Rev. James NOYES, Jr.

Notes:

Name:
Rev. James Noyes came to Stonington to preach on an invitation of the town in 1664. The meeting house in which he preached was a short distance southwesterly of the present residence off Mr. Henry M. Palmer, west of Montauk avenue. Traditionally, we learn that he resided in the family of Thomas Stanton, Sr., until he was ordained Sept. 11, 1674, and the next day he was married to Miss Dorothy Stanton, daughter of Thomas and Ann Lord Stanton. He made his permanent place of abode upon a large tract of land in Stonington, Conn., which he purchased of Samuel Willis of Hartford, Conn., where he erected him a dwelling house on the site of the present first house, south of Anguilla on the highway from there to Wequetequock, which became the first parsonage of the First Congregational Church of Stonington, where he lived the remainder of his life, dying Dec. 30, 1719. For the first ten years of his ministry he preached as a licentiate, and the last 45 years as an ordained clergyman. He was chaplain with Capt. George Denison's expedition that captured Canonchet, chief sachem of the Narragansett Indians, April, 1676.

He graduated from Harvard in 1659 and was ordained minister and pastor of "The Road Church", First Congregational Church Stonington, on Sept.11,1674. The next day he married Dorothy Stanton, b. 1651 d. 1741/42. They had six children and many descendants who became members of the clergy. He served as Chaplin under Capt. George Denison in the Narragansett War and was a founder of Yale University, serving as a trustee from Oct. 1701 until his death. His grave has a very large pier slab with the inscription that follows. It was relettered "mid-19th cen." at Doty's marble works.

Inscription
In expectation of a joyful resurrection to eternal life here lyeth interred the body of the Rev. Mr. James Noyes aged 80 years who after a faithful living of the Church of Christ in this place for more than 55 years deceased Dec. ye 30, 1719-20. Majesty, meekness and humilty here meet in one with greatest charity. He was first pastor of the Road Church and Society

James married Dorothy STANTON on 11 Sep 1674 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA. Dorothy (daughter of Thomas STANTON and Anna LORD) was born in 1651 in Pequoit, New London Co., Connecticut; died on 19 Jan 1742/3 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA; was buried in Wequetequock Burial Ground, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Dorothy NOYES was born on 20 Jun 1675 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA; died on 06 Dec 1714 in Preston City, New London, Connecticut, USA.
2. Dr. James NOYES, III was born on 02 Aug 1677 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA; died in 1718 in Noyes' Beach, Newport, Newport Co., Rhode Island.
3. Capt. Thomas NOYES was born on 15 Aug 1679 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA; died on 26 Jun 1755 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA; was buried in Wequetequock Burial Ground, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.
4. Ann NOYES was born on 16 Apr 1682 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA.
5. John NOYES was born on 13 Jan 1684/85 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA; died on 17 Sep 1751 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA.
6. Rev. Joseph NOYES was born on 16 Oct 1688 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA; died on 14 Jun 1761.
7. Moses NOYES was born on 19 Mar 1692 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA; died on 30 Apr 1692 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA.

Notes:

Name:
James Noyes m. in 1634 Sarah, eldest daughter of Mr. Joseph Brown of Southampton, Eng., and in March of that year embarked for New England, in company with his brother Nicholas and his cousin, Thomas Parker, in the 'Mary and John' of London. He preached for a short time at Medford, and then for a while at the Watertown church, but in 1635 went to Newbury, Mass., and preached there till his death, Oct. 22, 1656. Mrs. Sarah Brown Noyes d. Sept. 13, 1691. Mr. James Noyes was very much loved and honored in Newbury, and it was said of him that 'He was of so loving and compassionate and humble carriage that there never was any one acquainted with him, but did desire the continuance of his society and acquaintance.' he had a fine voice, and with his cousin Thomas Parker spent much time in singing and praising God, both at home and at divine worship. He had a long and tedious sickness, which he bore patiently and cheerfully, and d. joyfully in the 48th year of his age. He left six sons and two daughters, all of whom lived to be m. and have children. His will, dated Oct. 17, 1656, which was six days before his death, is preserved, and his inventory showed a good estate.

He was matriculated at Brasenose College, Oxford, 22 August, 1627, but was not graduated. In March, 1633, he and his wife Sarah, brother Nicholas, and cousin Thomas Parker, with others, took the oath of supremacy and allegiance, to pass for new England, in the "Mary and John," of London, Robert Sayres, master. In 1633/4 he preached in Mystic, now Medford, Mass., and was made freeman 3 Sept., 1634, and with his brother Nicholas and cousin Thomas Parker, was among the first settlers of Newbury, Mass., In May, 1634/5. He died 22 Oct., 1656

James was born in 1608, in Cholderton, Wiltshire, England, the son of William Noyes and probably Ann Stephens. William was the rector of the diocese of Cholderton. James attended Brasenose, Oxford College, but did not graduate. He was asked to leave school and help teach at the Free School in Newbury, Berkshire, England, by his cousin Thomas Parker, which he did. He married, about 1632, Sarah, the oldest daughter of Joseph Brown of Southampton, England. In 1633, James, his wife, his brother Nicholas and Thomas Parker, among others, took the oath of allegiance, allowing them to leave for New England. They were non-conformists, unhappy with the "popish" ceremonies of the Church of England. In March 1634, they sailed on the "Mary & John", arriving in May at Boston.

In 1634, James was in Mystic, now Medford, Massachusetts, he preached there and was made freeman on September 3, 1634. He was invited to become the preacher at Watertown, but declined, instead becoming one of the first settlers of Newbury, Massachusetts, the settlement being named after the town in England where they founded the school. Noyes was granted eight acres, and built a house. He and Parker formed a church in Newbury. Parker was named pastor and Noyes was made "teacher of the church". James served in that capacity for over twenty years. He wrote a Catechism that was used in the church for many years, and was esteemed and honored in the town. Even though there was some sort of church controversy between the two cousins, Parker, who never married, lived with Noyes and his family. After a long illness, James Noyes made his will on October 17, 1656, five days before his death, and it was proved on November 26. Rev. James Noyes is buried in the First Burial Ground of the Church he helped to establish. Parker continued to live in the home, as an honored member of the family, until his death in 1677.

At a later date, Nicholas Noyes, son of James' brother Nicholas, wrote that of James' six sons and two daughters, there were 56 total children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, even though one son and one daughter had since died. James' wife Sarah lived in Newbury until her death on September 13, 1691. The Noyes home, built between 1640 and 1650, was used by many generations, and the last occupant, Mary Coffin Noyes, died there in 1895. Once, when there was some remodeling to be done, it was discovered that there was a secret closet built into the massive chimney, accessible only from the cellar. It was obviously constructed to provide a safe hiding place for valuables in case of Indian raids.



Inscription

Here lies the body of the
REV. JAMES NOYES
who was born in
Chaulderton, England, in 1608,
came to New England in 1634,
was chosen teacher of the
church in Newbury
as colleague with his cousin Parker
in 1635.
He died Oct. 22, 1656,
in his 48th y'r.

James married Sarah BROWNE before 1634 in Cholderton, Wiltshire, England. Sarah was born in 1610 in South Hampton, Hampshire, England; died on 13 Sep 1691 in Newbury Old Town, Essex Co., Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Daughter of Mr. Joseph Brown of Southampton, England

Notes:

Name:
Rev. James Noyes married in Romsey, Hampshire, 21 March 1633/4 Sarah Browne, daughter of Joseph Browne. They came from Cholderton, Wiltshire to Massachusetts Bay in 1634 on the "Mary & John" (on 26 March 1634, "James Noyce" was enrolled at Southampton as a passenger for New England on the Mary & John). They first settled in Ipswich & moved to Newbury in 1635.
They had nine children: Joseph, James, Sarah, Moses, Thomas, John, Rebecca Knight, William, & Sarah Hale.
In her will of 28 June 1664, the widow of James Noyes mentioned "my brother Mr. James Browne's," who may have been the minister of that name at Portsmouth.
James Noyes was brother of NICHOLAS NOYES. The two brothers were first cousins of THOMAS PARKER {1634, Ipswich} and fourh cousins of PETER NOYES {1638, Sudbury}.
Source: Anderson's Great Migration Study Project