A story

Once upon a time, long, long ago and far, far away, a young man named Barney Alonzo walked out of his father's wagon shop and set off down the road to enlist in D Company 134th New York Volunteer Infantry. By all family accounts his avowed purpose was to do right in God's eyes and free the wretched slaves in the south and he felt that answering Mr. Lincoln's call for volunteers was the way he could do that.

Now, that's not to say that his father, Henry, felt the same way about events of the time. When he, in his turn, walked out of the shop and left to go into the service, he was making a calculated decision to improve his lot in life. You see, Henry had lost his father in 1814 and the only benefit to the family had been a land grant that Henry's mother had sold to speculators to, as the story goes, barely keep her family fed. You see, Henry's father, also Henry, had died of a disease at Plattsburgh while serving his country and that was how the cash poor but land rich country compensated its veterans and he hoped that they would do so again. With so much land out west, surely there would be money to be made. Hoping to increase his odds of survival to enjoy those benefits, Henry enlisted in K Company 9th New York Heavy Artillery, a unit which could reasonably be expected to avoid much active combat by being emplaced in some fortified place and left there. Indeed, that is what happened for much of the war but, for now, let us return to Barney.

Barney, although he had enlisted as a private soldier and was only 20 years old at the time, was selected to become his company's First Sergeant because he, probably unlike many, certainly better than most, could read, write and do arithmetic, vital skills for a First Sergeant who kept the company muster roll and wrote the brief reports that went to higher headquarters. Somehow, in performing these duties he was soon identified as a man who could lead and could be trusted to lead in difficult circumstances and he was given a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the same unit. As such he would go on to be present for the attack on Fredericksburg (although the regiment did not participate in the fighting), the Mud March which followed, fought at Chancellorsville, and was severely wounded at Gettysburg on the first day of fighting as the 134th was directly opposite the 21st North Carolina Infantry in the "brickyard".

Now, we'd call this a severe wound today but it was all the more so then. Barney had suffered a .58 caliber (that's over one-half of an inch diameter) soft lead bullet to enter his chest about 2" above the right nipple and exit his back just below the right shoulder blade. He had then to endure being captured by the enemy as they drove his regiment back towards a place called Cemetery Hill and then to be "evacuated" to the other side of Willoughby Run only a few yards away and left there, untreated, for four days in the July heat. It is said, again in family stories, that on the 4th day after he was wounded the people who were clearing the battlefield of the dead grabbed him to throw him onto the "meat wagon" when he "spit in their faces and cursed" thus earning a trip to hospital. Barney was very fortunate that the bullet hadn't struck any bone as it passed through his body but he spent several months in recovery and was assigned to the Invalid Corps in Washington, D.C. However, by November he was well enough to be promoted to 1st Lieutenant and return to his unit in time to be present in for the Chattanooga campaign and with his unit in the battle at Missionary Ridge.

However, the strains of service in the field with a lung that didn't work as well as it should was too much and Barney was discharged due to disability in September 1864. He then went home, married, opened a store in North Blenheim and, again according to family lore, didn't work another day in his life. Barney died on 23 December 1920.

Of course, every soldier in the field carries equipment that allows him to live and among those items of equipment is a canteen because water is critical to life. Most soldiers bring something back with them and, apparently, one of the things Barney brought back was his canteen. It is hard to say when but at some point the canteen lost its carrying strap and cork and was painted to decorate it. It was clearly a valued keepsake. So,was he carrying it when his Brigade retreated from Stonewall Jackson's attack at Chancellorsville, is this the same canteen from which Barney drank while suffering from his wound in the July heat at Gettysburg? Surely it was carried at Chattanooga, perhaps when he visited Lookout Mountain and then on the long journey home to Schoharie county. Years later his grandson loaned the canteen to a local museum and it "disappeared".

This year, in the midst of another national crisis, the museum decided that it no longer wanted or needed the canteen and they contacted me as the person to whom Grandpa had said it should go when it was returned. I am supposing this is because that I was named for Barney. Despite the barriers imposed by the pandemic it is now back with us, the family and while I may have it I see myself as only a caretaker. Someday, somebody else will have to take it in so that it might last another 155 years and tell the story of a young man who nearly sacrificed his life to free others.

Roger Wolcott Hitchcock

1LT Roger Wolcott Hitchcock (4th cousin 2x removed), 88th Aero Squadron AEF, KIA, France, Sep 1918. Recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross. Married Alta Icye Williamson in December 1917 just 3 days prior to shipping out for France. She never remarried and there were no children. His DSC reads:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Second Lieutenant (Air Service) Roger W. Hitchcock, United States Army Air Service, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 88th Aero Squadron, U.S. Army Air Service, A.E.F., near Fismes, France, 11 August 1918, together with John W. Jordan, second lieutenant, 7th Field Artillery, observer; Louis G. Bernheimer, first lieutenant, pilot; James S. D. Burns, deceased, second lieutenant, 101st Field Artillery, observer; Philip R. Babcock, first lieutenant, pilot; Joseph A. Palmer, second lieutenant, 15th Field Artillery, observer; Joel H. McClendon, deceased, first lieutenant, pilot; and Charles W. Plummer, deceased, second lieutenant, 101st Field Artillery, all attached to the 88th Aero Squadron, Air Service. Under the protection of three pursuit planes, all carrying a pilot and observer, Lieutenants Bernheimer and Jordan, in charge of a photo plane, carried out successfully a hazardous photographic mission over the enemy's lines to the River Aisne. The four American ships were attacked by 12 enemy battle planes. Lieutenant Bernheimer, by coolly and skillfully maneuvering his ship, and Lieutenant Jordan, by accurate operation of his machine-gun, in spite of wounds in the shoulder and leg, aided materially in the victory which came to the American ships, and returned safely with 36 valuable photographs. The pursuit plane operated by Lieutenants Hitchcock and Burns was disabled while these two officers were fighting effectively. Lieutenant Burns was mortally wounded and his body jammed the controls. After a headlong fall of 2,500 meters, Lieutenant Hitchcock succeeded in regaining control of this plane and piloted it back to the airdrome. Lieutenants McClendon and Plummer were shot down and killed after a vigorous combat with five of the enemy planes. Lieutenants Babcock and Palmer, by gallant and skillful fighting, aided in driving off the German planes and were materially responsible for the successful execution of the photographic mission.

Daniel Hamblett Russo

PVT Daniel Hamblett Russo, Company B, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Infantry Division (Airborne) b. 1925 - d. 20 Sep 1944 in Holland. He is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial at Margraten, Plot M Row 2 Grave 12. He is my 7th cousin 3x removed. You can see a photo of him at http://www.fieldsofhonor-database.com/index.php/american-war-cemetery-margraten-r/50559-russo-daniel-h

Warren Francis Leland

TSGT Warren Francis Leland (born 22 Nov 1922) is on our left in this photo with his mother, Grace Velma (Emery) Leland and his brother CPL Allen Frederick Leland. Warren served as radio operator on the "Pistol Packin' Momma" of the 38th Bomb Squadron, 30th Bomb Group (Heavy) in the South Pacific. The plane was shot down in a bombing mission over Marcus Island on 11 Sep 1944 and all but one crew member were killed. As noted with his brother's photo, Warren is my 8th cousin twice removed. Both of these men are descendents of Abraham Jaquith (1644-1679) also of Woburn, MA who was killed in service during King Phillip's War.

Colonel Cunliffe Hall Murray

CUNLIFFE H. MURRAY. . (Ap'd N.Y.)..25 (Cunliffe Hall Murray, Born Aug. 26. 1852 in Charleston, South Carolina - died Mar 16, 1936 in Tenafly, New Jersey) is a 3rd cousin 4x removed our common grandparents being Annatie Hunnel and George Richtmeyer.  He and is wife are buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Military History: Captain, 4th Cavalry, April 15, 1890. At Presidio of San Francisco, Cal., commanding Troop, June 17 to 27. 1898, and on mustering duty, June 28 to July 14, 1898 ; commanding Troop, July 15 to Aug. 11, 1898 ; en route to Philippines and at Manila.

Aide-de-Camp to Major General Otis, Aug. 13, 1898, to Feb. 10. 1899; at Manila, Inspector-General of Volunteers, Feb. 11 to June 30. 1899; Secretary to the Military Governor of the Philippines, July 1, 1899, to May 4, 1900; en route to U. S. and sick, May 5 to Oct. 3, 1900: nt Washington, D. C, in office of Inspector-General, Oct. 4 to Nov. 2. 1900 ; at Chicago, Ill., Inspector-General, Department of the Lakes, Nov. 4, 1900, to (Major, 4th Cavalry, Fer. 2, 1901) May 9, 1901 ; and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Department of the Lakes, May 10, 1901, to March 31. 1902 ; at Fort Leavenworth, Kans., commanding 2nd Squadron, 4th Cavalry, April 3, 1902, to (Lieut. -Colon el. 11th Cavalry, April 8, 1905) June 29, 1905; at Fort Des Moines. Iowa, with regiment, June 30, 1905, to June 14. 1907 (at Fort Riley, Kans., on detached service, July 25 to Oct. 4. 1906 ; commanding Fort Des Moines, Iowa, Oct. 6, 1906, to June 14, 1907) ; at Fort Ethan Allen, Vt., with regiment. June 17 to Oct. 17, 1907 (commanding post, June 21 to Oct. 17) ; at Columbus Bks., Ohio, commanding Recruit Depot, Oct. 19, 1907, to (Transferred to 4th Cavalry, March 17, 19091 (Colonel. 10m Cavalry, April 18, 1909) (Transferred to 14th Cavalry, May 11, 1909) (Unassigned, March 11, 1911) (Assigned to 12th Cavalry, Sept. 17, 1911) to Oct. 6. 1911 ; at Fort Robinson, Neb., commanding 12th Cavalry,

as 2LT, maybe, uncertain if this is Cunliffe

Oct. 9, 1911, to March 7, 1913; at Washington, D. C, member of Cavalry Board, March 10 to July 16, 1913 ; at Winchester, Va., commanding Camp of Instruction, July 17 to Oct. 10, 1913; at Washington, D. C, member of Cavalry Board, Oct. 11, 1913, to April 17, 1914 ; en route to Philip pines and on leave of absence, April 18 to (Transferred to 7th Cavalry, June 1, 1914) to June 4, 1914 ; at Fort William McKinley, P. I., commanding regiment, June 5 to Sept. 15, 1914 ; commanding regiment in Field Maneuvers in Philippines, Sept. 15 to Nov. 15, 1914 ; at Camp Stotsenburg, P. I., commanding regiment, Nov. 16, 1914, to (Transferred to 9th Cavalry, Nov. 15, 1915) (Attached to 7th Cavalry, Nov. 15, 1915) April 13, 1916; en route to U. S., April 15 to June 13, 1916; on leave of absence, June 14 to Aug. 26, 1916. Colonel, U. S. A., Retired, Aug. 26, 1916, By Operation of Law.

CPT Wendell Burke Rivers

Captain Wendell Burke "Wendy" Rivers, United States Navy retired, was born July 6, 1928, died May 9, 2009, of cancer.

Wendy enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1946 and received his appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1948. He graduated in the USNA class of 1952. Trained as a fighter pilot, he had a distinguished naval career, serving in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. He deployed on his last cruise to Vietnam in 1964 aboard the USS Coral Sea. He was captured in North Vietnam on September 10, 1965, and was released on February 12, 1973. After 27 years of service, Captain Rivers retired from the Navy on December 31, 1976, and had a second career as a long-haul truck driver for another 20 years.

Wendell is my 5th cousin once removed.  Our common grandparents are Miriam Hildreth and Joseph Richardson. He is survived by 2 sons.

George Carr Dow

George Dow was apparently mustered into service on 16 Apr 1861 as a 2nd Lieutenant in Company E 40th New York Volunteer Infantry. He also served with Company B 40th NYVI and Company D 62nd Massachusetts Infantry. It is unclear with which unit he was serving but he suffered a gun shot wound in the right hand and left thigh at the battle of Chancellorsville. He was returned to duty and mustered out 26 May 1865. He married Henrietta M Titcomb who died 7 Mar 1877. Apparently suffering from consumption and unable to care for himself he was admitted to the home for disabled soldiers in Togus, Maine on 28 Jun 1877 where he died.

CPT George Carr Dow (b. 11 May 1834 - d. 19 Dec 1877) was my 6th cousin 4 times removed. Wea are both descendants of Abraham Jaquith II (1644 - 1679)

Lyman A. Hamblett

When Lyman A. Hamblet was born on May 2, 1836, his father, Ozni, was 25 and his mother, Thirza, was 20. He married Irene A. Fletcher on March 25, 1861, in Londonderry, New Hampshire. They had two children during their marriage. He died on June 23, 1864, in Dinwiddie, Virginia, at the age of 28, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery section 13, site 5540. Many years ago the location was simply given as "grave 5540". Was he the 5540th burial? Lyman is my 5th cousin 5 times removed. He has living descendants in New Hampshire.

MAJ Flavel Shurtleff Jr

MAJ Flavel Shurtleff Junior was born 2 May 1829 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, son of the Reverend Flavel Shurtleff and Captain (at the time of the photo) in the 10th Massachusetts Infantry. He was twice married, the second time to my 2nd cousin 4x removed, Harriet Jerusha Bent (born in Nova Scotia). The 10th was in the Peninsular campaign, at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania Courthouse, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg. I think he was promoted to Major before the end of the war.

Flavel died 22 October 1910. He and Harriet had one son who died in 1978 but I am not aware of any surviving descendants. 

The Honorable Mister Hervey Chittendon Calkins

Hervey Chittendon Calkins was born 23 March 1828 in Malden, Ulster County, New York.  He was a US Representative 1869-1870. The Honorable Mr. Calkins is my 2nd cousin 5x removed and a fellow descendant of George Richtmeyer. He married Violetta Adeline Brant and they had 2 children the youngest, Mary V., died when she was 7-years old. His son, Freeman Brant, married Clara Palmer Haines and they had 6 children. I know of no direct descendants of his to be still living.

I mention him here, my first in this series of posts, only because we share a birthday. It is unlikely anyone else remembers him today, but we will.

Allen Frederick Leland

Born as Allen Frederick Leland but known throughout his life as Frederick Allen or just "Fred", he was the son of Melvin Amos (1877-1959) and Grace Velma (Emery) (1888-1977) Leland. The Leland's had a total of 9 sons serve in the U.S. military, two of whom were killed in service. One was Fred and the other was his younger brother, TSGT Warren Francis Leland. Fred was serving with the 66th Armored Regiment, 2d Armored Division when he was killed 2 Mar 1945. He is buried in Margarten, the Netherlands. I am trying to find out more about his service. He is my 8th cousin twice removed.

Gettysburg

Today is my son's 39th birthday AND the anniversary of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Our 2X great-grandfather Barney Alonzo Parslow enlisted in D Company 134th New York Volunteer Infantry, reportedly with the stated purpose of ending slavery. He was one of the first in his community to do so. He was soon promoted to First Sergeant of the company, probably because he could read and write and do the math necessary to do the company reports. He later received a commission as 2nd Lieutenant. He was at Gettysburg. The 134th faced the 21st North Carolina at the brickyard on the first day. Barney was shot 2-inches above the right nipple and the "ball" (minie bullet or actual ball is unclear) exited just below the right shoulder blade. He was captured, carried across the creek there and laid out with the other captured, wounded and lay there until 5 July. The family story is that the burial detail grabbed him to take for burial and he cussed them out proving he was still alive. He was treated (that the ball missed bone probably saved his life) and sent to D.C. where he was assigned to the Invalid Corps until he recovered and was sent back to his unit, now in the western theater of operations. He was present for the battle of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. This was too much for him so far as his health was concerned and he resigned his commission and returned home. He married, opened a store in Breakabeen and farmed (or as the story goes, his wife and children did all the work) and lived there until he died in 1920 age 79. He attended the 1913 Gettysburg reunion. He did so because, as with veterans of all wars, he was connected to the place by the men he knew, the men who had died there. He understood the sacrifice and, I've been told, he had forgiven his enemies. This is just one of our connections to Gettysburg.

Trip to Alabama 2015

We got up the morning of the 19th of February to discover that it was 2.2°. We decided to wait to leave until it “warmed up” and once it got to about 10° we loaded Nana’s vehicle and left to go see your Uncle David. As it turned out, the temp varied from about 12° in Staunton to 7° at the Tennessee border to 15° when we got to Sevierville to overnight.

Lucy, has had quite the time. She did well riding in her crate, we had it arranged so that she could see us and she napped most of the ride. However, every time we stopped, she got to sniff for a bit, despite the bitter cold. Sometimes she was so excited about sniffing that she forgot (?) what she was there for. I had to cut things short a couple of times to ensure that neither of us got frostbite.

Frostbite has been a real concern with the temperatures in the single-digits and the wind blowing at 25+ mph. I’ve been in such weather before but that doesn’t make it pleasant!

It was supposed to get down to -7° the morning of the 20th. Actual temperature was 2° which is cold enough. By the time we left it was up to 9°. Note all the talk about how cold it was. We were afraid that we’d have ice on the roads. Apparently, part of I-75 north of Knoxville was still covered with ice and one lane closed but not on the southbound, south of I-40. We had clear sailing all the way albeit with crystalline trees (all covered with about ¼” of ice) down to Birmingham.

We did have a bit of excitement, the left turn signal bulb died AND we had a thump develop for some unknown reason. Detailed examination of the vehicle failed to determine exactly what was causing that and a trip to the dealer appeared to be necessary.
On Saturday we enjoyed 70° temps in Atmore and Cantonment while we visited with our son and got some things cleared up. Sunday was also gorgeous and while the women went shopping, Mickey and I went to see the sights going to Red Eagle’s grave, Hubbard’s Landing (and a bunch of other landings, i.e. fish camps), Fort Mims and Blakeley. That was pretty interesting.

Monday we were back at David’s and discovered that he hadn’t actually been paying rent since January 2014. Normally this is an automatic deduction from his weekly check but some small glitch had stopped the process and neither he nor we caught it. A trip to the credit union fixed that, lunch and some grocery shopping later, we left him for another dinner with friends at our every gracious hosts’ home.

Mickey and Sue go all out every visit. They don’t need to but they do. We always have a great time.

Grandchildren's military ancestors on their father's side...

I have a fairly good idea of my ancestors who served but hadn't made a list of those of my son-in-law's family. Thought I'd do that.

Of course, his dad served (as did his uncle Fred). I thought I'd go back a bit to see what I could document. I will make additions and corrections as I go along...

American Revolution

Rel Code	Name	YOB-YOD	Rank	Country	Unit	Dates of Service	Notes
GGF	Martin Ruple	Unknown	Wagoner?	USA	Unknown		may have been wagoner

American Civil War

Rel Code	Name	YOB-YOD	Rank	Country	Unit	Dates of Service	Notes
GGF	Givens McDowell Kirkpatrick	1848-1923	Private	CSA	Company C, 14th Virginia Cavalry
GGF	James Henry Mohler	1819-1877	Private	CSA	Company H, 58th Virginia Infantry
UNC	David Mathew Shelton	1824-1865	Private	CSA	Company G, 18th Virginia Cavalry	- 7 Aug 1863	FT Delaware POW camp
UNC	Thomas A Shelton	1839-1863	Private	CSA	Company G, 18th Virginia Cavalry	- 29 Jun 1863	KIA McConnelsburg, PA
UNC	William Henderson Shelton	1824-1865	Private	CSA	Company H, 42nd Virginia Infantry	- 27 Jan 1865	of pneumonia at Elmira POW camp
GGF	Benjamin Reid Swisher	1841-1893	Private	CSA	1st Rockbridge Artillery	3 Mar 1862 - 9 Apr 1865
GGF	Daniel Brown Swisher	1838-1884	Private	CSA	1st Virginia Artillery
UNC	Adam Shaner Trevey	1836-1864	Private	CSA	Company C, 1st Virginia Cavalry	- 19 May 1864	died of wound to right lung received at Yellow Tavern
UNC	Cyrus Augustus Trevey	1840-1881	Private	CSA	Company C, 1st Virginia Cavalry
UNC	Daniel Jacob Trevey	1827-1897	Private	CSA	Company H, 14th Virginia Cavalry
UNC	John Joseph Trevey	1825-1865	Private	CSA	Company H, 14th Virginia Cavalry	- 9 Feb 1865	POW at Camp Morton, Marion, Indiana
GGF	James Preston Tolley	1816-1895	Private	CSA	Company C, 58th Virginia Infantry
GGF	John Bailey Wade	1835-1870	Private	CSA	Company D, 5th Virginia Infantry	21 Mar 1862 - unknown
GGF	William Johnson Zimmerman	1824-1880	Private	CSA	Company C, 108th Virginia Regiment of Militia

Relationship codes:

COU	a cousin, i.e. not an ancestor
GGF	a great-granddfather, i.e. direct ancestor
UNC	an uncle, i.e. brother of ancestor

The Witch Trial Connections Don't End

I thought I'd found all the connections to the Salem Witch Trials of 1691-92 but I hadn't.

William Dounton, father of Thomas Flint's wife Mary, was the Salem jailer during the trials. He is our 9th great-grandfather.

Then there is Joseph Herrick (1645-1718) was constable in Salem during the period of the trials. He is our 8th great-grandfather. Henry Hericke, progenitor of most of the Herricks in America, migrated to Salem in 1629 as a member of Higginson's fleet. Joseph, Henry's 4th son, was married to Sarah, the daughter of Richard Leach, on February 7, 1667. He was referred to as Governor, which means he had probably been at in command of a military district at some point, or perhaps he had been the magistrate of a West Indies colony. His descendants were large in number, and have held many important positions.

Joseph Herrick was a soldier during King Philip's War. In 1692, at age forty-seven, he was a corporal in the village militia. He was the constable of Salem, and, as such, central to the proceedings in the witchcraft trials. At the beginning he was persuaded by the accusers; but by the end he had become a skeptic. In one of the cases, he became an advocate for an accused person, which was probably quite dangerous; and in the end he was a leader in the opposition movement. His parents are mentioned in a court record to have been fined "for aiding and comforting an excommunicated person, contrary to order."

Joseph had brothers Ephraim, Zachariah, Henry, and George (who was constable of Essex county). Ephraim had a son John (1662-1729). John Herrick's wife Bethia Solart was Sarah Good's sister. Sarah Good was one of the executed witches. Her full name was Sarah Solart Poole Good.

11th Great-grandfather Samuel Appleton (1586-1670) had a son (our 10th grand-uncle), also Samuel (1626-1696) who was a Major (later Colonel) in the militia and a member of the Court of Assistants which tried the first accused but he had no part in the Comission of Oyer and Terminer which condemned so many and he had no further involvement with the whole sad episode.

Mary Leach Ireson was an 8th great-grand aunt, daughter of Richard & Sarah Ann Fuller Leach 9th great-grandparents. Mary Ireson became involved in the Salem witch trials when a complaint was sworn out against her on 4 June 1692 by Edward Putnam and Thomas Rayment, alleging that Mary had afflicted Mary Warren, Susanna Sheldon and Mary Walcott. She was arrested and examined on 6th June. As soon as she entered the room, several of the "afflicted girls" fell into fits. Susanna Sheldon testified that Mary's specter had brought her the Devil's book and if she didn't sign it would tear her throat out. No further information is known beyond the initial examination.

Apparently there are a number of reports of 9th great-grandfather Francis Wyman of Woburn and Billerica testifying in the trials but it seems he has been confused with Francis Wycombe, a woman, who testified in the trial of Margaret Scott. There is no other mention of Francis or his immediate family of which I am aware at this time.

No doubt there will be more connections discovered as I continue my research and I'll note them here.

More "Witches" in the Family

Lydia (MNU) Dustin/Dastin (1626?-1693) - Accused as a witch during the Salem hysteria, Lydia was found not guilty, but, died in prison before she could be released. Thought to have been born about 1626, little is known of Lydia Dustin, but, at the time that she was arrested she was a widow, her husband, Josiah, having died in 1671. Though her husband had been one of the founders and leading land owners of Reading, a complaint was filed by Captain Jonathan Walcott and Thomas Putnam alleging that she had afflicted Mary Walcott, Ann Putnam, Mercy Lewis, and Abigail Williams. She was arrested in Reading, Massachusetts on April 30, 1892, and examined on May 2nd by magistrates Jonathan Corwin and John Hathorne. She was then sent to Boston's jail. Later, her daughters, Sarah Dustin and Mary Colson were also arrested. Though a warrant was issued for her granddaughter, Elizabeth Colson, she had fled and couldn't be found. It is unknown why Lydia was not immediately tried; but, she remained in prison throughout the year. Both Lydia and her daughter, Sarah, were later found not guilty by the Superior Court of Judicature in January, 1693. However, they could not be released until they paid jail fees. Unable to pay the fees, Lydia died in jail on March 10, 1693.

Lydia is my 9th great-grandmother on the Flint side of the family. Her daughters, Mary is my 8th great-grandmother, were also accused.

Mary Dustin Colson (1650-??) - Accused of witchcraft, Mary Colson was the last in her family to be examined. Her mother, Lydia Dustin and sister, Sarah Dustin, were both sitting in jail awaiting trials. An arrest warrant had been issued for her daughter Elizabeth Colson, who had escaped. Mary was brought in and examined before the justices on September 5, 1692. She was accused of afflicting Mary Swayne Marshall, who would say that Mary Colson had afflicted her ever since her mother, Lydia Dustin had been imprisoned. She was also accused by Elizabeth Booth and Alice Booth and it was insinuated that she may have had a hand in the deaths of William Hooper and Ed Marshal. Mary Colson was one of the lucky ones. Though she was accused, she was not indicted and was later released. Nothing more is known of her.

Sarah Dustin/Dastin - The unmarried daughter of Lydia Dustin, Sarah was arrested shortly after her mother. Her father was Joshia Dustin, who had been one of the founders and leading land owners of Reading, Massachusetts. She was arrested for witchcraft shortly after her mother (who was arrested on April 30, 1892). She was accused of afflicting Elizabeth Weston, the daughter of John Weston of Reading. Neither Sarah or her mother were immediately tried, and both remained in prison throughout the year. In January, 1693, they were found not guilty. Her mother died in jail, unable to pay the prison fees. However, Sarah, must have found a way to pay and was released. Nothing more is known of her.

Elizabeth Colson was Mary's daughter. Elizabeth Colson of Reading (Redding), was accused by spectral evidence; her specter supposedly visited "Mary Walcott Mercy Lewis and others," according to the May 14 arrest warrant signed by John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin. She was accused by Malden resident Mary Swayne Marshall and charged with witchcraft against Susannah Sheldon. But a May 16 statement by Redding constable John Parker stated that Elizabeth Colson had escaped and was likely in Boston preparing to leave the country. Two more warrants were issued, the last on September 10; sources disagree as to whether she was ever captured.

Then there was John Durrant. John is my 5th great-grandfather in the Thayer branch of the family. John Durrant (1650-1692) - Though no legal documents remain for Mr. Durrant, he was known to have lived in Billerica at the time of the witchcraft trials and died in the Cambridge prison on October 27, 1692. On November 16, 1670, John Durrant married his neighbor, Susanna Dutton, the daughter of Thomas Dutton. Just months after his wife, Susannah, died on August 27, 1684, he married a widow named Ruth Hooper on November 10, 1684. Ruth's step-daughter was Sarah Hooper Hawkes Wardwell, of Andover, who was accused of witchcraft in August, 1692. Sarah's husband was Samuel Wardwell, Sr., who was hanged for witchcraft on September 22, 1692. Sarah and Samuel's daughter, Mercy Wardwell was also accused of witchcraft. Because of the timing and family ties to other alleged "witches", historians believe that John Durrant was imprisoned for the charge of witchcraft.

Mary Gye - 10x Great-Grandmother

Mary Gye is an interesting woman. She is one of my 10th great-grandmothers, an ancestor of several famous Americans (and at least one President) and descendent of European Royalty. At first I doubted that last as I do not yet know who has done the research, how careful they were, whether or not there was some hidden agenda in finding the various ancestral links, or what the researchers' sources are/were. However, just for the sake of argument, let's go with it and accept that multiple people believe that she was indeed (as were her brothers and sisters) descended from royalty/rulers going back to before 677 or more than 1300 years. As follows:

Warinus Count; brother to Saint Léger, Bishop of Autun ( - 677)

Saint Liéven Bishop of Trèves 685-704 ( - 713) son of Warinus Count; brother to Saint Léger, Bishop of Autun

Routrou de Trèves daughter of Saint Liéven Bishop of Trèves 685-704

Pepin "The Short" (714 - 768) son of Routrou

Charlemagne King of France, 768-814; Holy Roman Emperor (747 - 813) son of Pepin "The Short"

Pepin King of Italy, 781-810; Consecrated King of Lombardy on 15 April 781) ( - 810) son of Charlemagne King of France, 768-814; Holy Roman Emperor

Bernard King of Italy, 813-December 817 (797 - 818) son of Pepin King of Italy, 781-810; Consecrated King of Lombardy on 15 April 781)

Pepin Count of Senlis,Peronne & St. Quentin (817 - 840) son of Bernard King of Italy, 813-December 817

Herbert I de Vermandois Count de Vermandois; Seigneur of Senlis, Peronne & St. Quentin (840 - 902) son of Pepin Count of Senlis,Peronne & St. Quentin

Herbert II de Vermandois Count de Vermandois & Troyes (890 - 943) son of Herbert I de Vermandois Count de Vermandois; Seigneur of Senlis, Peronne & St. Quentin

Albert I "The Pious" Count de Vermandois (920 - 987) son of Herbert II de Vermandois Count de Vermandois & Troyes

Herbert III, Count de Vermandois (955 - 1000) son of Albert I "The Pious" Count de Vermandois

Otho/Eudes/Otto Count de Vermandois (1000 - 1045) son of Herbert III, Count de Vermandois

Herbert IV, Count de Vermandois (1032 - 1080) son of Otho/Eudes/Otto Count de Vermandois

Adelaide de Vermandois Countess of Vermandois & Valois ( - 1120) daughter of Herbert IV, Count de Vermandois

Isabel de Vermandois Countess of Leicester ( - 1131) daughter of Adelaide de Vermandois Countess of Vermandois & Valois

Waleran de Beaumont Count de Meulan; Earl of Worcester (1104 - 1166) son of Isabel de Vermandois Countess of Leicester

Robert de Beaumont Sir, Count de Meulan ( - 1207) son of Waleran de Beaumont Count de Meulan; Earl of Worcester

Maud/Mabel/Mabirie de Beaumont daughter of Robert de Beaumont Sir, Count de Meulan

Mary Riverson de Vernon daughter of Maud/Mabel/Mabirie de Beaumont

William Prowse son of Mary Riverson de Vernon

William Prowse son of William Prowse

William Prowse son of William Prowse

William Prowse Sir ( - 1270) son of William Prowse

William Prowse Sir (1245 - 1316) son of William Prowse Sir

William Prowse son of William Prowse Sir

John Prowse son of William Prowse

Roger Prowse son of John Prowse

Nicholas Prowse son of Roger Prowse

Thomas Prowse son of Nicholas Prowse

Mary Prowse daughter of Thomas Prowse

Robert Gye (1540 - 1605) son of Mary Prowse

Mary Gye (1580 - 1666) daughter of Robert Gye

and also she is supposed to be descended from Henry III thusly:

Henry Plantagenet III, King of England

Edmund Plantagenet 1st Earl of Lancaster son of Henry Plantagenet III, King of England

Henry Plantagenet 3rd Earl of Lancaster son of Edmund Plantagenet 1st Earl of Lancaster

Eleanor Plantagenet daughter of Henry Plantagenet 3rd Earl of Lancaster

John FitzAlan 1st Baron Arundel son of Eleanor Plantagenet

Joan FitzAlan daughter of John FitzAlan 1st Baron Arundel

Joan Echyngham daughter of Joan FitzAlan

Henry Baynton son of Joan Echyngham

Joan Baynton daughter of Henry Baynton

Mary Prowse daughter of Joan Baynton

Robert Gye (1540 - 1605) son of Mary Prowse

Mary Gye (1580 - 1666) daughter of Robert Gye

It isn't all that much to get excited about. Reportedly, 20% of western Europeans are descended from Charlemagne. That's one of every 5. It is far less likely that I would be a Mayflower descendant even though, of the current US population approximately 2.5 million are Mayflower descendants. What we also see with Mary is a willingness, at that time, for some rather older people to make the trip from England to the New World for any number of reasons, with any sort of background despite the dangers of the trip and once one was living here.

Mary's husband, the Reverend John Maverick was born to Rev. Peter Maverick, a vicar in Awliscombe, Devon in 1578. In 1595, Maverick enrolled in University of Oxford. Five years later, in 1600, he married Mary Gye. Two of their sons, Samuel and Moses, are notable people in early Massachusetts history. In 1603, Maverick received his MA from Oxford. He was the curate for his uncle, Rev. Radford Maverick, from 1606-1614 (Radford was Mary's guardian after the death of her mother and arranged for John and Mary's marriage). Afterwards, he was rector of a church in Beaworthy, Devon until 1629.

Maverick became a Puritan before migrating to the Massachusetts Bay Colony at Dorchester, Massachusetts on 30 May 1630, where he served as the first minister of the First Parish Church of Dorchester with Rev. John Warham. He became a freeman in 1631 and helped establish the government in Dorchester. He died February 3, 1636. His eulogy was by Cotton Mather and Governor John Winthrop (12 Jan 1587 26 Mar 1649, a wealthy English Puritan lawyer, and one of the leading figures in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony) who said, “...near sixty, a man of very humble spirit and faithful in furthering the work of the Lord here, both in church and in civil state.” The Maverick family was one of prominence in colonial days, and noted for hospitality, religious tolerance, and active philanthropy.

We are descended from their son Elias.

Sarah Clark Davis my 9X Great-Grandmother and the Salem Witch Trials

Sarah Clark Davis Rice (1620-1698) - Sarah was born to William and Elizabeth Quicke Clark in 1620. She grew up to marry George Davis, who died at sea in July, 1667. Later she married Nicholas Rice of Reading, Massachusetts. On May 18, 1692 a warrant was issued for her arrest for having committed witchcraft on Mary Walcott, Abigail Williams, and others. She was ordered to be brought to the house of Lieutenant Nathaniel Ingersoll in Salem Village for examination on May 31st. Constable John Parker of Reading complied and delivered her to the examination. She was jailed in Boston and was still there in October when her husband wrote a petition for her release. It doesn't appear that she was ever tried. She died on May 3, 1698 in Reading.

Her daughter, from whom we are not descended, Sarah Davis Cole was also accused. Sarah was born to George and Sarah Clark Davis on October 1, 1651 in Reading, Massachusetts. She went on to marry Abraham Cole, a tailor of Salem and the couple would have seven children. During the witch hysteria, a warrant was issued for Sarah's arrest, as well as Hannah Carroll, on September 10, 1692. Both were accused of having afflicted torture and torment of William Brage, the son of Henry Brage. She was indicted and imprisoned. Her husband was able to bail her out on January 14, 1693 and on February 1, 1693, she was acquitted of all charges. She probably died in Salem, Massachusetts.

Mary Marshall was Sarah Clark Davis Rice's step-niece. On May 28th, an arrest warrant was issued for Sarah, and she was arrested on May 31, 1692. On October 19, 1692 her then husband, Nicholas Rist made a petition to the court for her release. In the petition, he indicates that she has been held at Boston "gaol" since her arrest for witchcraft and that in all that time, nothing has appeared for which she deserved imprisonment or death, and that he has never had reason to accuse of her of any impiety or witchcraft, but to the contrary she lived with him as a good faithful dutiful wife and always had respect for the ordinances of God while her strength remained, and he is concerned for her health stating that "it is deplorable that in old age the poor decrepit woman should lie under confinement for so long in a "stinching gaol" when her circumstances require that a nurse attend her." She died not long after her release.

From the notes of Donald Erlenkotter: Sarah (Clark) Davis Rist (or Rice), was accused, arrested, and imprisoned in the famous Salem witchcraft delusion of 1692 [Eat]. The following warrant for her arrest was issued on 28 May 1692 [Witch]:

Warrant v. Sarah Rice.

To the Constables in Reding.


You are in theire Majesties names hereby required to apprehend and bring before us, Sarah Rist the wife of Nicholas Rist of Reding on Tuesday next being the 31st day of this Instant moneth at the house of Lt. Nathan'l Ingersalls at Salem Village aboute ten of the Clock in the forenoon, who stand charged with having Committed sundry acts of witchcraft on ye Bodys of Mary Walcott and Abigail Williams & others to theire great hurte &c, in order to her Examination Relateing to ye premises abovesaid faile not. Dated Salem May 28th 1692.

P vs. J. Hathorne } Assists.

Jonathan Corwin}


In obediance to this warant I have brought the Body of Sarah Rist the wife of Nicholas Rist of Redding to the house of Leut. Nathanial Ingersons in Salem Viledg the 31 of this instant: May 1692:


Attest John Parker Constable fo Redding.

Abigail Williams, age 11, along with the slave Tituba, lived at Salem Village (now Danvers) in the household of her uncle, Rev. Samuel Parris. The accuser, Mary Walcott, was 16 years old. Lt. Nathaniel Ingersoll was a deacon in the church at Salem Village and keeper of the town's ordinary. John Hathorne, ancestor of Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Jonathan Corwin were members of the General Court and magistrates at Salem Town who conducted hearings in the witchcraft cases [Devil].

Sarah was immediately dispatched from Salem to prison in Boston, according to the following order [Witch]:

To Mr. John Arnold, Keeper of the Prison in Boston, in the County of Suffolk.

Whereas Captain John Aldin (Alden) of Boston, Marriner, and Sarah Rice, Wife of Nicholas Rist of Reding, Husbandman, have been this day brought before us, Joh Hathorn and Jonathan Curwin, Esquires; being accused and suspected of perpetrating divers acts of Witchcraft, contrary to the form of the Statute, in that Case made and provided: These are therefore in Their Majesties, King William and Quen Marys Names, to Will and require you, to take into your Custody, the bodies of the said John Alden, and Sarah Rist, and them safely keep, until they shall thence be delivered by due course of Law; Given under our hands at Salem Village, the 31st of May, in the Fourth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord and Lady, William and Mary, now King and Quen over England, etc., Anno Dom. 1692.

John Hathorn, } Assistants.

Jonathan Curwin, }

Captain John Alden, Jr., was the son of John Alden of the Mayflower. He escaped after having been imprisoned for fifteen weeks, and then was returned and cleared by proclamation in the Superior Court of Boston on the last Tuesday in April 1693.

The final hanging of accused witches took place on 22 Sep 1692. After accusation against his wife, Gov. Phips forbade further commitments on the grounds of witchcraft. By 12 Oct 1692 petitions were being received for the release of those who had been accused but not tried [Devil]. Sarah's husband, Nicholas Rist (or Rice), submitted the following petition to the General Court for her release [Eat]:

"The humble petition of of Nicholas Rist of Reading she weth, that whereas Sarah Rist, wife of the petitioner, was taken into custody, the first day of June last, and hath since lain in Boston Jail for witchcraft, though in all that time nothing has been made to appear, for which she deserved imprisonment or death. The petitioner has been a husband to the said woman above twenty years, in all which time, he had never reason to accuse her of any impietie or witchcraft; but the contrary, she lived with him as a good, faithful, dutiful wife, and always had respect to the ordinances of God, while her strength remained; and the petitioner on that consideration, is obliged in conscience and justice to use all lawful means for the support and preservation of her life; and it is deplorable, that in old age, the poor decrepid woman should lye under confinement in a stinking jail, when her circumstances rather require a Nurse to attend her. May it therefore please your Honors to take this matter into your present consideration, and direct some speedy method, whereby this ancient and decrepid person may not forever lye in such misery, wherein her life is made more afflictive to her than death. And the petitioner shall, as in duty bound, ever pray.

Nicholas Rice


Reading, Oct. 19, 1692"

Soon after, Sarah was discharged from prison. Probably she was charged for the costs of her imprisonment, since this was the practice at the time even for those found to be innocent or pardoned. She died at Reading on 3 May 1698. In her will, dated 20 Sep 1697 and proved in the court at Charlestown on 16 May 1698, Sarah Rist of Reading mentioned husband Nicholas Rist and referred to bequests given to her by former husband George Davis and son Benjamin Davis. She left five shillings to daughter Hannah Boutell [Clark; Middlesex County Probate Vol. 9, pp 398-399]."

So, we are descended from accused witches, accusers of witches and jurors in the witch trials.

Salem Witch Trials and Thomas Flint

In working my way back to the earliest ancestors of my Grandfather Charles Frederick Flint I was somewhat surprised to find that Bathsheba/Bethsua Folger Pope (whose sister Abiah was Benjamin Franklin's mother) was one of the women "afflicted" and thus a witness at the Salem Witch Trials (hereafter simply referred to as "the trials"). Quite obviously, there were other members of the family, i.e. ancestors, present in the colony at that time. Sure enough, others were also involved.

The first of those I came to was Captain Thomas Flint, my 8x great-grandfather, he was born to Thomas Flint and Ann (maiden name unknown) in 1645 and died in Salem (now Danvers), Massachusetts on 24 May 1721. He married first Hannah Moulton (b. 22 May 1646 -d. 20 Mar 1673) and second Mary Dounton (b. 1655-d. 1721).

Thomas and Hannah married on 21 May 1666 (although the date is given also as 22 May 1666 and there may be confusion somehow with their wedding date and her birthdate so both must be suspect). Their children known to me at this time are Abigail (b. 1668-d. 1758) and George (b. 1672-d. 1749). Hannah died a little less than a year after George was born. Widowed with at least two children it was Thomas' responsibility to find another wife and mother for those children.

It seems that Thomas and Mary declared their intention to marry in Sep 1674 and actually married 15 Nov 1674 in Salem. I should note that Captain Thomas Flint was the son of the Honorable Thomas Flint and that some people have apparently confused the two and incorrectly attributed children to one or the other or both. At this time I am fairly certain that these children are correct, Ebenezer (b. 1683-d. 1767 and my 7x great-grandfather), William (b. 1685-d. 1736), Elizabeth (b. 1687-d. 1687), Samuel (b. 1693-d. 1767), Jonathan (b. -d. )and Lydia (b. 1695-d. ?). There are children born, likely in 18-24 month intervals, from 1675-1683 but I haven't winkled them out yet, at least not to MY satisfaction and I intend to correct them here as I go.

Thomas Flint's birth year is estimated as no record of his birth has been found. He is mentioned as the elder son in his father's will. He was probably born a couple of years before his sister Elizabeth.

Thomas Flint was known as a Captain. He was a farmer and carpenter and lived on the homestead at Salem Village. A "mechanic" (engineer and builder buildings within the cities of the day), and appears to have possessed considerable skill, from the fact that he was selected by the inhabitants of Salem Village to build the first meeting-house in that place. It seems that he was much respected by friends and neighbors in the village and to have been influential. He attempted to establish the village church and was deeply interested in the movement and was prominent in the endeavors to bring the matter of building a new church to a successful issue. He, with others, prepared a petition to the church in Salem, enjoining, among other reasons why their requests should be granted, that if they remained any longer without the privileges of religion, "they would become worse than the Heathens around them".

He was a large land-holder, owning real estate in the counties of Essex and Middlesex, a large portion of which was in the latter county, in the town of Reading Mass. These purchases were made at different periods, from 1664 to 1702, and amounted in the aggregate to more than nine hundred acres of land. One of these lots, in Reading, purchased 29 Dec 1701, of Ephriam Savage, of Boston, for a consideration of 60 pounds, is described as being upland and containing one hundred acres, and called "Saddler's Neck" and was bounded on the east by Adam Hart, on the north by Ipswich River and the meadows, south by Bear Meadow, and west by common land. From these lands he gave farms, by deed or gift, to three of his sons: Ebenezer, William, and Jonathan. Between 1664 and 1692 he bought the house owned by father-in-law William Dounton (jailor during the witch trials) for 100 pounds. After neighbor Giles Cory's death, Captain Thomas Flint bought his property to add to his estate. This house was located in the triangle west of the West Peabody Station and north of Pine St. The 1692 map shows the Giles Cory property was located across the the road from the Thomas Flint property. City planner Judy Otto researched the history of Crystal Lake, She does not think the Pope sawmill was a haunted mill. She wrote, at the head of Crystal Lake at Goodale Street, on the west side, lived Captain Thomas Flint. The house was contained on the farm of Giles Corey, according to boundaries shown on the map. Giles himself lived further away on the other side of the property, on what is now Johnson Street, near Oak Grove cemetery. These two buildings, the Flint and Pope buildings, were the only dwellings shown in the vicinity of Crystal Lake. Flint's mill was built after the Pope mill by Thomas Flint on the opposite side of Lowell Street and close to the pond. The mill existed until the 20th century and was the mill some believe to be the haunted mill pictured in the black-and-white post card that was printed by Peabody Historical Society in 1905. Interestingly, Joseph Pope Jr.'s sister Gertrude married Ebenezer (or Eben) Flint, a son of Thomas Flint."

Thomas served during King Phillips War and was wounded in the great swamp fight 19 Dec 1675. The attack took place at "hideous swamp" near present South Kingston, Rhode Island. There, the army of 1,000 men met 3,000 Indians who were well entrenched behind a triple palisade of block houses. Murderous fire met the English, but they pressed on and about two-thirds of the enemy were either killed or burned to death. The English finally retired with their wounded and marched back to the Bay, having marched 36 miles and fought savagely for three hours in that single day. It was a tough battle, not excepting Bunker Hill, ever fought on New England soil, says Samuel Elliot Morrison, historian and author of "The Oxford History of the American People". Eighty were killed, many wounded (including Thomas Flint) and eight out of fourteen company commanders were killed including Captain Gardner, Thomas's commander. "Due to a break down in supply," Morrison say, "the survivors spent a regular Valley Forge winter at Wickford, Rhode Island". The Great Swamp Fight broke the power of the Naraganssetts at the Aporadicraids until the next spring.

In February 1692 we see the beginning of the Salem Witch hysteria. This is where Bathsheba Folger Pope was purportedly a victim of and an accuser of Rebecca Nurse as a witch. Thomas, living in Salem, was also involved. Thomas Flint served as juror in the examination of George Jacobs Jr and George Burroughs, both accused of witchcraft in the Salem Witch Trials. He also served as juror looking into the suspicious death of Daniel Wilkins: Note (physical examinations of George Burroughs and George Jacobs, Jr) from trial: "Wee whoes names are under written having received an order from the wife for to search the bodyes of George Burroughs and George Jackobs., wee find nothing upon the body of the above sayd Burroughs but w'tis naturall: but upon the body of George Jacobs wee find three tetts (warts) w'chacording to the best of our Judgements wee think is not naturall for wee run a pinn through two of them and he was not sinceible of it: one of them being within his mouth and the other on the inside of his right shoulder blade and the third upon his right hipp. Ed. Weld , sworne, Will Gill, sworne, Tom Flint, Jurat, Tom West, Sworne.

Further information is provided in this excerpt some from the Cory Flint Family history:

In July of 1678, Giles Cory was the subject of a court action per "The History of Salem" vol. III, pages 118 and 119:

"A small house belonging to John Procter, which stood on the northerly side of Lowell Street, about one hundred and fifty rods easterly from the Georgetown branch of the Boston and Maine Railroad, was partially burned in July 1678. The roof and that part of the walls above two feet upward from the upper floor was burned away. This occurred about two hours before day, and but for the timely appearance and strenuous efforts of John Phelps and Thomas Fuller, who passing, it would have been wholly destroyed. Procter suspected that Giles Corey set the fire. A warrant was issued on the 24th for his appearance in court, as he had done so many ill things to his neighbors...threatened and suggested fires, etc. He proved that he was at home and abed all the night of the fire, and was discharged. On 37 Aug 1684, his second wife Mary, died at the age of 63 (as is marked on her grave stone). He married for a third time 27 April 1690 to Martha Penoyer. Martha was admitted to the church of Salem Village, now Danvers, where Giles lived. In "Mayflower Families", vol. III, page 134,it mentions that Martha Penoyer married Henry Rich at Stanford in Dec 1680 and later married Giles Cory of Salem. Between 1664 and 1692 Giles Cory witnessed the recording of a deed when a neighbor, Capt. Thomas Flint, bought the house owned by William Dounton for 100 pounds. William Dounton was Thomas Flint's father-in-law. Both Giles and Martha were victims of the Salem witchcraft trials. Martha was convicted and hanged for witchcraft 22 Sept 1692. Giles Cory was pressed to death for refusing to plead on 19 Sept 1692. Giles Cory's will stated that he gave to his sons-in-laws all his property, real and personal, including stock, lands and meadow, house, bedding, money, and all movable estate. After Giles Cory's death, Capt. Thomas Flint bought his property to add to his estate. This house was located "in the triangle west of the Peabody Station and north of Pine St." The 1692 Salem map shows the Giles Cory property was located across the road from the Thomas Flint property.

CAPT THOMAS FLINT'S WILL

In the name of God Amen this 11th day of February 1721 I Thomas Flint Son of Salem Village in the county of Essex husbandman being often sick and weak of body but of sound mind and memory blessed be God for it and calling to mind the mortality of the body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make this my last will and testament And first of all and principally I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God through Jesus Christ my Redeemer with whom I hope to live ever And for my body I commit to the earth to be buried in a Christian and decent manner at the discretion of my executor hereafter named nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God And as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I dispose of it in manner and form as follows

Item I give and bequeath to my son George Flint to him and to his heirs of his body lawfully begotten that land on which his house standeth being bounded as followeth easterly with the land of John Moulton southerly with the land of James Gould and southwesterly with Humphrey's farm and northwesterly with the land of Capt Gardner And I give to my son George the four pounds of money that Timothy Perkins owes me that by virtue of his bond given to me Further my will is that if my son George die without lawful issue then his land shall be equally given by me by virtue of this will to my two sons namely Thomas and Samuel equally between them both according to quantity and quality

Item I give and bequeath to my two sons Thomas and Samuel Flint to them their heirs and assigns forever all my homestead of land whereon my house and barn standeth Thomas to have the house and barn where he now dwells and Samuel to have this where I now dwell and all those parcels of land hereafter mentioned that is to say all my land at Bald hill and all my meadow ground adjoining to Bald hill and all my pasture behind Bald hill that I bought of H Conant And all my land on the north side of Ipswich river whereon my saw mill stands together with my saw mill which said land adjoins to John Phelps land also that piece of land I bought of my father in law William Doughton lying in the town of Salem also that piece of meadow I bought of Lieut Thomas Fuller lying in the township of Reading and containing by estimation about seven or eight acres as per bill of sale to me may appear and all these lands so given as abovesaid together with my homestead farm land and meadow shall be equally divided between my two sons as abovesaid according to quantity and quality

Also I give to my son Thomas to him and his heirs and assigns forever ten acres of river meadow lying on the north side of Ipswich River which I bought of Capt Savage Thomas shall have the upper end of it

Also I give to my son Thomas one part in Brook meadow and Samuel two when Jonathan has taken his three acres

Also I give and bequeath to my son Samuel five acres of the river meadow land adjoining to his brother Thomas's meadow and the rest of the river meadow I give to my two sons named William and Jonathan

Item I give and bequeath to my son Ebenezer Flint to him his heirs and assigns forever

Item I give and bequeath to my son William Flint to him his heirs and assigns forever

Item I give and bequeath to my son Jonathan Flint to him his heirs and assigns forever all of my share of land and meadow that adjoins to their own land that I gave upon their deeds of gift the land to be equally divided between them three according to quantity and quality only the meadow Ebenezer shall have two thirds and William and Jonathan one third between them

Item whereas I have abovesaid given my son Ebenezer two thirds of said meadow yet my will is that my son Jonathan and my son Ebenezer shall have the whole meadow between them and my son William shall have no part in said Bare meadow so called

Item I give and bequeath to my sons Ebenezer William and Jonathan their heirs and assigns four poles of land lying in Salem near John Cook's adjoining to Thomas Sheef

Item I give to my three sons Ebenezer William and Jonathan my meadow called by the name of Fools meadow being in the town of Reading equally to be divided between them three

Item I give to my son Samuel my meadow called by the name of Wilson's meadow lying within the township of Lynn

Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Abigail Holton forty pounds in money to be paid to her in money by her brother Thomas Nichols by virtue of a bond given to me by him for said money and to be paid to her according to said bond

tem I give to my daughter Elizabeth Nichols forty pounds in money and land which she hath already had besides what I gave her upon her marriage so that there now remains but five shillings due to her to make up her portion

Item I give to my daughter Anne forty pounds in land by deed of gift which she already hath besides what I gave her upon her marriage so that there remains but five shillings to make up her portion

Item I give to my daughter Lydia forty three acres of land lying in the township of Reading in the county of Middlesex being part of that four hundred acres that the town of Reading gave to the minister Mr Rev Haven being bounded as followeth wholly with the land given to Ebenezer Nichols and westerly with the land of said Ebenezer Nichols and northerly with my own land and easterly with the land of George Flint which land so given to make up her portion besides what I gave her upon her marriage

Item I give to my grandson Jonathan Howyard forty pounds in money to be paid to him by his uncle Thomas Nichols of Reading by virtue of a bond given to me by him for said money but if it shall please God to take him away by death before he shall come to the age of twenty one years then my will is my daughters then surviving shall have the money equally between them

Item I give to my granddaughter Mary Flint thirty pounds to be paid to her by my executors when she shall be twenty one years of age and if married before then to be paid by her I mean my son Thomas Flint's daughter

Item notwithstanding I have given to my son Samuel this my dwelling house yet my will is that my wife shall have west end of it for her to dwell in even from the lower room to the garret whilst she remains my widow and what of my garden she may see cause to use

Item my will further is that my two sons Thomas and Samuel shall suitable provide for their mother things convenient for her comfortable support while she remains my widow they shall provide and bring in those things in due season hereafter named and that yearly They shall provide suitable firewood for her and bring it to her house They shall provide and bring her in ten bushels of Indian corn and two bushels of English meal and four bushels of ground malt 120 Ibs good pork four barrels cider and apples what she pleaseth They shall keep her two cows both summer and winter My will is that my son Samuel shall provide two thirds of the provisions above named and my son Thomas one third And my son Thomas shall provide and give to his mother six pounds sheep's wool yearly and my son Samuel shall provide for his mother six pounds of good flax well combed fit to spin Also my three sons named Ebenezer William and Jonathan shall pay to their mother ten shillings apiece in money yearly and all to be done for her in due season as abovesaid while she remains my widow

Item I give to my son Samuel my negro man named Cuttee

Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife all my movable estate within doors to be at her disposal after my decease and if she dispose not of them while she lives then my daughters surviving shall come and divide them equally among themselves

Item I give and bequeath to my two sons Thomas and Samuel whom I make executors of this my last will and testament all my movable estate without doors equally to be divided between them They shall equally pay my debts and equally divide my credits And now to conclude my will I nominate and appoint my two sons Thomas and Samuel Flint to be my sole Executors of this my last will and testament In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 13 day of Feb y 1721

Signed sealed and decl d in presence of us.

EDWARD PUTNAM THOMAS FLINT seal
WILLIAM CURTISS
ANNA CURTISS
MARY DELUDE

Links:
- Genealogical Register of the Descendants of Thomas Flint of Salem

Bethsua/Bathsheba Folger Pope, 8x great-grandmother

And it turns out, she was an accuser of witches in the hysteria at the time of the Salem witch trials. For a Quaker, she did a pretty good job of seeing violence visited on the innocent.

Interestingly, her sister Abiah married Josiah Franklin and their children were James and Benjamin Franklin. Yes, THAT Benjamin Franklin. Ben is my first cousin nine-times removed.

Of course, we can't have a photo of any of these people but we do have a photo of their famous chest which sold for $2,442,500.