Jonathan FREEMAN

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Son of Thomas Freeman and Rebecca Sparrow

Jonathan married Mercy BRADFORD on 12 Oct 1708 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA. Mercy (daughter of John BRADFORD and Mercy WARREN) was born on 20 Dec 1681 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA; died on 27 Jun 1738 in Plympton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married Rebecca SPARROW on 31 Dec 1673. Rebecca (daughter of Capt. Jonathan SPARROW and Rebecca BANGS) was born on 30 Oct 1655 in Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA; died on 17 Feb 1740. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: Between 28 Jan 1626 and 1627, Billingshurst, Sussex, England
• Death: 19 Oct 1719

Notes:

Excerpt from Genealogical REcords: Pilgrim Genealogies and Histories, 1600s-1900s "Mayflower Planters Cape Code Series Vol. II": He came to New England with his father in 1635, when about 8 years old. He was prominent in the affairs of Eastham, being one of the planters of the town, and a deacon in the church for many years. He was a major of militia and saw service in the Indian wars, and was a member of the Bench of the Court of Common Pleas. His estate, consisting of land holdings, became extensive.

Name:
He was the youngest son of Edmund Freeman, the Sandwich settler, and was born in England. He came over with his father's family when a lad, in the ship Abigail, Captain Hackwell, in 1635. upon his marriage with Mercy, Gov. Prence's daughter by wife wife Patience Brewster, Feb. 13, 1649-50, he removed from Sandwich to that part of Nausett called Namskecket, now within the limits of Orleans and located, having paid his part of the purchase money. He was admitted a freeman in 1651, and the same year was one of the Grand jury from Eastham. In 1652, he was chosen to represent Eastham in the Old Colony court, and also elected in 1654, '56, '62, '63, '64, '65 and '66. He was chosen an assistant to the governor in 1666-7 in place of Mr. William Collier of Duxbury, and re-elected at every yearly election thereafter, until 1692. He was elected a selectman several years, but not as often as has been reported by some who have written concerning him. He was early connected with the militia. In 1665, he was the ensign of the company at Eastham, and in October, 1659, confirmed as lieutenant of the "troop of horse" by the colonial court. This was the only company of mounted soldiers in the Colon at this date. command was given to Capt. William Bradford of Plymouth....

He was one of the Council of War, and it seems, had seen some of the dangers of camp life during the war with King Philip. In a letter from Taunton, under date of June 8, 1675, to Gov. Josiah Winslow, to whom he was an assistant, he writes: "this morning three of our men are slain close by one of our court of guard; houses are burned in our sight; our men are picked off at every bush. The design of the enemy is not to face the army, but to fall on us as they have advantage." Tow of the men who fell as above mentioned were from Eastham, viz; Samuel Atkins and John Knowles....

John married Mercy PRENCE on 14 Feb 1649. Mercy (daughter of Gov. Thomas PRENCE and Patience BREWSTER) was born before 28 Sep 1631 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts; died on 28 Sep 1711 in Eastham, Barnstable Co., Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Death: Bef 23 Nov 1698, Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA

Notes:

Excerpt from Genealogical Records: Pilgrim genealogies and Histories": Jonathan held numerous public offices, including that of school master, and acted as an attorney for townsmen. He was a deputy at 19 sessions of the Colonial Court, and commanded a troop of horse. He left a will, and much land.

Name:
Jonathan Sparrow son of Richard and Pandora Sparrow was born in England, and died at Eastham on 21 March 1706/7. On 28 October 1654 he married for his first wife, Rebecca, who was born at Plymouth about 1635, and died at Eastham, Massachusetts before 1667. She was the daughter of Edward Bangs. Jonathan's second wife was Hannah Prence, widow of Nathaniel Mayo and they were married after 5 June 1667 and probably before 1669.

Jonathan Sparrow was a Lieutenant in Captain John Gorham's company in the Narragansett fight during King Philip's War being promoted from Ensign on 4 October 1675. His heirs received a share in Narragansett Township No. 7 now Gorham, Maine for his services then. By 6 June 1677, he was a Captain, which commission was renewed in October 1689. He became a freeman in June 166 although he was listed as a legal voter in Eastham as early as May 1655. He moved with his parents to Eastham and thereafter took an active part in town affairs being Deputy to the General Court at Plymouth at least 19 years and later for at least eight years representative to the General Court at Boston. He acquired much land and in a deed by his heirs dated 5 October 1708, children and grandchildren are mentioned.

Jonathan Sparrow's will was dated 10 March 1706/7 and was probated on 3 April 1707. Jonathan and Rebecca had six children of whom the oldest was REBECCA, who was born at Eastham, Massachusetts, on 30 October 1655, and died on 17 February 1740. She married THOMAS FREEMAN on 31 December 1673. Jonathan and Hannah Sparrow's daughter PATIENCE was born at Eastham, Massachusetts, about 1670, and died at Harwich, Massachusetts on 25 October 1745. She married JOSEPH PAINE on 27 May 1691. Jonathan Sparrow married Sarah (Lewis) Cobb, widow of James Cobb on 23 November 1698 for his third wife.

Jonathan married Rebecca BANGS on 28 Oct 1654 in Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA. Rebecca (daughter of Edward BANGS and Rebecca HOBART) was born about 1635/6 in Plymouth, Massachusetts; died before 1667 in Eastham, Barnstable Co., Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Son of Edmond and Alice (Coles) Freeman
• Baptism: 25 Jul 1596, St. Mary's Church, Pulborough

Edmond married Bennett HODSOLL on 16 Jun 1617 in Cowfold, co. Sussex. Bennett died between 14 Feb 1675 and 1676; was buried on 12 Apr 1630 in Pulborough, Sussex, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Daughter of John and Anne (Maundy) Hodsoll
• Baptism: 23 Aug 1596

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Treasurer of Plymouth Colony
• Fact: Served Plymouth Colony as Governors Assistant
• Fact: Elected as the 4th Governor of Plymouth Colony
• Fact: Served as Commissioner of the United Colonies
• Fact: Second term as governor of Plymouth Colony
• Fact: Elected Governor of the Jurisdiction of New Plym

Notes:

Thomas came in the "Fortune" that arrived at Cape Cod November 9, 1621.

Excerpt from "Dawes-Gates, Ancestral Lines":
His residence was first at Plymouth, but before the spring of 1632 he had followed his father-in-law, William Brewster, to Duxbury, where Patience Brewster, the wife of Thomas Prence, died in 1634 and where the residences of these two families continued until 1644, at which time the beloved Elder William died and Thomas Prence removed with his family to Nauset on the Cape. In this change he was accompanied by six other families, including those of John Doane, Josiah Cooke, and Edward Bangs, a total of forty-nine souls. there he was instrumental in forming the fourth church in the infant colony and in 1651 the settlement was renamed Eastham. While Thomas was still resident in Duxbury, and aged on about thirty-four, he was elected governor in 1634, serving then for the term of one year. In 1638 he was again the recipient of the same honor, but five years previously a law had been passed requiring the governor to reside in Plymouth, so he declined the office. On the insistence of the court he agreed to accept the position if the residence clause were waived. That request was granted, and he served during the year 1638. For more than forty years after 1632 he continuously served as an assistant or magistrate, except while holding the chief office of governor.
While resident in Eastham, and immediately following the death of Governor Bradford, Thomas Prence was unanimously chosen to succeed him, and thereafter for sixteen consecutive years, or until his own death in 1673, he held the office of governor. On his election in 1657 the court again granted him the special concession of waiver of residence, permitting him to continue to live at Eastham, where he had a farm of at least two hundred acres of the richest land in the vicinity.

Name:
Thomas Prence was the most distinguished of the settlers of Eastham, though not the best educated. At the time of his removal in 1645, he was holding the position of an assistant to Gov. Bradford, and had twice been chosen governor of the infant colony --first election in 1634, and second election in 1638. He was a native of Lechlade, a parish in Gloucestershire, England, it is understood, and born about the year 1600. He came to Plymouth in the ship Fortune, in November 1621. At the time of his removal he was residing in Duxbury. His farm at Eastham contained many acres, It was situated northwest of Town cove, in that part now included within the present town of Eastham.His house stood on the east side of the county road, near where Mr. E. Doane's house now stands. It is said his farm comprised the "richest land" in the place. the famous old pear tree planted by him while a resident, and which was blown down in 1849, stood but a few rods westward from the site of his house. He was a large landowner. He owned land in what became afterwards Harwich and Truro, besides tracts at Tonset and other localities in the Colony. He disposed of most of his landed estate before his death. His tracts at Sauquatucket, now Brewster, which came to him by grant, on the account of having been a "Purchaser or Old-Comer," he sold to his son-in-law, Major John Freeman, in 1672. His "half share" at Paumet, both "purchases and unpurchased," or Lovell's Creek," he sold to Mr. Thomas Paine in 1670......

Gov. Prence continued in the office of an assistant by successive elections till 1657, when he was unanimously elected to the office of governor, as successor to Gov. Bradford, who died that year. As the law required the governor to reside at the seat of government, a dispensation was obtained for him, and he was allowed to remain at Eastham, as he desired. Mrs. Bradford was engaged to entertain him and his assistants while at Court; an attendant was appointed to attend him in his journey to and from Plymouth, and occupied the place provided by the government at a place called Plain Dealing, which the late Judge John Davis, a native of Plymouth, says was "nearly two miles from the centre of the town on the road to Boston." The late William Russell in his Guide to Plymouth, says the place called Plain Dealing, "extended near "Mr. Hedges," and in the vicinity of "Starts Hill." At this place, while occupying the gubernatorial chair, he died March 29, 1673, in his 73d year. He was "honorably interred at Plymouth, April 8th." Judge Davis says" "the Plymouth church records, in expressing Mr. Prence's character and his amiable and pleasant conversation, depart from their usual course by an indication of his personal appearance, from which it ay be supposed that it was peculiarly dignified and striking. He was excellently qualified for the office of governor. He had a countenance full of majesty, and therein, as well as otherwise, was a terror to evil doers. Besides holding the office of governor, Mr. Prence was a great number of years an assistant of Gov. Bradford. He was one of the commissioners of the United Colonies many years; colonial treasurer and one of the council of war. He was one of those who stood bound to the adventures for the payment of the sum they demanded for their interest in the stock, trade, etc., of the colony, when the purchase was made in behalf of those who came in the three ships, viz; Mayflower, Fortune, and Ann.

Thomas married Patience BREWSTER on 05 Aug 1624 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA. Patience (daughter of Elder William BREWSTER and Mary ?) was born before 1600 in Scrooby, Nottinghamshire, England; died on 12 Dec 1634 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; was buried in Burial Hill, Plymouth, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Patience arrived in the "Anne" about July 10, 1623 with Fear Brewster.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Will: 19 Nov 1660

Notes:

Excerpt from "Genealogical Records: Pilgrim Genealogies and Histories": Certain members of the Sparrow family of England owned shares in the Virginia Company, and were probably among the early planters of Jamestown, but had become discouraged about conditins in that settlement previous to 1630, therefore, it is not surprising to find Richard Sparrow, his wife and son Jonathan residents of Plymouth as early as 1632.

Excerpt from "Dawes-Gates Ancestral Lines":
Richard Sparrow, with his wife Pandora (?) and son Jonathan, emigrated from England and became a resident of Plymouth, Massachusetts, as early as 1632. In 1633 he became a freeman; in that year, as well as in the following one, he paid a tax of nine shillings; in 1640 he appointed to view the meadows; and from 1640 to 1653 he was a surveyor of highways at least seven times. He must have displayed either a special fitness or an especial likeing for jury service for he is found to have assisted in the deliberations of twenty-eight diferent juries between 1640 and 1658; he was also on five grand juries and on two coroners' juries. He held the position of constable in 1640 and 1641, was one of the receivers of "Exsise" in 1650, and was the recipient of seven or more tracts of land between 1636 and 1642.

Name:
Richard Sparrow was in Plymouth as early as 1633. In 1638, he had forty acres of land granted him on the north end of Fresh lake. The same year he was one of those who investigated the cause of the death of John England, whose body had been found upon the flats about Plymouth. In 1639 he was one of the grand jurors for Plymouth; and is mentioned as having taken a fatherless girl as an "apprentice" for nine years, her former friend and stepfather consenting. The same year, he is reported as having had four steers sold him, by John Barnes, which were being wintered at Yarmouth, where they were to be delivered. In 1640, he was a constable and surveyor at Plymouth, and had meadow granted him at that place. In 1643, he was a grand juror, and in 1647 a surveyor at Plymouth, In 1650 he was a resident in that town, and had a cow stolen by one called in the record Thomas Sherne. He was in Eastham in 1655, and a surveyor. In 1656 he represented Eastham in the colony court, showing that after so short a residence the good people of Nausett had full confidence in his abilities, and that they were willing to entrust him with official honors. In 1657, with John Doane, Josiah cooke, Richard Higgins, and John Smalley, he had land granted him between Bridgewater and Weymouth. The same year, with Thomas Clark, the accommodation of Mr. Prence, who had been chosen governor, and from court, while he had his home in Nausett. He was a surveyor in 1658, and a grand juror in 1659. He died at Eastham, "the 8th of Jan. in the year one thousand six hundred and sixty" say the Eastham records. His will was made Nov. 9, 1660, and presented at Plymouth march 5, 1660/1. It was witnessed by Samuel Freeman and Josiah Cooke. He mentions wife Pandora, son Jonathan, granddaughters Priscilla and Rebecca, and a grandson, John Sparrow. He gave to the church at Eastham, "one ewe sheep," which his executors were to dispose of to the best advantage. He gave his place, etc., to his wife during her life, and at her decease, to his son Jonathan. this place was situated in the present town of Eastham, near the old burying-ground of the first settlers. A Short time after his death, the mother and son sold out to Mr. Thomas Crosby, the religious teacher, and removed to the highlands of Porchet, within what is now called East Orleans, where the son Jonathan had made several purchases. Here the widow, it is supposed, lived until her death. He had a son but not daughters to survive him. the son, Captain Jonathan Sparrow, was a prominent man in Eastham.

Richard married Pandora ?. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Will: 19 Oct 1677

Notes:

Excerpts from Genealogical Records: Pilgrim Genealogies and Histories: He arrived at Plymouth in 1623 in the "Ann." He was made a freeman 1633, and removed to Eastham in 1644 with the planters of that town, where he served as a Grand-Juryman, overseer of the Board. He was a Deputy to the Colony Court for four or five years. The first vessel built in Plymouth was a barque of 40 or 50 tons, and Edward Bangs had charge of the construction.

Name:
Edward Bangs, one of the seven who began the settlement at Nausett in 1645, came over from England in the Ann in 1623, a fellow passenger with Nicholas Snow. At this period he was about thirty-two years of age, but whether a married or single man is not positively known. In the beginning of the year 1624, it having been decided to allow each person who came over in the first three ships, one acre apiece to be laid out near the settlement as possible, for planting land, which each was to use for seven years, the records show that "Bangs" was assigned four acres "towards Eel River," while Nicholas Snow was allowed the use of one acre. From this fact, it has been supposed Mr. Bangs was a married man with children at this early date. Mr. Bangs is mentioned in the records as being of John Jenney's company, which numbered thirteen persons, and to which "the twelfth lot" of cattle fell at the division, May 22, 1627. to this company "fell" says the record, "the great white back cow, which was brought over with the first in the Ann." both Bradford and Morton say the first neat cattle were brought over in the year 1624....

Mr. Bangs was the first treasurer of Eastham, after the settlement in 1645. He was a surveyor of highways in 1647, 1650 and 165, and perhaps a deputy to the court in 1652, which year he was also of the Grand Inquest. In 1657 he was allowed "to draw wine" and strong water at Eastham, with instructions not to sell to the Indians. In 1658, he agreed to find "2 horses and 2 men for the country's service," upon the town providing "sufficient furniture for them." In 1659, he "promised freely" to find "a man and horse with complete furniture, for the term of one year for the country's service." Upon an order of the court to appoint overseers of the poor, with Nicholas Snow and Richard Higgins, he was appointed for Eastham in 1659. After this he took but little interest in public matters.

Whether Mr. Bangs was more than once married, it is impossible to determine. His wife, in 1651, was called Rebecca. If she were his only wife, she was a daughter of Robert Hicks, who died at Scituate in 1647, as he mentions his grandson, John Bangs, in his will, which would indicate that John Bangs' mother was a daughter and that she had been or was the wife of Edward Bangs.

Mr. Bangs died at Eastham, about the last of February in the year 1677-8, at the age of about 86 years, leaving no wife. HIs will, a lengthy document, in which he makes known his age, bears date Oct. 19, 1677. It was presented for proof at Plymouth, March 5, 1677/8, Mr. John Freeman and Mr. Thomas Crosby upon oath, testifying as to its being his last will.

Edward Bangs, son of John and Jane Bangs was born at Chichester or Chester, England and baptized on 28 October 1591. He died at Eastham in February 1677/8. He came to Plymouth in July 1623 on the ship Anne which had sailed from England in April of that year. Most of those passengers on the Anne probably had been on the ship Paragon which had attempted the voyage the year before but turned back because the ship was leaky. It is presumed Edward's wife came with him and probably two children. In any case they were not living on 22 May 1627. His second Wife was a daughter of Robert Hicks probably Lydia and they were married about 1633/4. She died soon after the birth of her son John, for John Bangs married about 1537/7 for his third wife Rebecca. She may have been the daughter of Edmund Hobart of Hingham and sister of Rev. Peter Hobart of Hingham.

Edward Bangs was active in the life of the Plymouth Colon serving on various committees such as those to fix boundaries and in January 1637/8 helped fix the limits of John Alden's land at Duxbury. In 1640 with Thomas Prence, Miles Standish, John Winslow and others he measured a meadow at Green's harbor. In 1633 he became a freeman. He contributed to the building of a bark and subscribed a sixteenth part with ten men while three men subscribed an eight part each. In 1643 with Thomas Prence, Nicholas Snow and others he viewed the land which they settled in April 1644, then called Nauset and later called Eastham. He was the first Town Treasurer and remained so for 19 yers. On 22 June 1651, stating he was a yeoman, he sold his land t Plymouth. To meet Eastham's quota of soldiers he furnished a man and horse at his expense for two years. Of the children of Edward and Rebecca Bangs, Rebecca married Jonathan Sparrow at Eastham on 28 October 1654. She was born about 1635 and died at Eastham, Massachusetts. before 1667.

Edward married Rebecca HOBART between 1635 and 1637. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Possibly the daughter of Edmund Hobart of Hingham and sister of Rev. Peter Hobart of Hinghm