english origins
William Partridge, an ancestor, was born circa 1615 in Olney, Buckinghamshire, England. Olney is a market town on the Great River Ouse, it was first mentioned in the Doomsday Book as Ollanege. Olney is famous for its Shrove Tuesday Pancake races and for being home to the Clergyman John Newton who wrote the hymn "Amazing Grace". William's story starts with a different Clergyman; William Worcester. William Worcester was Vicar of St. Peter and St. Paul parish church in Olney from 1624 until 1636, a time of great religious upheaval in England.
In 1633 King Charles I reissued his father's "Book of Sports" which encouraged games and play on Sunday. This was a hot button issue for "Non-Conformist" or Puritan ministers who deemed it a violation of the Sabbath. The King issued a letter that was to be read from the pulpit concerning this book and many ministers refused to read it. William Worcester was among those suspended from his duties for refusing.
coming to america
In 1630, with the sailing of the Winthrop Fleet, the Great Migration had begun. Many of the emigrants to the Colonies were parishioners who followed their Puritan leaders to establish a new order in a new world. By 1638 William Worcester had gathered those of his congregation who were like-minded
and made the crossing to start anew in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. William Partridge was one of those who
took up the call to settle in the Colony and start a new life for his family.
back in england
William was the son of John Partridge (1589-1647) of Olney. He married Ann Spicer on October 6, 1636 in the parish church, possibly by William Worcester. His sister Jane married fellow emigrant Henry Gaines. Not much is known about the Partridge family in England. In his will, John named only the children of his daughter Jane and his son William, presumably there were no other living children. His widow's name was Frances, but she may or may not have been the mother of John's children. Here is an extract dealing with his will:
The nuncupative Will of John Partridge.
memorandu that the 20 Jan 1647, John Partridge of Olney in the County of Bucks,
laborer, now deceased,
did give grant and dispose of all and singular his goods, cattle,
chattles and debts unto
William Geynes,
Richard Kend, and Roger
Tayre of Olney upon this trust that they should therewith maintain Frances Partridge, widow, the then wife of the aforesaid John, so long as she should live after his decease, and also pay the debts of the said John. And after the decease of the said Frances the overplus thereof (if any should then be) of the said John, and the three children of
Henry Geynes, brother of said
William Geynes, save only that the eldest child of the said William Partridge should have a double part thereof, all
wch said
psons now or late were in New England. Witnesses: Thomas
Whiteinge, and
signum Eliz:
Wheelowes. In the presence of Lawrence Shepard and George Mason 12 Feb 1627-8. No record of probate, but a bond, dated 3 May 1648,
is filed with the will. [Archdeaconry of Bucks, 1647, No. 143.] The Register Volume 68 page 283.
arrival
After the long and exhausting sea voyage the Partridge and Gaines families did as many newcomers to the Colony, they stopped briefly in a coastal town to recuperate and got the lay of the land. The two families stayed in Lynn, Massachusetts for a short time on arrival. The Gaines family
chose to remain in Lynn, while the Partridge's followed William Worcester to the new town of Colchester, soon to
be known as Salisbury. Both Henry and Jane Gaines were dead by 1645, leaving two young boys.
salisbury
The Reverend William Worcester was a prominent man in the new settlement of Salisbury, Puritan Ministers were the political
as well as spiritual leader of the new society.
Town lot sizes were assigned based on the ability to pay, William Partridge received a small lot, William Worcester
on the other hand received one of the larger lots. The house lots were from one to four acres gathered around a large ring road, to provide safety in numbers.
The townsmen were also given land on which to grow crops, graze animals, cut timber, etc. The goal of the new settlers was
to quickly build a house and get crops into the ground. A rough cold winter was just around the corner. A meetinghouse and church also had to
be built. Men had to
be armed at all times and to be on guard for Indians and wolves.
In 1643 there were 30 towns in the Bay Colony and
the area was divided into four counties.
Salisbury was included in Norfolk County along with Hampton, Dover, Haverhill, Strawberry Banks, and Exeter.
The court was held in Hampton (which is now part of New Hampshire).
The townsmen quickly established
a form of local government, began record keeping, appointed leadership roles, a constable, and other jobs
that were necessary to maintaining order. William's name doesn't crop up to often in the records. In 1645,
he and two other men were chosen to
lay out the highway to the beach. A year
or so later he
was assigned to work with the Prudential men to help settle a matter dealing with Carr's Ferry. In 1649
William was chosen as town constable, he turned it down and
was fined 20 shillings
for doing so. William
was again fined in 1650, this time for writing in a different name for constable other than the "accepted candidate". By 1654, the year of his death, Salisbury had gotten so crowded that they
decided to start a new town called Amesbury.
william dies ann remarries
William died on 5 July 1654,
a man in his prime, his widow Anne was left with seven young children, including an infant. She quickly remarried on 1 January 1655. Her new husband was widower Anthony Stanyan of Hampton. Presumably, she
relocated the family to Hampton
at that time
Anthony Stanyan was born in 1611 in England, he came to the colony in 1635 on the ship "The Planter". He lived in Boston and Exeter before finally settling down in Hampton. He was very active in the
administration of the town. He
was called "Mr" Stanyan, which was a sign of affluence and respect
at that time. Anthony helped Anne secure the inheritance left to her children from their grandfather John Partridge. He had at least two children by his first wife, it doesn't seem that he and Anne had any children together. Anthony's son John married Mary Bradbury in 1663, she was the sister of Jane Bradbury (ancestor) and daughter of
Thomas and Mary Perkins Bradbury (ancestors). Anthony died in Hampton before February 1688/9, age about 77 and Anne died on 10 July 1689.
William and Anne had the following children:
John
Rachel
Elizabeth ( ancestor) b. Salisbury 14 Feb 1642/3, m. Hampton 26 June 1661 Joseph Shaw
Nehamiah
Sarah (ancestor) b. Salisbury 24 Aug 1647 d. Hampton July 1718 m. Haverhill 14 Nov 1666 John Heath
Rachel
William
 |
| plat map of Salisbury - Partridge is on the right |
william jr.
If William Partridge, Sr. failed to make his mark on history, his son, William Jr. made up for it.
The following letter is taken from the New Hampshire Provincial Papers. It is a letter from King William III to William Partridge appointing him Lt. Governor of New Hampshire.
Commission of William Partridge, Esq., Lieut. Governor of the Province of New Hampshire.
William the Third by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France & Ireland, defender of the Fayth &c. to our trusty and well beloved William Partridge, Esq. Greeting. Wee Reposing
especiall Trust & Confidence in your Prudence, Courage & Loyalty, have thought fitt to nominate and appoint, and we do by these presents nominate and appoint you the said William Partridge to be our Lieut. Governor of our Province of New Hampshire in America: To have, hold, exercise& enjoy the said office and place of our Lieut. Governor of our said Province of New Hampshire, with all the Rights,
Privilidges proffits & advantages to the same belonging and appertaining, for and during our pleasure, to be
at any time signified under our Royall Signett & Signe
manuall, which said signature shall to all intents & purposes, revoke and make null this our Commission. And in case of the death or absence of our Governor in
cheife of our said Province of New Hampshire for the time being, Wee doe hereby
authorize and require you or such other our Lieut. Governor as we shall
at any time hereafter appoint under our
royall Signett & Signe
mannuell to execute and
pcrforme all and singular the powers and directions
contained in our commission,
ranted or to
be granted unto our said
Chiefe Governor or now in force or such instructions as he hath or shall
at any time receive from us, and you are to follow such orders and directions as yon shall
receave from our Sd Governor in Chief of our said Province of New Hampshire for the time being. And we doe
heerby command all and singular of our officers ministers &
Louving subjects of our Sd
Collony and dominion and all others whom it may concern to take due notice thereof. And whereas by our commission under our great Seale, Bearing date the first day of March in the
fowerth yeare of our Reigne, Wee have
constituted and appointed our trusty and well beloved Samd Allen Esq to be our Governor, & Jn* Usher Esq to be our Lieut Governor of our said Province of New Hampshire, Wee doe by these presents,
revoake soo much of our said Commission whereby the
sd Jn* Usher Esq.
is constituted and appointed to be our Lieut. Governor of our Said Province of New Hampshire, and all the Powers and
Authoritys thereby granted to him, declaring the same to be for the future
voyde, of none
efect soe fan- as it relates to the said Jn* Usher: In
Wittness whereof wee have caused these our Letters to
be made pattents.
Wittness Thomas Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, and the rest of the Guardians and Justices of the
Realme att Westminster, the
twenty sixth day of June in the eight year of our Reigne.
William Partridge, an ancestor, was born circa 1615 in Olney, Buckinghamshire, England. Olney is a market town on the Great 
1 comment:
Please know you have given so much happiness! William Worcester is my direct descendent.....My grandmother Mina Calla Worcester now deceased. Her father Mark Alfred Worcester, his father Alfred Jackson Worcester...thank you. Virginia
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