Nathaniel SHURTLEFF

Notes:

Name:
They settle in Plymouth, where he was a prominent man. He served as a selectman and was a representative to the State Assembly, and active in other offices of honor and trust. He was especially prominent as a military man among the pioneers. His remains were interned on Cole's Hill, the first burying lot of the Plymouth pilgrim, and his headstone bears this inscription: "Here lyes ye body of Capt. William Shurteff who decd Feb The 4th, 1729/30, in The 72 year of his age."

William married Susannah LOTHROP in Oct 1683 in Barnstable, Massachusetts. Susannah (daughter of Hon. Barnabas LOTHROP and Susanna CLARKE) was born on 28 Feb 1663/4 in Barnstable, Barnstable Co., Massachusetts; died on 9 Aug 1726 in Plympton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Elizabeth LETTICE on 18 Oct 1655 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA. Elizabeth was born before 1637; died on 31 Oct 1693 in Swansea, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Daughter of Thomas Lettice and Ann?

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Was the first Judge of Probate for Barnstable County

Barnabas married Susanna CLARKE on 3 Nov 1658. Susanna (daughter of Thomas CLARKE and Susanna RING) was born about 1641; died on 28 Sep 1697 in Barnstable, Barnstable Co., Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Son of Thomas Lathrop of Cherry Burton, York, England

Notes:

Name:
He matriculated at Queen's College, Cambridge, 1601; M.A., 1606; was perpetual curate of Egerton, 48 m. S.E. of London. In 1623, he renounced this living and espoused in violation of the law. He was arrested with many of his congregation, Apr. 22, 1632. he wife died while he was in prison. After this event, his children visited the Archbishop, who took pity on them, releasing their father, provided he would go to New England. He arrived at Boston, Sept. 18, 1634, in company with 32 of his congregation; others of it having preceded him. (Atwater's New Haven, p. 39.) He immediately located at Scituate, where he was warmly welcomed and a house for his family of "meane proportions", was quickly built by willing hands. Mr. Otis describes it thus: "The walls were made of poles filled between with stones and clay, the roof thatched, the chimney to the mantel, of rough stone and above of cob work, the windows of oiled paper and the floor of hand sawed planks." Of the beginnings of his work, there is a record by Dr. Stiles of Yale. In October, 1639, he with a large number of his congregation removed to Barnstable, bringing with them the crops they had raised at Scituate. He was a strong man and an independent thinker, holding views far in advance of his tie, which he fearlessly proclaimed in both the old and new worlds. It has been said of him: "No pastor was ever more beloved by his people and one ever had a greater influence for good." He is accounted one of the great religious fathers of New England.

John married Anna HAMMOND on 17 Feb 1635/6. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Excerpt from "Certain Comeoverers": The oldest stone on "The Burying Hill" in Plymouth, of purple Welsh slate, bears this inscription: "Here lies buried ye body of Mr. Thomas Clark, aged 98 years. Departed this life March 24th, 1697." If the statement on this stone is true he was born in 1599. His own statement under oath in an instrument signed by him in 1664 is that he was then fifty-nine years old, and consequently born in 1605.
That Thomas Clark was a man of education and substance and was held in respect by the community is abundantly shown by the public records. In 1632 he was assessed L1 4s. 0d. in the tax list, being among the ten largest taxpayers. In 1633 he took the freeman's oath. In 1634 he indentured an apprentice, William Shuttle, probably to teach him carpentry, since Clark is designated as a "carpenter" in the earlier records and later as a "yeoman," and a "merchant," and finally a "gentleman." About this time, 1634, he married Susanna Ring, a daughter of Mary Ring, a widow, who came over to Plymouth in 1629 with several children. It may be the widow Ring came to the new land on the advice of Mistress Elizabeth Warren. At all events in Mrs. Ring's will, dated in 1633, she gives to "Mrs. Warren as a token of love a woddon cupp." Her son Andrew Ring, the brother of Susan Clark, became "a leading citizen."
In 1637 Thomas Clark headed the list of volunteers to fight in the Pequot war and presumable saw service. His real estate transactions were numerous, as were his lawsuits.......
He was also acquitted in 1652 of "staying and drinking at James Coles." From 1641 to 1647 he was constable and surveyor of highways. At one time he was appointed to audit the accounts of the Plymouth Colony. In 1651 and in 1655 he was a Representative to the General Court.
About 1655 he removed to Boston, where possibly the ideas of a proper rate of interest were less restrictive. At all events he seems to have prospered here as a merchant. His wife, Susanna, had perhaps died before he left Plymouth. In 1664 he married Alice Nichols, the daughter of Richard Hallett, and the widow of Mordecai Nichols of Boston. In 1668 he purchases a wharf and warehouse property "near the lesser drawbridge near Shelter Creek in Boston." He lived in the vicinity of Scottoe's lane. His eldest son, Andrew, married in Boston a daughter of Thomas Scottoe, and in 1673 Thomas Clark conveyed a house and land to his son Andrew on the way "that goeth from the mill bridge to Charles River" which Thomas had acquired under an execution in a suit against the estate of John Nichols.

Name:
Thomas Clarke, who was buried on the hill, in Plymouth, came over in the Anne, in 1623 being then 23 years old.

He was probably a seafaring man, as well as carpenter. It is recorded that in 1635, he lost a boat worth L15 in a great storm in Eel river.

He had for his garden plot, in 1623 one acre on the south side of the brook. In 1637, he was the first to volunteer to go against the Piquot Indians. In this roll are Mr. Stephen Hopkins and his two sons, Caleb and Giles. At this date he dwelt at Eel river, and was styled "yeoman."

In 1642, he was surveyor of Plymouth: in 1651, one of the Plymouth committee. He appears to have been a very active, trading speculating man. In 1629, he bought an acre of land on the south side of the town for 30 pounds of tobacco and the next day sold it to Governor Bradford. He purchased a lot of land at Eel river in 1630, for L10. He resided at Plymouth in 1643 and 58. December 3, 1639, he was fined 30 shillings for extortion, in that he sold a pair of boots and spurs for 15 shillings which he purchased for 10 shillings. Before 1631 he had married Susanna, daughter of widow Mary Ring...

Mr. Clarke was elected one of the deputies of Plymouth in 1655, and again in 1656....

March 6, 1654/5, he was presented before the grand jury for taking six pounds for the bare loan of twenty pounds one year, which the jury "conceived to be great extortion, contrary to the law of God and man." At his trial the traverse jury cleared him. It was probably a false charge....





THOMAS CLARKE, PLYMOUTH

1633
Took the Freeman's oath.
Was assessed for the Colony tax, L 4s. 0d.

1634
Takes Wm. Shuttle as apprentice for 11 years. At end of tie T.C. was to give him 2 suits of clothes and 8 bushels of corn.

1637
Thomas Clarke heads the list of volunteers to act against the Pequin Indians. Is mentioned as Thomas Clarke, yeoman, of Eel river.

1638
A tract of land called Slowly Field is granted to Thomas Clarke. he is presented to the Court for stopping the highway to Eel river.

1639
Simeon Trott agrees to serve Thomas Clarke for 7 years, he to receive a calf and 12 bushels of corn at end of time.

1639
Abraham Perce sold to Thomas Clarke one acre of land lying on ye S. side of ye towne abutting on Hob's hole with one end and bounded on ye one side with the ground of Ralph Wallen, on the other side with common ground, for the sum of 30 pounds of good merchantable tobacco, to him and his heirs forever.

1639
Thomas Clarke is fined 30s. for selling a pair of boots and spurs for 15s., which he bought for 10s.

1641
He is constable and surveyor of highways for the years 1642, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

1644
Thomas Clarke sells 12 acres of land at Duxbury for one Dutch cow, valued at L6.
Has suit with Matthew Fuller, which Thomas Clarke gains.
Has a suit with Wm. Powell, which Thomas Clarke gains.

1648
Has a suit with -- Gromes, which is settled by Thomas Clarke receiving 14 bushels of wheat and 5 bushels of corn.

1650
Thomas Clarke is allowed to draw and sell a cask of strong waters. Is one of the Committee of Plymouth Colony.

1652
Is presented for staying and drinking at James Cole's--acquitted.

1654
Is on a Committee to raise means to fit out an expedition ordered by the Lord Protector.

1655
Is presented to the court for taking L6 for the use of L20 for one year -- acquitted.

Thomas married Susanna RING before Jul 1631 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]