John ATKINSON of Newbury, MA

ATKINSON

1. _______-

The baptismal records in the parish registers of Hadleigh do not give the name of the parents of Thomas, Anne or Arthur. Cuthbard Atkinson had many children baptised in Hadleigh between 1586 and 1603, however, I doubt that he is also the father of Thomas, Anne and Arthur, although this is a possibility.

A Thomas Atkinson was ejected as rector of Hollesey (just east of Ipswich and near Hadleigh) in 1560 due to his Catholic sympathies. Sir Thomas Cornwallis of Brome who was prominent among the conservative group, tried to get Thomas a second benefice through the attempts of his son-in-law Thomas Kitson, however, the reforming Bishop Parkhurst of Norwich rejected the proposal. Bury St. Edmunds was the center of religious conflict in the late 16th century with the established church, the conservative/Catholic sympathisers and the Puritan folks going head to head. The "Bury Stirs" were a struggle for religious ascendancy and political control of the institutions that governed the activities of the town. A number of Catholic recusants formed a separate community within the town parishes of St. Mary and St. James and included many prominent families in the area.(1)

Issue-

  • 2I. THOMAS- bpt. 30 Jan. 1574, m. 14 May 1598 Bury St. Edmunds, ELIZABETH MASON (bpt. 16 Dec. 1576 Bury St. Edmunds)
  • II. Arthur- bpt. 17 Nov. 1577
  • III. Anne- bpt. 15 Feb. 1578, int. 15 July 1599 Hadleigh, Thomas Taylor
  • IV. Rebecca- m. 22 Sept. 1594 Hadleigh, Nathaniel Woolward

    Ref:

    (1) England's Long Reformation, 1500-1800- Nicholas Tyacke, Routledge Publishers, 1998- pp. 170-1

    Parish Registers for Bury St. Edmunds & Hadleigh


    2I. THOMAS-

    bpt.30 Jan. 1574 Hadleigh, Suffolk
    m. 14 May 1598 Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, ELIZABETH MASON (bpt. 16 Dec. 1576 St. James, Bury St. Edmunds, d. of Simon)

    Issue- All baptised at Bury St. Edmunds

  • I. John- bpt. 11 Mar. 1599
  • II. Elizabeth- bpt. 24 Aug. 1600, m. 14 Aug. 1630 Hadleigh, Steven Ufferstall
  • III. Margaret- bpt. 5 Sept. 1602
  • IV. George- bpt. 25 Mar. 1604, m. 1628 Bury St. Edmunds, Ann Cropley
  • V. Mary- bpt. 27 Oct. 1605
  • 3VI. THOMAS- bpt. 7 Dec. 1606, m.1. ELIZABETH ______, 2. before 1644 Abigail _____
  • VII. Sarah- bpt. 17 Apr. 1608
  • VIII. Alicia- bpt. 16 Sept. 1610, m. 1638 Bury St. Edmunds, John Hoggar
  • IX. Theodore- of Boston, d. after 6 Nov. 1674

    Ref:

    Parish registers for Bury St. Edmunds & Hadleigh


    3VI. THOMAS (_______ 1, THOMAS 2)

    bpt. 7 Dec. 1606 St. James, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk
    m.1. ELIZABETH ______
    2. before 1644 Abigail ______

    Issue- all children bpt. at St. James, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk- listed in the registers as children of Thomas, except John and Thomas II who were listed as children of Thomas and Elizabeth and Theodore who is listed as son of Thomas and Abigail. I suspect the first five children are by Elizabeth and the last four by Abigail, the mother of Sarah is uncertain, but she was probably the child of Elizabeth.

  • I. Thomas- bpt. 12 May 1633, probably d.s.p.
  • II. Ann- bpt. 28 Nov. 1633, m. 31 July 1656 Hadleigh, William Seckler
  • III. Elizabeth- bpt. 21 Sept. 1634
  • 4IV. JOHN- bpt. 5 Feb. 1637, m. 27 Apr. 1664 Newbury, MA, SARAH MYRICK (b.c.1647 Charlestown, MA, d. after Dec. 1686 and before June 1700 Newbury), will 26 June 1713- 29 Sept. 1716 Newbury, MA
  • V. Thomas- bpt. 18 Mar. 1640, m. 26 Apr. 1677 St. Mary's, Bury St. Edmund, Mary Nunn
  • VI. Sarah- bpt. 18 Sept. 1642, bur. 14 Nov. 1642
  • VII. Abigail- bpt. 7 Nov. 1644
  • VIII. Theodore- bpt. 28 Feb. 1647, m. 22 Apr. 1678 Rushbrooke, Suffolk, Frances Seargeant
  • IX. George- bpt. 3 Mar. 1650
  • X. Ann- bpt. 22 Feb. 1652

    Ref:

    Parish Registers of Bury St. Edmunds, Hadleigh and Rushbrooke


    IV. JOHN (______1, THOMAS 2, THOMAS 3)

    bpt. 5 Feb. 1637 St. James, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk
    m. 27 Apr. 1664 Newbury, MA, SARAH (6) MYRICK (b.c. 1647 Charlestown, MA, d. after Dec. 1686 and before June 1700 Newbury) d. between 26 June 1713- 29 Sept 1716 Newbury, MA

    All the early authorities state that John was a son of Theodore Atkinson of Boston, a strange error where so much proof exists that he was his nephew. Theodore was a man of education and came as a servant with John Newgate supposedly from Bury, Lanc. John Newgate in his will gives "to Theodore Atkinson my servant twenty pounds when his tyme of service shall be expired." He also disposes of his estate in Horningerth, Suffolk. The registers of this town show the presence of the Newgates but, no Atkinsons. The John Atkinson in the register of Bury, Lanc. may be the John who came over but, the name of Theodore Atkinson appears in a register of Bury St. Edmund, Suffolk although too late to refer to the emigrant Theodore (bpt. 1647, m. 1678). Also, in all of the Lancashire registers in print, although there are many Atkinsons there is never a Theodore mentioned. Since John Newgate came from Suffolk the question is raised as to whether our Atkinsons came from Bury, Lanc. or Bury St. Edmund, Suffolk. The John baptised in Bury St. Edmund is the correct age to be our John, and the John of Bury St. Edmunds disappears from the records there. Also, John of Newbury, if he followed the naming conventions of the time, named his first son after his wife's father (and himself), and his second son after his father, Thomas. John and Sarah don't have a son named James, the father of John of Bury, Lancashire. It is also noted that Bury St. Edmunds is referred to as "Bury", so the early authorities were correct in saying that John was from "Bury"... just the Bury in Suffolk and not in Lancashire.

    John must have been cared for by his uncle Theodore since the ties between them are closer than is usual. It is possible that John was an orphan and that he was sent over here to his uncle and perhaps was apprenticed to him for he became a felt-maker or hatter like Theodore. John must have been in the country as early as 1653 for he deposed in court in 1676 that John Palmer and George Stinson were servants of Mr. Theodore Atkinson in 1653. The first mention of John in the Essex court files was in March 1662 when he witnessed a letter of attorney and a suit was taken against him, "John Atkinson, Hatter, of Newbury", but, was dismissed. John of Newbury then sold land in Newbury to Anthony Morse Jr. of Newbury 24 Nov. 1663.(1) In 1665 he sued John Godfrey for slander and won the case.

    "Know all men by these presents That I Theodore Atkinson of Boston upon Account of that Love & affection which I Bear unto my Nephew John Atkynson of Newbury & for other Considerations thereunto moving Have Given... unto him ye sd John tenn acres of yt wilderness Land... bought of John Dow of sd Haverhill... in sd Haverhill... 6:9:1674." Theodore acknowledged the deed 6 Nov. 1674 and it was recorded 28 Sept. 1715 the recorder mislabelling it the deed of Mr. Theodore Atkinson to his son John Atkinson.(2)

    In 1678 John took as an apprentice, Samuel Bucknam of Malden who was to serve he and his wife Sarah for three years.

    John appears in the court records several times, once in an unsavory case which he finally won. The widow Sarah Stickney having given birth to an illegitimate child accused him of being its father although, at the time of the child's birth she had stated that its father was another man. The town clerk of Newbury entered the birth of the child on the records as the child of "John Atkinson and the widow Stickney" 10 Jan 1680 and it was reported to the county court which kept a return of the births. John was sentenced to support the child and it appears plain that the reason the widow Stickney accused him of being the father was because he was a man of substance and could pay. However, on appeal (March 1683) he won the case the court ordering the birth record struck from the pages of the town book but, the return to the county was forgotten so, the birth is given in the printed records of Newbury with the court book of Norfolk as authority.

    "I theoder Atkinson of boston in the county of Suffolk... doo for good causis tharunto me moving especially for and in consideration of those houses that are sittuate and standing in boston aforesaid and are now (or nie) to the hieway that goeth to my brickyard and doe now before the signing and sealing of this writing (to) my Censmand (kinsman) John Atkinson of new england feltmaker which said John Atkinson have Givein me posseshon of as my owne propper Estate for my leifetime And for my wife that is now livein for five years after my descease if she outlive me... I the said theoder Atkinson aforesaid doe by these premises" grant a parcel of Spanish wool and a bundle of old hats in the warehouse and a piece of land where James Parker now lives 16 Oct. 1691.(3)

    "I John Atkinson Senr of Newbury... feltmaker...In consideracon of the affection that I Bear unto my Dutyful & Loving Son John Atkinson Junr... feltmaker... do confirm... unto him... eight acres of Land... in... Newbury... also a parcell of upland... about fourteen acres... But it is to be understood that my sd Son... shall not come to the actual possession of that part of this fourteen acres of Land wch Lyeth on the South side of ye Little River Untill Imediately after my Decease... this thirty first day of July... Sixteen hundred Ninty & Six..."(4)

    "I John Atkinson Senr of Newbury... in Consideration of ye Intire afection that I beare to my Loving & Dutiful Sonne Nathaniel Atkinson do... Confirm unto him... all my housing & orchard where I now dwell... as allso the one halfe of all that land which I formerly bought of John Woolcot... during my Natural life the Conditions... being... that my said Sonne... shall deliver to me One half ye produce... every yeare... and further... shall pay Sixty pounds... as followeth Namely whereas I did upon the Marriage with Hanah my Dear & Loving wife oblige my Estate to pay to her Six pounds pr annum during her Natural life if I left her a widow my said sonne... shall pay to his sd Mother in Law ye said six pounds per annum untill ye whole Sixty pounds be paid then as much as shall then remaine unpaid my said sonne shall pay as I shall order in my last Will... & if my said son... shall dye leaving no issue... then all ye housing & Lands... shall be unto such other of my Children as I shall give it to in my last Will... this Ninth day of March... Seventeen hundred & Two or Three."(5)

    "I John Atkinson Senr of Newbury... in Consideration of a valuble Summe... do... sell... unto my son John Atkinson Junr a... Messuage... in... Newbury..." 19 March 1704/5. (6)

    "I John Atkinson Senr of Newbury... for... Thirty Pounds... paid by John Atkinson Junr... feltmaker... do... sell... unto him... Land... in Almesbury... fifth... february... 1710/11."(7)

    "The Last Will and testement of John Atkinson Senr of ye Town of Newbury In the County of Essex in Newengland being aged and not able to provide for my Self as heretofore And my Son John Atkinson Junr having for Sum time past taken the care of me...

    And In having given each of my children their full Share or portion of my worly goods... And In having Sumthing yet left which I do think may be little a nuff for my maintenance while I do live... I do... give and bequeath unto my a bov said Son John Atkinson Junr: of Newbury... all my Estate that I have not disposed of before this day And In perticular fourty pounds of that Sixty pounds which I allotted my son Nathaniel Atkinson... And also the Money that I Recovered a Judgment for at Ipswich Court Sumtime past... against Mr Theodore Atkinson of New-Castle In the Province of Hampshire And also a pees of Land at Haverhill which sd Land I had of my unker Atkinson late of Boston Decest And also a small pees of Land at Boston lying near the lane known by the name of Atkinsons Lane Also all my Right that I have in a pees of Land at Salisbury which land was formerly Samuel Gechels late of Salisbury Decest... Also all the Money that is due to me or moneys worth by Book, Bill, bonds &c... I do oblidge my sd son to take the wholl Care of me, and comfortably to provide for me so longe as I shall live... the incom I am to have yearly of my Son Nathaniel Atkinson is to go to my son John Atkinson towards my Maintenance And whatsoever that is mine that I have not disposed of befor this day... I do give... unto my Son John Atkinson Junr whom I do appoint to be the Executor of this my last will and testement,

    In witnes whearof... I... have Sett my hand and Seale this twenty sixth day of June... seventeen hundred and thirteen... John Atkinson" witness John Sawyer Jnr, Joseph Merril Junr, William Titcomb.

    Evidently there was some dispute about the land he had received from his uncle 16 Oct. 1691 since there is a deposition in court by Thomas Leavitt. The deed was filed with the papers and was never recorded.

    Issue- All children born in Newbury, MA

  • 3I. SARAH-b.27 Nov 1665, m.8 Oct. 1685 STEPHEN (6) COFFIN, d. 20 Jan. 1724/5
  • II. John- b. 1667, m. Sarah Woodman
  • III. Thomas- b. 27 Dec. 1669, graduated from Harvard in 1691 d. before 1699
  • IV. Theodore- b. 23 Jan. 1671/2, drowned 24 July 1685
  • 4V. ABIGAIL- b. 8 Nov. 1673, m. 1 Jan. 1695/6 JONATHAN WOODMAN (b. 16 Apr. 1674 Newbury, d. 12 June 1730 Newbury), d. 24 Sept. 1725
  • VI. Samuel- b. 18 Jan. 1674/5, d.s.p. 1728
  • VII. Joanna- b.c. 1676, m.1. c.1700 Henry Head, 2. 28 Dec. 1710 Joseph Pike
  • VIII. Nathaniel- b. 29 Nov. 1677, m. 22 Jan. 1707 Deborah Knight, living in 1749
  • IX. Elizabeth- b. 20 June 1680, m. 4 Jan. 1703/4 Thomas Leavitt, d. 27 Aug. 1749
  • X. Joseph- b. 1 May 1682, killed by Indians in 1706
  • XI. Rebecca- b.c. 1684, m.1. 15 Oct. 1714 Israel Adams, 2. Ensign Joseph Hilton of Exeter

    Ref:

    (1)Essex Co. Deeds- 9: 125
    (2)Ibid- 28: 185
    (3)Essex Co. Probate- 956
    (4)Essex Co. Deeds- 19: 40
    (5)Ibid- 14: 290
    (6)Ibid- 18: 152
    (7) Ibid- 24: 288

    Ancestry of Charles Stinson Pillsbury and John Sargent Pillsbury- Holman, Vol.I pp.719-24
    Journal of Rev. John Pike 1678-1709- N.H. Gen. Records- III/77,97, 145
    History of Newbury- pp.293-4
    Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England-Savage, Vol.I, p.74


    1. JAMES-

    bur. 11 June 1640 Bury, Lancashire

    Issue-

  • ?2I. JOHN- bpt. 16 Sept. 1638 Bury, Lancashire, m. 27 Apr. 1664 SARAH (6) MYRICK, d. between 26 June 1713-29 Sept 1716 Newbury, MA
  • II. Mary- bpt. 14 Mar. 1640 Bury, Lancashire
  • III. _____- bur. 20 Mar. 1640/1

    Ref:

    Parish Registers Bury, Lancashire

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