Inquisitive Minds Want to Know Part II

Charlestown, Massachusetts – Comparing Compiled Data

In the book from Deference to Defiance, Charlestown, Massachusetts, 1629-1692 author Roger Thompson (2012) shares four items of special significance.

Of the twenty-three surnames indicated on the 1638 land map of Charlestown Town Center on page 100, all of them show up in later town records. Some individuals held positions of governing responsibilities, while others were dedicated to their occupations. Their financial standing is also indicative of their place in the community. This map was published in A Century of Town Life: A History of Charlestown 1775-1887 by James Frothingham Hunnewell, which includes a chapter on “The Village in 1638.”

Comparing this list of landholders with the other three lists:

Charlestown Immigrant Origins 1630-40 on pages 26-28 (created by author?)

Charlestown Officeholders 1634-1692 on pages 57-77 (previously unpublished)

Tax List of 16 November 1658 on pages 49-51 (previously unpublished)

The author notes that the numbers after the names on the tax list probably refer to the number of dwellings owned, and the poll numbers follow. There are some interesting implications from reviewing and comparing the data. Note that the map lists only the surnames; the list of immigrants lists full names of males or female head of household; the list of officeholders usually lists only the first initial and surname; while the tax lists usually first and last name, and/or the title of the person.

The black print denotes those listed in the Immigrant Origins 1630-40. If there is a blank space after a surname they were not in the list of Immigrant Origins.

The blue print is for Officeholders 1630-1692.

The red print is the information from the 1658 Tax List.


Additional information about the immigrant's origins from the book Topographical Dictionary of 2885 English Emigrants to New England 1620-1650, by Charles Edward Banks, 1937, is indicated by ( ).  Of the settlers there were 168 total from Norfolk and those were from 42 parishes. There were twelve who came from Norfolk to Charlestown, and seven are found in Deference to Defiance. For some surnames where there was more than one individual indicated they have been included, as they are likely related to the original settler.
 

23 Settlers in Charlestown shown on 1638 Map

Allen- Allen ____ (of Kent, Herne Hill; John of Norfolk or Suffolk; William of Lancashire)

Good, [Walt], 1, 0-14-8; Capt, 2, 1-0-0;

J. Allen: Deputy- 1668, 1671, 1674; Land Allotter- 1670; Rate Commissioner- 1662, 1668
W. Allen: Constable- 1660

Cole- R. Cole, Isaac, of Kent, 1635, from Sandwich, carpenter 4, 28, L120 (of Kent, Sandwich)

Jno. Coale, 1, 0-3-0; Isaac Coale, 1, 0-2-6; Wid Coale, 0-2-0
R. Cole: Selectman- 1634
Jac Cole: Hog Revees- 1677
I. Cole: Surveyor of Highways- 1657; Land Allotter- 1635

Converse- Converse _____ (Edward of Essex, Navestock or Stenfield)

E. Convers: Selectman- 1635; Land Allotter- 1637, 1638, 1639

Coytmore- Coytmore, Thomas, of Stepney, 1636, ship captain, 2, ca. 24, L1266 (of Middlesex, Stepney or Ratcliffe)

Coytmore, Katherine, of Stepney, 1638, widow, 1, 62, L665
Mr [Tom] Shepheard in Mris Coytmoors house

T. Coytmore: Selectman- 1641

Fosdick- Fosdick _____ (Stephen of Suffolk, Wenham, Magna)

Steeven, 1, 0-10-0; Jno, 1, 0-2-4
J. Fosdick: Constable- 1676; Tithingmen- 1678; Surveyor of Highways- 1675, 1683
S. Fosdick: Hog Reeves- 1654, 1655, 1671; Surveyor of Highways- 1641,
1655; Field Driver- 1651

Garrett- Garrett, James, of Stepney, 1637, ship captain, 2 (James of Middlesex, Stepney; Herman of Suffolk, Wickham, Market)

Graves- Graves, Thomas, of Stepney, 1630, ship captain, 4, 25, w25, L1054 (of Middlesex, Stepney or Ratcliffe)

Mris, 0-16-8, Nath, 1, 0-1-8

Harvard- John, of Southwark, 1637, minister, 2, 30, L1600 (of Surrey, Southwark, S. Saviour)

Hills- Joseph Hills _____ (of Essex, Billericay)

J. Hills: Selectman-1644; Deputy- 1647; Surveyor of Highways- 1643
A Hill: Surveyor of Highways- 1649; Land Allotter- 1647

Johnson- Edward Johnson, William of Dunstable, 1634, Brickmaker, 3, 26, L307

Edward Johnson, of Kent, from Canterbury, 1637, jointer, 12, 39, L1297
(Edward of Kent, Canterbury; William of Bedfordshire, Dunstable)
Ed. 2, 0-4-0; Will, 2, 0-9-2; Jno, 2, 0-4-6
E. Johnson: Constable- 1640
W. Johnson: Constable- 1667; Hog Reeves- 1650, 1652; Gravedigger- 1651;
Surveyor of Highways- 1653, 1665; Fence Viewer- 1651, 1652, 1663, 1664,
1670; Field Driver- 1649, 1650, 1651, 1652, 1656
Z. Johnson: Constable- 1677; Hog Reeves- 1675; Surveyor of Highways-
1679; Fence Viewer- 1679
I. Johnson: Hog Reeves- 1684; Tithingmen- 1683; Surveyor of Highways-
1682

Long- Three Kings Tavern

Long, Robert of Dunstable, 1635, Innkeeper, 12, 45, L602 (of Bedfordshire, Dunstable)
Mych, 1, 0-3-3; Zach, 1, 0-8-2; Mr Rob, 2, 0-8-0; John 2, 0-8-2
R. Long: Selectman 1637; Surveyor of Highways- 1639; Land Allotter- 1637,
1638, 1639
J. Long: Selectman 1672-1673
Z. Long: Constable- 1683; Culler of Damnified Goods 1684

Lynde- Lynde, Thomas, of Dunstable, malster, 5, 40, L1709 (of Bedfordshire, Dunstable)

Tho Lyne, 1, 1-5-2
T. Lynde: Selectman- 1635, 1637, 1639-1640, 1642, 1644, 1646, 1648, 1650-
1653, 1655-1659, 1661, 1665, 1667, 1670; Deputy –1636, 37, 38; Treasurer- 
1681, 1684; Surveyor of Highways- 1634; Land Allotter- 1637, 1639, 1640,
1642, 1648, 1656, 1657, 1663; Boundsmen- 1640, 1641, 1643, 1651; Fence
Viewer- 1649, 1678; Rate Commissioner- 1651, 1669
J. Lynde: Selectman- 1673-1680, 1683-1688; Deputy –1674, 1680, 1690-1691;
Constable- 1666; Culler of Damnified Goods 1687; Rate Commissioner-
1671, 1674, 1681, 1682
T. Lynde Jr.: Constable- 1649; Surveyor of Highways- 1648

Moulton- Moulton _____ (Robert of Surrey, Southwark or Norfolk, Ormsby, Great)

R. Moulton: Selectman- 1635; Land Allotter- 1634

Newell-Nowell- Nowell, Mary Newell, of Bristol, widow of mariner, 2, 33, L224 (Increase of Middlesex, Stepney)

Jno. Newell, 1, 0-2-0; Mris Nowell, 0-4-0
I Nowell: Selectman- 1634-1652, 1654-1655; Town Clerk- 1635; Land
Allotter- 1635, 1637
J. Newell: Selectman- 1681-1682, 1687, 1689; Constable- 1678; Town Clerk-
1679-86, 89-96

Norton- Norton, Francis, of Southwark, 1637, haberdasher, 4, 35, assets L623, liabilities L1368 (of Surrey, Southwark)

Capt, 3, 2-10-0
F. Norton: Deputy –1647, 1652-1667; Selectman- 1647, 1652, 1654, 1658-
1661, 1665; Constable- 1643; Rate Commissioner- 1650

Palmer- W. Palmer _____ (William of Middlesex, Stepney or Norfolk, Ormsby, Great; Walter of Dorsetshire, Yetminster; Abraham of Kent, Canterbury)

Jno, 1, 0-6-0
A Palmer: Selectman- 1637-1640, 1642, 1644; Deputy – 1635, 36, 38; Town
Clerk- 1638 (Book of Possessions); Hog Reeves - 1646
W. Palmer: Selectman- 1634-1635; Constable- 1636-1637
J. Palmer: Constable- 1655, 1666

Sedgwick- Sedgwick, brewhouse, Robert, of Southwark, 1635, merchant, 2, 22 (Robert of Surrey, Southwark; Major of Hampshire, Andover or London)

Maior Sedgwick to c Norton
R. Sedgwick:  Selectman- 1643; Deputy –1637-39, 44, 49-50

Stitson- Stitson _____ (William of Gloucestershire, Bristol)

Will, 2, 0-18-6
W. Stitson: Selectman- 1643-1646, 1648, 1652, 1653, 1655-1659, 1665-1674; Ferrynan- 1634; Tree Warden 1666; Deputy –1667-1671; Constable- 1642; Hog Reeves- 1646; Land Allotter- 1648, 1649, 1656, 1657, 1663, 1666, 1669, 1670, 1671; Boundsmen- 1643, 1644, 1652, 1666, 1671; Fence Viewer- 1678

Symmes- Symmes, Zechariah, of Dunstable, 1634, minister, 7, 35, L681 (Zechariah of Bedfordshire, Dunstable)

Mr [Zac], 0-0-0
Z. Symmes: Land Allotter- 1635
Y. Symmes: Constable- 1679
W. Symmes: Tree Warden- 1661; Tithingmen- 1678; Land Allotter- 1668,
Boundsmen- 1666, 1672; Fence Viewer- 1667, 1670, 1671, 1673, 1675, 1676,
1677, 1678, 1679, 1680; Rate Commissioner- 1666, 1673

Tidd- Tidd _____ (John Tead of Norfolk, Norwich)

Josh, 1, 0-9-0
J. Tidd: Selectman- 1660, 1668, 1675; Constable- 1647?, 1659, 1670 (refused); Tithingmen- 1678; Rate Commissioner 1672

Trerice- Trerice, Nicholas, of Stepney, 1636, ship captain, 3, 38, w30, L147 (Nicholas of Middlesex, Stepney or Wapping)

Mris Terrise, 0-9-0

Walker- Walker _____ (Augustine of Northumberland, Berwick; Richard of Hampshire, Keaton; Robert of Lancashire, Manchester; William of Norfolk, Norwich)

Wid, 0-1-4

Willoughby- Willoughby, Francis, of Stepney, 1638, shipwright, 2, 27, L4813 (Francis of Middlesex, Stepney; Jon of Middlesex, Stepney; William of Hampshire, Portsmouth)

Mr [Jon] Willoby to North Cape
F. Willoughby: Selectman- 1646-1647, 1649-1651, 1663-1665; Deputy –1642,
1650

Of the 23 Settlers in Charlestown shown on 1638 Map several came from the same locations and some from more than one.
From Bedfordshire, Dunstable there were Johnson, Long, Lynde, and Symmes.
From Dorcestshire there was Palmer.
From Essex there were Converse and Hills.
From Hampshire there were Sedgwick, Walker and Willoughby.
From Gloucestershire there was Stitson.
From Kent in various towns there were Allen, Cole, Johnson, Palmer, and Symmes.
From Lancashire there were Allen and Walker.
From London there was Sedgwick.
From Middlesex, Stepney there were Coytmore, Garrett, Graves, Newell, Palmer, Trerice and Willoughby.
From Norfolk in various towns there were Allen, Moulton, Palmer, Tidd and Walker. (Others include Crowe, Gibbs, Smith, Hobart, Chubbock, Smith, Ayers, Baker, Davidson, Tufts, and James. Ayers, Baker and Davidson came from the town of Norwich, as did the Tead/Tidds)
From Northumberland there was Walker.
From Surrey, Southwark there were Harvard, Moulton, Norton and Sedgwick.
From Suffolk there were Allen, Fosdick, and Garrett.
From Wiltshire there was Walker.

Due to the length of this material this will be continued to Part III, with a conclusion of the interactions of these community members.