Robert Follett
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Robert Follett (abt. 1627 - 1708)

Robert Follett
Born about in Devon, Englandmap
Ancestors ancestors
Son of and [mother unknown]
Brother of , , and
Husband of — married 29 Nov 1655 in Salem, Essex, Massachusettsmap
Descendants descendants
Father of , , , , , , , , and
Died at about age 81 in Salem, Essex, Massachusettsmap
Problems/Questions Profile managers: Bonnie Follett private message [send private message] and Alycia Keating private message [send private message]
Profile last modified | Created 9 Mar 2011
This page has been accessed 3,631 times.

Contents

Biography

Robert Follett of Salem is estimated to have been born about 1625 - 1627. Based on an 8 Apr 1627 christening record, he may have been born in Dartmouth, Devon and his father may have been John Follett. Others have speculated he may have been born in the Colonies, although no early birth record can be found. Family histories suggest he came from England. (See Additional Biography below.)

Records show that Robert Follett does appear in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts, New England by April 1655. On 26:4:1655 (June): Robert Follit testified that about six weeks earlier, he had been asked to "carry away the catch called Dolphin." He mentioned that he was a lodger in a house. [1]

Robert Follett married Peersis Black 29:9m [Nov]:1655.[2] Peersis was a daughter of John Black and mentioned in the settlement of his estate in 1675.[3]

4 May 1659 (signed), 27 July 1659 (entered) John Ormes sold to Robert Follet, of Salem, a house and houselot on about one and one half acres in Salem bounded on the west by Robert Follett, south by the river, west by George Burch and north by the common.[4]

9 April 1669 (signed) 10 2nd m 1669 (entered). Robert Follett of Salem, fisherman, for £6. 10s. sold to Richard Waters about one and one quarter acre in Salem, near Catt Cove upon the Town neck.[5]

In 1670, Robert Folet signed a petition to prevent Anthony Ashby fromm opening an ordinary in Salem.[6]

Several men including Robert Follett were "allowed as tithingmen."June 1677.[7] As part of his duties as tithingman, in Nov 1678, Robert Follit returned a list of those men from his ward who took the oath of Fidelity.[8]

20 Sept 1678 (signed) 30 10m 1681 (entered). William Browne senior, merchant, of Salem, sold for £80 to Robert Follett of Salem, fisherman, 207 acres of land granted to Brown by the town of Salem.[9]

June 1680, Robert Follitt was among the citizens of Salem who believed it was necessary because of the increase in population to build a second meeting house.[8]

1684: Robt Follet was levied taxes: 3s Country rate, 9s minister's rate, another 3s for 150 acres improved, and another tax 1s 6d (half the country rate) for the selectmen, which he paid.[10]

Robert and Persis were admitted to the First Church of Salem 7 Sept 1686. Daughters Hannah Folet, Mary Herbert, Susanne Sibley were baptized 2 Jan 1686/7, Robert and the younger children, John, Abraham, Isaac, Rebecca and Benjamin were baptized 10 September 1687.[11]

31 May 1697 Robert Follett, husbandman sold to John Higginson for £70 a parcel of upland and swamp roughly 70 acres, part of the land he purchased from William Browne. Signed 27 March 1697.[12]

4 Aug 1704. Robert Follett of Salem, Shoreman, for love and affection and other considerations gave to his sons Isaac and Benjamin Follett, to share equally, his homestead of about 130 acres and his livestock. Signed 3 Aug 1704.[13] No mention of his wife was made and was probably deceased.

13 July 1705. Robert Follett, shoreman and husbandman, sold to his grandson William Harbett, mariner, for £10 and natural affection, a small house and about one half acres near the point of rocks.[14]

4 Nov 1708, Robert's son Benjamin sold his half of the farm his father Robert, late deceased, had given to him."Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9ZZ-BKY2?cc=2106411&wc=MCBG-S27%3A361613201%2C361869101 : 22 May 2014), Essex > Deeds 1712-1716 vol 25-27 > image 338 of 876; county courthouses and offices, Massachusetts. Essex Deeds, 26:40.

Children

Their children were all born at Salem.[15]

  1. Mary Follett b. 16 March 1656/7
  2. Robert Follett b. 20 September 1659
  3. Susanna Follett b. 1 June 1662
  4. Hannah Follett b. 23 December 1664
  5. Ruth Follett b. 17 December 1667, d. 1 May 1668
  6. John Follett b. 10 July 1669
  7. Abraham Follett b. 23 December 1671
  8. Isaac Follett b. 30 July 1674
  9. Rebecca Follett b. 30 July 1674
  10. Benjamin Follett b. ca. 1676 (baptized with John, Abraham, Isaac, and Rebecca 10 September 1687)

Additional Biography

Robert Follett of Salem, Mass. has been a source of much speculation and conflicting information for as long as I have researched him (off and on about 25 years). I, Follett-757, am providing this additional (supplemental) bio based on my research, and hope to invite additional information and sources from other wikitree members interested in this family.

What is known with certainty is that Robert Follett and Persis Black Follett had several children which led to many generations of innumerable Follett's in the United States, spreading throughout the country over time. So he is an important figure to this family.

Some people believe Robert Follett was born in Salem, likely because he is sometimes referred to as being “of Salem.” But this only means that he lived in Salem and environs for most of his life, married and had his family there. I have not seen any evidence that he was actually born in Salem, which was not colonized until 1626. There is more convincing evidence that he was born in England, in Devon. This was supported by my correspondence with a family researcher in England who provided additional information on the Follett family. I will post the text of an email from her in the comments below.

Although he spent the majority of his life in Salem, he appears to have been christened 08 Apr 1627 at Saint Savior, Dartmouth, Devon, England, with the natural implication being that he was born in Devon, England sometime before that date. In England, his family was known to be mariners or in related occupations. It is quite possible that the family took private transport to come to the Massachusetts Colonies. The Harry Parker Ward book, at p 21, citation noted below, refers to an 1882 letter and family knowledge that three Follett brothers came from England landing at Salem. Robert remained in Salem, and the other two brothers are speculated as possibly being William of Oyster Creek and John of Dover.

Based on an 8 Apr 1627 christening record, I believe that John Follett was his father. There are conflicting opinions as to who was Robert’s mother (usually thought to be either Agnes Seward or Dorrothye Sandor). Early records often did not note the mother’s name in a birth record. Robert’s birth date has variously been thought to be between 1625 and 1627. Complicating family history is the fact that there are many Follett's with similar names in Devon records of the time.

We do know that Robert married Persis Black in 1655. But again there are disagreements as to the month of their marriage, I have seen July 29, 1655, others say November 29, 1655. The July date may come from an SAR application on record. A review of the imaged marriage record shows the month was written as the 9th mo. which is November in the current (Gregorian) calendar. Also, “Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910” now records the marriage date as September 29, 1655 which is a misinterpretation of the Julian calendar date given in the original record. The Julian calendar was in use in the Colonies at the time, so the best date is 29 Nov 1655, 9 months after the March 25th New Year on that calendar.

We do know that Robert joined the First Church of Salem in 1686 according to church records. And there are records of five of his children’s baptisms in the church record book. (The Essex Institute, Salem, MA. 1865. Baptisms of the First Church in Salem. Historical Collections of the Essex Institute, Vol. VII, page 126; see p. 38 of record book.)

Robert seems to have owned at least two (or more) properties: a section of farmland on Johnson’s Plain outside old Salem town, and a house in the town on the coastline at Cat Cove. The properties were distributed to his children as noted in the above bio. Links to maps are below.

Maps showing Follett properties:

(1.) Map of Salem Village in 1692, By W.P. Upham, 1866, available at: http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/maps/index.html (choose size of map to display: Small, Medium or Large).

The Index to the Map of Salem Village shows the location of families and is at: http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/maps/MapIndex.html - Quadrant 3, 147. Families of Very, Gould, Follett and Meacham (this corresponds to the area of Johnson’s Plain on lower center of map.)

(2.) A Map of Salem in 1700 by Sydney Perley can be found at: http://www2.iath.virginia.edu/bcr/salem/perley/perley.html - This shows a Robert Follett property at the Cat Cove shore on the Ye Neck section at the right on the map. (Choose Small, Medium or Large map to display.)

Robert passed away in 1708, at roughly the age of 80. His death date is based on a 4 Nov 1708 deed where Robert is referred to by his son Benjamin as "lately deceased." (Harry Parker Ward book, p. 19)

Name Note:

Some researches have used a middle name William for Robert. It is unlikely that Robert of Salem had the middle name William.

This data seems to have come from an early family tree placed online or imprinted to CDs that people purchased in the early to mid 1990's. Middle name William has since been copied everywhere but that doesn't mean it is correct. The many unsourced family trees that proliferated online in the early days of the internet did not help this situation.

After 30 years of research I have never seen it used on any documents contemporaneous to the time he lived. It may exist. I just have never seen it.

If anyone is in possession of actual documents that show he used this middle name, please image them and place to his profile. Currently though, a middle name of William remains unsourced information.

Additional Bio by Bonnie Follett Follett-757.

Name:

Robert Follett.
Given Name: Robert.
Surname: Follett; Follit, Follet.
Middle name "William" seen in some family trees is unconfirmed by any contemporaneous records and is likely mistaken.

"'Birth'" 8 Apr 1625

Baptism:

8 Apr 1627. Saint Savior, Dartmouth, Devon, England. [16]

Marriage:

Husband: Robert Follett.
Wife: Persis Black.
Marriage: 22 Sep 1655. (the "9th month" is November on the Julian calendar.) Salem, Massachusetts. [17]
Marriage: 29 Sep 1655. Salem, Essex, Massachusetts. [18]

Sources

  1. ↑ 'Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, 1636-1686 Vol VI 1675-1678. Vol. 1 1636-1656 (The Essex Institute, 1911) Vol. I, p. 391
  2. ↑ Vital records of Salem, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849. (Salem, Mass. : Essex Institute, 1924) p. 372
  3. ↑ Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, 1636-1686 Vol VI 1675-1678. (The Essex Institute, 1917) Vol VI p. 50
  4. ↑ "Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99ZZ-BXQ7?cc=2106411&wc=MCBG-MNG%3A361613201%2C361847101 : 22 May 2014), Essex > Deeds 1639-1658 vol 1-3 > image 128 of 763; county courthouses and offices, Massachusetts. Essex Deeds 1:67 (p. 166 of book)
  5. ↑ "Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9ZZ-B8HP?cc=2106411&wc=MCBG-MNG%3A361613201%2C361847101 : 22 May 2014), Essex > Deeds 1639-1658 vol 1-3 > image 543 of 763; county courthouses and offices, Massachusetts. Essex Deeds 3:53 (p. 176 of book)
  6. ↑ Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, 1636-1686]] (The Essex Institute, 1914) Vol. 4 1667-1671 Vol IV p. 315
  7. ↑ Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, 1636-1686 Vol VI 1675-1678. (The Essex Institute, 1917) Vol VI p. 290
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 'Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, 1636-1686 Vol. 7 1678-1680 . (The Essex Institute, 1919)p. 155;p. 402
  9. ↑ "Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9ZZ-13RR?cc=2106411&wc=MCBG-96X%3A361613201%2C361851701 : 22 May 2014), Essex > Deeds 1681-1687 vol 6-7 > image 155 of 839; county courthouses and offices, Massachusetts. Essex Deeds 6:36 (book page 218)
  10. ↑ 'Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, 1636-1686 Vol IX 1683-1686. (The Essex Institute, 1975) EQC Vol IX p. 349, 351, 353, 356, 377
  11. ↑ The Records of the First Church of Salem, 1629-1736, Richard D. Pierce and Robert E. Moody, Salem Essex Institute (1974), available at: https://archive.org/details/recordsoffirstch00firs_0/page/38/mode/2up p. 163, Robert and Persis admitted; Children of Robert Folet baptised on Sep 10 1687: John, Abraham, Isack, Rebecca and Benjamin [https://archive.org/details/recordsoffirstch00firs_0/page/38/mode/2up?q=Folet p. 38; Hanna Folet, Mary Herbert, Susanne Sibley were bpt 2 Jan 1686 (p. 38) .
  12. ↑ "Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9ZZ-B9Z1?cc=2106411&wc=MCBG-S68%3A361613201%2C361856001 : 22 May 2014), Essex > Deeds 1694-1697 vol 10-11 > image 481 of 516; county courthouses and offices, Massachusetts. Essex deeds 11:244
  13. ↑ "Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9ZZ-1Q3Y?cc=2106411&wc=MCBG-QP8%3A361613201%2C361861701 : 22 May 2014), Essex > Deeds 1701-1706 vol 16-18 > image 140 of 646; county courthouses and offices, Massachusetts. Essex Deeds 16:129
  14. ↑ "Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9ZZ-1SR8?cc=2106411&wc=MCBG-QP8%3A361613201%2C361861701 : 22 May 2014), Essex > Deeds 1701-1706 vol 16-18 > image 324 of 646; county courthouses and offices, Massachusetts. Essex Deeds 17:67
  15. ↑ Vital Records of Salem Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849. Volume I – Births. A-L. (Salem, Mass: The Essex Institute, 1916). pp 310, 311 see Folet, Follet, Follett. Also https://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Essex/Salem/Images/SalemV1_B310.shtml and https://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Essex/Salem/Images/SalemV1_B311.shtml
  16. ↑ Source: S616228597 Note: http://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N5Q6-M2G Ancestry Record 9841 #71155148
  17. ↑ Source: S616182977 Ancestry Record 2495 #80687097
  18. ↑ Source: S616183128 Ancestry Record 7853 #68146
  • Source: S616182977 Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2011 Provo, UT, USA Record Collection 2495 Note: Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Provo, UT: Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook).
  • Source: S616183128 Massachusetts, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1633-1850 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc 2005 Provo, UT, USA Record Collection 7853 Note: Dodd, Jordan, Liahona Research, comp. Massachusetts, Marriages, 1633-1850. With some noted exceptions all marriage records in this collection can be found at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and may be available through Family History Centers throughout the United States. See table below for information listed.Ancestry Record 7853 #266911
  • Source: S616228597 England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2014 Provo, UT, USA Record Collection 9841 Note: England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.




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It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Robert by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Robert:

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Images: 4
Drawing of a Schooner
Drawing of a Schooner
Follett Coat of Arms
Follett Coat of Arms
Marriage record of Robert Follett and Persis Black - 29 Nov 1655
Marriage record of Robert Follett and Persis Black - 29 Nov 1655
Robert Follett House
Robert Follett House


Comments: 8

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Follett-757 Bonnie Follett
Years ago (in 2007) I corresponded with a researcher in England, Brenda Cox, who provided some interesting information that I would like to post for posterity and consideration. Her husband's family descended from Gilbert Follett, a brother of John Follett believed to be father of Robert of Salem.

(I cannot vouch for whether all of her research is correct, or if family stories passed on to her are correct, but I do know she had spent a lot of time with studying parish records for a Follett family tree formerly available at rootsweb.com. At that time I had not found anyone else in England doing research that would intersect with this family.)

Dear Bonnie

  I think it is positive that Robert Follett b 1627 is the son of John Follett of Dartmouth, Devon, England. He is 2nd Generation of my late husband's ancestors, the Folletts of Dartmouth, then Sidmouth, then Topsham Devon, then all over UK. . .

  There has always been a knowledge that Robert went to Salem. I was shown some old family papers by another (much older descendant, now dead) which said quite clearly. Robert was supposed to come back to England when his father died (to collect his inheritance) but he did not do so. The family were not Puritans but were Dissenters (not Church of England or Roman Catholic).

  John b 1602 Dartmouth married Agnes Seward 1626 in Axminster Devon. She was of Barnstaple Devon. Children: Robert, John, John, Edward. 

  John's father was Robert Follett b 1557 Dartmouth and he married Margery Weekes but I do not know when. I will try to get to Exeter Record Office and find out more. Children: Anthony, Gilbert, John, John and Dorcas.  Gilbert  1659-1820 is our ancestor and he married Joan Goole and lived in Sidmouth, Devon.

  Like many other Devon Follets the men were mariners or rope and sail makers.

  Amongst later Follets in this family are many important men including William Webb Follett Attorney General of England.

  Best wishes,

Brenda Cox

posted by Bonnie Follett
edited by Bonnie Follett
B-404 Anne B
Bonnie, I didn't want to "mess with" your additional biography, but wanted to add the inline citations and additional records, so I expanded the other, previously shorter, biography.

I personally am not at all certain that the alleged 1627 baptism and father John are correct. If you had John's will or some probate document that mentioned the son Robert in New England, then we could be certain.

posted by Anne B
B-404 Anne B
I feel quite sure he didn't have a middle name and that it should be removed.
posted by Anne B
Robert Dorn
Bonnie, you have researched it well. Thanks for posting the additional details.
posted by Robert Dorn
Robert Dorn
The image of the marriage gives a marriage date of 29th day of 9th month 1655. That is the Julian Calendar date. In that calendar the 9th month was November, not September. So the marriage date is 29 November 1655. Converting actual dates from the Julian calendar to the modern calendar can be complex but it can be done simply for most purposes with the following guidelines. In the Julian calendar the first month of the year was March. April was the second month, and so on down to the 12th month which was February. Thus January, February, and the first 24 days of March were in the old year, often designated with a double year such as 1635/6, 1635 being the year recorded but actually being 1636 in the current calendar. Sometimes the double year was actually given in the record. New years day was March 25th. So January, February, and March are the months that are the most complicated because of the year difference. The other months are easily converted from the number given for the month. England and the colonies did not go to the modern calendar until 1752.
posted by Robert Dorn
edited by Robert Dorn
Follett-757 Bonnie Follett
Hi Robert - Thank you for your comment and pointing out this calendar difference, which prompted me to further research this (sometimes irritating) issue for self-taught genealogists, and post some helpful sources I found. - I had 2 main questions:

(1) Was the Julian calendar used in the Massachusetts Bay Colonies? Answer: Yes, up until 1752 when the conversion to the Gregorian calendar occurred (in both England and the Colonies).

(2) How should genealogists record dates obtained from the images of early records? Answer: This depends on how the date was recorded. For example:

  • As in this prime example of the marriage of Robert and Persis, when the record refers to the 29th day of the 9th month, it is referring to the 9th month after March 25, a holy day considered to be the New Year. So we get November on the Gregorian calendar we use today counting forward from March 25, and should use that month in our date recording.
  • For dates falling between January and March, seen recorded as Jan 1710/11, this is a reflection of the Old Style (Julian) vs New Style (Gregorian) calendars and the awareness at the time that both calendars were in use depending on jurisdiction or country. You can record the year as either 1710 or 1711, but should note which calendar (Julian or Gregorian) is being used for the date (year) you chose to use.
  • If your record is in a Julian calendar jurisdiction (or before 1752), and the imaged record shows May 5th 1710 (Julian), the current Gregorian date would be about 11 days after that, but it is not necessary to convert the date to the current Gregorian date.
  • Different countries (other than England/America) have adopted different calendars at different times, so if you care about this issue, you can research what calendar was in use at what time in history in the country you are researching.

Helpful sources:

Again Robert, thanks for pointing this out. I am guilty of pretty much having ignored this issue!  :)

posted by Bonnie Follett

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