52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2017 WEEK 20: ROBERT WOODBURY OF BEVERLY, MA.

7x great grandfather Robert Woodbury was born in Beverly,Ma. on 4 Jul 1672. When he was around 21 years old he had the good luck of marrying Mary West, the daughter of the wealthy Thomas West, who owned a significant amount of land in Beverly. Ownership of  much ofhat land eventually passed to Robert.

Robert himself was a respected and wealthy member of the community and in 1704 he became the town clerk of Beverly, a position her held for some years. His probate file refers to him as "Captain Robert Woodbury" so apparently he was able to stay active as a merchant while still serving as town clerk.

The children of Robert Woodbury and Mary (West) Woodbury were:
  Robert Woodbury b: 4 Sep 1694 in Beverly, Essex, Ma
  Mary Woodbury b: 18 Apr 1697 in Beverly, Essex, Ma
  Isaac Woodbury b: 18 Jun 1701 in Beverly, Essex, Ma
  James Woodbury b: 20 May 1705 in Beverly, Essex, Ma
  Hannah Woodbury b: 22 Apr 1707 in Beverly, Essex, Ma
  Ebenezer Woodbury b: 19 Nov 1712 in Beverly, Essex, Ma
  Elizabeth Woodbury b: 17 Jul 1717 in Beverly, Essex, Ma

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2017 WEEK 19: ISAAC WOODBURY OF BEVERLY, MA.

I haven't found  much so far about my 8x great grandfatherIsaacIsaac Woodbury other than the story about the court case over a runaway servant. There's a tantalizing tidbit on Googlebooks about his ship being taken at sea by the French around 1685 but there are only snippets available online.

I do know Isaac married Mary Wilkes in Beverly, Ma. on 9 Oct 1671 in Beverly, Ma, and that they had three sons and two daughters:

Robert Woodbury, b.4 Jul 1672, m. Mary West
Christian Woodbury, b. 23Mar 1678
Isaac Woodbury,  b.6 Apr 1680
Deliverance Woodbury,  b .18 Feb 1682
Joshua Woodbury,  b. 29Jan 1685

I have found his will over at AmericanAncestors.org and plan to transcribe it.

I'm descended from Isaac's son RobertWoodbury.

ISAAC WOODBURY VS.ROGER ROSE: A RUNAWAY SERVANT AND 8,000 FISH

I love the Essex County Court Case Files;I have found so many stories in them involving my ancestors over the years!

Here's one involving my 8x great grandfather Isaac Woodbury, a runaway servant  and a ship
captain who let the servant slip away.


Nov 1679
Isaack Woodbery v. Roger Rose. Verdict for defendant. Agreed, and judgment satisfied.*

*Writ: Isaack Woodbery v. Roger Rose; for not returning Edward Alfrey, servant of said Woodbery, according to promise made to the constable of Pascattaque, which servant said Rose carried away from Salem to Pascattawaye without knowledge of his master; dated 7:8: 1679; signed by Hilliard Veren,f for the court and for the town of Salem; and served by James Powllen,f constable of Salem. Bond of Roger Rose,f with Dom. Whitef as surety.

Rodger Rose's bill of cost, 3li. 14s.

Warrant, dated 19 : 6 : 1679, to the constables of Salisbury, Hamton, Exeter, Dover and Porshmoth, for the apprehension of Edward Alfry, servant of Isaac Woodbury, who broke open a closet door and stole four or five pounds, "he is about 20 years of age, a midle stature, shorne curld black hair, a short darke Jacket," he went away in Roger Rose's boat, etc., signed by Wm. Hathorne,* assistant.

Warrant, dated Portsmouth, Aug. 21, 1679, to Rodger Rose to carry back Edward Alfrey to Salem whence he brought him and deliver him to the next authority, signed by Richard Martyn,* commissioner.

Jo. Woodbridge,* commissioner, on Oct. 6, 1679, ordered the constable of Newberry to assist Edward Alfry with what help he needed and his master would pay the charge.

William Hathorne,* assistant, ordered the keeper of the Salem goal, 6:8: 1679, to take Edward Alfry into his custody.

Letter of attorney, dated Nov. 6, 1679, given by Isaac Woodberyf of Salem to Mr. John Clifford of Salem. Wit: Richard Stower* and Edmond Bridges.* Sworn before William Browne,* commissioner.

George Deane, aged about forty years, deposed that being at Pascataque river mouth about three months ago Roger Rose of Boston came on board the vessel of which he was master, informing him that he had a young man aboard of his vessel who was put aboard as a runaway by the authority of Pascataque. Rose asked deponent to take him, as deponent belonged to Salem, but he would not unless he were delivered by authority. Sworn, 27 :9 : 1679, before Ed. Batter,* commissioner in Salem.

Tho. Hayward, aged about twenty-six years, deposed that he being a passenger with Rodger Rose at Salem when he was bound for Pescataqua, two men came aboard when he was under sail. They were called William Craift and Edward Albry. Rose doubted his right to take Albry for he thought he might be someone's servant, but Craift, the joiner, declared that he was no man's servant. Sworn, 24 : 7 : 1679, before Edward Tyng.*

John Grafton, aged about fifteen years, testified that he being on board his master, Roger Rose's, vessel, the two men came on board. His master was in his cabin and came out and asked them what they were. Alfry replied that he was a seaman and no man's servant. Rose said if he was a servant he could not carry him. This discourse was when they were outside of Winter Island in Salem. Sworn, Nov. li, 1679, before Edward Tyng,* assistant.

Steph. Griggs, aged about forty years, and Fran. Grant, aged about forty-two years, deposed that in Allfrey's absence they caught 8,000 fish, of which if he had been with them he would have had his share. Sworn, Nov. li, 1679, before William Browne,* commissioner.

Nicolus Maning, Samuell Beadal, and Edmond Bridges testified that they heard Rose say that the men came on board the vessel between Winter Island and Backar's Island. They brought some pork and some clothes, and at Puscattaque, Alfry was seized by a hue and cry and given by authority to Rose to return to Salem, but Rose confessed that he carried him to Salsberry, where he took a freight of hay to Pascataque again, leaving the runaway with one Mr. Huck of Salsberry. He delivered his hay and sailed for Boston, thence to Newbery, where he accidentally spied said Alfry aboa
rd of Doil's ketch. Sworn, Oct. 13, 1679, before William Browne,J commissioner pp306-307

Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volume 7 1678-1680
Essex Institute, Salem, Ma. 1919

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2017 WEEK 18: HUMPHREY WOODBURY OF BEVERLY, MA.

My 8x great grandfather Humphrey Woodbury had been born in England and came to the Massachusetts Bay colony with his parents as part of the Dorchester Company's settlement on the Cape Ann Rive. Afterward they followed Roger Conant to Salem, Ma.

William Richard Cutter has more details:

(II) Humphrey Woodbury, eldest son and child of John Woodbury, the immigrant, and Agnes his wife, was born in England in 1609-10, and in January, 1635-36, received a grant of half an acre of land at Winter harbor in Beverly, for fishing trade and to build on, for he was a fisherman, as were many of his descendants after him. In 1636 he had a grant of forty acres of land and still another of like area in 1667. The baptismal name of his wife was Elizabeth, but her family name is unknown. She survived him and in her will, May 1, 1689, she mentions her two grandchildren, Peter, son of John Woodbury, and Peter, son of William Woodbury, to each of whom she gave ten shillings because they were named for her own son Peter, who was killed by Indians. Humphrey Woodbury and wife Elizabeth had ten children: 1. Thomas, born about 1639, see forward. 2. John, baptized October 24, 1641. 3. Isaac, baptized February 4, 1643-44, died March 11, 1725. 4. Humphrey, baptized March 8, 1646-7, died April 9, 1727. 5. Susanna, born February 4, 1648-49; married, December 2, 1668, John Tenney, born December 14, 1640, son of Thomas and Ann Tenney, of Rowley. 6. William, baptized May 4, 1651. 7. Peter, born March 28, 1653, killed in 1676 while serving under Captain Thomas Lothrop in King Philip's war. 8. Richard, born February 1654-55, see forward. 9. Elizabeth, born April 28, 1657, married Walker. 10.Elizabeth, born April 20, 1661, married, April 9, 1670, John Trask.-p1123

Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts, Volume 2 Lewis historical Publishing Company,New York, New York  1908

I'm descended from Humphrey's son Isaac Woodbury.

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2017 WEEK 17: JOHN WOODBURY OF SALEM, MA.

Mary (Woodbury) Herrick's immigrant ancestor was my 9x great grandfather John Woodbury. Like Roger Conant, he was one of the colonists who first settled at Cape Ann but then moved to join John Endecott at Salem. Ma.

Here's  what William Richard Cutter has to say about John Woodbury:

John Woodbury, the American planter, was born in England of a family whose ancestors are traced to the time of the conquest about the middle of the eleventh century, soon after which heads of families began to take permanent surnames. He came to this country from Somersetshire. England, about 1624-25, in the interest of the Dorchester company of planters, which only a short time before had founded a settlement on Cape Ann, and in 1630 removed to that part of Salem which now is the city of Beverly and settled in the locality which ever since has been known as Woodbury's Point. However, in 1627, he had been called back to England by the Dorchester company "to confer as to the future of the settlement", remained there about half a year, then returned and resumed his former relations with the planters. He was made freeman in 1630, served as deputy to the general court from 1635 to 1638, and from 1637 to the time of his death was one of the selectmen of the town. Among the inhabitants he was called "father" Woodbury, not perhaps on account of his age, but rather by reason of his prominence, usefulness in public and town affairs and the general intelligence he seemed to possess. He owned a considerable estate in lands, which after his death was divided among his heirs, for his will was not proved and recorded. Of his wife little is known, except that her name was Agnes, that she was born in England and that she and her husband were among the original members of the First Church of Salem at its formation in 1629. John and Agnes Woodbury had children: 1. Humphrey, born in 1609-10, was called a fisherman; married Elizabeth , and had ten children,one of whom, Peter, was killed by the Indians. 2. John, called "Senior", married Elizabeth , who survived him and after his death married Captain John Dodge, his second wife. John and Elizabeth Woodbury had five children. 3. Hannah, baptized in the First Church, Salem, December 23, 1636, married, April 6, 1658, Cornelius Baker, who died September 1, 1714. They had eleven children. 4. Abigail, baptized November 12, 1637, married John Hill. 5. Peter, baptized September 19, 1640 (see forward).pp1469-1470

Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts, Volume 3 Lewis historical Publishing Company, New York, New York,   1908

...ANY EVIL, LASCIVIOUS OR WANTON BEHAVIOR..." PT2

My relative Thomas Woodbury had been found not guilty of charges of lewd and lascivious
behavior with Hannah Gray, one of the household maids. I wondered what happened to
Hannah afterward. The witnesses in Thomas'  trial had said it was the girl acting improperly,
and in early colonial Puritan Massachusetts, they didn't just ignore such behavior. Sure enough, Hannah was brought to trial in the same court session Thomas had been tried in earlier.

There was more testimony about Hannah's unseemly ways:

*Mary Sollas, aged about seventeen years, deposed that sometime in the summer last year, as she came near Thomas Woodbery's house, she heard Hana Gray laughing, and going in quick without knocking, the door being open, she being a neighbor, saw said Hana and Andrew Davis together. Deponent told of many other occasions when said Hana was guilty of lascivious carriages, and deponent's brother Robert told her how Hana would entice the "scoller boys," and that she was guilty of baudly language and acts among the boys and girls. Sworn, 2 : 11: 1673, before Wm. Hathorne,t assistant.

Hanna Grove, aged about nineteen years, deposed that she had seen Hanna Gray riding about the field astride upon her master's mare and she also lived with her one winter. Sworn, 12 : 11 : 1673, before Wm. Hathorne,t assistant.

John Batcheler, sr., aged sixty-three years, deposed that when Hanna Gray lived in his family, she was a lying little devil and his wife Elizabeth could say the same. Sworn, 12 : 11 : 1673, before Wm. Hathorne,t assistant.

Freborne Black, aged about forty years, deposed that he gave Hanna's dame warning about her a year ago. She was so rude to his children in abusing and beating them, and when he spoke to her about it, she would mock him to his face. As for his neighbor Thomas Woodbery, he had lived by him thirty-five years and had never seen any uncivil carriage in his childhood or later years. Sworn, 12 : 11 : 1673, before Wm. Hathorne,t assistant.

Elizabeth Hill, aged about thirty-eight years, deposed that going to Macrell Cove about two and a half years ago, and passing Woodbury's house, went in to see his wife, etc. Sworn, 12 : 11 : 1673, before Wm. Hathorne,t assistant.
p291

Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volume 5 (Google eBook) Essex Institute, Salem Ma. 1916

 

Given this testimony and that from Thomas Woodbury's trial, the outcome was predictable:

Hanah Gray, for great offences, was ordered to stand at the meeting house at Salem upon a lecture day, with a paper on her head on which was written in capital letters, I STAND HEERE FOR MY LACIVIOUS & WANTON CARIAGES. Also at the lecture at Beverly, in like manner, or else be whipped, and the marshal and constable to see it done at Salem, and the constable of Beverly at Beverly.*

Being a Puritan girl or woman must have been incredibly frustrating for free spirits like
Hannah Gray!

...ANY EVIL, LASCIVIOUS OR WANTON BEHAVIOR..." PT1

The Woodbury family seems to have had trouble finding good help. Elizabeth (Hunter)
Woodbury had been brought up on charges of slapping a relative's maid. But her son,
Thomas Woodbury, would face a more serious charge in March of 1674 at the Ipswich, Ma.Quarterly Court:

In the complaint against Thomas Woodberry, putting himself for trial upon a jury, the jury found him not guilty.f

As always, the juicy details of the case are in the footnotes(it always pays to read the footnotes!):

fWarrant, dated 5 : 11 :1673, addressed to Henry Skery, marshal of Salem, for apprehension of Thomas Woodbury of Beverly, at Mr. Gardner's, to answer the complaint of NicholasManning, and his wife and daughter, signed by Wm. Hathorne,* assistant. On the reverse: "Thomas Woodbery coming to me sayd nicklas manning tould him of this bisenes: & sayd he had bine with y* mager: & he tould him he had giuen a warrant to apprehend him to y* marshall & that I might take ball of my brother or Goodman Massey: & I did then serue y* warrant vpon his body he tendred to me & took his father Woodbery with himselfe" on the bond; signed by Humphery (his mark) Woodbery and Thomas Woodberey.*

Mary Thorndike, aged about twenty-five years, deposed that she lived in the house of Thomas Woodbery about half a year, he being at home about half the time, and she never saw any evil, lascivious or wanton behavior by him in all her life, neither did she hear him use any "vaine or frothy speeches." Sworn, 30 : 1 : 1674, before Wm. Hathorne,* assistant.

Peter Woolf, aged about seventy-three years, deposed that his meadow was near Thomas Woodberey's, and he had never seen him making hay with Hannah Gray, but his children used to make hay there daily. Sworn, Mar. 17, 1673, before Samuel Sympnds,* Dep. Gov.

Elizabeth Fowler deposed that about two years since she nursed the wife of Thomas Woodberry. There was a girl who dwelt there named Hanah Gray, who was a lying girl, and several times in the night when deponent waked, she missed her and heard her laughing and giggling at the boys' bed which was in the same room. Further deponent had known Thomas Woodberry a great while and while his wife was sick did not require the girl to get any victuals for him, etc. Sworn in court.
pp288-289

Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volume 5 (Google eBook) Essex Institute, Salem Ma. 1916

What it boils down to was that Thomas Woodbury was being accused of lascivious behavior with a maid named Hannah Gray while Thomas' wife was ill.

Reading this, I had questions:

Why did the Manning family bring the charges against Thomas? Were they somehow related
to Hannah Gray, or just busy bodies?

Given the testimony by Peter Woolf about his meadow, was "making hay" an euphemism
for "making whoopee"?

And if Thomas was found not guilty, what happened to Hannah Gray?

While I don't have answers to all the questions, I do have an answer for the last one.

To be continued....

"...SUCH AN UNTOWARD PROVOKEING WENCH...." PT2

As we saw in my last post, my ancestress Elizabeth (Hunter) Woodbury was brought
before the Essex County Massachusetts court for striking Elizabeth Herndon(sp?) the
maid of Elizabeth Woodbury's friend Elizabeth Hubbard. (Too many Elizabeths!!!).
Besides the testimony from various witnesses, I found the following letter from Mr.
and Mrs. Hubbard concerning the incident and the character (or lack thereof) of their
maid:

"To all Persons vnto whom these prsents may Come.

"Know yee, that whereas of late some persons have vnworthily (as I conceive) Endeavered, to present Elizabeth Woodbery, the wife of Humphry Woodberry, vnto the county court at Salem, as I am informed for strikeing a maide servant of ors, (Wee coulde have wished that the rules of charity had been attended herein Especially seeing or neighbours were not ignorant where we dwelt, & might have truely vnderstood the right of the business had they pleased to have spoken w'h vs which had doubtlesse prevented trouble to the grand-juror, & sinn in others. How farr the matter is gonn, or how farr prejudice may Carry it we know not. Nor is or purpose to charge any, or to bring discredit upon them, much lesse to blaze abroad the infamy of a servant, knone to all both in Lynn & Salem, that knew her at all, to be most vnfaithfull, and untoward in everything: So bad, unruly, sulen, careles, destructive, & disobedient, that we may truely say, she was fitter for bridewell, or the house of correction, then for any bodyes servant: Haveing occasion to be from home, & not dareing to leave such an one with or childe and house alone wee desired the aforesd Eliz Woodbery, or Lo. friend & Kinds-woman to be over her & in place of vs, and noe more then needs, if we had power to discipline such an unruly servant, so had shee from us: whither our Couzin gave her a blow or not we know not, but are sure such an vntoward provokeing wench Deserved enough, & did or Couzin at any time eyther then in or absence, or at any other time, when she ran from her mistres & worke, telling lies, at neighbours houses & refuseing to come home, we say did she first or last or any time strike her, when as shee was sent for her, & || she || refused to come home, while this wench was servant, w°h she was to the Later end of may 64. we doe both of us warne her in it and affirme that she did noe more then she had or authority for, & that her mistresse if prsent would have don the same; & we doe much wonder that there should so much be made of it, when as we conceive, had it been a breach of law for or couzin to have strook her, w'h it is not, she doeing of it by or power & reprsenting us; yet as we understd, there hath been noe wittnes brought th— testify aga. her: and if any of or neighbours, should out of envie to her, or us affrme and testify anything against her, wherein she hath offended them in striking or servant; we must professe, in or prsence she never strook her, nor gave her any bad language, and inor absence (as we sd before) she wasimpowered by us, as also when we sent her up and downe among the neighbrs to fete her home if she strook her at any time, we justify & allow her in it she was or servant a sad & bad one, and wt or sd kindswoman hath don is as if her mistresse had & we must owne her in wt she hath or might doe, & they may as well prsent us as her; who are ready to answer, knowing no law of gd nor man to be broken in this case; I wish or people as forward in prsent reall breaches of ye law of god, & man, as they are in this, w°h we feare not w'h out grounds to be an act of malice to her & us let su know, they doe not as they would be don by: P vs

"Jer. & Eliz. Hubbard.*"
p224

Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts: 1662-1667 (Google eBook)

 Essex Institute, Salem, Ma. 1913

So apparently Elizabeth Woodbury was a cousin to one of the Hubbards and was authorized
by them to mete out any punishment she might have felt Elizabeth Herndon deserved for failing
in her duties about the house! 

I love this letter for several reasons. One is that it is rife with the frequent misspelling common to
the early colonial documents. Woodbury alone is spelled two different ways in the second
sentence! It also is full of the florid phrasing of the period.

The best part is the description they give of Elizabeth Herndon. First they say they don't want to
"blaze abroad her infamy" but then they do exactly that, even going so far to say she should
probably be in "the house of correction" rather than being anyone's servant. It sounds like
something Carson from "Downton Abbey" might say if he were in a high dudgeon!

 And I wonder if Elizabeth Herndon was able to find work after she left the Hubbard household.  

"...SUCH AN UNTOWARD PROVOKEING WENCH...." PT1

Today's excerpt from the Essex County,  Massachusetts Court files concerns Elizabeth
(Hunter)Woodbury and a bothersome servant. Elizabeth was my 9x great grandmother
wife of my ancestor Humphrey Woodbury. It seems that she was accused of striking a
maid named Elizabeth Hiritton(Herndon?):


Presentments, dated 30 : 9 :1664, signed by Henery Skerey, sr.,f in the name of the rest:—

Elisabeth, wife of Umphery Woodbery, was presented for striking the maid of Mr. Hubbard, Elisabeth Hiritton, several times. She owned that she struck her, but it was by order of her master. Wit: Robert Morgane and wife, and Joseph Harie. She was also presented for denying that she struck her, but was acquitted. Wit: Joseph Haire, Mary Lovett and the wife of Captaine Lowthrupp.

 Bethiah Lowthroppf deposed that "Being called to witnesse what I heard goody woodbery Say concerning mr hubbards maid: I did hear her say that she did never strike the maid. the Blow was yet to give that ever she gave her either in the house or out of doore & this she said more then once or twice." Owned by the parties, 20 :12 :1664, before Hillyard Veren,f cleric.



Robert Morgan* deposed, Dec. 17, 1664, that being cited before the grand jury at Salem, who told him that there was a matter of battery left to them by the former jury, concerning Eliz. Woodbery, which wanted proof, he said that she never saw Goody Woodbery strike Mr. Hubbard's maid, except once at his own house. Said Morgan and his wife affirmed that the maid never complained to them of any bad language to her from Eliz. Woodbery and that she was very loving and kind to her, etc.

Elizabeth (her mark) Herendone certified that Elizabeth Woodbery never struck her but two blows in her life, and those might have been given to a child of two years. She offered to strike her once at Mistress Gardenares house, but said Elizabeth kept it off with her hand. Wit: Elizabeth (her mark) Dickes and Sarah (her mark) Carpender. Arthur p224-225

Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts: 1662-1667 (Google eBook)

 Essex Institute, Salem, Ma. 1913

So, the maid says Elizabeth only struck her twice, and not very hard. The witnesses agree.
Just what was this all about?

The answer is in a letter written by the people the maid actually worked for, and that will be
in the next blogpost.

To be continued. 

BY ANY OTHER NAME...

So last night I took that list of spelling variations of the name Haskell and when a-hunting
for legal case records on Google, using " (the name) +Essex+ court" as search parameters.
I didn't find anything that I hadn't already seen. So I switched over to some of the ancestral
names I hadn't tried yet, and found a few things that were blogging material:

Woodbury: A case between a Thomas Woodberry and a Richard Stackhouse over sails
and another between Thomas Woodberry and a Thomas Patch over rent. Thomas appears
to be the brother of my ancestor Isaac Woodbury.

Farnham/Farnum: The case of Ralph Farnam Jr. accused in Sep 1682 of fathering the child
of a servant, Elizabeth Gould. This one is rather interesting. I'm working on this for my next
post!

Besides those three cases, I also found several wills that I'll add to my records here.

I also relearned that it's not just last names that have spelling variations. In one record I
spotted the name Mighill. I blinked at that one, then realized the name was Michael!