William WETHERELL

Notes:

Name:
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]

Notes:

From 1680 to 1710, he was more prominent in public affairs than any other inhabitant in the town. He was town clerk, moderator, justice, judge of the county court and judge of probate. No man in the country stood highter in point of talent and integrity.

Name:
Daniel Wetherell was born November 29, 1630, at Free Schoolhouse, in Maidstone, Kent County, England, coming to New England with his father when he was but about four years old. When he had arrived at manhood, or possibly before that, he took up residence in New London, Connecticut, where he showed himself to be possessed of superior executive abilities, combined with a trustworthy character, and that community proceeded to make use of him according.

He served in one office after another, and often in more than one capacity. He was Town Clerk, Moderator, Justice, Assistant Judge of Probate, and Judge at the County Courts. One is led to wonder what New London would have done without him!! Miss Caulkins, the historian of that town, says, "No man in the country at that time stood higher in the point of talent and recognized integrity."

Headstone Inscription:

Here Lyeth The body
of Capt. Daniel
Wetherell Esq. Who
Died April Ye 14th. 1719
In The 89th Year of His Age

Daniel married Grace BREWSTER on 04 Aug 1659 in New London, New London, Connecticut, USA. Grace (daughter of Jonathan BREWSTER and Lucretia OLDHAM) was born on 01 Nov 1639 in Duxbury, Plymouth, Massachusetts; died on 22 Apr 1684 in New London, Connecticut; was buried in Brewster Cemetery, Montville, New London Co., Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Thomas OLDHAM. Thomas was born in Jun 1624 in Derby, England; died on 3 Mar 1711 in Scituate, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Sarah married Israel HOBART on 21 Dec 1668 in Hingham, Massachusetts. Israel (son of Rev. Peter HOBART and Elizabeth IBROOK) was born on 29 Jun 1642 in Hingham, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; died on 3 Jul 1731 in Hingham, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]