Nehemiah Brown and his Ancestor John Brown of Hampton

Nehemiah Brown was the son of Willliam Brown and Ann Heath of Kensington. He was born in Nov. 1717 in Hampton.  Ann was the daughter of John and Sarah Partridge Heath, and Granddaughter of Bartholomew Heath and Hannah Moyce.  William was the son of Benjamin Brown and his wife Sarah Brown, and Grandson of John and Sarah Brown. 

John Brown

It is not known when John Brown of Hampton arrived in New Hampshire nor from where he came from in England.  He is often confused with the other John Browns of New England. He was first granted land in Hampton in 1640.  In the first land grants most of the lots given out were "house lots" the largest of which was 10 acres, but most were much smaller. John Brown was one of about 5 men who were given "farm lots". This land was further out from the town. A document from 1645 show John Brown owning 2 lots besides his farm lot. In another document dated 1663 John is on a list of owners of the "cow common", one he was given and one he bought from Thomas Sleeper. He owned lot numbers 11, 17 and 24. Apparently you were only allowed to graze cows on the common if you owned a share. 

One of the boundaries of the common was John Brown's River. Today, the cow common is known as the Great Salt Marsh of Hampton. John Brown's river ran up to his farm.  Brown's river was also named for him as was John Brown's Point, his share of the salt marsh on the east side. He was one of the largest land  owners at that time and on a list of tax papers his name was third in rank of amounts paid. In 1681 John gave all his land to his sons. His farm stayed in the Brown family for many generations.

In 1680 New Hampshire was separated from Massachusetts and became a Royal Provence.  It was to be governed by a president and council appointed by the King and an elected house of representatives. A list of men eligible to vote was drawn up including John Brown, Sr. It is estimated that there were about four thousand white people in New Hampshire at that time. 
 In a history of Rockingham County is written the following about John Brown:

John Brown was one of the first company who settled here. He was here in 1640. He built the first "barque" that was built in Hampton in 1641-42, at the river near Perkins Mill. He was a prominent man, became one of the largest land-owners in the town, was one of the selectmen in 1651 and 1656, and in 1663, was chosen "to see that the boys do not play in the gallery." He died in 1686.

John Brown died Feb. 28, 1687 his wife Sarah died July 6, 1672.

John Brown and his wife Sarah had the following children:
Sarah b. 1643 m. John Poor of Charlestown
John b. August 29, 1643 died unmarried
Benjamin b. 1647 Hampton m. Sarah Brown of Salisbury d. 1736
Elizabeth m. Isaac Marston
Mary b. Sept 13, 1655
Thomas b. 14 July 1657
Stephen b. 1659 killed at Blackpoint in 1677 
All of John and Sarah's sons fought in the King Phillip's War. Only Stephen was killed. The battle at Blackpoint in Maine was fought between the colonist and the Indians.  The colonist were on the losing side, suffering 50-60 causalities.  This was one of the last battles of King Phillip's War.  The following was written in an article called "A Doleful Slaughter Near Blackpoint" by Sumner Hunnewell:

 Only one man from Swett’s town of Hampton was recorded to have accompanied him. STEPHEN BROWN was a teenager probably living with his widowed father, a first settler and prosperous landowner in Hampton. It may have been a shortlived but merry meeting for Stephen and John Parker of Andover. Stephen’s older sister had married John’s oldest brother. Some (if not all) of Stephen’s brothers were soldiers during the war and now it was his turn to play the man.

Benjamin Brown

Benjamin Brown was born in 1647.  He married Sarah Brown, daughter of William Brown of Salisbury.  They settled on a part of his father's farm in Hampton near the Salisbury, Massachusetts border.  This area became part of Seabrook.  He petitioned to have a road built to his farm, the road was known as Rocks Road.  He was given land in Hampton Falls to compensate for land lost in building the road. 

Benjamin was a signer of Weare's Petition in 1683. This petition was taken by Nathaniel Weare, a leading Hampton citizen, to London and presented to the King. It was a complaint which resulted in the removal of the  then Governor Cranfield.  
Benjamin was chosen as a selectman in 1696-1705 and 1711. He was also chosen as a Representative from Hampton in 1697. 
He farmed and raised cattle.


Benjamin and Sarah had the following Children:
William b. June 5, 1680 m. Anne Heath d. Sept 1725
Sarah b. Sept 11, 1681 died young
Benjamin b. Dec. 20, 1683 m. Sarah Gove, lived in South Hampton
Elizabeth b.July 16, 1686 m. Benjamin Green, lived in Hampton Falls
John b. March 18, 1688 m. Abbey Johnson, lived in Seabrook
Jacob b. March 1691 m. Mary Green, Jemima Rowell, lived in Hampton Falls
Stephen b. July 17, 1693 m. Mary Chase, lived in Kingston
Mary b. 1696 m. Thomas Cram
Thomas b. May 21, 1699 Mehetible Towle, lived in Seabrook
Jeramiah b. Nov. 20, 1701 m. Mary Weare, lived in Seabrook

William Brown

There is not much written about William Brown.  He married Ann Heath in 1701, he was 21 years old.  They had at least ten children, William died in 1725, his youngest child was not quite a year old at the time.

Children of William and Ann (Heath) Brown, born at Hampton:

1. Rachel Brown, b. 15 Aug 1702, d. 2 Mar 1773 at Hampton, m. 25 Oct 1722 Nathan Clough

2. William Brown, b. 16 Dec 1703, d. at Kensington, NH, unmarried

3. Sarah Brown, b. 15 Mar 1706, m. 1st at Hampton 19 May 1725 Ezekiel Clough of Salisbury,  m. 2nd 7 Nov 1728 Samuel Eastman (d. 20 Dec 1752 at Kingston, NH)

4. Anna Brown, b. 21 Feb 1708, m. at Hampton Falls 26 Oct 1725 Jonathan Palmer (b. 26 Mar 1698 at Hampton, son of Samuel & Ann (Sanborn) Palmer)

 5. Hannah Brown, b. 22 Jul 1711, d. young

 6. Benjamin Brown, b. 11 Sep 1713, d. 5 Feb 1806 at Kensington, m. at Hampton 10 Jan 1738 Elizabeth Batchelder (b. 10 May 1716 at North Hampton, dau. of Samuel & Elizabeth (Davis) Batchelder)

7. Nehemiah Brown, b. 28 Nov 1717, d. 12 Jul 1793 at Hampton, m. Anna Longfellow (b. 2 Aug 1719 at Hampton Falls, d. 5 Nov 1799, dau. of Nathan & Mary (Green) Longfellow

8. Elizabeth Brown, b. 10 Nov 1720, d. 18 Jul 1799, m. Josiah Blake (son of Hezekiah Blake)

9. Lydia, bp. 12 Aug 1722, d. 23 Oct 1755

10 . Stephen, b. 19 Nov 1724, d. 24 Feb 1786, m. 1st Mary Weare, m. 2nd Patience Dow of Kensington.

The Will of William Brown:

WILLIAM BROWN 1725 HAMPTON

In ye Name of God Amen ye twenty sixth Day of August 1725 I William Brown of Hampton in ye Province of New Hampshier in New England yeman—being sick & weake of body " * *

Imprimis—my Will is y‘ all my Just Debts & funerall Charges be Well & truly Paid out of my stock of Creturs—& my Hows & Land which is betwen my brother Thomases Hows & ye Countery Rhood & three quarters of an acre of Land Neear Benjamin greens & two acres & three quarters of Land on ye North Sid of ye mudy Pond and one acre of Land at ye town Neer Benjamin moultons—& if any or what shall remain of these fore mentioned Pertigulers after my Debts & funerall charges are all Paid ye remainder to go to my dafters toward their Portions—And all ye rest of my Lands & marsh in Hampton & Else where I give to my fower sons

William my Eldest son to have a duble Part of all my Land where my Hows stands with one halfe of all ye howsing & orchard y° other halfe of my Howsing & orchard to bee for my wife during her life or widowhood—my son William to have his duble Part of ye Land with ye orchard on ye East side of my Land where my Hows standeth from End to End ye whole bredth till his duble Part is compleated

Item I give unto my son Benjamin his single Part or fifth Part Next to william in Lake maner ,

Item I give to Nehemiah ye Next in Like maner with benjmen

Item I give to my son Stephen an Equal Part with Benjamin & Nehemiah & to have my Land at ye great Hill & what that wanteth of his Part by measuer to be made up to him on ye West sid of my Land at home—&_all my mashs to be devided amongst my fows sons after thay all come to one & twenty years of age William to have his duble Part & ye rest all a Like in quantity . Item I give to my three Daughters Rachel Sarah & Ann fifteen Pounds Each besids what they have all ready had to be Paid them in one year after my decease by my sone William

Item I give to mary & Elizabeth fifteen Pounds each y‘ is if any thing remains of what I have appoynted to Pay my Debts & Iunerall charges to go to mary 81 Elizabeth & if ye do not amount to fiften Pounds Each to be Paid them by my three sons Benjamin Nehamiah & Stephen all aLike after they shall come to one & twenty years of age

Item give & order my Daughter Lidia to be maintained out of my Whole Estate—& if it shold Please God to order it so y‘ Shee shale marry then to have fifteen Pounds Paid her Every one to Pay his Part according to what he hath of my Lands-—

Item I give all Husbendry tools of all sorts what so ever Without dors to my son William

Item to my son Benjamin my Loom & takling to it _

Item I give to my beloved Wife Ann all my Puter Brass Iron beding 8:. all my moveables with my Hows what so Ever

And Every one of all my Childerin to have his or her Part orPortion as they com to age of one & twenty years of age—but all those childerin under seven years of age to Be brought up by y° whole estate until they be seven years old

I Likewise Constitute make & ordain my Beloved Wife & my sone \Villiam my sole Execntorex & Executor of this my Last will & testiment in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal y“ Day & year above Written

signed sealed Published Pro- william Brown nownced & Declared by y“ said William Brown as his Last Will & testiment in y" Presents of us y° subscribers

Peter Weare

Samuel Clifford

John Clifford

[Proved May 19, 1726.]

[Warrant, Oct. 26, 1725, authorizing Col. Peter Weare and Samuel Clififord, both of Hampton, to appraise the estate.]

[Inventory, Nov. 1, 1725 ; amount, £943.18.o ; signed by Peter Weare and Samuel Clifford.]

Sources:
History of the Town of Hampton, New Hampshire From its Settlement Vol 1, Joseph Dow
History of the Town of Hampton, New Hampshire From its Settlement Vol 2, Joseph Dow
Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Hoyt
Ancestry.com
Probate Records of the Province of New Hampshire 1635-1777 vol. 32
History of Rockingham County and It's Representative Citizens, Charles Hazlet
History of Hampton Falls, Warren Brown

Nehemiah Brown and his Ancestors The Heaths

Kensington seal

Nehemiah Brown was the son of William Brown and Anne Heath of Kensington, New Hampshire.  He was born 28 Nov. 1717. Kensington was not incorporated until 1737, it was a parish of Hampton, so his birthplace would have to  be said to be Hampton. Nehemiah married Anne Longfellow on 26 January 1737 in Kensington. 
Anne was the daughter of Nathan Longfellow and Anne Green.  She was born 2 August 1719 in Hampton Falls. 

I have looked at both the ancestors of Nehemiah and Anne Heath on ancestry.com and on the internet and junky genealogy abounds. I know that the immigrant ancestor of Nehemiah was a John Brown, but which John Brown is any ones guess at this point. See my article on the John Browns of New England.

Bartholomew Heath and Hannah Moyce

Anne Heath's immigrant ancestor was Bartholomew Heath. Bartholomew was born in England, probably around 1616. He was deposed in 1657 and gave his age as 41. He died January 14, 1681 so he died around age 66. It is not known where he was from in England or when he came to America.  He is traditionally lumped in with the William Heath family from Nazings, England, who sailed on the Lyon in 1632, but as his name nor his brother's for that matter, was on the manifest there is no way to prove it. There also does not seem to be any family connection between them in the colony. Some people say that Bartolomew lived with the William Heath Family in Roxbury, when they first arrived, but that is useless speculation, because there is no proof.

Bartholomew may have come at the same time as his brother John Heath. They were in Newbury, Massachusetts by 1640. Bartholomew married Hannah, daughter of Joseph Moyce, probably by 1641-2 as his first child was born in 1643.  The family moved to Haverhill by 1645. 

Sadly, most of Bartholomew and Hannah's children died in infancy.  Only three children reached adulthood and only John and Josiah were alive at the time of his death. 

The children of Bartholomew and Hannah were:

1. John, b. Aug 14, 1643 in Newbury Ancestor d. 1706
2. Joseph b. ? in Newbury,  d. 1672
3. Joshua b. Feb 12, 1646/7 in Haverhill died  August 1647
4. Hannah b. Sept 3, 1648 Haverhill died Nov. 9, 1668
5. Josiah b. Sept 4, 1651 Haverhill d. 1717 Haverhill
6. Elizabeth b. Mar 19, 1653/43 Haverhill d. Jan 28, 1654/55
7. Benjamin b. Aug 8, 1656 Haverhill d. June 29, 1657
8. Elizabeth b. Sept 5, 1658 Haverhill  d. Feb 11, 1659


haverhill

Newbury, Massachusetts was first settled in 1635.  Haverhill was founded in 1640 by settlers from Newbury.  By 1645 there were over thirty land owners in Haverhill, including Bartholomew, his brother John was not listed at that time.  Bartholomew was made a freeman in 1648. In 1650 Bartholomew and a few others were allowed to exchange their land in the plain" for land west of "the little river".  He sold some of his land for 8 pounds in 1651. His brother John was in Haverhill by 1657 when he, Bartholomew and others entered into an agreement with a blacksmith for the town. In 1665 Bartholomew entered into an agreement to repair, maintain and operate a mill for the town.Bartholomew was chosen as selectman in 1643, 1648,  on 30 November 1660, and in 1667/8. 

In the Records and Files of the Quarterly Court of Essex County is found an interesting item.  On October 11, 1664, the court was held in Hampton.  Bartholomew Heath was on the Grand Jury.  Steven Dow and his wife Ann were presented by the Grand Jury for fornication, they confessed and were sentenced to either to a whipping, not to exceed 10 stripes, or to pay a fine of 20 shillings. They chose the fine, and Bartholomew Heath paid it. I wonder why, was it just a loan or did he pay it for them?

His brother John died Jan 17, 1674/75. Bartholomew's family was mentioned in his will. John apparently had no surviving children, so he is neglected by family researchers.

Some ancestry sites list the parents of Bartholomew and John as John and Alis Bartholomew Heath from Salisbury, Wiltshire England.  But no one has any supporting evidence to back up this claim. Robert Charles Anderson wrote a bio of several Heath's who came from Nazeing, England including brothers William and Isaac and he did not include John or Bartholomew. Others speculate that Bartholomew was the son of William Heath, but completely leave John out of the picture. 

St. Mary's Dennington, Suffolk

Joseph Moyce and Hannah Folcorde
Hannah Moyce, daughter of Joseph and Hannah Folcorde Moyce was born in Dennington, Suffolk, England in 1618.  Hannah was baptized at St. Mary the Virgin, Dennington on September 6th of that year. Joseph and Hannah were married 22 November 1609. They seem to have only had three daughters in Salisbury all born 1618 and after.  I wonder what happen in the nine years from their marriage until Hannah was born. 
Joseph was one of the original proprietors of Salisbury, Massachusetts.  He received lands in 1640 and 1641. In 1644 he sold his "new house", land and all things around it to Richard Currier.  In 1649 his name is listed as a land owner in Haverhill, but he does not seem to have ever lived there. He was taxed in 1650 and 1651 to pay the minister of Salisbury.  He again received land in 1654.  His wife Hannah died in 1655. It is not known when Joseph died, there is no will or probate records. 

John Heath and Sarah Partridge

John Heath, the son of Bartholomew and Hannah, was born in Newbury, but raised in Haverhill, Massachusetts.  He married 14 November 1666 in Salisbury to Sarah Partridge. Sarah was the daughter of William Partridge and Ann Spicer. They had the following children, all born in Haverhill:
1. Bartholomew b. Sept 3, 1667 d. 4 Aug 1704 Killed by Indians
2. Sarah b. 26 March 1669 died same year
3. Elizabeth b. 1 March 1669/70 d. 9 Dec 1683 age 13
4. Hannah b. 3 May1673 m. 1691
5. John b. 17 March 1674/75 d. unknown
6. Martha b. 30 Nov. 1677 m. George Goldwyer (2) Robert Pike d. 1713
7. Nehemiah b. 11 May 1680 d. Jan 14 1717/18 he was a sea-captain, lived in Hampton 
   Falls m. Mary Gove of Hampton, will probated at Hampton
8.  Rachael b. 23 July 1682
9.  Ann b. 30 June 1684 m. William Brown d. 7 Aug 1765 Kensington
10. Sarah b. 22 April 1688

Hannah Dunston weilding her hatchet

In 1697 Haverhill was attacked by Indians during King William's War, the first of the French and Indian Wars.  Almost 40 people were killed at that time. Hannah Dunston was taken captive by the Indians. She became a hero to the colony when she killed her captors and escaped back to Haverhill. 
 War flared up again in 1704, this time called Queen Anne's War. Bartholomew Heath, son of John and Sarah Partridge, was not so lucky, he was killed during this uprising. John and Sarah also lost children at a young age. Almost no one reached old age without the loss of children or  other close family members.
According to Hoyt John and Sarah died in Hampton, New Hampshire, other books say Hampton, Mass which does not exist.  In about 1740 or so Haverhill, Mass was divided and part of it became Hampstead, New Hampshire. John's will is not found in the New Hampshire probate records. Maybe he and Sarah were living with one of the children in Hampton. John is said to have died in 1706, age 63 and Sarah in 1718, age 71.

Genealogical and Family History of the State of Maine, Vol 3, by Henry Sweetser Burrage
Massachusetts Vital Records
History of Haverhill, George Wingate Chase
Great Migration 1620-1632, Robert Charles Anderson
Genealogy of Richard Currier, Harvey Lear Currier
Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Hoyt

John Brown of New England

So, I am researching the ancestors of an ancestor and once again am finding mass confusion on ancestry.com and the internet. In my previous blogs about Jacob Worthen, I said that he married Mary Brown, daughter of Nehemiah Brown. I wanted to follow Nehemiah back to his immigrant ancestor John Brown, and that's when the chaos unfolded.  

There were multiple John Brown's in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and their stories are jumbled together.  Here is what I can make out, as best I can, on the John Browns who are confused.

1.  John Brown sent back to England

     John Brown and his brother Samuel were first on record 4 March 1628/9. They are among the first patentees who received the charter for the Massachusetts Bay Colony from King Charles I.  He was made an assistant prior to sailing. He was appointed to the council to advise Governor Endicott in Salem.  John and his brother sailed on the Lion's Whelp 25 April and arrived 26 June 1629.  Due to a disagreement concerning religious practice he and his brother were shipped back to London post haste, arriving by September of 1629.

2.  John Brown of Watertown

     John came in 1632 on the Lyon.  He settled in Watertown along with Abraham, and Richard Brown.  His wife was Dorothy.  He received land and his children received land in his name posthumously.  He died in 1636. He had two children, both girls, Hannah and Mary.  

These Browns supposedly hail from Hawkedon, Suffolk, England, but according to Robert Charles Anderson of The Great Migration, there is not one bit of proof that that is where they are from. Also, the research that lead to these claims was done by a Horatio Gates Somersby who is a known genealogy forger. 

3.  John Brown of Duxbury

     John arrived in the Plymouth Colony in 1632.  He is on the tax rolls in 1633 and 1624.  He was a weaver by trade.  His wife was Phebe, and they had one child, a daughter, named Remember.  His brother was Peter Brown of Mayflower fame.

4. John Brown unclaimed

    This John was a tailor who enrolled at London as a passenger 22 June 1635.  What became of him is anyone's guess.

5.  John Brown of Rehoboth

     This John arrived in the Plymouth colony in 1635 on the Elizabeth.  He traveled with his niece and nephew James and Sarah Walker. James was his apprentice. He had traveled in the Low Countries and had become familiar with the beliefs of the Pilgrims in Leiden. He became a highly respected and successful magistrate in Plymouth.  His wife was Dorothy. James and Sarah's mother, a widow, arrived in Plymouth sometime afterwards. He returned to England for sometime but was back in the colony by 1660.  He died in 1662.  He had at least three children:  Mary, James and John. 

6. John Brown of Reading

    This John married Sarah Osgood of Andover.  He was selectman for Reading.  But he was born in 1628 so he does not fit with our search for Nehemiah's ancestor. 

So, this is all I can find on the multiple immigrant John Browns (JB) living in New England at the time. The JB most commonly believed to the ancestor of Nehemiah is a variation of JB#5. John Brown of London, Baker, travelled with his apprentice James Walker and his sister Sarah. JB married Sarah Walker and moved to Hampton, NH. There is no record of any marriage between Sarah Walker and John Brown. And I'm here to tell you that if you think US and International marriage records on ancestry.com is gospel, then you're wrong. This is only a database of submitted ancestry trees, not actual documentation. The only thing that should count is documentation!

So for now, I can say that I know little about JB of Hampton.  He was:

.... one of the first company who settled here. He was here in 1640. He built the first "barque" that was built in Hampton in 1641-42, at the river near Perkins Mill. He was a prominent man, became one of the largest land-owners in the town, was one of the selectmen in 1651 and 1656, and in 1663, was chosen "to see that the boys do not play in the gallery." He died in 1686.  History of Hampton.

Sources:
Ancestry.com
Genealogy.com
News Group Posting: Brown of Plymouth and Wannamosett
John Brown, Gentleman of Plymouth, George Tilden Brown
Plymouth Colony, Its History and People 162-1691
The History of Hampton, Joseph Dow
The History of Hampton Falls, Warren Brown
The Great Migration Begins 1630-1633, Robert Charles Anderson
The Great Migration 1634/1634, Robert Charles Anderson

Cootes and Lundys

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Most of my posts have been about my English ancestry, on my father's side,  but that is only half of who I am. The other half is Irish. The Irish are harder to trace and I don't know a whole lot once I  get past great grandparents.
 Here is a lovely photo of my grandparents on their wedding day.  They immigrated separately to Boston, Massachusetts, met and married there, and then inexplicably they returned to Ireland.  They remained in Ireland until the 1950's when once again they immigrated to Boston. Some things are just meant to be.  I have great memories of my grandparents and am glad that I was able to know them. Their life was never easy and the good things came hard, but Grandpa was always good for a laugh and a really bad joke.  How many people live in that graveyard? 

Coote Kids

My grandfather was Stephen Coote.  His parents were Thomas and Honora Moroney Coote of Ennis, County Clare. They lived in the parish of Drumcliff.  In the census of 1911 Thomas and Honora lived at # 4 Cornmarket Street.  Thomas was an attendant at an insane asylum.  He was baptized on 24 July 1868, Honora was a few years younger.  The first of at least 12 children was born on 8 June 1893, so it is safe to say that they married in 1892. 
Honora's sister Mary married Thomas' brother, they too lived in Ennis as well as Honora and Mary's parents Patrick and Margaret Moroney.  In 1911 Patrick and Margaret lived on Francis Street along with the Honora's oldest son John.  Patrick was a nail maker and John a tailor. 
The children of Thomas and Honora were:
John
Patrick
Joseph
Thomas
Francis
Michael
Stephen
Christoper
Margaret
James
Nora
Anthony
Stephen was the only child to come to America.

Magaret Lundy was born in the townland of Coolrawer, parish of Achonry West, Subdistrict of Curry, and Poor Union of Tubbercurry.  She was the daughter of Thomas and Mary Carty who lived at #49 Coolrawer.  He was born approx. 1857.  In the same neighborhood, according to the census are John and Mary Lundy aged 74 and 60, these are possibly his parents.  Also in the same area are Patrick Lundy and his wife Catherine, and Thomas Lundy and his wife Bridget.  
Thomas and Mary Carty had at least eight children.  Four of those children immigrated to the Boston area of Massachusetts.  
Martin I hope you read this and see how much help I need filling in details, and where are my pictures?

Jacob Worthen and Mary Brown of Candia, New Hampshire

beginnings
Jacob Worthen was the son of Ezekiel Worthen (3) and Hannah Currier.  The Worthen lineage in my family is as follows: Jacob, Ezekiel, Ezekiel, Ezekiel, George. Jacob is the last male Worthen in my family tree.  I  am descended through his daughter Rachel who married Enoch Rowell.

amesbury
Jacob was born 20 March 1734 in Amesbury, Massachusetts.  His great grandfather Ezekiel had settled there as a young man and the family remained there until Jacob's father moved the family into Kensington, New Hampshire sometime between the birth of his daughter Rachel in 1637 and his daughter Sarah in 1639.  Rachel was born in Amesbury, Sarah in Kensington. 

candia

Jacob and his brother Samuel settled in Candia, New Hampshire.  Their sister Sarah also became a resident of Candia, she married Major Jesse Eaton. The area was first settled in 1743 and was originally part of the town of Chester.  Candia separated and was incorporated in 1763. The Rowell family followed a similar course, leaving Amesbury and moving into Chester and Candia, New Hampshire. Jacob and Samuel's name appear on the original plat map of Candia as does their brother in law Jesse Eaton. 

marriage

Jacob married Mary Brown, daughter of Nehemiah and Anna Longfellow Brown on 28 September 1756. Nehemiah and Mary also moved to Candia around 1765. They had at least ten children.  

children

 1.Sarah b. 1757 Kensington m. Jesse Eaton, Major d. 1801 Candia

 2. Rachel b. 1758 in Kensington, m. Enoch Rowell

 3.  Mary b. 1761 in Kensington, married John Morrison, one of their sons moves to      Palermo,  Maine

 4. Isaac b. 1762 m. Judith Currier 1781, served in the Navy during the American Revolution moved to Palermo, Maine d. 1843 (Judith was the gggrandaughter of Deacon Thomas Currier) He was given a Revolutionary War land grant in Palermo

  5. Jacob Jr. b. 1765 also moved to Palermo Maine, m. Elizabeth Healy d. 1832

  6. Enoch b. 1767 d. Oct 4, 1856, Prisoner of war, War of 1812 d. in Candia

  7. Anna b. 1770 m. Benjamin Eaton

  8. Hannah b. 1772 m. Elisha Huntoon d. Candia

  9. Jonathan b. 1775 in Candia, m. Betsy Huntoon, d. Candia 1849

10. Nathan b. 1779

Samuel Worthen, brother of Jacob, also moved to Candia.  He married Sarah Clifford d. in Candia 1796.  Enoch, their brother stayed in Kensington and married Jemima Quimby.

revolution Of course the all consuming topic of this period must be the American Revolution.  Life did happen despite the turmoil going on around it.  Candia, despite its relative youth, was engaged in the current events and preparing for the inevitability of war.  In 1775 on May 11th Dr. Samuel Moores was chosen to represent Candia in the Provincial Convention that was held May 17th in Exeter, New Hampshire.  Jacob Worthen, Moses Baker, Abraham Fitts, Samuel Towle, Stephen Palmer and Nathaniel Emerson were chosen a committee to give general instructions to Dr. Moores. 

At that Provincial Congress it was voted to raise 2000 men, in 3 regiments, lead by John Stark, James Reed and Enoch Poor under the command of Major General Nathaniel Folsom. The regiment immediately left for Cambridge, Massachusetts. In April of 1776 the Association Test was given. All the Worthen's signed it. In 1778 Jacob and his brother Enoch served during the battle of Rhode Island.  The battle occurred in August and the New Hampshire Volunteers under the command of Joseph Dearborn took up the call and traveled south to participate in the battle.  The battle of Rhode Island was a great victory for the Americans.  They fought not only British but Hessian as well as  other trained German soldiers in the battle. 

Jacob also served at Fort Washington in the Portsmouth Harbor. He was part of a group of men who petitioned to get paid in full for their service in the defense of the fort.  He was first an Ensign, promoted to Lieutenant and then Captain in the war. His son Isaac also served during the American Revolution, along with his brothers Samuel and Enoch and Ezekiel. His daughter Rachel married Enoch Rowell who also served in the war. His daughter Mary married John Morrison who fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill.  In fact, few men of the time did not serve if they were able.  And of course his own father who had served so ably throughout his life continued to serve his new country during the American Revolution. 

Here is a letter written by John Morrison (husband of Mary Worthen) to Henry Clark of Candia.  He mentions Isaac his brother in law and his sweetheart, they are at Ft. Washington.  It's a sweet letter and a reminder that life goes on, even in war.

Forte Woshingtun June 27 day ye 1777.
Sir I rite to you to let you now how we all do, we are well and in good helthat Present, a short note concerning Love. John Clark remembers his love to mrs marthe paton.  Isaac worthen remembers his love to mrs dorothy bagley.  Theophylus Clough remembers his love to mrs mary rowel, wiginge Evens remembers his expressive Love to mrs albina Langue. Sir I hear very bad news about you and if the news be so I am afraidit will never do for I heir that the chief you do is gallanting the garls, and if this be the case I am shewer its very bad and if you would but leive of your bad tricks I shud be glad So no more at Present.      JOHN MORRISON
The girls above named were all young at the time, although John applies the
term "mrs" to them no doubt through mistake.  The writer was probably much
satisfied, as he folded the note among his merry comrades; with the severe
rallying he had given "Henery," on his undue attentions to the fair sex

Jacob's wife Mary  died sometime before 1781 when he remarried Love Sleeper Blake, widow of John Blake of Kensington, Tavern Keeper.  She must have been a good woman as several of her step children named daughters after her. Jacob died in 1801 aged 67. Love died on May 15, 1818.

my Worthen line with links:
My Worthen Line with links:
George Worthen and Margery Hayward
Ezekiel Worthen and Hannah Martin
Ezekiel Worthen and Abigail Carter
Ezekiel Worthen and Hannah Currier
Jacob Worthen and Mary Brown
Rachel Worthen and Enoch Rowell

Ezekiel Worthen and Hannah Currier of Amesbury, MA and Kensington, NH

amesbury
Ezekiel Worthen, third of that name, was born in Amesbury, Massachusetts on March 18th, 1710. His Grandfather, Ezekiel (1), was one of the first settlers of that town.  Ezekiel's wife was Hannah Currier, she too was born in Amesbury, on June 26, 1711 to William and Rachel Sargent Currier. Her great grandfather  Richard Currier was one of the first settlers of Salisbury and Amesbury.  Ezekiel and Hannah married in Amesbury in 1732 and began to build their life there.   But new land was opening up in New Hampshire, the Indian threat was subsiding and after one hundred years of colonization, the coastal towns of Massachusetts were getting crowded. 

kensington

Town Seal

Ezekiel and his family made the decision to leave Massachusetts and head for the frontier. They settled in Kensington. New Hampshire.  Kensington was once part of the town of Hampton.  It was incorporated in 1737. 
His parents, Ezekiel (2) and Abigail Carter Worthen, had moved to Chester, New Hampshire, as had his brother Thomas and his family.  Ezekiel (2) in his will left his land that he received from John Carter his father in law to his son Jacob and he remained in Amesbury. He, Ezekiel,  left his sons Thomas and Ezekiel (3) only money as according to his will he had already settled substantial amounts of land, etc. on them and set Ezekiel up as a joiner.  To his son Ephraim he left his best clothes and his house and property in Chester. Ephraim was also to provide for his mother Abigail for the rest of her life.

man about town
Ezekiel (3) became involved in town business.  In a deed dated 20 July 1740 he was called a "Gentleman".  He was also described as a joiner or house carpenter.  In 1748 he was selectman for Kensington.  He also did stints as constable, moderator of meetings and surveyor of highways. Ezekiel however is best remembered for his military exploits, in fact in an article written by Samuel Copp Worthen he is called "The Warrior of Kensington".

When the Massachusetts Bay Colony was first establishing itself each town organized it's own militia. Training bands were formed and  gun powder was gathered and stored to use in defense of the town.  When the threat from Indians decreased, especially in the larger coastal towns and cities, Ranger Companies were formed to defend the frontier. These men were paid volunteers. At one time there were nine Ranger Companies.  Later during the French and Indian Wars the Rangers fought along side the British Regulars and local militia. 

ensign
The New Hampshire Militia served in all of the Colonial Wars and as a member of the Militia Ezekiel Worthen rose from the rank of Ensign to Major.  The rank of Ensign is not used in today's Army, the Navy, however, retains the rank. An Ensign was the lowest commissioner officer rank, below that of Lieutenant. Ensign Ezekiel Worthen saw action in 1745 at the first siege of Louisbourg, the capital of Cape Breton and strongest French fort at that time.  This was during what was called in Europe, the War of the Austrian Succession, but in New England it was known as "King George's War. The colonial militia took and held the fort until 1746 when they were relieved by regular British Troops. This was quite a feat for the Colonists.  Ezekiel was discharged on 20 June 1746. 

Louisbourg

1754 saw the start of the bloody brutal French and Indian War.  Ezekiel was part of the Crown Point Expedition of 1756. Ezekiel had command of the 8th Company. Colonel Meserve of New Hampshire lead a group including three Ranger Companies and 100 carpenters, and Lt. Col. Goffe's regiment, including Capt. Worthen's Company, marched to Albany and eventually to Ft. William Henry. Now if you are a fan of American Literature or a history buff you will know that Ft. William Henry was the scene of one of the most outrageous military massacres to occur in the United States.  The story was told by James Fenimore Cooper in his novel "The Last of the Mohicans". The Colonial/British forces were outnumbered, outgunned and defeated by a combination of French, Canadian and Indian forces.  Terms of surrender were worked out and the American/British forces were allowed to retreat to Ft. Edward ,about 12 miles away, peacefully,  on the condition that they did not take up arms against the French Canadians for one year.  Unfortunately the French Commander Montcalm could not control his Indian allies who descended upon the retreating army and massacred many. Luckily, Ezekiel was one of the survivors of the massacre, and he made it home to Kensington to tell the tale. 

As brutal as the French and Indian wars were, they were a training ground for future commanders during the American revolution. Ezekiel was 65 when the first shots of the revolution were fired, but this did not stop him from doing what he could for the American cause.  Ezekiel's surviving sons also played an important part in the war, all serving as soldiers in the militia. 

revolution
Ezekiel represented Kensington at a meeting in Exeter whose delegates choose the men who would represent New Hampshire in the General Congress in Philadelphia.  After the battle of Lexington in April of 1775 the town chose Ezekiel to be on the Provincial Committee of Public Safety in Exeter. In 1778 he was chosen to represent Kensington at the Convention in Concord.

During the war Ezekiel was responsible for drawing up plans for Fort Sullivan and Ft. Washington and Clark's Point.  In 1775,with the rank of Major, he relieve General Sullivan and took command of the Portsmouth defenses. Ezekiel and his sons survived the war and lived to celebrate their freedom from Great Britain. 

Map of the Ports and Forts of New Hampshire

Ezekiel and Hannah Currier had the following children:
Isaac b. 1733 Amesbury, died young
Jacob b. 1734 Amesbury d. 1801 Ancestor Lt. in the American Revolution
Rachael b. 1737 Amesbury d. unknown marriage unknown
Sarah b. 1739 Kensinston d. unknown marriage unknown
Isaac b. 1741 Kensington possibly Corporal in the Revolution
Abigail b. 1743 d. unknown
Ezekiel (4) b. Kensington 1746 d. 1803 Amesbury m. Anna Collins Lt. in the Rev.
Samuel b. Kensington 1748 d. 1796 Candia m. Sarah Clifford
Enoch b. Kensington 1750 d. 1833 Kensington m. Jemima Quimby Corporal in the Rev.
Hannah b. 1752 m. John James 1775 d. 1831 Deerfield New Hampshire
Mary b. 1754
Thomas b. 1765 m. Susanna Adams died in Corinth Vermont 1851

rip Hannah Currier Worthen died in 1792 and Ezekiel died the following year.  They are buried in Kensington, New Hampshire.

My Worthen Line with links:
George Worthen and Margery Hayward
Ezekiel Worthen and Hannah Martin
Ezekiel Worthen and Abigail Carter
Ezekiel Worthen and Hannah Currier
Jacob Worthen and Mary Brown
Rachel Worthen and Enoch Rowell

Sources:
"The Kensington Warrior", Samuel Copp Worthen
Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Hoyt
History of Candia
HIstory of Old Chester
Fold3 Revolutionary War Records