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| WITTER, William
(1584-1659) |
WITTER, William 1 2 3
William married Hannah CHURCHMAN, daughter of Hugh CHURCHMAN and Unknown, on 16 Apr 1639 in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts. (Hannah CHURCHMAN was born in 1616 in Broomhall, Sussex County, England and died in 1659 in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts.) |
1
Savage, James, A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Before 1692 (Online version, Nov 2000). Surety: 4. WITTER, JOSIAH, Lynn, s. of William of the same, m. 25 Feb. 1662, Elizabeth Wheeler, had Elizabeth b. 15 Mar. 1663; and Mary, 20 Feb. 1665; may have been at Stonington 1670, perhaps with f. of his w. WILLIAM, Lynn, an early sett. had w. Annis, and ch. Hannah, wh. m. a. 1650, Robert Burden; and Josiah, bef. ment. was troubled as a Bapt. early in 1646 by prosecut. of wh. the substance may be read in Col. Rec. III. 67, but d. 1659, aged 75. His will of 5 Aug. in that yr. mak. w. extrix. nam. s. d. and her h. was not pro. bef. June 1661. It is prob. that Burden stands for Burdett.
2 Pope, Charles Henry, The Pioneers of Massachusetts (Unknown publisher; Unknown Date; This descriptive list of pioneers of Massachusetts was taken from colonial, town, church and other contemporary documents. It lists over 5000 persons who settled the colony and were instrumental in its growth. [Ancestry.com transcription]). Surety: 4. WITTER, William, Lynn, lawsuit, 1639. Called to Court for antagonizing Infant Baptism 22 May, 1646. Will dated 5 (6) 1652, inv. taken Nov. 15, 1659, prob. 24 (4) 1661; wife Annis; son Josiah; dau. Hannah, wife of Robert Burdin.
3
Witter, Harold John, The Descendants of William Witter and Hannah Churchman of Lynn, Massachusetts (1991. Gateway Press, Inc: Baltimore.), p. 1-4. Surety: 4. First Generation
Page: 1.
1. WILLIAM WITTER b. England about 1584 d. Lynn, Massachusetts in 1659. He married in England about 1628 to HANNAH or ANNIS CHURCHMAN, who died after William in Stonington, Connecticut where she removed to live with her son JOSIAH. She is thought to be the daughter of HUGH CHURCHMAN, an early settler in Lynn, Massachusetts. WILLIAM WITTER was the executor of the will of HUGH CHURCHMAN and Hugh left his property to William's children, JOSIAH and HANNAH WITTER, who are probably Hugh's grandchildren.
There has been much research as to where in England, WILLIAM WITTER came from. One clue may be found on page 14 of "Topgraphical Dictionary of 2,885 English Emigrants to New England, 1620-1650," by Charles Edward Banks, which indicated that WILLIAM WITTER came from Knutsford or the parish of Frodsham in County Cheshire, England, and settled at Lynn, Massachusetts. In George Ormerod's "History of the County Palantine and City of Chester, England (Cheshire)," published in London in 1882, Vol. 2, page 305 shows that one WILLIAM WITTER was a Rector of Tarporley as early as 1499 and states: "William Wyttur (Witter), who survived to 1543 was most probably displaced at the Reformation by death. He was a man of considerable substance, of a family long settled at Tarvin, and in the parish of Frodsham." The Mormon Church records at Salt Lake City, Utah show there is a WILLIAM WITTER who was baptised in Frodsham, Cheshire, England on December 17, 1587 but there is no proof that this the record of WILLIAM WITTER who came to the United States.
WILLIAM WITTER was living in Massachusetts as early as 1639, which is the first mention of his name in the Quarterly Court Records of Salem, MA. One record states he said on the ship, "Four Sisters." The record of his arrival in New England is preserved in an old manuscript written by Samuel Witter (No. 50). The first entry is as follows: "WILLIAM WITTER is his voiage from old England to America with his wife his son JOSIAH and daughter HANNAH, arrived at Lynn in the Massachusetts Bay, where JOSIAH married ELISABETH WHEELER and HANNAH married THOMAS BARDAN. Said WILLIAM WITTER died at Lynn, his widow's name was HANNAH. She came
with her son JOSIAH to Stonington and lived to a great age." They settled on land about two miles from Lynn in Swampscott, Massachusetts.
WILLIAM WITTER's name appears in the Salem, Massachusetts Quarterly Court Records as follows:
31st: 10th month: 1639 -- Goodman WITTER against John Pickering and Same Bennet who are adjudged to pay 15 d. aps to the said WITTER for his paines chardgs., etc. besides the debt of 2s 6d which was forthwith paid beside. (Jury trial)
29th: 4th month: 1651 -- WILLIAM WITTER pl against Christopher Linsey deft in an accon of Debt. Jury find for pl five pounds ten shillings to be paid in payment suitable to what he received and costs of Court and witness eight shillings. Gr. exec. 5th of 5th month to Mr. Pester for him.
28th: 12th month: 1642 -- WILLIAM Winter ( WITTER ) (a Lynn presentment) presented for saying that Mr. Cobbett taught things against his own conscience, and for speaking against the ordinance of infant baptism. Witnesses: George Farr and Robert Driver. WILLIAM is willing to see the light from speech of our Mr. Norris. To acknowledge his fault next lecture and ask Mr. Cobbert's forgivemess.
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Given the then current belief that holy watching was a duty, this was not as unneighborly as it would seem today. He apologized.
February 1645-6 -- WILLIAM WINTER ( Witter ) of Lynn was presented for saying that they stay while a child is baptized worship the Devil, etc. Henry Collence and Matthew West dealt with him, and he told them that they who stayed took the name of the Father, Son and Holy ghost in vain, and broke the Sabbath. Witness against him was Edward Ingalls. He was ordered to make confession the next Lord's Day at Lynn, in the open congregation, or to answer at the next General Court. He failed to confess as ordered, and also failed to appear before the General Court, which ordered the major general to take order for his appearance at the next Court of Assistance at Boston, "there to answer and to be proceeded with according to the merits of his offence." How he answered and how the Assistants proceeded is not recorded.
25th: September: 1651 -- WILLIAM WITTER of Lynn was presented for absence from public ordinances nine months and for being rebaptised. Witnesses were Henry Collins, Ed Burchum and Nich. Potter. William did not appear.
30th: 2nd month: 1657 -- Civil case in the Salem Court in the suit of Thomas Dexter vs Thomas Laiton, et all: The case was about the title ,,
In 1633 the Court of Assistants made it illegal to buy land from an Indian. WILLIAM remained in possession of his land until he died and, although after his death his son had to litigate the extent of his title (unsuccessfully), he wound up owning something, even if less than he claimed. IN 1679 the town clerk certified that the town book listed, under a 1676 date, twenty acres for Witter's son JOSIAH.
On Sunday, the 20th of July 1651, three men of the Baptist persuasion came to Lynn, where they lodged at a Blind-man's house near two miles out of town by the name of WILLIAM WITTER, aged sixty-seven years old. The three men, Dr. John Clark, John Crandall, and Obadiah Holmes, came from Newport, Road Island and Clark preached, administered the sacrament, and rebaptised Mr. WITTER. This being reported to authorities, two constables went down to apprehend them as disturbers of the peace. They carried a warrant which had been granted by Hon. Robert Bridges. "By virtue hereof, you are required to go to the house of WILLIAM WITTER and so to search from house to house for certain erroneous persons, being strangers, and them to apprehend, and in safe custody to keep, and tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock, to bring before me." Dr. Clark says, "while I was yet speak-
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ing there comes into the house where we were, two constables, who with their clamorous tongues make an interruption, and more uncivilly disturbed use than the pursuivant of the old English bishops were wont to do." In the afternoon they were taken to Mr. Whiting's meeting, where they refused to uncover their heads. Mr. Bridges ordered a constable to take off their hats, when one of them attempted to speak, but was prevented. At the close of the meeting one of them made some remarks, after which they were taken to the Anchor Tavern and guarded thru the night. In the morning they were sent to Boston and imprisoned. On the 31st, the Court of Assistants sentenced Holmes to pay a fine of 30 pounds, Clark 20 pounds, and Crandall 5 pounds. Clark and Crandall paid their fines. Holmes refused to pay his fine and was imprisoned till September when he was publicly whipped unmercifully that for many days he could not take rest but lay upon his knees and elbows. WILLIAM WITTER was presented at the Salem Court on the 27th of November for neglecting discourses and being rebaptised. He did not appear and the sentence is not recorded. Being 67 years old of age and rebaptised would appear odd today, but in the 17th century the implied denial of the efficacy of the baptism he had received as an infant was regarded as a dangerous heresy.
In 1644, WILLIAM WITTER, the executor, presented the will of HUGH CHURCHMAN to the Salem Court. The will dated 4th, 4th month, 1640 was witnessed by Zachariah Gould. The will states: I, HUGH CHURCHMAN of Lynn do make this my will. First, I give my house and lot in Lynn with all my marsh and all other the appurtenances thereunto to Wilyam Winter ( William Witter ] till his son JOSIAS shall attain the age of twenty-one years and then to his son JOSIAS and his heirs forever: with this condition that he shall pay to his sister HANNAH ten pounds within one whole year after the aforesaid JOSIAH WITTER shall attain the age of twenty-one years and if he shall refuse to pay his sister HANNAH WITTER ten pounds of the current money then my will is that HANNAH WITTER shall have the house and lot with all and singular the appurtenances to her heirs forever and she shall pay to her brother JOSIAH ten pounds: and my will is that if the aforesaid JOSIAH WITTER shall die before he shall attain the age of twenty and one years that then the aforesaid HANNAH shall have it without paying anything out of it: and my will is further that if the aforesaid JOSIAH and HANNAH shall both die before that they shall attain the age of twenty one years that then WILLIAM WITTER or his now wife or the longer liver of them shall have it to them and their heirs forever. The rest of my goods or chattels un bequeathed to WILLIAM WITTER whom I do make sole executor to this my will. The inventory of his estate was taken 4th day, 6th month, 1644 amounting to 24 pounds 19s 1ld. The will was presented the 5th month in 1644.
WILLIAM WITTER's will dated 5th day, 6th month (August), 1659 and was presented to the Salem Court in the 4th month (June) in 1661. The last will and testament of WILLIAM WITTER: being perfit memory and first I commit my soule to God who gave it and my body to the earth from whenc it was taken. I give to my wife ANNIS halfe my lands, housing and chattels; but in case she change her name I bequeath to her but the thirds; and to my son JOSIA I give the other halfe of my lands, housing and chattels; but in case my wife marry, then I bequeath a double portion to my son JOSIA and his mother, my wife, shall have but the thirds as aforesaid; provided that my son shall not sell this his inheritance, but in case he die without issue; then I will that this inheritance shall be
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instated upon Robert Burdin and my daughter HANNA, for their prosperities. I will my daughter HANNA BURDIN shall have a ewe and lamb this time twelve months and I will that my wife ANNIS be my sole executor. Witnesses were Robert Driver and William Harker. The will was sworn by ANNIS WITTER in court at Salem on 23th, 4th month, 1661.
Inventory taken on WILLIAM WITTER's estate by Robert Driver and William Harker, and Francis Ingalls on 15th, 9th month (November), 1659 amounting to 132 pounds, 11 shillings. The inventory consisted of:
his apparrill (wearing apparel) 1 p
in ye hall, one bed and that which belongs to it 2 p
a pecc (piece) of carsie of foure yards 1 p 6 s
a chest 4 s
three pare of shets (sheets) with other linins 3 p 10 s
a warming pan 5 s
in puter (pewter) 15 s
in bras (brass) 10 s
an iron cettle (kettle), tow (two) pots & a scellet
(skillet) 2 p
a friing pan, spit and pothooks 10 s
tow (two) hogs, barrils and a salting trough 6 s
three trays, three poles and a cimmitt (sieve?) 6 s
tow (two) wheels and tow (two) pare of cards 10 s
churn, dishes, spouns and trenchers 6 s
in wool and flax 10 s
wheat, inde (Indian) corne and pese (peas) 3 p 10 s
in hay 4 p
cart and whels and plough and chains with
things belonging 3 p
a pare of oxen 13 p
thre (three) cous (cows) 14 p
in a mare 6 p 10 s
swine 2 p 12 sh
housing and land 66 p
Total 132 p 11 s
The births of WILLIAM WITTER's children are recorded at Swampscott, near Lynn, Massachusetts, although the old record states that they accompanied him and his wife from England.
Children: WITTER
2 i. HANNAH, b. Swampscott, MA or England about 1630-35
3 ii. JOSIAH b. Swampscott, MA or England in 1638
References: 1929 Witter Genealogy: Essex Institute Historical Collections Vol. 109 (1973) p. 243-285 Swampscott, Mass. in the Seventeenth Century by Richard B. Johnson; Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex Co., Massachusetts; Material sent by Calving Spading.
4
Savage, James, A Genealogical Dictionary of New England Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May 1692 - Vol I-IV
(Boston: 1860-1862), Vol 4, p. 620. Surety: 4. ID: I9420
Name: William (Immigrant) * Whitter
Sex: M
Birth: 17 DEC 1584 in Knutford, Frodsham, Chester, England
Death: 1659 in Lynn, MA
Note:
Note: William immigrated in 1630 with John Winthrop's fleet.
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Another name for William was WHITTER.