John Arnold (1655 - 1725)

Born 2 Apr 1655 in Braintree, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Husband of Mercy (Pickett) Arnold — married 6 Dec 1703 in New London, Connecticut Colony

Descendants

Died 26 Aug 1725 at age 70 in New London, New London County, Connecticut Colony

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Biography

Occupation: Blacksmith, gaol keeper at Boston Prison

John Arnold

Born: April 2, 1655 at Braintree, Ma., the third of four sons born to Joseph Arnold and Rebecca Arnold (Curtis). The children of Joseph Arnold and Rebecca:

William Arnold: born March 16, 1648/49; Braintree, Ma. Joseph Arnold: born October 18, 1652; Braintree, Ma. John Arnold: born April 2, 1655; Braintree, Ma. Ephraim Arnold: born June 6, 1664; Braintree, Ma.

Marriage 1.) Mary, last name unknown; date of marriage unknown.

Children of John and Mary as follows:

William Arnold: born November 22, 1678; Braintree, Ma. Mary Arnold: born September 12, 1681; Braintree, Ma. Margaret Arnold: born October 14, 1683; Weymouth, Ct. Rebecca Arnold: born February 26, 1685/86; Boston, Ma. James Arnold: born February 2, 1693/94; Weymouth, Ct.

Marriage 2.) Mercy Pickett ( Fosdick) ; Married December 6, 1703, New London, Ct.

Children of John and Mercy as follows:

Ruhannah/Ruhamah Arnold: born September 7, 1704; New London, Ct. Lucretia Arnold: born August 26, 1706; New London, Ct.

http://www.weymouthhistoricalsociety.org/HistoricalSketchVol2Chapt2.pd; Page 39: Information recorded in Massachetts Archives; Vol.LXVIII p.179

John was a blacksmith by trade. He served as a militia member at Weymouth and was also a prison keeper for the City of Boston.

Death: August 26, 1725 at New London, Ct.

Link: http://barrettgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/06/witch-city-1692.html

Recorded as written:

It was while Henry was fighting in the eastern parts of the colony that Martha was put in a Boston jail on suspicion of witchcraft. The History of Chelmsford provides an account of John Arnold, the Boston jailer, who not only played host to Martha Sparks for 58 weeks, but had as his guests the more celebrated ladies from Salem, including Sarah Good, Sarah Osborn and Rebecca Nurse.

Link:http://books.google.com/books?id=WqZjPTcgpfIC&q=john+arnold#v=snippet&q=john%20arnold&f=false

The above link is taken from The History of Chelmsford, Ma.: The records of "John Arnold, the goalkeeper at Boston" : list of charges for items used by accused women.

Link: http://files.usgwarchives.net/special/afas/volume3/vol3no4.txt

ARNOLD, John (d. New London, Conn., Aug. 26, 1725, "aged abt. 73 yrs,") at Norwich, 1680, later removed to Boston; was jailer at Salem. during the witch- craft delusion, and was discharged from his position because he had freed a woman victim on a forged order of release; removed, 1700, to New London, where he was an anchorsmith; a, Dec. 6, 1703, Mercy, widow of Samuel Fosdick; issues 1--Ruhamah (b. Sept. 7, 1704); 2--Lucretia (b. Aug. 26, 1706)

Link: http://www.salemwitchmuseum.com/blog/index.php/category/1692/page/2/

All three earthly women, however, were serving their third day in a Boston JAIL. Since most capital trials were held in Boston, Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne and Tituba were transported there earlier that week from Salem town JAIL, a trip that would have taken all day. John Arnold, prison keeper, took custody of the women on March 7th. The basic fee was two shillings, sixpence a week – about as much as a woman could hope to earn in a week – plus processing fees and fees for shackles. Boston’s jail seemed to be an open common room bordered by smaller rooms where some of the prisoners were locked at night (and from which some escaped by removing the window bars). Like the smaller Essex County jails, it was set inside a fenced yard that less dangerous prisoners could exercise in. Wealthy prisoners could even rent a room in the prison keeper’s house and attend religious meetings under guard. It is not clear if any of the rooms were underground, although there may have been windowless inner rooms. References to “dungeons” may be metaphorical, synonymous with “close confinement” or “close prison,” a term an earlier prisoner used when confined full-time to a room with an EXTERIOR WINDOW. Even then the jails, intended to hold prisoners only temporarily, were hot in summer and cold in winter, infested with lice, and stank at all times of dung and tobacco. Prisons, as one visiting Englishman said a few years before, were “suburbs of Hell” (Roach 35). Roach, Marilynne K. Salem Witch Trials: A Day-By-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege. Cooper Square Press. New York. 2002.

See American Genealogist - Vol.35, for data on Joseph & John above, by Mr. John E. Barclay.

He was prison keeper at Boston in 1691 when he sued Joseph Belcher of Braintree - Records of Court of Assistants Vol.1, p.364.

He was a blacksmith, was a member of the militia at Weymouth 1676, removed to Weymouth about 1682 and also lived in Boston in 1686 when he became surety for Richard Graves, and was called of Boston in 1691 when his parents deeded him land at Braintree. Braintree records call him Mr. John Arnold at birth of the children born here. Mr. was then a title of distinction. On Nov.24,1699 he with Solomon Curtis of Bristol "his brother" (half brother) bought land at Bristol (Bristol Co. Deeds 3-214). He was still in Boston Nov. 1701 when his father died at his house there. Nov.14,1704 John Arnold of New London, Conn. was bonded as attorney for Solomon Curtis of Swanzey & Edmund Ranger of Boston in Estate of Jonathan Gatliff of Boston, deceased. (New London Probate - See Am. Genealogist Vol.11)

John Arnold m. Dec.6,1703 at New London Mercy (Pickett) Fosdick widow of Samuel Fosdick of Charlestown & New London - See Wyman's Charlestown p.355 "John Arnold late of Boston". She was dau. of John & Ruth (Brewster) Pickett & great granddaughter of Elder Brewster of Plymouth. See Boston Transcript Sep.7,1926, Note 2215 Arnold - Curtis. and " " Oct.27,1926 comment on note 2215. Mass. Arch 7-198 John Arnold of Boston Dec.3,1701 swears he owned with Benj. Walker of Boston & Nathaniel Warren of Plymouth the barque "Elizabeth & Mary" 70 tons, a square stemmed vessell built 1701 at Lyme, Conn. S.P. 24-146 David Robertson Of Boston, Suffolk, Mariner, administrator of his sister in law Mary Arnold of Boston, widow, deceased, Jul.27,1725. S.P. 25-497 Will of William Arnold of Boston Apr.10,1722 - Sep.18,1727, mariner, "bound to sea" all estate to wife Mary. Will presented by Mary Arnold. Witnesses: John Greenough, Nathaniel Belknap, Owen Harris. Does this refer to William3 (John2Joseph1) Arnold?

Sources

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Acknowledgements

This person was created on 13 September 2010 through the import of 124-DeCoursey.ged.

Research Notes

• Alternative death date from merged profile: 5 Sep 1700