William WETHERELL

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William Wetherell was of the educated class in England, where he was born in the year 1600. His education was completed at Cambridge, where he graduated with the degree of A.B. in 1623, and three yeas later he took the degree A.M. at the same university. In 1625 he was married to Mary Fisher, who was born in England in 1602.

With his wife, three children and one servant, he emigrated to New England, coming in the ship HERCULES, and in the ship's register he is recorded as "Schoolmaster," from Maidstone, England. He arrived in 1634 or sooner, and in 1635 he was employed in a grammar school at Charleston, Massachusetts, and in Cambridge during the two years following that.

In 1638 he removed to Duxbury, Massachusetts, where he purchased a house, but it has not been discovered what his occupation at that time was. In 1644 he moved to Scituate, Massachusetts, and on September 2, 1645, he was ordained as the first minister of the church organized there, and from that time the church records are in his handwriting until 1674. As his pastorate did not terminate at the latter date we conclude he was compelled by some infirmity to permit others to write the records after that. He died at Scituate April 9, 1684, aged 84 years.

He seems to have been a man of marked personality, and to have given the impress of his strong character on the community in a way that has left its legacy of legendary lore. One anecdote handed down by tradition will serve to illustrate alike the quality of the man and the customs of the day; customs so different from our own in church matters that it is difficult to fully realize it. One of his congregation had entered church after service had commenced, and at the close of his prayer Mr. Wetherell thus addressed him:

"Neighbor Bryant, it is to your reproach that you have disturbed the worship by entering late, living as you do within a mile of this place, and especially so, since here is Goody Barstow, who has milked seven cows, made a cheese, and walked five miles to the House of God in good season."

Dean's "History of Scituate, Massachusetts," gives some account of him, and credits the tradition that his mother was the daughter of John Rogers, the martyr of Smithfield. Beside attending to his schoolteaching and later to his ministerial duties, it would seem that he found time to court the muse, for it is recorded of him that he "was one of the best of the early colonial poets.

William married Mary FISHER in 1625 in England. Mary (daughter of Thomas FISHER and Joan LUKES) was born in 1602 in England; died before 29 Mar 1684. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Samuel WETHERELL was born between 1627 and 1630 in Maidstone, England; died in 1683 in Scituate, Plymouth, Mass..
2. Capt. Daniel WETHERELL was born on 29 Nov 1630 in Maidstone, England; died on 14 Apr 1719 in New London, New London Co. Connecticut; was buried in Ancient Cemetery, New London, New London Co., Connecticut.
3. Thomas WETHERELL was born about 1633 in Maidstone, England; died before 1684.
4. Mary WETHERELL was born in 1635; died on 12 Dec 1710 in Scituate, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts.
5. Elizabeth WETHERELL was born between 1635 and 1639 in Scituate, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; died before 1664.
6. Theophilus WETHERELL was born about 1640 in Middleborough, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; died on 06 Jan 1702 in Middleborough, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts.
7. John WETHERELL was born about 1642 in Scituate, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; died on 17 Mar 1691 in Scituate, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts.
8. Sarah WETHERELL was born on 10 Feb 1645 in Scituate, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; was christened on 7 Sep 1645; died before 14 Jul 1729.
9. Hannah WETHERELL was born on 20 Feb 1646; died in young.

married Miss ROGERS. Miss was born about 1578 in Maidstone, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]