USA > Massachusetts > Dukes County > Marthas Vineyard > The history of Martha's Vineyard, Dukes County, Massachusetts, Volume I > Part 11
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It now remains to turn to the maternal ancestry of Gov- ernor Mayhew, the Barters of Wiltshire, of whom Alice, as we have seen, married Matthew Maow in 1587. While the author cannot with equal satisfaction designate beyond doubt the particular branch to which she belonged, yet the following wills indicate her probable parentage and the tabular pedigree illustrates it: -
BARTER
JAMES BARTER == MARGARET of Fovent, Wilts.
EDWARD BARTER == EDITH (eldest son) of Fydleton, Haxton, Wilts.
111 ROGER. THOMAS. CHRISTIAN.
1
1
WILLIAM
JOAN ALICE
1 CHRISTIAN
1 EDWARD ELLYN
HARRY
JOHN
The will of James Barter of Fovent, Wilts, is dated Sept. 1, 1565, and in it he mentions among others his eldest
'The Mayhews of Dinton were Roman Catholics, and according to a recent au- thority, had in those days suffered for their attachment to that faith. An Edward, born at Dinton, 1570, became a Benedictine monk, and with his brother Henry was admitted to the English College at Douay in 1583, and later they matriculated at the English College, Rome, 1590 (Stephen, Dict. Nat. Biog. Art. Maihew). He died in 1625. It is probable that he was the son of Henry, and was baptized at Dinton, Nov. 12, 1571. In those days of religious ostracism and persecution, when the Puritan movement was growing in strength, it is possible that the branch to which Governor Mayhew belonged became Protestant, and thus lost association with and recognition by the parent stock.
2This account of the Tisbury family is condensed from an article in the Genea- logical Advertiser, prepared by the author for that publication. (Vol. IV, pp. 1-8.)
.
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History of Martha's Vineyard
son Edward and his daughter (in law) Edith, wife of Edward. (Arch. Sarum, P. C. C., IV, 210.)
The will of Edward Barter, his son, of Haxton, Wilts, of the parish of Fydleton, is dated Oct. 6, 1574, and mentions among others, his wife Edith and his daughter Alice. (Arch. Sarum, P. C. C., V, 23I.)
The will of Edith Barter, widow, of the same parish, is dated Aug. 9, 1576, and mentions among others her daughter Alice to whom she gave "halfe an aker of wheat and half an aker of barley my best cowlett, my white pety coat, my kercher, my canvas apron a platter and porringer" (Arch. Sarum, P. C. C., V, 273.)
As this Alice was the only one found by the author in his searches among Wiltshire wills, and as the name of Edward was bestowed on the third son of Matthew and Alice, pre- sumably in honor of her father, as Thomas had been given in memory of his father, this origin of Alice Barter, the mother of Thomas Mayhew, is offered as the probable solution of the question of her ancestry.
Of the childhood, education, and early business training of Thomas Mayhew of Tisbury, nothing definite has come to the knowledge of the author. It is presumed that he lived in Tisbury during his youth, and was educated in the parish school under the care of his parents. When his father died, he was twenty-one years of age, and it is certain that this event placed upon him the necessity of individual responsi- bility for the future. We know that he became a merchant, but where he served his apprenticeship is unknown. Daniel Gookin, who knew him personally, says he was "a merchant bred in England, as I take it at Southampton." This seaport town was, in that period, one of the most important com- mercial centres in England, ranking with Bristol as secondary to the great port of London. Like all merchants of the mari- time ports, he naturally became cognizant of and interested in foreign trade, and as the colonization ventures of the es- tablished mercantile companies began to develop, he must have learned of the possibilities of profitable traffic beyond seas. Among the great merchants of London, Mr. Matthew Cradock was an early adventurer in this line of business, and was among the first to support the companies engaged in the colonization of New England. In the course of busi- ness it is to be supposed that every suburban merchant in
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The English Family of Mayhew
England went to London often to have dealings with the large wholesale houses in the capital, and in that way we may suppose Mayhew became known to Cradock and thus laid the foundation of their business relations in later years. In 1625, at the accession of Charles the First, Thomas Mayhew was thirty-two years of age and had been engaged in business for himself in all probability for about a dozen years, since the death of his father. During that period he had married, about 1619, and family traditions and a record of some an- tiquity brings down to us the name of the bride of his youth as Abigail Parkus.1 Further particularization has been given to this tradition by making her a daughter of that Parkhurst family, of which George Parkhurst of Watertown, Mass., 1643, was the first New England representative. George was the son of John Parkhurst of Ipswich, England, a clothier, and his sisters, Deborah and Elizabeth, came to this country with him, and were later residents of the Vineyard, the former as wife of John Smith and the latter of Joseph Merry. So far no documentary or recorded confirmation of his marriage has come to light, and some considerable search has been made to find the probable place where the marriage took place, but without avail. The tradition is given for what it is worth.
The fruit of this first marriage of Thomas Mayhew was a son who was christened by the name of his father, about 1618, and living to man's estate became the famous missionary to our Indians on the Vineyard.2 No other children are known, nor when and where the mother died. We are at present left to conjecture as to the whereabouts of the father, as well as his family, and not until 1628 do we find a further possible reference to him. The Company of the Massachu- setts Bay were then actively promoting their new settlements at Salem and vicinity, and sending supplies thither. Their
'This is from a memorandum, genealogical in its character, prepared by Deacon William Mayhew, of Edgartown, who was born in 1748, and was thus within the sphere of close personal knowledge of his immediate ancestors. He was ten years old when Experience Mayhew, the great family exponent, died (1758), and Experience was about the same age when the old governor died, thus but one life spanned the gap between Thomas Senior and Deacon William. The memorandum was preserved by the Deacon's son, Thomas, and was in existence in 1854.
2The author has made extensive searches in all published parish registers of English churches and similar books, for any clue to his baptism or any reference to Thomas Mayhew. The following items are here printed, and may be of some value. Thomas Mayhowe, bapt. Aug. 20, 1617, at St. Martins in the Fields, London. The will of Mildred Reade of Linkenhurst, Co. Hants, widow, dated Aug. 15, 1630, mentions her nephew "Thomas Mayhew the younger."
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History of Martha's Vineyard
records at this time contain the following entry, showing that Thomas Mayhew was then engaged in mercantile pursuits: -
16 MARCH 1628.
Bespoke of Mr. Maio at 102 p yrd for beds & boulsters 20 bed tikes, Scotch Tikeing & broad & 2 1-16 long & 1} yrds wide: 11 yrds each bed and boulster. Mass. Col. Records, I, 35.
In two years more Mayhew had determined to follow to the New England the "beds & boulsters" and "bed tikes" he had sold for the emigrants to the latest English colony.
STONE FONT, CHURCH OF S. JOHN THE BAPTIST, 1593. Used at the Baptism of Thomas Mahew, the elder.1
1A replica of this font, in English Oak, was presented by the family of the author to Grace Church, Vineyard Haven, in memory of a deceased relative, several years ago, and may be seen in that church.
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4
Thomas Mayhew in Massachusetts
CHAPTER VIII.
THOMAS MAYHEW IN MASSACHUSETTS.
The richest Jems and gainfull things most Merchants wisely venter: Deride not then New England men, this Corporation enter: Christ call for Trade shall never fade, come Cradock factors send: Let Mayhew go another move, spare not thy Coyne to spend. Such Trades advance and never chance in all their Trading yet:
Though some deride they lose, abide, here's gaine beyond mans wit.
Johnson, Wonder-Working Providence (1654).
May Rush The great interests of Matthew Cradock in New England required more personal over- Signature of Thomas Mayhew sight, and he completed arrangements with Thomas Mayhew to go to New England and act as his representative in all business matters, making his headquarters at Medford, where he had built a "greate stone house" (still standing). Thither Mayhew went, pre- sumably taking with him his wife and young son, in 1631, though there is no fact to substantiate the supposed existence of the mother at that date. She may have died before his emigration, which is placed in the year 1631 from contempo- raneous records. March 6, 1631-2, is the earliest record so far found of him in this country. At that date he appears on the records of the General Court of Massachusetts as chairman of a committee appointed by the Court to settle the boundary between Charlestown and Newton. As this record is the report of the committee, it must have been ap- pointed at an earlier date in the previous year.
His time for the next three years was devoted to the services of his employer, attending to his investments, and managing his maritime and mercantile interests in the colony. By this time he had probably decided to cast his fortunes with the new country, and on May 14, 1634, he was admitted as a freeman by the General Court. Thenceforth he became actively identified with the political and business life of the colony.
At this period he began the erection of a mill for his principal and the following letter concerning it is here printed : 1
1Massachusetts Historical Collection, 4, VII, 30.
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History of Martha's Vineyard
Meadeford the 22th of the fouerth Moneth June 1634 Sir :- I doe hereby request your worshipp to deliver this bearer that hempe you spake of, for caulkinge the pynnase: and I doe farther intreate you to lend Mr. Cradock the hellpe of your teeme, a day or two, to hellpe carry the timber for building the mill at Watertowne. I have sent unto Mr. (Richard) Doomer. I hope he will afford me his hellpe: that with the hellpe of our owne wee may doe it in two daies. The reason I desire to have it donne with such expedition is for that the cattell must be watched whillst they are about it, in reguard they will be from home & soe doubtless otherwise would stray, or at least runn home: I will at any time, if your worshipp have occasion in the like kind, fulfill your desire: the time wee intend to goe about it is the second or third day of the next weeke. Thus ceaseing farther 'to trouble you at present, salutinge you with all due respect, committing you to the Lords protection, I rest
Your worshipps to commaund THOMAS MAYHEW
To the worshipfull John Wynthropp.
May 14, 1634, he was fined for breach of order of the court "for imploying Indians to shoot with peeces." On the same date the Court appointed a committee to bargain with Mr. Mayhew and an associate "for the building of a seafort." On June 3 following, he was appointed to examine into "what hurt the swyne of Charlton (Charlestown) has done to the Indean barnes of corn, on the north side of the Mystick &c." At a previous date (July 2, 1633), he had been appointed administrator on the Glover estate, and at this session of the Court, he exhibited an inventory of the estate. He still con- tinued to reside at Medford, and sometime, in this year prob- ably, he found an opportunity to contract a second matri- monial alliance, but whether he found his new wife here or returned to England for her is not known. Savage, who is usually quite accurate, states that the marriage occurred in London, but on what authority is not known.1 The second wife was Jane, widow of Thomas Paine, a merchant of Lon- don, and she brought into the household of Thomas Mayhew two children by her former husband. The maiden name of Mrs. Paine is said by family tradition to be Jane Gallion.2 It is quite probable that Mayhew had returned to England, and while there on business found a new wife, perhaps through the agency of Cradock. Thomas Paine, the deceased mer-
1Genealogical Dictionary, III, 337. None of the published London parish registers have a record of this marriage.
2The authority for this is the same memorandum before referred to, made by Deacon William Mayhew.
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Thomas Mayhew in Massachusetts
chant, had left considerable estates in England for his children, Thomas, Jr., and Jane, both minors, and the care of them now devolved on Mayhew as stepfather.1 The daughter Jane was the elder of the two Paine children brought to the New England home and here she found as a big step-brother young Thomas Mayhew, then about fifteen years of age. It is not known how old Jane Paine was at this time, and we may only conclude from subsequent events that she may have been born about 1628 or 1629 and was therefore five or six years old. When she grew to be a young woman, about 1647, Thomas made this step-sister his wife.
In 1635 Mayhew still resided at Medford, and on June 14 of that year the first child of the second marriage came along and she was christened Hannah.2
March 4, 1635, he was appointed to serve on a committee to lay out the bounds of Salem, Marblehead and Saugus. On the same date he was made member of a committee to purchase for the use of the inhabitants such commodities as were deemed advisable from vessels and other craft which came into the port of Boston. On July 8 of this year, he was directed to present to the Court his account "for the publique business" on which he had been employed. He was of the committee appointed to consider the act of Deputy-Governor Endicott "in defacing the colors," and to report to the Court "how farr they judge it sensureable."
In this year on Aug. 19, 1635, he bought of Edward How one-half interest in the mill built by Cradock and himself, before mentioned. The purchase price was £200, for which Mayhew gave a bond and a mortgage for £400 with condi- tions that if the price was paid the bond should be void. His business energies were thus turned to the occupation of milling, and it is recorded by a contemporary that it was an "excellent" mill "which in those times brought him great profit."3
In 1636, Mayhew continued his residence at Medford,4 and on December 6 of that year a second daughter came
1Prolonged search in the London probate courts of the period, made for me by a professional genealogist, to find the will of Thomas Paine, and the same search in the parish registers, resulted in failure to locate this family in the great city. The estates left to Thomas, Jr., were at Whittlebury, Northamptonshire.
2Plymouth Col. Rec., XII, 172, Watertown Records.
3Daniel Gookin. Description of the New England Indians, written in 1674. (Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll., I, 141.)
4Middlesex Co. Court Files.
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History of Martha's Vineyard
into the household, receiving the name of Bethiah.1 He was made Representative to the General Court this year, and was returned each term until he removed to Martha's Vineyard in 1644-5, and during these years in which he served as rep- resentative, his name appears on many important commit- tees. The merchant, miller, and factor was still occupied in various pursuits as appears from contemporary records of the period. He was bringing supplies to the colony, en- gaged in shipping ventures, and running his mill.2 However, all of these were not profitable or remunerative, and it may be concluded that he was not an entire success as a business man. The following letter written by him this year discloses some of his operations: -_ 3
Sir :---
Meadefoard this 22th of the 2nd moneth 1636
Touching my journey to Ile of Sholes to buy 80 hogsheads of pro- vission when I came I found noe such things as unto me for trueth was reported: to procure 8 hogsheads of bread I was fayne to lay out one hundred pounds in ruggs & coates unnecessarily: and for pease I got but I hogshead & } whereof I sowed certain bushells. Had things beene free at the coming in of the vessel, I would have had a greater share of what she brought, yett I confesse, as matters hath beene carried I have not ought against that which hath beene donne. I doubt not but that Mr. Peeters hath remembered you. Your father tould me that he had shippt in the Blessinge one hoggshead of beiffe, in lieu of that delivered unto Mr. Lovell. I shall confer with Mr. Wynthropp when more victualls come in, how wee may steed you: assure your sellfe my hellp you shall not want. I have made out the accompt betweene us. Concerning the Bermuda Voyage and accompting the pota- toes at 2d. the corne at gs. per bushell, the pork at 10 li. per hogshead, orrenges and lemons at 20s. per c. wee two shall gaine twenty od pounds. Now that accompt cleared & the cattell wintring paid for, there will not be much coming unto you of the So od pounds I borrowed of you. I shall be ready at any time to advance soe much money to steede you, with thankes, if your occasions shall require it. I salute you respectively with my love. I command you to the guydance & protection of the Lord Jesus and doe rest, in some hast
Your assured Loveing & readyly to be commanded
(To John Winthrop Jr.)
THOMAS MAYHEW
Meanwhile his principal, Matthew Cradock, was be- coming dissatisfied with the results of Mayhew's stewardship, and in his anger at the state of affairs he wrote a letter to John Winthrop pouring forth his grievances. From all the
1Watertown Records.
2Winthrop, Journal, I, 466.
3Massachusetts Historical Collection, VII, 31.
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Thomas Mayhew in Massachusetts
circumstances it does not appear that Mayhew had been guilty of any breach of trust, and as no action was taken on Cra- dock's hysterical letter we may conclude that the gravamen of offence was poor business judgment at the most. The letter is as follows: -
Worthei Sir,- The greyffe I have beene putt to by the most vyle bad deal- ings of Thomas Mayhew hath & doeth so much disquiet my mynd, as I thank God never aney thing did in the like manner.
The Lord in mercy ffreey me from this, I absolutely fforbad chardging moneys from thence or buying aney goods there. I thanke God my oc- casions requyred it not but I have had great returnes made mee from thence by means of goods I sent thither by the direction of Thomas Mayhew ffor above 5000 L in the last 2 yeeres & geeving to much credditt to his insyn- nuating practices & the good opynion I by the reports & advize of maney & more especially of your selfe, did apprehend of him, but ffarr beyond all expectacion & contrary to my express order he hath charged me with dyvers somes & geeven bills in my name which he never had order from me to doe, & that not for small somes, whereof some partyculers are specefyed in the inclosed which I pray you deliver my servant Jno. Jolliff: & good sir lett me intreate your self & those in authority there to make some course that Thomas Mayhew may be answerable ffor that estate of myne which my sayd servant can showe you hath come to his hands. This conveyance is uncerten & therefore I shalbee breiffer then I would or my necessety requyres but by Mr. Peirse, God willing, I shall Inlardge, but I know you may by this seey & apprehend my case. Bills come dayley almost pres- sented to me of one kynd or other without aney advize, but from Jno. Joll- iffs aryvall he ought not to have done any thing in my buiseynes without his approbacion & consent, but when it shall appeare howe he hath dealt by me, you & all men that shall seey it I ame perswaded will hardley thinke it could be possible that a man pretending sincerity in his actions could deale so viley as he hath & doeth deale by me. This buiseynes is not to be de- layed, if he can justify his actions it were to bee wished but not possible.
Lett me crave your favour & the courts so ffarr as you shall seey my cause honest & just, & boothe the court & your self & the whole plantacion shall ever oblige me to be
yours ever to my power MATHEWE CRADOCK.
London 13 January 1636.
The arrival in New England of a new factor for Cradock in the person of John Jolliffe, either in the latter part of 1636 or more probably in 1637, had the effect of terminating May- hew's business relations with the London merchant, and it was about this time (1637) and for that reason, that Mayhew removed from Medford to Watertown.1 There he had ma- terial interests of his own, and for the next seven or eight
1Letter, Roger Williams. Narr. Club Pub., VI, 69.
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History of Martha's Vineyard
years he was actively identified with that town and its affairs. He was chosen selectman this year (1637) and also was elected as Deputy to the General Court to represent his new home town in the Colonial Assembly.
In 1638 he was again chosen selectman and re-elected as Deputy to the General Court. At this same session he was appointed a commissioner, which office was a local magistrate or justice of the peace for trying small causes, the first official of that kind accredited to Watertown. Another daughter was born to him, probably early in this year, who was christened Martha, the third addition to his family.1
In 1639, Mayhew was again chosen selectman of Water- town and re-elected as Deputy to the General Court, and his appointment as commissioner was renewed. In this year a fourth and last daughter was born to him and received the baptismal name of Mary. The date of her birth was Jan. 14, 1639-40, being within the old calendar year of that period. Meanwhile he was prosecuting his milling interests in the town and being desirous of owning the mill entirely he purchased, May 29, 1639, the other half of Nicholas Davison, agent for Cradock and successor of Jolliffe, and mortgaged it back to Cradock with six shares of the "Wear," for £240. The investment must have been a losing one, for in less than a year, on April 18, 1640, he sold the entire property to Deputy Governor Thomas Dudley for £400, subject to the mortgage to Cradock. Dudley redeemed this on or before March 7 1643-4, but no evidence appears to show that How's mort- gage of £400 was paid by Mayhew. Indeed, at the death of How in the summer of 1644, this bond of Mayhew was reckoned as part of the inventory of the estate.2 Mayhew also was obliged to sell to Dudley his interest in the "Wear" above referred to, for £90, subject to a mortgage to Cradock. We now begin to learn of his financial troubles as told by Gookin and how "it pleased God to frown upon him in his outward estate." 3
1She became the wife of Thomas Tupper of Sandwich, and the ancestress of Sir Charles Tupper, Prime Minister of Canada, 1890, and of Sir Charles H. Tupper, his son.
2Edward How's will was dated June 13, 1644, and probated on July 25 following. (Suff. Prob. Rec., I, 31.)
3When the governor made his will in 1681, he still considered he had "rights" in this Watertown mill, and he bequeathed them to Matthew. Perhaps he thought he had not been dealt with justly. It is not known whether Matthew attempted to realize on the bequest.
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Thomas Mayhew in Massachusetts
In 1640, Mayhew was again chosen selectman and re- elected Deputy to the General Court. From an entry in the records of the colony, under date of June 2 of this year, we note a reference to some financial troubles: "Mr. Tynge & Mr Davison are desired to examine the acounts between Mr Joanes & Mr Mayhewe." 1 What this refers to is not known, but in a letter printed below Mayhew himself recounts the difficulties under which he labored, due to the scarcity of money in the country.2
Right Worshipfull.
IIth of the 3d 1640.
I am to pay my owne rate, & some 5 li. for other men, that I owe it unto & allthough that I have had bills due from the Countrey, one yeare and 7 moneths since, for 70 & od pounds, I must now have my goods sold, except I pay out this money: which seeing I have money to receive from the cout- rey methinks it is verry hard measure. I cannott see equitie in it. I may safely say that if I had had my money as was then fully intended, being then 100 li. it had donne me more good, in name & state, then now wilbe made whole with double the money; but if there be noe remedy but my goods must be strayned and solld, I desire your worshipps advice per this bearer which is the Constable, what course is to be taken in putting it of. I thinke he comes unto you for counsell in that behallfe: thus with my due respecte, in some hast, I rest
Your worshipps to command THO: MAYHEW
To the Right Worshipfull John Winthropp Governour.
Money is verry hard to gett upon any termes. I know not the man that can furnish me with it. I could not gett the 100 li. of Mr. Gibbins. I gott 30 li. putt off inconveniently: & when I was sick & in necessitie I could not gett any of the Tresurer. I delight not to compleyne.
In 1641, Mayhew was again chosen selectman and re- elected as Deputy to the General Court, and at its session he was reappointed the commissioner for Watertown. He built the first bridge over Charles river in 1641. On June 2 of that year, "the tole of Mr. Mayhew's bridge was referred to the governor and two magistrates to settle for seven years," in answer to his petition.3 Under what arrangement this was done does not appear, but that it proved a financial loss to Mr. Mayhew is evident from contemporaneous documents.
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