CUMMINGS, Benjamin

Notes:

John received by his father's will the homestead consisting of 40 acres with houses, barns, orchards and fences in Rowley Village (Boxford) which he sold in 1680 to Edward Nealand. This farm was bounded by land of Edward Nealand (Kneeland) and by Tobijah Perkins and the Ipswich common land. He had moved to Boxwood about 1658, made a freeman in 1673. Both he and his wife were members of the church of Topsfield on December 6/7, 1685 when the church voted to let them go to the church in Dunstable, "he without commendation, his wife with commendation". By December 16, 1685 he was one of seven males mentioned as having entered into covenant to form the church in Dunstable. He had moved to Dunstable in 1680 where he was one of the first settlers. He was a selectman in 1682, and a member of the church in 1684. Dunstable is located in what is now Nashua, New Hampshire. It received its name from Dunstable, England. John was the Town Clerk for several years. Two of John's children, Issac and his twin brother Ebenezer were both killed by Indians in November 22, 1688. Their bodies were not recovered for 26 days. John's grandson, Lt. Ebenezer Cummings, was also killed by Indians. John Cummings, (listed among the commoners, 1672. In 1673, he testified in court to being 40 years old; in 1678, 43(47?); in 1679, 50. Four hundred acres were laid off there to him and Thomas Dorman and Robert Stiles. This was bordered on the west by the Andover line. In 1678/9, he is spoken of as "a gatherer" in Boxford of a rate "to procure powder and bullets." He had become a proprietor, on of the first fourteen proprietors, of that new town, some three years before, Nov. 30, 1682. Jonathan Tyng deeded lands to him and to Isaac, John Jr.,and Thomas Cummings at the same time, Jan. 29, 1683. He was selectman in 1682, and for several years town clerk. He died Dec. 1, 1700, and his wife Dec. 7, following.

John married HOWLETT, Sarah 1 Dec 1655, Boxford, Essex County, Massachusetts. Sarah (daughter of HOWLETT, Thomas and FRENCH, Alice) was born 3/03 Mar 1633/1634, Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts; died 7 Dec 1700, Dunstable, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

In Chelmsford on October 4, 1631 we find a legal document which reads: John Neale of Great Oakley, Husbandman, 7 June stole at Mistley a she goat worth 10s. of Isaac Cummyn and a kyd worth 5sh of Abraham Cumyn in a cote. Witnesses: Thos Wyer, John Goffe, Isaac Cumyn, Abr Cumyn. It is possible Abraham is a brother whose birth was during one of the gaps in the Copford Parish Register.
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Another entry from July 7, 1630 reads: John Baker, Ralph Myers and Jas Watts, all of Mistley, Labourers, 13 Jun 6 Ch as 1 (?) stole a black cow worth 40s. belonging to Isaac Cumyns, six heffers each worth 40s. a nd a steer (boviculun) worth 40s. belonging to John Tarver. Pleaded not guilty - all acquitted. Witnesses: Isaac Cumens, John Tarver, Chris Homan, Thos Rawlyins, ThosTurner.
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Isaac made John the sole executor of his will and left him "my house and lands being forty acres more or less consisting of upland and meadow. "John sold this land in 1680 to Edward Nealand.

Isaac — ANNE. was born , Probably England; died Bef 1677, Probably Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Thomas is believed to have immigarted in 1630. He first lived in Boston and removed to Ipswich in 1633. He was admitted to Boston church as member #51, which would be late in 1630. Thomas made freeman 4 March 1633/4. 10 September 1643: "Our brethren John Gage and Thomas Howlett having now for sundry years inhabited at Ipswich and desiring letters of dismission to the church there have the same granted unto them with the church's consent by their silence". Deacon of Ipswich church.
Signed will by mark. Inventory included "1 fowling piece, books, 1 brush" valued at �2 16s. 4d. Apparently trained as a surveyor,for he was in great demand in laying out land s and determining boundaries between towns.
Offices held by Thomas included:
1. Deputy to Massachusetts Bay General Court for Ipswich, 6 May1635 2. Deputy to Massachusetts Bay General Court forTopsfield (as "Ensign Tho[mas] Houlet")
3. Essex grand jury,24 September 1650, 26 September 1654, 27 September 1659, 25 September1666 , 26 March 1667.
4. Petit jury, 4 November 1645, 29 September 1657, 28 March 1665.
5. Arbiter, 28 September 1652.
6. Ipswich member of committee to determine bounds between Salem and Ipswich, 27 March 1643.
7. Ipswich member of committee to determine bounds between Ipswich and Wenham , 1669.
8. Committee to view land requested by Haverhill, 11 November 1647.
9. Committee on bounds between Haverhill and Salisbury, 23 May 1650.
10. Appointed to surveying expedition up the Merrimack, 6 June 1639.
11. Committee to lay out the bounds between Haverhill and Salisbury, 22 May 1650.
12. Committee to lay out five hundred acres at Rowley, 18 May 1653.
13. Committee to lay out six hundred acres to Major Daniel Dennison, 12 May 1654.
14. Committee tosettle the line between Rowley and Newbury, 13 November 1655
15. Committee to lay out land to Governor John Endicott, 14 May 1656.
16. Committee to settle the bounds between Hampton and Salisbury, 14 October 1656.
17. Committee to consider the claim to Jeffrey's Creek, 31 May 1660.
18. Thomas Howlett was referred to as sergeant as early as 13 March 1638/9.
19. On14 May 1645 "Thomas Howlet is confirmed ensign at Ipswich, according to their choice".
ESTATE: "Ensign Howlett" was included in a list of commoners of Topsfieldwho were assessed i n 1664. He was among those to share inthe common lands in March 1673. "Ensign Howelett" was assessed 4s. 10d. in the country rate for Topsfield, 18 November 16 68 and 16s. 6d. in the town rate 27 January 1668/9. In his will, dated 4 November 1677 and proved 24 September 1678, "Thomas Howlit of Ipswich ... weak in body" bequeathed to "Rebeka my wife" one cow, two heifers, an annuity of �5, and the goods she brought with her [at marriage]; to "my son Samull Howlit" fifty acres of land "which I formerly intended for my son John Howlet & also two twenty acre lots in the thick woods in Topsfield and also four acres of meadow"; to "my daughter Sarah Comings four acres of the Hasakey meadow"; to "my son Samull Howlet the rest of the Hasekey meadow"; "my son Samull Howlet" to pay 50s. yearly to the amount of �5 "that I have given to my wife in specie"; to "my wife a kettle instead of a bedtick I promised"; to "my daughter Sarah Comings �4" within four years if she be living, else to her heirs; to "Allis Comins" at her marriage or at 18 years of age 20s.;to "my daughter Mary Perly I have given her �23 which my will is should be made up �50"; to "Mary Howlit my son John Howlit's daughter" �45 to be paid to her at the age of eighteen years or at her day of marriage; if she "live not to receive it, then my will it that there shall be �10 paidto my son John Howlit's wife"; "my son William Howlit my sole executor" and residue; "my loving friends Capt. John Applton, Major Samull Applton and John Whippl Senior" overseers; "my son Thomas Howlit's wife" to enjoy the hundred acres of land "I possessed him of til his eldest daughter "reaches eighteen or marriage " & then she shall enjoy one quarter of it"; when "my son Thomas Howlit's youngest daughter is of the age of eighteen years or at her day of marriage, she shall enjoy one quarter of the hundred acres given to her said father, & after their mother's decease they shall enjoy the other fifty acres equally divided"; if "one of my son Thomas Howlit' s daughters die before she is possessed of her portion, it shall goe to her sister"; if they both die, then "my daughter-in-law my son Thomas Howlit's wife shall enjoy all the hundred acres of land her life and at her decease shall pay out of it to my children, then living, �100" to be equally divided. The inventory of the estate of "Deacon Thomas Howlett" was taken 10 September 1678 and totalled �45211s. 4d., of which �300 was real estate: "the farm with housing, barn, orchard, upland and meadow with one parcel of marsh at Ipswich," �200; and "some other parcels of land," �100. The assets were offset by �34 7s.10d. in debts [EPR 3:2 51-52]. Administration on the estate of "Rebecah Howlet, widow," was taken by James Smith, "James Smith and John Smith the children of the widow, having agreed upon a division of the estate to their mutual satisfaction. The inventory of the estate, taken 3 November 1680 , totalled �64 8s. 6d. and included no real estate.
MARRIAGE: By about 1637 ALICE FRENCH, baptized at Assington, Suffolk, 9 April 1610, daughter of Thomas French; on 16 June 1644 "Our sister Alice French the wife of Thomas Howlett of Ipswich and lately dismissed from us unto the church at Ipswich at her own desire hath letters of dismission granted her unto that church with the consent of our church by their silence". She died at Ipswich 26 June1666.
ASSOCIATIONS: On 28 September 1672 John Gage deposed that "he and his brother Howlet laid out 170 acres at Will's Hill to John Gold". In his will, dated 27 February 1657/8, John Robinson, wheelwright of Ipswich, bequeathed �10 to Alice, wife of Thomas Howlett, his chestand tools to Thomas Howlett, Jr., and the residue to Thomas Howlett, Sr.
COMMENTS: On 1 April 1633 Thomas Howlett was fifth in a list of ten men permitted to remove to and inhabit Agawam [Ipswich. On 29March 1642 "Sergeant Howlett" was sued by Mr. Bradstreet concerning herds of cows. He took the inventory of John Shatswell, brought to court 30 March 1647. The children of "Ensign Howlett" saw a man in Mr. Saltonstall's orchard at exercise time and spoke of it in court 13 November 1649. On 29 May 1658 Thomas Howlett, Frances Pabody, Richard Huten and Abraham Redington took the inventory of the estate of George Buncker. At March court 1662, Ensign Howlet deposed regarding the house and land in controversy between Richard Bellingham and Nehemiah Jewett. At June court 1662 Ensign Howlet told Abraham Redington that he would have to testify against him in the matter of a trespass because he knew that Mr. Bradstreet was granted a piece of land in the area under discussion. In his will of 1 March 1643[/4], Robert Andrews commended his son John Andrews to the guardianship of Thomas Howlett. At court September 1666 Thomas Howlet Sr. and John Gage Sr. deposed that at the first planting of the town there was an order made by the town that there should be two rods left free on the river for the benefit of the inhabitants above high water mark, from the town to the neck and also above. Further, that lots were always so laid out thirty-two years since.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC NOTE: Good treatments of Thomas Howlett and his family were published in 1945 b y Donald Lines Jacobus and in 1959 by Walter GoodwinDavis [Granberry 256-58; Dudley Wildes An c 53-57].

Thomas married FRENCH, Alice Abt 1633, Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. Alice (daughter of FRENCH, Thomas and RIDDLESDALE, Susannah) was born 1610, Assington, Suffolk County, England; died 26 Jun 1666, Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Thomas French and his sister Alice had arrived in New England by 1632, and their two next younger sisters, Dorcas and Susan, came in 1633. Their parents and younger siblings sailed for New England after 1633, and are not included in this phase of the study.

John married GREENE, Anny 16 May 1590, Copford, Essex, England. [Group Sheet]

Thomas married RIDDLESDALE, Susannah 5 Sep 1608, Assington, Suffolk County, England. Susannah (daughter of RIDDLESDALE, John and DORCAS) was born 20 Apr 1584, Boxford, Suffolk County, England; died Aug 1658, Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet]