Edward RAWSON

1615 - 1693  (78 years)

• Name	Edward RAWSON  [1, 2]
  	The family relation which existed between that excellent man, Edmund Grindal, and the earliest ancestor of the Rawsons, in England, of whom much is known, may render a few words respecting him not uninteresting. His high place in the Church affords the best evidence of his eminence as a divine. He was the successor of Bonner in the bishopric of London. Not willing to proceed to extremities against the Puritans, he involved himself in dissensions with Parker, the then Primate of England. His friend and patron Cecil, foreseeing the trouble might ensue, gladly seized the occasion of withdrawing him from the controversy, by transferring him to the bishopric of York, in 1570. "For his own repose," it is said, "Grindal ought never to have quitted this sphere of unmolested usefulness." But Parker died, and in 1575 the primacy was offered to Grindal, and he accepted it. The prejudices of Queen Elizabeth against the Puritans and their meetings, call "Prophesyings" held at that time by the clergy, are well known. She issued orders for their suppression, and expressed to Grindal her displeasure at the number of preachers licensed in his Province; "urging that it was good for the world to have few preachers; that three or four night suffice for a county, and that the reading of the homilies to the people was enough." Against this the venerable prelate remonstrated in decided terms and, in conclusion, exhorted her to remember that she was a mortal creature, and accountable to God for the exercise of her power. An order of the star-chamber followed, and the Archbishop was sequestered from the exercise of his jurisdiction, and confined to his house for six months. On points of professional duty, he was courageous and inflexible. he contributed largely to Fox's "Acts and Monuments," and was revered for the primitive virtues of probity, sincerity and godly zeal. It was these characteristics which caused him to be celebrated in Spenser's Shepherd's Calendar," in which he is designated by the name of Algrind. Four or five years after his suspension, the Queen's anger abated, in a measure, and she removed the sequestration, but dd not restore him to favor. Old and blind, he was on the point of resigning when he died in 1583, aged 63. Hollingshed says, "He was so studious that his book was his bride, and his study his bride-chamber, in which he spent his eyesight, his strength and his health." John Hooker, grandfather of Rachel Perne, or, as her Christian name was written in her day, Ratiel, was uncle to the celebrated and able divine, Rev. Thomas Hooker, who came to Boston in 1633, was for a time settle in Cambridge, and removed thence to Hartford in Connecticut, where he was settled in the ministry. Rev. John Wilson, first minister in Boston, was uncle to Edward Rawson. Cotton Mather, in his biography of Wilson, speaks of him as "having for his mother a niece of Doct. Edmund Gridal, the most worthy and renowned Archbishop of Canterbury," and he refers to Rawson in connection with Wilson, in the same work, as follows: "but from a like humility it was, that a good kinsman of his, who deserveth to live in the same story as he now lives in the same heaven with him, namely, Mr. Edward Rawson, the honored Secretary of the Masachusetts Colony," dec. As some have entertained a doubt in regard to this relationship, it may here be stated that Mr. John Ward Dean, of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, has kindly furnished the copy of a communication from Col. Joseph L. Chester of London, England, in which he says, "If the relationship between Edward Rawson, the Secretary of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, and the Rev. John Wilson, the first preacher of Boston, be still only conjectural, it may interest their descendants to know that I am able to prove the fact. Edmund Rawson's mother was Margaret, the sister of Rev. John Wilson." The most emote ancestor of Edward Rawson who has been traced, and for whom he was named, was Sir Edward Rawson, who lived in the reign of one of the Henrys. He is said to have been a man of military skill and experience. Edward Rawson came to New England in the year 1636 or 1637, and became an inhabitant of the town of Newbury, in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay There, many other English people settled, who were from Hants and Wilts (counties adjoining Dorset), and perhaps knew by reputation, if not personally, our progenitor or his father's family in Old England, their residence being located near the bounds of those tow counties, in Gillingham, county of Dorset. This may account for the confidence reposed in him so soon after his arrival. He was a grantee of that town; the second Town Clerk (Public Notary and Register for the towne of Newbury), chosen April 19, 1638 (and was annually re-elected until 1647). To this office was added, the same year, that of a Selectman, and also that of Commissioner and Attorney for the trial of small causes in Newbury. He was besides member of each of the various committees to lay out the commons, and also one of the Deputies to represent the town at the may and September sessions of the General Court. Thus speedily, in a few months, was Edward Rawson elevated to civil office. Undoubtedly he must have possessed more than ordinary talent for business, as well as a large share of public spirit, to be so soon honored by his fellow townsmen, and to have taken his seat, at the age of three-and-twenty, among the legislators of the Colony. His various public acts and employments while he resided there are more fully narrated in the Coffin's, History of Newbury... In 1647 and 1648 he continued to represent Newbury in the General Court. In the latter year, he received two grants of land. The first at the May session, of 1,500 acres, jointly with Rev.John Wilson of Boston, "next adjoining to the 3,000 acres granted to Mr. John Winthrop at Paquatuck, near the Narraganset country; but in Case Mr. John Winthrop perform not the condition with respect to the time limited, that then the 1,500 acres of the said Mr. Wilson and Mrs. Edward Rawson shall be of the said 3,000 acres granted to the said Mr. Winthrop."... He and his wife were members of what was called the First Church, over which the Rev. JohnWilson was pastor. After the death of Mr. wilson, a new pastor was to be chosen, and the Synod of 1662 was divided on the question, "Who are subjests of Baptism?" and this division called forth still another in the First Church, out of which grew the Old South Society of Boston; so popularly known. The record says he was one of twenty-eight disaffected persons of the First Church of Boston, who dissolved connection with that society and formed the 3d or Old South Church, in May, 1669. Thomas Thatcher, their first pastor, was installed February 16th, 1670. The corporation in England for the propagation of the gospel among the Indians in New England chose Edward Rawson steward or agent "for the receiving and disposing of such goods and commodities" as should be sent to the "United Colonies," and the Commissioners of the colonies confirmed the choice at a meeting held at New Haven in September, 1651, and appointed him to that trust. It seems that a charge of negligence in the performance of his duties in that capacity, was preferred against him. "the praying Indians complained to Ratcliff and Randolph that they could not get the clothes which were allowed them." The charge is believed to have been groundless, as Andross, who removed him from office and Randolph who succeeded him, had sufficient motives to induce them to excite prejudice against him among the Indians. Soon after this, Andross was seized by the Colonists, and sent to England in irons. The warrent which was sent to Boston by King Charles II for the apprehension of the Regicides, Goff, Whalley and Dixwell, was countersigned by Secretary Rawson. His correspondence with Gov. Leete, of Connecticut, shows that zealous efforts were made to apprehend them, but, as is well known, they were unsuccessful. He is believed to be the author of a book published in 1691, entitled, "The Revolution in New England Justified;" also another, entitled, "The General Laws and Liberties concerning the Inhabitants of the Ms. &c, fol., 1660.".... It is to be regretted that once, whose character was otherwise so irreproachable as that of the Secretary, should have been led to participate in the persecution of the Quakers. But there is too much proof on record to leave room for doubt, that he was influenced by the fanaticism of the day. This is the only blemish upon his fair fame, and we may hope that his conduct during this excitement - chargeable, perhaps, in a great measure, to his peculiar position - may be counterbalanced by the virtuous deeds of an apparently otherwise irreproachable life. His salary as Secretary was only L20 per annum at first, but was subsequently increased to L60. To the office of Secretary was soon added, by the General Court, that of Recorder of the County of Suffolk, which he held many years. Several grants of land - one May 6, 1657, of 200 acres, in addition to those previously mentioned - and other allowances were made to him at different times for "extraordinary services." His family Bible, now in possession of R.R. Dodge, of East Sutton, Mass., contains the following certificate, in the hand-writing of his son William: "This may certify whome it may concerne, that Edward Rawson (Secretary was born in old England in the yeare of our Lord 1615, April 16th, and departed this life Aug. 27th day, in the yeare of our Lord 1693, in New England, aged 78 years." This Bible is doubtless more than 200 years old, and is now in the hands of the 6th generation, having descended from Edward to William, is son; from William to his son David; from David to his son David, Jr.; from David, Jr. to his daughter Anna; from Anna to her son, John Rawson Young; and from the latter it has been obtained by Mr. Dodge. Edmund, Hooker, Gridal, Perne, Wilson and edward have been much adopted and continue to be prevalent Christian names in the Rawson family. The oldest child of Edward Rawson, a daughter, was left by him in England, where she was born. To whom she was married is unknown, but he is said to have been an "opulent gentleman." One of his daughters born in this country married the rev. Samuel Torrey of Weymouth, and another, Thomas Broughton of Boston. His sons, Edward, David and John, went to England and settled. Edward graduated at Harvard College, A.D. 1653. Dr. Calamy, in his history of ejected ministers, says that Edward Rawson was presented to a living in Horsmanden, in Kent, in 1655, and adds that 'he was a New England man, a violent Presbyterian." The business or professions of David and John, in England are unknown. The families of Mrs.Torrey and of Mrs. Broughton, if any, have not been traced. But two of the five sons of the Secretary settled in this country, William and Grindal, and through these only our record is continued. [1]
  Birth	16 Apr 1615	Gillingham, Dorsetshire, England   [1, 2]
  Gender	Male
  Death	27 Aug 1693	New England   [1, 2]
  Person ID	I93079	Main Tree
  Last Modified	11 Oct 2019

  
  

  Family	Rachel PERNE   d. 11 Oct 1677
  Marriage	1634 or 1635	England   [1, 2]
  Children	1. Edward RAWSON,   c. 2 Nov 1634, Gillingham, Dorset d. Between Sept 1655 and 6 May 1674 (Age ~ 20 years)  [Birth]   2. Rachel RAWSON,   c. 19 Jan 1636/7  [Birth]   3. Mary RAWSON,   b. Abt 1639/40, Prob. Newbury, Massachusetts d. 10 Sep 1692, Weymouth, Massachusetts (Age 52 years)  [Birth]   4. Margaret RAWSON,   b. Abt 1641/2, Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts  [Birth]   5. David RAWSON,   b. 6 May 1644, Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts d. Bef 6 May 1674 (Age 29 years)  [Birth]   6. Perne RAWSON,   b. 14 or 16 Sep 1646, Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts d. Aft 6 Jul 1696 (Age 49 years)  [Birth]   7. Grindal RAWSON,   b. 23 Jan 1648/9, Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts d. young  [Birth] + 8. William RAWSON,   b. 21 May 1651, Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts d. 20 Sep 1726, Braintree, Massachusetts (Age 75 years)  [Birth]   9. Hannah RAWSON,   c. 2 Oct 1653, Boston First Church d. 27 May 1656, Boston, Massachusetts (Age ~ 2 years)  [Birth]   10. Rebecca RAWSON,   b. 19 Oct 1654, Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts d. Bef May 1656 (Age 1 year)  [Birth]   11. Rebecca RAWSON,   b. 21 May 1656, Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts  [Birth]   12. Elizabeth RAWSON,   b. 12 Nov 1657, Boston, Massachusetts  [Birth] + 13. Grindal RAWSON,   c. 30 Jan 1658/9, Boston First Church d. 6 Feb 1715 (Age ~ 56 years)  [Birth]   14. John RAWSON,   c. 14 Jul 1661, Boston First Church  [Birth]
  Family ID	F38907	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	11 Oct 2019

  
  

• Event Map

  Marriage - 1634 or 1635 - England  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Sources

  [S10188] E.B. Crane, A Revised Memoir of Edward Rawson, Secretary of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay. [S10793] The New England Historical and Genealogical Register 2019, Vol. 173 Summer.