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DANIEL HOVEY, Sr.
1618 - 1676/1683
Daniel Hovey, the ancestor of the American Hoveys, was born at Waltham Abbey,
in Essex County, England, Aug. 9, 1618, being son of Richard Hovey, a glover,
of that place. He was aparently a man of education, and the fact that the
curate of his parish church was friendly to and interested in him while he was
in his teens and far away in a strange land, indicates that there were elements
in his character which drew and held attention to him. He was one of the early
settlers of Ipswich, Massachusetts, in 1635, at the age of seventeen. Feb 5,
1637, the town granted to him six acres of land on Muddy creek; and also
"Granted to Daniell Hovey, an house lott, 1 acre of ground on the South syde of
the Town River, having a house lott, granted to William Holdred on the West,
and a house lott granted to Thomas Sherman on the East. Also six acres of
plainting ground, lying on Sagamore Hill, having a plainting lott, formerly
granted Henry Wilkinson on the West, and a plainting lott granted to William
Hodred on the East: to enjoy the sayde Landes, to him, his heirs, or assigns
forever. Entered this 27th day of March 1639." The freemen of the town granted
to William Holdred a house lot of half-an-acre adjoining Daniel Hovey's on the
southwest, being on the south side of the river, and bounded by the house lot
of Roger Preston on the southwest; also six acres of planting ground on
Sagamore hill adjoining Daniel Hovey's planting lot west, and the plainting lot
of Roger Prestion on the east; the grants being entered April 9, 1639; and both
of these lots were conveyed by Mr. Holdred to "Daniel Hovey of Ipswich,
planter," and, also, one dwelling house built on the house lot and all the
fencing belonging to both lots. Entered April 10, 1639.
Feb 10, 1644, the town of Ipswich ordered that Mr. Hovey be paid three
shillings for killing three foxes. In 1684, he subscribed three shillings three
times a year to Maj. Danile Denison, "so long as he shall be their leader, to
encourage him in his military helpfulness," the whole annual sum being
twenty-four pounds and seven shillings, and the largest subscription ten
shillings.
Mr. Hovey was somewhat prominent, and held several town offices in Ipswich,
being chosen one of the selectmen Feb. 14, 1659; a surveyor of highways in
1648-9 and 1649-50; and a constable in 1658. In 1656, he was one of a committee
to set up a saw mill on Chebacco
river. The selectman ordered, 12; 12; 1650, that Symon Tomson and Daniell Hovey
shall view a certain parcel of land. In 1649, he was a juror at Ipswich court.
In the county court which sat at Ipswich 29: 1; 1642, Mr. Hovey was plaintiff
in three civil actions. One was against James Pitney and James Howe, in which
he recovered judgment for Pitney and James Howe, in which he recovered judgment
for nine bushels of corn; one against Jo: Lee, which was not tried; and the
other was against George Varnham and Jo: North, which was continued.
Daniel Hovey was granted a highway to go to his lot in, by the town of Ipswich,
March 4, 1650.
22:12:1652, the town gave him liberty to set his fence down to the river at his
ground which he bought of William Knowlton, making a stile at each end.
At a town meeting held Feb. 14, 1659, Daniel Hovey was granted liberty to build
a wharf against his ground that he bought of William Knowlton, and, also, such
building as may tend to the
improvement thereof.
Mr. Hovey was living on his farm in Topsfield in 1663 and 1664. June 15, 1663,
he was chosen one of two persons to lay out some land.
Mr. Hovey was complained of for speaking falsely to the prejudice of Federal
Denison, and was fined twenty shillings in Ipswich court Sept. 24, 1667. The
records show that in some case, in which evidently General Denison acted as
magistrate, Mr. Hovey said that Major Denison did not write his determination
nor state his sentence in public, and what was done occurred after he was gone,
and that John Gould whispered in the major's ear as he was going away.
Magistrates did not allow themselves to be criticized in those days.
In May, 1660, a colony went from Ipswich to Quaboag, a place subsequently named
Brookfield; and Daniel Hovey joined it in 1668. His sons James and Thomas went
with him. The lots of land laid out to the father and sons adjoined, and were
stuated easterly of the little brook, on the north side of the road. Daniel
Hovey was living in Quaboag in May, 1672, and settled in Hadley before the
massacre at Quabog in 1675.
While in Hadley, he lived on a a farm of Mr. Henry Clerke; and Mr. John
Russell, Jr., and Mr. Peter Tilton, Sr., executors of the will of Mr. Clerke of
Hadley, deceased, brought an action against Mr. Hovey, at the court in
Springfield Sept, 26, 1676, for withholding rent due to said plaintiffs "for a
ffarm of Land of ye sayd Mr. Henry Clerkes which ye sayd Hovey hath Occupyed as
a tenement." The jury found a verdict for the plaintiffs, and awarded them
fourteen pounds damages, due in 1676. At the succeeding term of court held at
Springfield the same year, Mr. Hovey brought suit against Mr. John Russell,
jr., being an "Action of unjust molestation in a Suite at ye last Corte at
Springfield & for uncharitable Charges to ye defamation or Slandour of the s
Dan Hovey & his Wife & Charging ye s Dan to be a man of a Scandolous life in an
Open Afsembly & therefore was denyed Church Comunion & this threatened to be
made Out to his Church and yt he belonged too & all ye Churches thereaboute."
The jury found a verdict for Mr. Hovey. Whether these proceedings and the
unhappy contentions that must have been engendered by them had aught to do with
his departure from Hadley or not the writer does no know; but Mr. Hovey
returned to Ipswich in 1678.
While living in Hadley, he suffered much at the hands of the Indians, and was
also a sharer in providing defense for the town. Three years after his return
to Ipswich, he sent to the colonial council a petition, and exact copy of
which, copied from the original instrument on file in Massachusetts archives,
at the state house in Boston, is as follows:
To the Honoured Council now sitting in Boston; the humble petition of Daniel
Hovey of Ipswich, wheras your humble petitioner was an inhabitant of Hadley in
the time of the late Indian warrs, and there expeded (beside my lofses) much of
my Estate in the Countreys service against the common enemy; and since that
time was removed thence by Providence to Ipswich, wehre I have remained now
these three yeers last past; and by reason of the remote distance from Hadley
and want of intelligence thence I mifsed the opportunity of sending in my last
accounts together with my neighbours there, to the last Sefsions of the Gen
Court; which caused me much labour and long travell thither from Ipswich; yet
at the last I have gained a certificate of those my Expences from the Committee
of Militia in Hadley, being the last of mine Expences there on the Countrys
service; ammounting to 11th 13th 08d; as by the said Certificate doth fully
appear: now my humble request and petition is, that your Honors would be
pleased to grant me an Order to the Constables of Ipswich that I may recieve
the said Sums there; where my setled residence is, and have no commerce or
dealing at Hadley: that so I may discount my present Rates, and may have the
residue for the relief of my family, which hath been much straitned by my
lofses and expences there in time of the warrs, and by rates both then and
since. The Lord direct your confells and afsist your endeavors in all weighty
transactions now in hand, that we may rejoice and blefs God under yor good
government continued over us. So prayeth Your humble petitioner,
Daniel Hovey.
The order thereon was as follows:
28 ffebruary
It is ordered that the Trefurer pay unto Daniel Hovey of Ipswich the Sum of
Eleven Pou[n]ds out of there Country Rate in full of all his Accounts in
Controversy.
p councill Edw Rawson Secrety
Councils act to pay Dani Hovey 11th 1861.
The selectmen of Ipswich granted to him six pine trees, presumably for timber,
at two times, three on Jan. 2, 1678, and three Dec. 15, 1679.
Daniel Hovey married Abigail, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Franklin?)
Andrews of Ipswich, about 1641. Mr. Andrews died in 1643, having given to Mr.
Hovey a legacy of ten pounds, in the settlement of the estate of Mrs. Hovey's
brother Thomas Andrews, a prominent schoolmaster, Mr. Hovey certified to the
county court as follows:
September 27, '83'
Thefe may inform this Honored Cort. & may it pleafe your Honors. to take notis
touching the relations of this worthy gentilman Mr Thomas Andrews, my truly
loving dear & wel. beloved Brother &c. I did more then forty years ago match
with his Loving & welbeloved fifter Abigail Andrews. By home the lord bleft me
with fix fons. & on dafter, five of wich fons are yet living fo that by thes it
may appear that we ar fuerly related to this defefed gentleman. But in brief he
hath fix nefews & two nefes. as. folows thei is the fon and dafter of his
brother as namly John. Andrews & Fara Connant his fifter both which are
Confiderably deters unto his eftate as alfo Mrs Elifibeth Glouer who is married
to Mr John Glouer formerly living at Bofton now at fwanfy weh alfo is deter to
the eftate ther is my felf alfo deter to ye eftate five fhilins upon the prifin
of fom things he lent me for my prefent vs & gaue me order to vfe & kep them
til he called for them. There is Daniel & John Hovery tow of his nefews deter
to the eftate for fcolin their Children about four pounds. their is alfo
Thomas, Joseph & nathaniel Hovey. thre of his nefews wh never had the value of
on fhiling of the eftate of their unkls that I know of. I humbly draw your
favor to ouerlook my weaknes in indevrin to lay this narative befor your
Honors. yt when their fhal aper a vifibl eftat of my Loving Brothers youe mav
haue fo much as thef few lines may aford as touching the fetling of his eftat
upon his relations that we quietly & peafable wth ye lords blefing may haue the
benifit of the vf of yt his eftate weh he left vndifposed of now the good lord
of heven to influenf your heads & hearts by ye lit of his holy fpirit as that a
Gevin fentans my profed frome you as god may haue honor yourr felus joy in the
day of Chrift & no perfons or erfon may haue caufe of complaint but that we may
blef god for his merfy to fe juftis & udgt fil runin in our ftrets. So prays
your humble petitioner.
Daniel [sig. hard to read].
The real estate transactions to which Mr. Hovey was a party besides those that
were grants from the town in the earlier days are as follows: He owned, with
others, twenty-five acres of marsh, which was divided Jan. 30, 1858.
He bought seventy acres of upland and meadow in Topsfield, bounded north and
northeast by the pond, east by a part of the Ipswich commons, south by upland
and meadow of Robert Andrews and west by common land and meadow, June 12, 1660.
When he was living at Quabog, he conveyed a piece of marsh and "my farm in
Topsfield weh my son Jon now liveth in, to him he surrendering to me his land
in Ipswich," and paying forty pounds and allowing to the grantor thirty
shillings a year during the latter's life; and also "my division of land at
wheall brooke," June 13, 1671. While Mr. Hovey was still at "Quabaugh," he
conveyed one-half of an acre of land in Ipswich, lying on the south side of the
river, together with the frame of a house standing on the adjoining land of his
son Daniel and some shingles at Topsfield, May 8, 1672. When Mr. Hovey lived at
Hadley he sold twenty-four rods of land in Ipswich, being part of that lot
called Knowlton's lot, on the south side of the river, May 1, 1677. After Mr.
Hovey's return to Ipswich, he sold one and one-half acres of plowing land lying
on the south side of the river in Ipswich, Feb. 11, 1688-9. He also conveyed
six acres and seventy-one square rods of pasture land in Ipswich April 23,
1869. he also conveyed on and one-half acres of plowing land in Ipswich, lying
on the south side of the river, next to the lot last above described, Oct. 12,
1689.
Mrs. Hovey died between 1676 and 1683. He died in Ipswich April 24, 1692. His
will proved Oct. 31, 1692. The following is a copy of the original document on
file in the probate office at Salem: -
I Daniell Hovey fenie of Ipfidg Confidrin the changes of man doe defier by the
help of the Lord to fetel m conserns as may be for the glory of god and the
good of my family my fole I defir to resign and Comit unto the hand of my Lovin
ffather in Jefus Chrift ho is the Lord my Ritofnis my body to be desently
buried in erth n hop of a glorious and blefed reserectio by chrift amen.
Itt The ftat which god of his grace hath given me I haue dispofd of af folows
to my Edlest fonf Daniell and John houey and my daftor Airs I haue given them
thire proptions of yt Eftat I had to our mutuall constent ye one at Ipfig ye
other in Topsfill Now in their pofefon Abigals paid by my fon John to my fon
Airs:
Itt To my fon Thomas and James his fon Danill I give all that my lland caled
houeys Iland which with the thatchbanks na Low marth belongin to me on the
other fid the crek which I a Lowed quarter mafter Perkins to imoue holdin my
pofefion till I had ocation for fam alfo all yt houfe and Land in Ipfig yt I
fhall not dispos of befor deth.
Itt I give to my fon Jofeph and Nthanil Houey one hundred rods of ground a pice
Joseph bounded Next to Mr. Emersons Land from ye hiway to yt Land Daniell Rnges
Nathanil one hundred rod of my Land Next to my fon Danill with he dweling hous
Barn part of ye orchard to but on Danil Ring: half planting Lot about three
acres wt a way to it or ye bridg I made to go to it three acres at Plum Iland
alfo: shich Lands I Leave in ye hands of my Executor and overfears: yt if left
after my deth To be dispofed of af folows: the Children of Jofeph Hovey: to
haue an equall proporfhon of what if Lewft after my Deth: as to yr father
Legaci: the children of my fon Nathaniell to haue an Equall propporfhon" amount
yns only Nathaniell Hoey ye fon of Nathanill Houey to have a duble pro porihon:
if he Liue to ye eage of one and twenty if not ye to be divided among ye other
Chilren of yt family:
Itt my movables to my fon Nathaniell thofe sheep he hath of mine to his
children: my cart and plow Irons chains great tramill great braf cittell Iron
Cettell Little Iron pot: my poutter poringer and drinking Cup with one chamber
pot: and my wife wearing aparell to Nathaniell children: the other to Jofeph
his brothers children all my wearing cloths my great braf pot and putter pot
and my great bible an dbooks af faloweth: come to chrift and wellcom Cotten one
ye Counant mader: 7: farmons to Nathaniell Children to Daniell gran child thofe
fheep with wt hif mafter and books alfo Christan warfer Caluen one Job tenn
deuins ye golden fepter with what other Books underpofd by me of mine and
fhunch towls for his trade as are futable of mine: to Abigail Hodgkins wife of
Thomas Hodgkine ye brafe pan and putter falfeller, my part of ye meare and colt
to gran child Daniell and Iuory.
Itt my entreft of brockfeld and fwampfeld I giue to my fon Jofeph and
Nathaniell children.
Itt I make my fon Thomas Executor and would hue his Nephu in cafe he Lives to
eage if capable to Joyne in ye fame wt him and he to pay out of his part to his
brother james and fister prafila and John Aires tenn pounds a pice within thre
after his prfefon and in cafe of his deth I put James Houey in his Rome and Let
yn four Equaly devid hif part: my bed bolfter and pillow wt my gren Rug a paier
of Blankits. wt ye bedfted to Daniell gran child, I would baue my fon John of
topsfeld to tack in to his pofefhon with his Books:
Itt I doe apoynt my Loving fons Daniell Houey; and John Hovey to be overfers:
of this my Laft will; and fe: to discharg my ffunerall Chargis which I alow
four pounds Eftate: and to take any: inventary of my estate: and discharge all
my dets and make probet of my will: and to fe his Nephufe haue their equall
proporfhon: Joseph and [torn] children how haue lately defefed: for
which I a Low my our fears three pounds apice for thei ceare and tuble:
This is my will: as witnes my hand and feal
wittnesis: Philemon Dane, Thomas Hodgkins
(Daniel's Signature)
Aged fevnty three & goin to feventy fower this on & twentieth day of March on
thoufand fix hundred ninty on or two.
(seal)
The following is a copy of the inventory of the estate of Daniel Hovey:-
An inventory of the Estate of Daniell Houey fener Defeafid The twenty forth of
April (1692)
Itam The homfted wt about three eacres Tilidg Land 50
Itam one eacer of Low ground wt a bout 3 acres Tillidg 24
Itam in Nolton Lot a bout one eacor wt houfe and wharf 35
Itam: Lland of upland and faltmarfh Containing about 18
eacers yt if caled Houey's Iland 80
Itam 3 ecors marfh at plum IlfLand by ye knobs 3 10
Itam about one Eacer of falt march 6
ffether beed a bolfter and pillow a gren Rodg and 2 7
blankits
Itam Seuerall books yt weare valued at 5
Itam in Neat Cattell 3 bullock one cow 18 15
Itam in fheep 20s half a mare half 2 yearling
Colt 3 10
Itam to Lining 34s and wolling cloth much worne wt 3 15
feurall other old things
Itam to wolling cloathing one camblit fut 2 peare of fhufe 3 16
Itam houfe hold goods namly poutter and braff 4 10 6
Itam husbandery tolef cart Iorns and plow Iorns whip faw 2 10
Itam arems and amanifhon 0 14
___________
(total) 248 01
Itam one brafe pot 001
May the 21; 1692 Leftenant Burnam and Philemon dane we are ye prifers of ye a
boufe Named preticulers.
The children of Daniel and Abigail Hovey were born in Ipswich as follows:-
Daniel, born in 1692
John, born in 1644
Thomas, born in 1648
James, born 1650
Joseph, born in 1653
Abigail, married John Ayers before 1692 Nathaniel, born March 20, 1657.
Source: "The Hovey Book: Describing The
English Ancestry and American Descendants of Daniel Hovey of Ipswich,
Massachusetts". Pub 1913 by Lewis R. Hovey, Pages 16-19
--- Submitted by Tina Hursh |
