Family of Edward * GOVE and Hannah * PARTRIDGE

Husband:	Edward * GOVE (1630-1691)
Wife:	Hannah * PARTRIDGE (1642-1712)
Children:	John GOVE (1661- )
	William GOVE (1662- )
	Hannah GOVE (1664- )
	Mary GOVE (1666- )
	Penuil GOVE (1668- )
	Abigail GOVE (1670- )
	Ebenezer GOVE (1671- )
	Edward GOVE (1673- )
	Samuel GOVE (1674- )
	Rachel GOVE (1676- )
	Ann GOVE (1677- )
	Sarah * GOVE (1678-1736)
Marriage	1 Jan 1661	Salisbury, Essex, MA, US1

Husband: Edward * GOVE

Wife: Hannah * PARTRIDGE

Name:	Hannah * PARTRIDGE
Sex:	Female
Father:	William * PARTRIDGE (1615-1654)
Mother:	Ann * SPICER (1618-1689)
Birth	8 Jan 1642	Salisbury, Essex, MA, US
Death	26 Mar 1712 (age 70)	Hampton Falls, Rockingham, NH, US

Child 1: John GOVE

Name:	John GOVE
Sex:	Male
Birth	19 Sep 1661

Child 2: William GOVE

Name:	William GOVE
Sex:	Male
Birth	1662

Child 3: Hannah GOVE

Name:	Hannah GOVE
Sex:	Female
Birth	1664

Child 4: Mary GOVE

Name:	Mary GOVE
Sex:	Female
Spouse:	Joseph + SANBORN (1659-1722)
Birth	14 Apr 1666	Hampton, Rockingham, NH, US

Child 5: Penuil GOVE

Name:	Penuil GOVE
Sex:	Female
Birth	1668

Child 6: Abigail GOVE

Name:	Abigail GOVE
Sex:	Female
Birth	1670

Child 7: Ebenezer GOVE

Name:	Ebenezer GOVE
Sex:	Male
Spouse:	Judith SANBORN (1675- )
Birth	23 Jun 1671

Child 8: Edward GOVE

Name:	Edward GOVE
Sex:	Male
Birth	1673

Child 9: Samuel GOVE

Name:	Samuel GOVE
Sex:	Male
Birth	1674

Child 10: Rachel GOVE

Name:	Rachel GOVE
Sex:	Female
Birth	1676

Child 11: Ann GOVE

Name:	Ann GOVE
Sex:	Female
Birth	9 Jan 1677

Child 12: Sarah * GOVE

Note on Husband: Edward * GOVE

EDWARD GOVE, born in London, England, in 1630. He lived in Salisbury, and was a bachelor April 16, 1657, when he bought a right of commonage in Salisbury of Josiah Cobham of Salisbury, planter.1

1[Norfolk Registry of Deeds, book 1, leaf 101.]

 

He married Hannah, daughter of William Partridge of Salisbury in 1660. With William Allin, house carpenter, Edward Gove, then of Salisbury, planter, for forty pounds, bought of Mr. William Worcester of Salisbury and wife Rebecca one hundred and twenty acres of upland at Batt's hill, in Salisbury, May 1, 1662;1 and Mr. Gove, then of Salisbury, husbandman, conveyed his half interest in the same to Samuel Fellows of Salisbury, weaver, March 28, 1663.2 Mr. Gove, still of Salisbury, husbandman, conveyed to John Colby of Salisbury, planter, twenty acres of upland, on the west side of Pawwaus river in Salisbury (now in Amesbury), July 7, 1662.3 Still of Salisbury, husbandman, for eleven pounds, Mr. Gove bought of Samuel Colby of Salisbury, planter, twenty-four acres of upland in Salisbury Nov. 16, 1663. Still of Salisbury, husbandman, for thirty pounds, Mr. Gove bought of Richard Currier of Salisbury, planter, seventy-two acres of land in a place called Jamaica, on the Merrimack river, in Salisbury (now in Amesbury), Nov. 27, 1662;4 and, for forty-six pounds, Mr. Gove conveyed it to William Buswell of Salisbury, weaver, June 22, 1666.5 Mr. Gove was still of Salisbury, March 23, 1663, when, for eighty-five pounds, he bought of Eliakim Wardell of Hampton (in that part of the town which is now Seabrook), thirty acres of land bounded by Salisbury common and land of Nathaniel Wyer and Nathaniel Ware, with the dwelling house; cowhouse, etc.; a share in the cow-commons; and eighty acres of upland at the new plantation in Hampton, March 23, 1665.6 Mr. Gove removed to Hampton (now Seabrook) in the spring of 1665; and resided in this house as long as he lived. After his death in 1691, it remained in the possession of his widow, and upon a division of the homestead, in 1712, it went to his son Ebenezer. The farm has continued to be in the Gove name ever since.

 

For thirty pounds, Mr. Gove conveyed to Ezekiel Wathen of Salisbury, laborer, forty-eight acres of upland, in Salisbury, on the west side of Pawwaus river and on the country highway leading to Haverhill, Nov. 28, 1665;7 and he conveyed to John Ilsley of Salisbury, barber, eight acres of upland in Hall's farm, in Salisbury, in 1669.8

 

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EDWARD GOVE'S INSURRECTION

The people of the province, ever jealous of their liberties, were indignant at Cranfield's conduct, but, in general, demeaned themselves as good citizens. A few only, under the leadership of EDWARD GOVE, of Hampton, determined to revolutionize the government, or, at least, to effect a reform. Gove was a person of considerable property, and somewhat popular, and, as Mr. Randolph affirms, "a leading man and a great stickler in the late proceedings of the assembly." Under the influence of resentment, caused by a free use of ardent spirits, and by a want of rest,--such is his own acknowledgment,--he resolved, almost single-handed, to redress his own and others' grievances. He "made it his business," said Randolph, "to stir the people up to rebellion, by giving out that the governor, as vice-admiral, acted under the commission of his royal highness, (The Duke of York, afterwards James II) who was a papist, and would bring popery in amongst them; that the governor was a pretended governor, and his commission, signed in Scotland. He endeavored, with a great deal of pains, to make a party, and solicited many of the considerable persons in each town to join with them to recover their liberties."

Gove declared "that his sword was drawn, and he would not lay it down, till he knew who should hold the government." The governor, having received information of his movements, immediately sent messengers to Hampton and Exeter, with warrants for the constables, requiring them to arrest him; but fearing that his party might become too strong for the civil power, he forthwith ordered the militia of the whole province to be in readiness.

 

At first, Gove eluded or repulsed the marshal and other who attempted to arrest him in this town, and hastened "to his party at Exeter, from whence he suddenly returned with twelve men [principally] of that town, mounted and armed with swords, pistols and guns,--a trumpet sounding and Gove with his sword drawn riding into Hampton at the head of them." Here they were all arrested and taken into custody by the militia of the town, except the trumpeter, who, "forcing his way, escaped, after whom a hue and cry was sent out to all parts."

 

When Governor Cranfield was informed of this arrest, he was just mounting his horse to lead a part of the troop in pursuit of Gove and his party.

 

Randolph says: "This rising was, unexpectedly to the party, made upon the 27th day of January." He further asserts it as the general belief, that "many considerable persons, to whose houses Gove either went in person, or sent--calling upon them to come out and stand up for their liberties, would have joined with him, had he not discovered his designs, or appeared in arms at that time; for," he adds, "upon the 30th day of January, being appointed by the governor, a day of public humiliation, they designed to cut off the governor, Mr. Mason and some others, whom they affected not."

 

It seems hardly credible that a conspiracy so base, and to be executed on a day of public humiliation, was ever formed by many, or even any, of the leading men in New Hampshire. Its existence, so far as can now be learned, depends entirely upon Mr. Randolph's statement, and the charge appears to be not only untrue, but so improbable, that to one unacquainted with Randolph's character, and his malignity towards the people of New England, it would be difficult to account for such a statement; but taking into consideration his character and his prejudices, it is even more surprising, that he could keep so near the truth, as he does in some parts of the narrative from which the foregoing extracts have been taken.

 

Gove and his associates having been arrested, the governor sent a strong party of horse to guard them (then prisoners in irons) from Hampton to Portsmouth. This was on Saturday. The next day, although it was the Sabbath, they were taken separately before the governor and council, for examination. The first one examined was Edward Gove. He did not deny what he had lately said and done. He admitted that "he did sound, or cause to be sounded, the trumpet being his own; and did draw his sword because his own," and added: "The governor is no judge of this court, but a pretended one, and a traitor to the king and his authority." Then addressing Governor Cranfield directly, he said: "Your Honor is in more danger of your life than I." Being asked what he meant, he replied: "God in heaven will do me justice."

 

The examination of the other persons arrested, elicited but few facts tending to criminate them of anything but being in Gove's company. Yet all of them were committed to the prison at Great Island, where, on account of the dilapidated state of the prison, they were still kept in irons, lest they should make their escape.

 

No time was lost before bringing the prisoners to trial. On Monday, the 5th day February, 1683,--only nine days after their arrest--a special court was constituted and holden at Portsmouth, for this purpose, before Richard Waldron, Judge, and Thomas Daniels and William Vaughan, Assistants, "and others, His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the Province, then present."

 

The prisoners, eleven in number, were all charged with the crime of HIGH TREASON.

 

A grand jury was impaneled and sworn in open court, "to make inquiry for our Sovereign Lord the King."

 

The witnesses being sworn and examined, the grand jury found a true bill against nine of them, viz.: Edward Gove, John Gove, William Healey, of Hampton, John Wadleigh, Joseph Wadleigh, Robert Wadleigh, Thomas Rawlins, Mark Baker, and John Sleeper, of Exeter. Upon the presentment of the grand jury, a petit jury of the free-holders of the province, was returned and impanelled for the trial of the persons indicted, who severally pleaded "Not guilty."

 

From the depositions laid before the jury to prove the guilt of the prisoners, a few statements only are selected to be introduced here, but enough to give some idea of the object and character of Gove's movements.

 

From the testimony of Richard Martyn, of Portsmouth, it appears, that Edward Gove was at his house on Thursday, the 25th of January, and that he said, he was "on a design," and added: "We have swords by our sides, as well as others, and will see things mended before we lay them down." He said he was going to Dover and would be heard from in three or four days.

 

By the testimony of Reuben Hall, it was proved that Gove was at Dover on Friday, the day after Martyn had seen him at Portsmouth, "having his sword and boots on." In reply to Hall, who asked what was the matter with him, he said: "Matter enough! we of Hampton have had a town meeting, and we are resolved as one man, that these things shall not be carried on as they are like to be; we all have our guns ready to stand upon our guard; and I have been at Exeter, and they are resolved to do the some. I have my sword by my side, and brought my carbine also with me. . . . . The Governor has stretched his commission."

 

Edward Gove alone was adjudged guilty of treason; the rest were pardoned and set at liberty; but upon this fellow-citizen of ours was passed sentence as horrible as the tortures of the Spanish Inquisition, --"That he should be carried back to the place from whence he came, and from thence be drawn to the place of execution, and there be hanged by the neck and cut down alive, and that his entrails be taken out and burnt before his face, and his head cut off, and his body divided into four quarter, and his head and quarters disposed of at the king's pleasure." This revolting sentence, however, was not executed. Gove was reprieved, sent to England, and imprisoned in the Tower about three years; when he received a full pardon, and returned to his family.

 

++++++++++++++++++++

 

Hampton 350

1638 -- 1988

Rockingham County Newspaper -- July 8, 1988

 

Back to previous section -- Forward to next section -- Return to Table of Contents

 

[The following articles are courtesy of

Hampton Union and Seacoast Online.]

 

A Grandson Remembers Edward Gove

Hampton's Gove -- Ahead Of His Time

By Doug Gove

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Nearly 100 years before the outbreak of the Revolution, Edward Gove of Hampton led what historians believe was the first armed resistance to the British in the northern colonies. He was, Rev. Edgar Warren wrote in the introduction to the second edition of Dow's History of Hampton, 1638-1892, "a high- spirited and impulsive man, who resolved not to lightly submit to what he considered an infringement of the people's ancient prerogatives."

Many of Gove's descendants can be found in the Seacoast today, and one of them — Doug Gove — has submitted the following account of the man he calls "my grandfather."]

 

 

 

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Edward Gove was a rebel, a person who engaged in armed resistance against an established government, England. He was rebellious and defiant in the Province of New Hampshire in New England at Hampton. That's my grandfather, eleven generations removed, of whom his colonial neighbors said "he was a strenuous man, and frank even to bluntness. When he believed he was wronged he quickly sought to avenge himself, as far as possible, by his own individual efforts. He did not refrain from forceful language and personal assault and was before the quarterly court several times for such offenses."

That is one of the skeletons rattling in the closets of most of the Goves in this section of the country.

 

Fact blends with fiction as Memory Bank travels back in time out 308 years. The King has given Robert Tufton Mason the authority to take care of the affairs of the new province. He is a failure and appoints Unprincipled Governor Cranfield to become his tool. The governor disbands the January 1683 assembly. The people considered this an unreasonable act and an unwarrantable abuse of power. Most however, though indignant at Cranfield's conduct, considered themselves good citizens and remained passive. Not so for Gove and a few others under his leadership who, in the exuberance of patriotism, "determined to revolutionize the government or at least to effect a reform."

 

 

The Insurrection

Portsmouth was calm and quiet when the January stillness was broken by the barking of Richard Martin's dog. Another sound, the crunch of frozen snow under the feet of Edward Gove 'and Jonathan Thing, brought Martin to his door.

"We have a design and our swords are by our sides as well as others, and would see things mended before we will lay them down," Gove said. "We are going to Dover and you will hear from us in three or four days."

 

Friday, January 26, 1688, Reuben Hull, a Portsmouth merchant, was in Dover to pick up. a load of barrel hoops when he met Gove who had his sword and boots on, and said to him, "How now Gove, where are you bound? What's the matter with you?"

 

"Matter?" said Gove, "matter enough. We at Hampton have had a town meeting and we resolved as one man that. things shall not be carried on as it is like to be, and we have all our guns ready to stand upon our guard. I have been at Exeter and they are resolved to do the same. I have my sword at my side, and brought my carbine also with me which I have left some where. Jonathan Thing came with me. I have to (talk to) John Pickering and some others, and I am going to Major Waldern's to see what he will say to it. He did say that the governor had stretched his commission."

 

"Gove, what are you mad? Hull replied. "Do you know what you are going to do?"

 

Gove answered, "If you will be of the other side, we shall know you and if they should take me and put me in jail, I have them that will bring me out."

 

 

Day Of Action

Gove undoubtedly expected that when his arrest was attempted, there would be resistance and then a general uprising. It didn't happen. He returned to Hampton Saturday, Jan. 27, 1683.

He and 11 other rebels, all on horseback, moved in two lines into the tiny colonial village on the New Hampshire Seacoast, shouting, "Freemen, come out and stand for your liberties." Led by Gove, they were nearly all from Hampton, with their leader waving his sword and the trumpeter sounding their arrival with a military medley. Gove, seeing no demonstration in his favor at his appearance, lay down his arms and gave himself up to the authorities of the town, as did the others. They were taken into custody by the militia, except the trumpeter, who escaped.

 

That house arrest didn't hold the men long and they were soon on the dirt road again where Henry Green, a justice of the peace, saw them. Gove threatened him with his gun.

 

William Marston, the local constable, armed with the governor's warrant, soon arrived at Gove's home and made a diligent search, but he could not find him. Returning homeward in the nighttime, when he could not plainly see, he heard the trumpet as Gove and the trumpeter galloped past them. The constable immediately returned to the Gove homestead. By the time they arrived back at the rebel's door, the latch string was pulled in, but Gove said, "open the door" and defiantly stood before the constable with his sword or cutlass drawn, pointing towards the assembled gathering.

 

"Hands off," he said. "I know your business as well as yourself. I will not be taken in my house."

 

Nathaniel Ladd, the trumpeter, stepped to him to assist him with his sword drawn toward the constable's breast. Marston's mouth dropped open, his eyes popped out and in an instant he knew what to do — secure more assistance.

 

Returning to Gove's home, the Constable saw Edward Gove, Nathaniel Ladd, John Gove and William Hely quickly mount and ride away.

 

 

Sunday Showdown

As the rebel horsemen faded into the gloom, Marston likely didn't expect to see them so soon. They were back in Hampton the next day, however, with the Seacoast sunshine.

Edward Gove was in front. The trumpeter blew his trumpet as they approached Mr. Sherborn's house in two files. Their horses pranced and snorted as their breath created plumes of white in the crisp January air. The lieutenant, leading the local militia, spoke to Edward Gove and his men: "Halt and dismount, deliver your arms and surrender. You are being taken directly to court."

 

Constables with warrants had been unable to serve them. Now the local militia was augmented by other units as Governor Cranfield feared that Gove's party might be too strong and commanded the militia of the whole province to be in readiness. Now a strong guard sent by the governor were taking the prisoners in irons from Hampton to Portsmouth.

 

They were brought before the governor and his council, where Gove behaved himself very insolently. Each of the prisoners then defended himself and his activities. Edward Gove acknowledged that the testimony against him was true. He "railed" at Governor Cranfield, saying he was a traitor and acted under a pretended commission and demeaned himself with "insolence and impudence."

 

Judge Richard Waldren pounded his mallet, then solemnly pronounced the sentence. (The followers of Gove were to be held for a later judgment, and most of them were pardoned).

 

"You, Edward Gove, be drawn on a hedge to the place of execution, and there you shall be hanged by ye neck, and when yet living, be cut down and cast on the ground, and your bowels shall be taken out of your belly, and your privy member cut off and burnt while you are yet alive, your head shall be cut off and your body divided in four parts, and your head and quarters shall be placed where our Sovereign Lord the King pleaseth to appoint. And the Lord have mercy on your soul."

 

 

Tower Of London

After the trial in Portsmouth in Feb. 1683, Cranfield, fearing to execute the sentence on Gove, sent him to England for the King to deal with. Gove was on board the ship Richard of Boston when it left port March 29.

The Tower of London is in the east end of the city, a group of stone buildings including an ancient fortress, a dark prison, and a royal residence surrounded by a shallow moat and a high stone wall. This was the destination of Edward Gove, where he was sadly to spend the next three years.

 

Many letters were written by the prisoner and people on his behalf during this time. Finally, Gove, in his cell, took up his quill pen and sent a petition to the King which brought results. In it he stated, "want of rest for 18 days before my apprehension deprived your Petitioner of the use of his reason and the control of his tongue and was the cause of your Petitioner's indiscreet actions towards the said Mr. Cranfield." He was released on his own recognizance to plead his pardon April 9, 1686.

 

 

The Intervening Years

After Gove's incarceration in the the spring of 1683, the rule under Cranfield continued in its arbitrary and cruel manner.

From the Gove Book, written by William Henry Gove and published at Salem, Mass., in 1922, most of the preceding information has been researched. The author wrote, "the people were horrified at the bloody sentence of Gove and cried aloud for vengeance. It was already whispered about that public meetings would be held to express the indignation at the baseness of the manner in which the conviction was obtained and the cruel barbarity of the sentence, which was intended to awe the people into submission. It had a directly contrary effect."

 

One Sunday, Cranfield's men tried to serve an order in Dover. A tumult ensued, ending when a young girl knocked down one of the officials with the Bible. At other places, the women met the collector of taxes at their doors with scalding water, which proved a perfect barrier to their mission. The men used clubs. Cranfield was removed by the King and escorted, minus his sword, to the Salisbury line with a rope around his neck and his legs tied under the belly of the horse which he rode.

 

 

Honor Restored

 

A stone marks the final resting place of Edward

Gove in Hampton's Pine Grove Cemetery

[Staff photo/Bill Murphy]

After Gove' s conviction, his extensive land holdings, buildings and money were confiscated by the governor. This left the family destitute. At a meeting of the council held in Boston, Nov. 9, 1686, it was ordered that a report to the King be made concerning Cranfield's estate in New England and what money he had received from purchasers of the estate of Edward Gove. All of Gove's property was returned to him. Like returning from the dead, Gove came back to his home and renewed his life in Hampton. He had the respect of the people of the province. From the earliest days of the Province of New Hampshire, Gove was involved in its government. He was elected as a member of the assembly from Hampton. He must have known the widespread disaffection and determination of the people not to yield to the demands of the Cranfield regime, and his views were well known to them because of his outspoken sentiments. He was thought to be the right man for the assembly.

Gove died in Hampton on July 29, 1691, at the age of 61. He always contended that a slow poison was administered to him while in prison.

 

While still living in Norfolk County, he was fined five shillings and the cost of court for shooting a hawk on the Sabbath day. That's my grandfather and our patriotic ancestor.

Sources

1	"US and International Marriage Records, 1550-1900" (on-line, Yates Publishing, Provo, UT).

2	"American Genealogical-Biographical Index" (Godfrey Memorial Library, On-Line, Provo, UT).

3	"Passenger and Immigrations Lists Index 1500-1900".

4	"MA Census, 1790-1890".

5	"NH Death and Burial Records Index, 1654-1949".

6	"NH Death and Disinterment Records 1754-1947".

7	"NH Births and Christenings Index, 1714-1904".

8	"NH Birth Records, 1659-1900 Record".