WHITTIER, Richard

Joseph married PEASLEE, Mary 24 May 1694, Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts. Mary was born 14 Jul 1672, Amesbury, Massachusetts; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Thomas Whittier, who came in the "Confidence" to the colonies in 1638, from Southampton, England at age 18. Records indicate he was an indentured servant to John Rolfe, his uncle. He married Ruth Green and settled in Salisbury, Massachusetts in 1647/48. He was given liberty to make three barrells of tar in Salisbury. After a short residence there he moved to Newbury. In May 1651 The General Court appointed him a commission to lay out the bounds of Haverhill. Their report was approved the following Oct. 1652. On June 7, 1652 he received 7 1/2 acres in a division of "plough-land," in Haverhill. In May 1653 he signed a petition to the General Court to revoke the sentence of Robert Pike, invoked for preaching on the Sabbath in the absence of a minister. In 1659 Thomas had meadow land at Hawkes meadow in Haverhill, bounded by Daniel Ladd on the south. In February 1663/4, the will of John Rolfe of Newbury, MA, proved 29 Mar 1664, gave items to Thomas Whittier's children. On May 23, 1666 he was admitted a freeman at Haverhill, bringing with him a swarm of bees which were willed to him by Henry Rolfe of Newbury. His property in Haverhill was valued at 80 pounds. In 1668 Thomas Whittier appears on a list of those that built houses upon the common of Haverhill, or their own land, since 15 Mar 1660. Such houses were to have no right to the town's common lands. Thomas Built "the famous Whittier homestead in Haverhill, where his illustrious descendant, the poet John Greenleaf Whittier, 1807-1892, was born." In the spring of 1669 the town of Haverhill, having chosen Thomas constable, voted that he should be excused, provided he presented some one to take his place whom the Selectmen should declare satisfactory. On February 19, 1675 Thomas Whittier, Daniel Ladd, and Peter Ayer were appointed by the Haverhill town meeting to designate which houses should be garrisoned, since the town was anticipating trouble with the Indians. On December 22, 1680 the town meeting of Haverhill appointed Tho. Whittier, Nathl. Saltonstall, Lieut. Browne, Wh. White, and Danl. Ela to a committee to obtain aminister to assist Rev. Ward, whose wife had died and who was getting old. They were also to arrange for the new minister a place to live. On June 24, 1681 The committee reported that they had not been able to get a new minister, and a new committee was chosen. In June 1683 Thomas voted with his son John to build a new meeting house on the site of the old. The motion was defeated. In 1686 he was chosen "lot-layer" when Lt. George Browne resigned. He died there 28 Nov. 1696. Thomas' Estate was administered on February 1, 1696/7, and divided in May 1699. His wife died in 1710. They had ten children.

Thomas married ROLFE, Ruth Mar 1645/6, Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts. Ruth (daughter of ROLFE, John and COLES, Joane Ann) was born 1626, England; died Jul 1710, Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet]

Richard married ROLFE, Mary 23/23 Jan 1608/1609, Whiteparish, Wiltshire., England. Mary (daughter of ROLFE, John and Honour) was born 16 Jul 1582, Whiteparish, Wiltshire, England; died , Whiteparish, Wiltshire, England. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The following is from a list of passengers aboard The Confidence.
On April 24, 1638 The Confidence of London, departed Southampton, England, for Salisbury, Massachusetts, (New England).
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Rolfe, John (or Roaffe) . . 50 husbandman of Melchitt (Melchet) Park, Wiltshire. Rolfe, Mrs. Ann(e) (or Roaffe), Roaffe, Hester (dau.) . . . (not listed in "Planters") Whittle, Thomas . . . . . . 18 (Rolfe servant).

John married COLES, Joane Ann 2 Nov 1612, Whiteparish, Wiltshire, England. Joane (daughter of COLES, John and MARSHE, Jane Jone) was born 1591, England; died 1638, Newbury, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet]