Alexander HOYT

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Son of John Hoyt and Ruth
• Occupation: Planter
• Birth: 20 Jan 1590, Upway, Dorchester, co. Dorset, England
• Immigration: 1629, Ship "Lyons Whelp"
• Fact: 18 May 1631, Freeman

Notes:

"The Hoyt and Haight Families in America": It appears, therefore, that Simon Hoyt landed in Salem in 1628 or 1629, perhaps by the ABIGAIL or the GEORGE, and very soon, in 1628 or 1629, probably the latter year, went to Charlestown as one of its first settlers. He could not have remained there more than a year or two, however, if he was one of the first settlers of Dorchester, in 1630. ....
It seems that Simon Hoyt left a widow named Susanna, who married a Bates, and died before Feb. 1674. From the fact that a Smith at Scituate is called his brother, it appears that either Simon, or a sister of his, married a Smith. It is probable that Simon had two wives, and that Walter, Nicholas, and John were the sons of the first wife, as will appear from the following agreement, found on the Stamford records: "Witnes these presents an agreement made & concluded between vs viz; Moses Hoyt, Joshua Hoyt, Samuell Hoyt, Benjamin Hoyt, Thomas Lyon, Samuel Flinch,Samuel Firman conserving yye distribution of ye Estate of our deceased mother Susana Bates, ye contents followeth
That Moses hoyt receive of Joshua Hoyt ye Just sum of four pounds, thirteen shillings & sixpence which ye said Joshua doth agree to pay. & Samuel Hoyt to have ye beding in his hands & ye horse & wels is in his hands. Benjamin Hoyt to have ye ten pounds left in his hands by our mother Susana afresaid. Thomas Lyon & Samuel Flinch to have ye horses & mares young and old running in ye woods of norwake equally between us, & twenty shillings to each of vs, paid by our brother Joshua Hoyt which ye said Joshua agrees unto.
Samuel Firman to have ye horses & mares runing in fairfeeld limits, & twenty shillings more paid by our brother Joshua Hoyt unto me. The Residue of ye Estate of our forsaid mother remaining in ye hands of our brother Joshua Hoyt being four pounds thirteen shillings & six pence, which ye said Joshua to hae as his pie in ye distribution of ye forsaid Estate mutually agreed unto. -- The distribution as above of ye Estate of our mother Amongst us to our mutuall satisfaction, in consideration whereof we the above named doe hereby Joyntly & severally release, discharge & aquit our borther Joshua Hoyt, & one another from all & any further demands of any right, title or interest in ye Estate aforesaid, & from all & any trouble or molestation in & about ye same.
Joyntly desiring ye this our agreement may be comited to publique record for the further establishment of ye same, further more it is agreed by us fore-named ye if ye shall arise any Just debts due fro our mother in her widdow-hood ye wee or any of us now not of, ye we ye forenamed will contrybute equally to ye payment of ye said debt. In witness of thrugh unto ye premises we ye piyes forenamed doe binds our selues firmly, as witnes our hands this 1st 12: Anno: 1674. Signed thus
Moses Hoyt
Joshua Hoyt
Samuell Hoyt
Benjamin Hoyt
thomas Lyon
Samuell Flinch
Samuell Firman

Witness - Abram Finch
Jonas Seely

From all that has been learned about Simon Hoyt, it is evident that he must have been born before 1600, probably as early as 1595. Hence he was probably thirty or thirty-five years of age at the time of coming to America, and sixty or sixty-five at the time of his death.
The chronicles of the time give us some idea of the hardships endured by the first settlers at Charlestown and Dorchester, - the sufferings of the winter; the conspiracy of the Indians t cut off th eEnglish, when "all hands, of men, women, and children wrought t digging and building," until a fort was completed; and the perils of pestilence and famine, when they were compelled to live on "clams, and muscles, and fish." In all these Simon Hoyt must have participated.
It also appears that he was an early settler of seven different towns in New England; and in most of them he was one of the first white residents. What an experience of pioneer life he must have had!! Scarcely was he settled in one place before he gave up his home, with all its comforts, and started to subdue a new portion of the wilderness. Most of his children seem to have shared the spirit of their father; for in twenty years after his death no one bearing the name of Hoyt was left in either of these seven towns, except Stamford. the hardy and courageous character of the family is shown, not only by their frequent changes of residence, but by the fact that they lived, in Windsor, at least, away from the other settlers...

Simon married Jane STOODLIE before 1618 in Marshwood, Co Dorset, England. Jane was born about 1597 in England; died before 1629. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]