Nov. 9, 1677,
signed by Ro: Kitchen. t

Nathaniell Sharpe oif Salem, mariner, aged about thirty-
three years, deposed that he heard William Pinsent sell to
Gilbert Peeters, master of the ketch Leusy, that part of the
fishing voyage which belonged to him, either by his own labor
or by hired men, for 171i. 10s. in fish at price current. Sworn,
11:6: 1678, before Wm. Hathorne,t assistant. Owned in
court.

Richard Flandor, aged forty years, deposed that he had
been employed on fishing accounts in Salem for many years
and had been a shoreman. It has been a general custom for
the shoreman to take charge of what fish was committed to
him by the ketch's company to which he belongs, also to
weigh out and deliver to every man or his order his proper
part. Sworn in court.

Jno. Lee, aged about thirty-four years, deposed that speak-
ing with Gillbert Peeters concerning Wallter Munjoy's with-
holding fish from Pinson, Peeters said that Monjoy, as shore-
man, had done Peeters great wrong, and if he told what he
knew that Pinson would sue Monjoy. Sworn in court.
--RECORDS AND FILES OF THE QUARTERLY COURTS 
OF ESSEX COUNTY MASSACHUSETTS VOLUME VII 1678-1680 
SALEM,MASS. PUBLISHED BY THE ESSEX INSTITUTE 1919
pp305-306



A quintal is a unit of measurement that, according to the dictionary, equals about
100 kilograms or 220 pounds. So the "five quintals and a half" of cod would be
around 1200 pounds. Considering that the fishing ships back then were a lot
smaller than the modern versions, that's a lot of fish. I wonder how long they had
to stay out at sea to catch that amount?

To be continued.

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS #11: WILLIAM PINSON PT1

Fellow geneablogger Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small has issued the 52
Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge. Basically, we have to post something every week
on a different ancestor, whether a story, picture, or research problem. For Week
11 my subject is William Pinson, my 8x great grandfather. All I knew about William
was what I found in researching  his granddaughter Sarah Bickford: his wife Rebecca
had been the niece and sole heir of Thomas Robbins, and that her mother had been
Thomas Robbins' sister and was also named Rebecca. I also knew he'd died in 1695.

I started looking for more information by using Google Search, and found some very
interesting information. . First, in the Salem marriage records at the  Early Massachusetts
Vital Record site, I found an entry for  "Pinsent (Pinson), William, and Rebecka Greene,
27: 12m, 167(5. TC)CTR".  TC stands for "Town Copy" and CTR for "Court Records".  

Then I found more in the Essex County Quarterly Court Records, a place where I've
found many interesting  stories over the years. There were several incidents where
William Pinson appeared in the court. This is the earliest I've found so far:

"Summons, dated 2:9: 1678, to Benjamin Keaser, Moses Vowden and
John Mansfeild, as witnesses in the action between William Pinson and Elizer
Keaser, signed by Hilliard Veren.t

Benjamin Keyser, aged about twenty years, deposed that when Wm. Pin-
son came into his father's house, his brother Eleazer Keysor shut the door
and quarrelled with him and would not let him out. Sworn, 2:9: 1678, before
Edm. Batter,t commissioner.

William Pinson's bill of cost, 10s.

Due to Mrs. Mold from William Pencens,t for three sear cloaths and a
pott of ointment, 8s., for use on a hurt received by Eliezar Kezar.

John Mansfield, aged twenty years, and Moses Vouden, aged about thir-
ty years, deposed that they heard a great noise in Mr. Keysor's house and
going in heard Keysor say to Wm. Pinson that if he did not pay him two
shillings he would have his skin, etc. Sworn, 4:9: 1678, before Edm. Bat-
ter t commissioner.

William Pinson, aged thirty years, deposed that Keysor struck him a
violent blow on the breast and madly tearing him by the coat said "I will have
your heart Blood you Dogg," etc. Sworn, 2:9: 1678, before Edm. Batter,t
commissioner.  -RECORDS AND FILES OF THE QUARTERLY COURTS 
OF ESSEX COUNTY MASSACHUSETTS VOLUME VII 1678-1680 SALEM,
MASS. PUBLISHED BY THE ESSEX INSTITUTE 1919  p114

The  boldfaced t next to names denotes a signature. And 'sear cloths" were old
fashioned "plasters" or bandages used on injuries. Also, notice all the variations
on the spelling of "Pinson."

So now I know that William Pinson's wife was Rebecca Greene, and that they were
married in Salem on 27Feb.1674/1675. Also, if he was 30 years old at the time of
this case, that would put his birth year around 1648.

But there are still two more court cases to discuss.

To be continued.