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James Converse (abt. 1619 - 1715)

Lt. James Converse
Born about in Of, Sheffield, Essex, Englandmap
Ancestors ancestors
Son of and
Brother of , and [half]
Husband of — married 24 Oct 1643 in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusettsmap
Husband of — married before 20 Mar 1693 in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusettsmap
Descendants descendants
Father of , , , , , , , , and
Died at about age 96 in Woburn, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Baymap
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Profile last modified | Created 21 Feb 2011
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Biography

James Converse immigrated to New England as a child during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640).

James Converse born about 1621 based on depositions given in 1657 as being aged 36 [1] and in 1660, stating his age as 39, and numerous others given between 1657 and 1672. He was the son of Edward and Sarah (Parker) Converse. His family came from Essex, England about 1630, first settling at Charlestown, Massachusetts. [2]

  • 1630: He came to New England with his parents, first settling at Charlestown. [2]
  • 1640: James Converse was one of the signers of the original town orders for Woburn in establishing the town. [3]
  • 1653: August 30: James was one of the signers of a petition to the General Court entitled The Memorial for Christian Liberty, which was unsuccessful. [3]
  • 1655: May: Deputies representing several towns were appointed regarding the highway at Woburn, which passed through the lands of several proprietors, James was one of the deputies for Woburn. [4]
  • 1656: June 10: James was one of the arbiters in a case between Thomas Broughton of Boston and Edward Collins of Medford. [5]
  • 1657: June 23: James Converse, aged 36 years, gave testimony. [1]
  • 1658/9: January 29: James Converse aged 38 and Josiah Converse, aged 40, gave testimony. [6]
  • 1659: April 5: In testimony given regarding Simons and Locke's speeches, James Converse indicated his age as '39 or thereabout'. [7]
  • 1659: James Converse a witness to the petition concerning baptisms, of William Simons and William Soke to the Government. [7]
  • 1660: December: James was one of the two jurors from Woburn. [8]
  • 1660: April 4: In testimony given, James stated his age about 39. [9]
  • 1661/2: March 14: In testimony given, James stated his age as about 41. [10]
  • 1664: Chosen selectman at Woburn. [11]
  • 1667: 1673: Commissioner of the rate. [11]
  • 1670: June: James Converse Sr., aged 49, gave was one giving testimony regarding a writ against Josias Converse in a suit by Edward Collins, concerning a mare and a colt. [12]
  • 1674: 75: 76 (declined): 1677: 78: 79: Chosen Selectman. [11]
  • 1674: Served as one of the Commissioner's of Small Causes. [11]
  • 1679/80: February: Deputy in the General Court. [11]
  • 1680: Deputy again. [11]
  • 1680: 1682-6: 1688: Served again as Selectman. [11]
  • 1683: November: General Court Deputy.
  • 1684: 85: 86: Served as court deputy in the May sessions. [11]
  • 1689: 91: 92: Deputy. [11]
  • 1691: Chosen Selectman. [11]

Military

  • 1668-72: Sergeant In Woburn company. [3]
  • 1672-88: Ensign. [3]
  • 1675-6: King Philip's War: James Converse, Ensign of the Woburn military company was Included In the list of 'Impressment of thirteen men'. [3]
  • 1679/80: February 4: Lt. James Converse and Lt. William Johnson petitioned for the remission of a fine for not the laws regarding ammunition, promising to be more 'observant in the future.' [3]
  • 1688-1715: Lieutenant. [3]
  • 1691: March 2: Finding the town's stock of ammunition lacking, Lt. James Converse and Sgt. Matthew Johnson were assigned to procure an adequate supply. [3]

James and his father Edward are among the Charlestown men listed as founding the town of Woburn, Massachusetts. [13]

In his father Edward's will written in August, 1659 and proved on October 7, 1663, he left bequests to son James, James' son Edward and the other children of James, among others. [2]

James married Ann Long at Woburn, Massachusetts on October 24, 1643. [2] [14] Anne was baptized on June 1, 1623 at St. Albans Abbey, Hertfordshire, England, daughter of Robert and Sarah (Taylor) Long. She came to New England in 1635 on the Defence with her family. [15]

His father-in-law Robert Long left 20s to each of his daughters, including Ann Converse in his will written in 1658. On May 9, 1673, James Converse, and his wife Ann were among the heirs of Robert Long who sold all their rights and interests in Robert's remaining Charlestown estate to John Long, Ann's brother. [15]

His wife Ann died at Woburn on August 10, 1691, aged 69. [16]

After her death he married second, widow Ann Cooper, daughter of Nathaniel Sparhawk and widow of John Cooper who had also died in 1691. [17]

James died at Woburn on May 10, 1715, aged 95 years. [16] He is buried in the Woburn Burying Ground. [18]

James wrote his will on August 28, 1712. In it he names:[19]

  • Mrs. Judith Fox
  • Reverend John Fox
  • the Church of Christ at Woburn
  • son in law John Pierce
  • children on my grandson John Converse, deceased
  • my wife Anna, all that estate which I received upon my marriage to her, left with her son Samuel Cooper to keep
  • daughter-in-law Anna Cooper, daughter of my wife [19]

Should my wife remarry or after her decease, my estate should be divided in five equal parts and be distributed as follows to:

  • daughter Deborah Pierce
  • daughter Rebecca More
  • daughter Ruth Doan
  • the children of my daughter Mary Davice, deceased
  • the children of my daughter Abigail Kettle, deceased [19]

He further mentions:

  • daughter Sarah Pengry, deceased having received a considerable amount upon her marriage
  • grand daughter Anna (Pengry) Hunt, wife of Joseph Hunt having received her share
  • lands previously given to grandson James Pierce
  • lands formerly given to son Edward Converse
  • the children of grandson John Converse, deceased as follows
eldest son James Converse, a double portion
son Robert Converse [19]

His grandson Robert Converse, co-executor with son-in-law John Pierce, to pay out my estate:

  • my daughters Deborah Pierce and Rebecca More
  • grandson James Kettle
  • grand daughter Anna Kettle
  • grand daughter Hannah Richardson
  • grandsons Philemon and Edward, children of daughter Ruth Dean
  • great grandson James Converse, son of grandson John Converse, deceased
  • two great grandsons John and Joshua Converse and the rest of the children of grandson John Converse, deceased
  • grandson Josiah Converse
  • Ruth, the daughter of my grandson Samuel Converse, son of my son Edward, deceased
  • grandson Samuel Converse, son of Edward, deceased [19]

volume 1, pag3 444 (Converse) - Children In the inventory of his estate, taken on May 16, 1715, and valued at L355 2s 4d, he had real estate of 7 acres in the great field at L35; 1 1/2 acres at Buck meadow at L10; 20 acres in the home common at L50; 20 acres on the east side of the road at L 16 and 3 acres at 'Hoggos hold' at L6. [19]

Sources

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Middlesex County, MA: Abstracts of Court Files, 1649–1675: Volume 1: p. 65. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003), (Unpublished abstracts by Thomas Bellows Wyman, "Abstract of Middlesex court files from 1649," n.d.)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Anderson, Robert C. Edward Converse in: Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to N.E. 1620-1633, Vols. I-III, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts, 1995, p. 459-63 (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Hurd, Duane Hamilton. History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts: With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Volume 1, J. W. Lewis & Company, Philadelphia, 1890, p. 346: 348: 378: 380: 383
  4. ↑ Middlesex County, MA: Abstracts of Court Files, 1649–1675: Volume 1: p. 44. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003), (Unpublished abstracts by Thomas Bellows Wyman, "Abstract of Middlesex court files from 1649," n.d.)
  5. ↑ Middlesex County, MA: Abstracts of Court Files, 1649–1675" Voluem 1: p. 64 (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003), (Unpublished abstracts by Thomas Bellows Wyman, "Abstract of Middlesex court files from 1649," n.d.)
  6. ↑ Middlesex County, MA: Abstracts of Court Files, 1649–1675: Volume 1: p. 88 . (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003), (Unpublished abstracts by Thomas Bellows Wyman, "Abstract of Middlesex court files from 1649," n.d.)
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Middlesex County, MA: Abstracts of Court Files, 1649–1675: Volume 1: p. 97. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003), (Unpublished abstracts by Thomas Bellows Wyman, "Abstract of Middlesex court files from 1649," n.d.)
  8. ↑ Middlesex County, MA: Abstracts of Court Files, 1649–1675: Volume 1: p. 123. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003), (Unpublished abstracts by Thomas Bellows Wyman, "Abstract of Middlesex court files from 1649," n.d.)
  9. ↑ Middlesex County, MA: Abstracts of Court Files, 1649–1675: Volume 1: p. 111. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003), (Unpublished abstracts by Thomas Bellows Wyman, "Abstract of Middlesex court files from 1649," n.d.)
  10. ↑ Middlesex County, MA: Abstracts of Court Files, 1649–1675: Volume 1: p 138. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003), (Unpublished abstracts by Thomas Bellows Wyman, "Abstract of Middlesex court files from 1649," n.d.)
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 11.8 11.9 Sewall, Samuel & Charles Chauncy Sewall, The History of Woburn, Middlesex County, Mass. from the Grant of Its Territory to Charlestown, in 1640, to the Year 1860, Wiggin and Lunt, Boston, Massachusetts, 1868, p. 579: 582: 584
  12. ↑ Middlesex County, MA: Abstracts of Court Files, 1649–1675: Volume 2: p. 102. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003), (Unpublished abstracts by Thomas Bellows Wyman, "Abstract of Middlesex court files from 1649," n.d.)
  13. ↑ Focus on Woburn in: Great Migration Newsletter, Volume 15: 2006: p. 19 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2018.)
  14. ↑ Johnson, Edward. Woburn Records of Births, Deaths and Marriages 1640-1673. Part III -Marriages. Winship and Daniel's & Co., printers, Boston, Massachusetts, 1891, p. 60
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Anderson, Robert C. Robert Long in: Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume IV, I-L, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts, 2005, p. 316-20 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.)
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Johnson, Edward. Woburn Records of Births, Deaths and Marriages 1640-1673, Part II - Deaths, Andrews & Cutler Co., Woburn, Massachusetts, 1890, p. 40
  17. ↑ Howard, Cecil, compiler. Materials for the Genealogy of the Sparhawk Family in New England in: Essex Institute Historical, Volume 25, Essex Institute Press, Salem, Massachusetts, 1888, p. 32-3
  18. ↑ Vital Records from The NEHGS Register. Woburn Burying Gorunds (cont): Volume 2: p. 387: Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (Compiled from articles originally published in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register.)
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 Case 4925: p. 1-15: Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. Digitized mages provided by FamilySearch.org)

See also:

  • Burial: First Burial Ground in Woburn, Massachusetts. Epitaph: "Here lyes the body of Lieut James Conuers who departed this Life May the10th 1715 in ye 95th year of his age."
  • Cutter, William. Transcript of Epitaphs in Woburn First and Second Burial Grounds (Andrews, Cutler & Co., Woburn, 1890). Citing: "(59.) Lieut. James Converse" Page 18.
  • Savage, James: "Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England"; Volume 1, page 444 (Converse) - Children




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Madison-125 Bobbie (Madison) Hall
This person immigrated to New England between 1621-1640 as a Minor Child (under age 21 at time of immigration) of a Puritan Great Migration immigrant who is profiled in Robert Charles Anderson's Great Migration Directory (or is otherwise accepted by the Puritan Great Migration (PGM) Project).

Please feel free to improve the profile(s) by providing additional information and reliable sources. PGM encourages the Profile Managers to monitor these profiles for changes; if any problems arise, please contact the PGM Project via G2G for assistance. Please note that PGM continues to manage the parent's profile, but is happy to assist on the children when needed.

posted by Bobbie (Madison) Hall

James is 18 degrees from Emeril Lagasse, 20 degrees from Nigella Lawson, 19 degrees from Maggie Beer, 40 degrees from Mary Hunnings, 25 degrees from Joop Braakhekke, 24 degrees from Michael Chow, 20 degrees from Ree Drummond, 21 degrees from Paul Hollywood, 17 degrees from Matty Matheson, 21 degrees from Martha Stewart, 26 degrees from Danny Trejo and 21 degrees from Molly Yeh on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.

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Categories: Winthrop Fleet | First Burial Ground, Woburn, Massachusetts | Woburn, Massachusetts | Puritan Great Migration Minor Child