"...SPEAKEING SLITELY AND SCORNEFULL OF MR. WALTON..."

My ancestor William Walton served Marblehead, Ma. for thirty years as minister and according to the town histories was a leader and well respected. But there were a few of his fellow citizens who held a different opinion about that. Two of those people were John Legg and his wife Elizabeth. It should be noted that the Leggs seemed to be in some conflict or another with the other townsfolk and frequently were in the Essex Quarterly Court on charges. Such was the case in the court session held in Salem, Ma. on 6Jul 1647  which has this notation

Mr. Moses Maverick v. John Legg and wife Elizabeth. Defamation.
Mr. Wm. Walton v. John Legg and wife Elizabeth. Defamation.=p115 

Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volume1 1636-1656 Essex Institute, Salem, Ma 1911

There are no details given about the cases so I don't know if they were settled or dismissed. But apparently there was some ill will afterwards, because there was this seven years later at another Salem court session on 30Nov 1654

Elizabeth, wife of John Legg, to confess her sin of slighting and reproaching Mr. Walton and of disorderly carriage in the meeting house on the Lord's day, or to sit one hour in the stocks. Wit: Mr. Johnson, Will. Beale and Ric. Rouland, constable. The constable of Marblehead to see it performed. The confession was as follows : " I Elizabeth Legg doe acknowledg that I did euell & Sinfull in Speakeing Slitely and scornefull of Mr. Walton, & In perticuler In Saying I Could haue a boy from the Colledg that would preach better then Mr. Walton for half ye wages."- ibid p378

I found one more case involving a complaint against Rev. Walton in the court session of 26Nov 1667. This one seems to be more a matter of theology than preaching style: 

Henry Coomes, for abusing Mr. Walton, saying that he preached nothing but lies, was fined or to be whipped-p461

Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volume 3 1662-1667  Essex Institute, Salem, Ma. 1913

But those who didn't care for Rev. Walton and wanted him replaced were about to get their wish either because of illness or old age, for in the same court session there is this entry:

Court considering the petition from several inhabitants of Marblehead, in reference to the calling and settling of a meet person to join with Mr. Walton for carrying on the work of the ministry among them, approved of the course and Mr. Walton also approving, court appointed Major Hathorne and Mr. Higgesson to •assist the people with their advice and counsel.- ibid.p462

William Walton died a year later on 6 Nov 1668.

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2019 WEEK 20: REV. WILLIAM WALTON OF MARBLEHEAD, MA.

As I wrote earlier, Elizabeth (Walton)Conant was the daughter of William Walton, a leading citizen of Marblehead, Ma. He is my 9x great grandfather and I blogged about him four years ago because I am also descended from his son Samuel Walton on my grandmother Barker's side of the family.

Here's some of what I previously wrote about Reverend Walton:


1. Rev. William Walton was born in England about 1598. He entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge, England, February 18, 1G17 or '18, and took his degrees in 21 and '25. Became a clergyman; came to America before 35; stopped awhile at Hingham, Mass., and afterwards settled at Marblehead, Mass.

CHILDREN.

1. John, born 1627, in England.

2. Elizabeth, born 1629," Married Lot Conaut.

3. Martha, born 1632,"

4. Nathaniel, born 1636, in Hingham, Mass

5. Samuel 2, born 1639, in Marblehead. He married Sarah Maverick. In 1674, a householder.

6. Josiah, born 1640; killed by lightning at sea.

7. Mary, born 1644, in Marblehead. Married Robert Bartlett.

pp7-8

Walton Family Records, 1598-1898: With Its Intermarriages, the Oakes and Eatons, 1644-1898 and the Proctor Family, 1634-1898 (Google eBook)  Josiah Proctor Walton, Muscatine, Iowa, 1888 


I found out a bit more on Google ebooks. For instance, this from a history of Hingham, Ma, south of Boston, which includes a quote from a history of Marblehead:

William Walton [III. 274] came to Hingham in 1635, and had a grant of land in the first distribution of lots. He was educated at Emanuel College, Cambridge, England, where he took his degrees in 1621 and 1625. He remained but a short time in Hingham. "Mr. Walton" had a grant of land in Marblehead, Oct. 14, 1638. This was Rev. William Walton, who was then preaching there. This is the first mention of his name in the records, and it is probable that he began the work of his ministry there in that year. Through his endeavors, with the assistance of others, a meeting-house was erected, and regular Sunday services were established.

Mr. Roads, in his " History and Traditions of Marblehead," says:—

"In October, 1668, William Walton, the faithful and zealous missionary, died, after having served his Master and the poor people of Marblehead for a period of thirty years. Coming to them as a missionary to preach the gospel, he became, without ordination as a clergyman, a loving pastor, a faithful friend, and a wise and prudent counsellor. His advice was sought on all matters of public or private importance, and when obtained wag usually followed without question. That his loss was felt as a public bereavement by the entire community, there can be little doubt."-p352
History of the town of Hingham, Massachusetts, Volume 1, Part 2 (Google eBook) published by the town, 1893

Most interesting was the fact he was present as an observer when Rev. John Eliot questioned eight Christian Indians about their catechism at Roxbury in 1654. William recorded the event and you can
read it in Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Volume 24 (Google eBook) Charles Folsom. Cambridge Ma, 1834 pp277-284.

While my ancestor was well respected by most of the citizens of Marblehead, that admiration was not universal. I'll discuss that in another post.

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2015 WEEK 21: WILLIAM WALTON, PT2

I found out a bit more about my 9x great grandfather Reverend William Walton on Google
ebooks. For instance, this from a history of Hingham, Ma, south of Boston, which inclides
a quote from a history of Marlbehead:

William Walton [III. 274] came to Hingham in 1635, and had a grant of land in the first distribution of lots. He was educated at Emanuel College, Cambridge, England, where he took his degrees in 1621 and 1625. He remained but a short time in Hingham. "Mr. Walton" had a grant of land in Marblehead, Oct. 14, 1638. This was Rev. William Walton, who was then preaching there. This is the first mention of his name in the records, and it is probable that he began the work of his ministry there in that year. Through his endeavors, with the assistance of others, a meeting-house was erected, and regular Sunday services were established.

Mr. Roads, in his " History and Traditions of Marblehead," says:—

"In October, 1668, William Walton, the faithful and zealous missionary, died, after having served his Master and the poor people of Marblehead for a period of thirty years. Coming to them as a missionary to preach the gospel, he became, without ordination as a clergyman, a loving pastor, a faithful friend, and a wise and prudent counsellor. His advice was sought on all matters of public or private importance, and when obtained wag usually followed without question. That his loss was felt as a public bereavement by the entire community, there can be little doubt."-p352
History of the town of Hingham, Massachusetts, Volume 1, Part 2 (Google eBook) published by the town, 1893

Most interesting was the fact he was present as an observer when Rev. John Eliot questioned eight Christian Indians about their catechism at Roxbury in 1654. William recorded the event and you can
read it in Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Volume 24 (Google eBook) Charles Folsom. Cambridge Ma, 1834 pp277-284.


Finally, William Walton and his family were well known by Cotton and Increase Mather, and
it was the latter who recorded the story of the strange death of one of William Walton's sons.

I'll discuss that next.

To be continued...

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2015 WEEK 21: WILLIAM WALTON, PT1

With my entry for Week #21 of the 2015 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge, I turn to the
family of my 5x great grandmother Mary Walton, wife of Francis Upton. Mary has an
interesting group of ancestors, starting with the immigrant ancestor William Walton.
I have a double descent from Rev. William and his wife, Elizabeth.

Reverend Walton was a well known figure in the Bay Colony so I was able to find a lot
of entries about him on the internet, although most are repetitions of the same source
material. Here is information from The Walton Family Records, written by Josiah Proctor
Walton in 1888: 

1. Rev. William Walton was born in England about 1598. He entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge, England, February 18, 1G17 or '18, and took his degrees in 21 and '25. Became a clergyman; came to America before 35; stopped awhile at Hingham, Mass., and afterwards settled at Marblehead, Mass.

CHILDREN.

1. John, born 1627, in England.

2. Elizabeth, born 1629," Married Lot Conaut.

3. Martha, born 1632,"

4. Nathaniel, born 1636, in Hingham, Mass

5. Samuel 2, born 1639, in Marblehead. He married Sarah Maverick. In 1674, a householder.

6. Josiah, born 1640; killed by lightning at sea.

7. Mary, born 1644, in Marblehead. Married Robert Bartlett.

I received the following note and extracts:

Emmanuel College, Aug. 5, 1895. Dear Sir:—The only information I can find about your 
ancestor, the Rev. William Walton, is that he entered this college on the 18th day of February, 
1617 or '18. There is no information as to his age or county. Yours sincerely,

J. B. Peace, Bursar.

"Sarah Maverick, daughter of Elias and Anne (Harris) Maverick, and niece of Moses Maverick 
of Marblehead, married Samuel Walton of Marblehead, born June 5, 1639. The date of the 
marriage is not known, though he is recorded as a householder in Marblehead in 1674.

"Samuel Walton was the third son of the Rev. William and Elizabeth Walton.

"Rev. William Walton was a native of Seaton, Devonshire, and was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, but came to New England in 1635, settling in Hingham, but removing to Marblehead 
in 1639, where he was the minister of the town till his death in 1668.

"So far as known, Samuel and Sarah (Maverick) Walton had three children—Samuel, John and 
Elizabeth.

"The daughter married Jonathan Townsend, of Rumney Marsh. The latter died in middle life, 
and Samuel Walton assisted his daughter in administering on the estate.

"In 1707, Nathaniel Walton, brother of Samuel, in his will bequeathed £5 each to his brother, 
Samuel Walton, and his two sons, Samuel and John, and they receipted for it in 1712.

"John Walton3, ( Samuel2, the Rev. William) married Mary and settled in South Reading, near 
Wakefield. Children: John, born, 1710; Josiah, 1711; Mary, 1714; Abigail, 1716 (married Benjamin Howard); Jonathan, 1718; Jacob, 1720; Nathan, 1729; and Isaac, 1733. D. H. B."

"Lot Conant married Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. William Walton, of Seaton Parish, Devonshire, 
England, where his daughter was baptized Oct. 27, 1629.

"Lot Conant's daughter, Martha, married Luke Parkins, May 31, 1688, in Salem or Topsfield, Mass.

"Martha was born in Beverly, Aug. 16, 1664. She died in Plympton, Jan. 2, 1754, aged 90."
pp7-8

Walton Family Records, 1598-1898: With Its Intermarriages, the Oakes and Eatons, 1644-1898 and the Proctor Family, 1634-1898 (Google eBook)  Josiah Proctor Walton, Muscatine, Iowa, 1888

My second line of descent is through the marriage of Elizabeth Walton to Lot Conant, and then
through their daughter Martha Conant's marriage to Luke Perkins. That line is on my Dad's
paternal side, which was another cousin link between his parents when they married.

As I said, Reverend Walton was well known in the Colony, and I'll discuss that in my next post.