John Gooch (abt. 1600 - aft. 1667)

Born about 1600 in Slymbridge, Gloucestershire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Ruth (Hammond) Gooch — married 1622 in Gloucestershire, England

Descendants

Died after 7 May 1667 after about age 67 in Wells, York, Maine

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John Gooch migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 133) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

JOHN GOOCH

m. RUTH ______ (inv. 13 Dec. 1676)

will 7 May- 12 July 1667 Wells, Maine

John came from Slymbridge, Glouc. probably under the influence of Humphrey Hooke who was Lord of the Manor of Frampton adjoining Slymbridge and went to Newbury, then to York and finally to Wells. Gooch in his genealogy states that John was the same as the John Gooch of Alvingham, Linclonshire descendant of Iorwerth Goch ap Bleddyn, Lord of Powys, however his evidence is lacking and the Lincolnshire Pedigrees state John of Alvingham died in 1634 at Long Stanton, Cambridge.^[1]

Gooch states: "It is interesting to note that 'The Booke of Orders for the Council For New England' covering the period from May 1622 to 21 June 1623 and from 4 Nov. 1631 to 1 Nov. 1638 in possession of the American Antiquarian Society covers the period of Dr. Barnabe Goche's service as Treasurer for the Council for New England with Gorges as President. The book was given to the Society by Mrs. Carew of Crowcombe Court, Somerset having been part of the Carew family papers. No ancestor of the Carews of Crowcombe Court is recorded among the members of the New England Company and it was surmised in the Report of the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts that the books were acquired by the Carews in the middle of the 18th century. it is interesting to note that John Gooch's great, great grand-daughter Martha Gooch, daughter of James Gooch of Boston, married in 1753 in Boston William Carew of Barbadoes. This raises the question that the papers may have been passed down through the Gooch family and that Barnabe Gooch was John Gooch's uncle. In his will in 1626, Dr. Barnabe Goche gave £120 to his nephew John. It is interesting that following Barnabe's death and the death of his brother Matthew, Matthew's oldest son Barnabe inherited the Alvingham estate and the younger sons John, William, Geoffrey, Matthew and Henry vanish from Alvingham and 16 years later in Virginia there is found a William, Geoffrey, Matthew and Henry Gooch and in New England a John Gooch. These people were the only ones of the name of Gooch in America at the time and the fact that Matthew's sons disappear from England and five people with the same names appear in America afterwards can hardly be mere coincedence."

There was an earlier Barnabe Googe (1540-1594) who was an author including Foure Bookes of Husbandry, published in 1577 and a translation of Heresbach from the Latin.

John lived on "Gooch's Neck" on the northeast shore of the Cape Neddick River near the mouth which he acquired by grant from Oliver Godfrey about 1639.^[2] He also owned property near the Meeting House and at the Little River but, he had moved to Wells before 1662.^[3]

John was a proprietor of York and a representative of Agamenticus in 1640. On 19 June 1640 he headed a committee for settling their government. ^[4]

"WHEREAS we the Inhabitants of Agamenticus have bin summoned by Richard Vines, Esq. Steward Generall to Sir Ferdinando Gorges, knight, lord porprietor of the Province of Mayne, to appeare at a Generall Court to be holden at Saco on the 25th day of June next, for the setleing of government within the said Province. Now we the said Inhabitants of Agamenticus aforesaid... have deputed Mr. Edward Jonson, John Baker George Puddington and Bartholomew Barnett to appeare for us at the said Courts...". Signed 19 June 1640 by John Gooch, Henry Linn and Ralph Bleasdall.^[5]

On 18 Oct. 1644 William Hooke deeded to John Gooch and Peter Weare 20 acres each near Cape Neddick on Weare Point on the eastern shore of the Cape Neddick River. This river became the centre of fishing for herring and ground fish near its mouth:

"I Mr. William Hooke Mrchant dwelling in Sawlesbury… doth… Confirme unto Mr. John Gouch of Gorgeana & Peter Wyre of… Gorgeana… fourty Acers of Land beginning at the side of the little River on this side of Cape Nuddocke beach yt is to say Twenty Acers to Mr. John Gouch & Twenty Acers I do give unto… Peter Wyre… the 18… day of Octobr 1644 :
William Hooke
Witnesse Hene : Donell HD Marke" ^[6]

The land surrounding the river was once a part of Wells. On 21 July 1645 John purchased the point on the south side of the Agamenticus River from Christopher Rogers:

"July : 21 : 1645 : I Christopher Rogers servant in tyme past unto Sir Fardin : Gorges, but now of Pischataqua Planter, doth sell unto Mr. John Gouch of Gorgeana, a Prcell of Marsh wch the sayd Mr. Thomas Gorges gave in the behalf of the aforesd Sir Fardinando Gorges… on the Southward side of ye River of Gorgeana…
Christopher Rogers
Witness, Peter Weare
John Twisden"^[7]

Peter Weare had purchased ten acres of land and marsh on the east side of the York River which he sold to his father-in-law:

"I doe hereby Assigne over unto Mr. John Gouch all the appremisses herein expressed with ye building there unto added for a Certen Consideration by mee agreed upon. March 16 : 1650
Peter Weare
Witness, Nicho : Davis
The Marke of C Nicho : Greene"^[8]

John was an Alderman in 1647/8 and sometime before 1650 he sold eight acres on the south side of the ministereal lot to George Parker.^[9]

He was at Wells on 4 July 1653 as a member of the first board of Wells selectmen^[10] yet, he was of York 8 March 1653/4 when he sold a house and 10 acre lot and all his right to grants of common land in the town to Abraham Preble:

"I John Gouch of yorke… have… Confirmed unto mr Abra : Preble of yorke… my house & lott of upland containing tenn acers… with a prcell of swampe neare to the sd house… I have likewise sould… unto the sd Abra: Preble all my right… wch I have in any upland in the Towne of yorke betwit the little Riv & the Towne with all my marsh land with in the lymitts of the… Towne… One pcell of the sd Marsh Cauled Christophers point, another peece of marsh Cauled… Gurnetts Nose, a third prcell of Marsh… adjoining to a small Cricke… bordering upon the westerne branch of the River of yorke, I have also sould all my marshland lying on the North west branch of the sd Riv… in Consideration of sixteene pounds starling… & of a young oxe… the sd sixteene pounds… is to be pd unto mee… in manner & forme ffoloweth… Tenn pounds in marchandable peas & mault here in yorke… or in Cattle at or before the 20th Day of may… 1654 & the other six pounds to be pd… before the 20th day of may 1655… this 8th of march: 1653…
John Gooch
Ruth Gooch
In the prsens of
Ed: Rishworth
Peter Wyre"^[11]

He had settled permanently at Wells by 1655 where on 3 Apr. 1661 he purchased marsh land in Wells from John Wakefield as well as more land and marsh on 3 Feb. 1667 from William Hammond:

"I John Wakefield now of Scarbrough, then of Wells… have… sould unto Mr John Gooch… of yorke… one Tract of marsh lying in Wells on the North side of the Harbour & buttes upon the sea… &… Mussell ridge… and Joynes to a Tract of upland… wch tract of upland I alsoe have sould unto… Mr. Gouch with ye Marsh yt lyeth on the West side of John Crosses Yland… the Marsh is by estimation tenn Acers… the upland two Acers & an halfe… Which Marsh & upland I sould unto ye abovesd Gouch… for a valewable Consideration five or 6 years agone… In confirmation hereof I have putt to my hand ye 3d day of Aprill : 1661 :
John wakefield his marke W"^[12]

Whereas John Ball, Thomas Waye, Sylvester Stover & Michaell Powell Fishermen finding a convenient Place for Building a Stage for Fishing with other Accomodations for Setting up the Fishing Trade in the River of Cape Neddieke the most convenients Place being on the North East Side of sd River wch Land is now justly belonging to Mr John Goug… by Grant from Mr. Oliver Godfrey whereby they can not have such Accomodation there for their Livelihood of Planting & subsisting on the shore Imployment Now for as much as it concerns the Generall Good of the Country… it is though meet by Mr. Henry Jocelyn De: Govr & Mr Edward Godfrey Comr for this Province Mayne that the sd John Ball Thomas Way Sylvester Stover & Michaell Powell should have assurance of Some… Land where it may be had not prejudicing others & best for them. Whereas they desire the Neck of Land opposite to Mr. John Gouges Plantation the sd Neck being on the South Side of the River & not yet disposed of… Mr Edward Godfrey… doth give the same to the sd John Ball Thomas Waye Sylvester Stover & Michaell Powell… the 3d July 16[ ]
Recorded the 21st of May 1651 Henry Jocelyn D:G: Edward Godfrey ^[13]

It sounds like the fishermen were trying, unsuccessfully, to strike a deal with John and ended up with a grant across the river.

On 20 Oct. 1662 John sold to Daniel Epps 250 acres of upland in Wells and marsh on the southeast side of the Cape Porpoise River:

"I John Gouch Senior of Wells… in Consideration of a Certen some… payd by Daniell Epps of Ipswidge… Gentle:… do… sell… a Certaine Tract of upland & Marsh ye upland Contayning two hundred & fivetie acers, the Marsh Contayneing betweene thirtie & fourtie acers… being in the bounds of Wells… adjoyneing to the South East side of Cape Porpus river… in Wells… the Marsh beginning next unto Samuell Austines which was… knowne by the name of Cutts… & John Sanders his land on the North west unto… the second Cricke & soe runnes unto the Lower Falls of Cape Porpus River. The upland begins att the second Cricke having John Sanders his upland on the South East… this Instant yeare… One thousand six hundred sixty & two, October the Twenteth…
John Gouch Senior
Ruth Gooch
In the psence of us
John Gouch Junior
Elihew Wardell^[14]

Nicholas Greene 16 March 1650/1 witnessed two deeds of Peter Weare to John Gooch conveying marsh land in Agamenticus granted to Weare by Gorges, however his not signing the submission to Massachusetts two years later puts his civil status under suspicion unless he was absent at that time. It is possible that he was a servant of John and therefore not regarded as eligible to sign a political acknowledgement as a freeman. ^[15]

John took the oath of allegience to Massachusetts 22 Nov. 1652 in York.^[16]

Evidently he was satisfied with the Massachusetts government as he signed the petition to Cromwell 12 Aug. 1656 which referred to the complaints presented to the Protector by "some gentlemen of worth" (i.e. Godfrey) for restitution of their right of juisdiction and asked that they be not heeded, intimating that they are instigated by "professed Royalists whose breathings that way... have been so farre stifled."^[17] John received 100 acres of upland and meadow from Godfrey which was confirmed 20 Apr. 1655.^[18] On 28 June 1648 Edward Godfrey was the plaintiff in a land dispute against John Gooch. Godfrey won the case and was awarded the land in question and £5 damages.

"For deflowering Ruth, wife of John Gooch of Agamenticus aforesaid," George Burdett was fined £20. The wife, Ruth, was found guilty "By the Grand Inquest, of adultery with Mr. George Burdett" and "is censured by this court, that six weeks after she is delivered of child, she shall stand in a white sheet, without other clothing, publickly in the congregation at Agamenticus two several sabbath days, and likewise one day at this General Court when she shall be thereunto called by one or all of the counsellors of this Province, according to his Majesty's laws in that case provided." A witness in the case testified that he heard "John Gouch say that he was minded to shoote Mr. Burdett, but that his wife persuaded him to the contrary, and he thought that John Gouch carryed a pistoll in his pockett to shoote Mr. Burdett." ^[19] Supposedly this story was the basis of Hawthorne's novel "The Scarlet Letter" although Rev. Burdett also had an affair with Mary Puddington, George Puddington’s wife. The good reverend ended up in Ireland where he was Chancellor and Dean of the Diocese of Leighlin.

John was a juror in 1640, 1650 and 1655 and was on the grand jury in 1650 and 1657. He was a constable in 1651 and 1662. He also signed the petition to Oliver Cromwell and the petition to Massachusetts.^[20]

"May : 7 : 1667… The last Will & Testament of Mr John Gooch Senior now living in Wells…

I do make my Loveing wife Ruth Gooch my sole executrix. And first I do bequeath unto her that Prcell of Marsh at ye Yland which Marsh I bought of Samell Austine wch lyeth on the Northeast side of the aforesd Yland, which lyeth before my now dwelling house. I do also bequeath to my executrix my Oarchard Wch is adjoyneing to my sd dwelling house. Furthermore I do bequeath unto my executrix all my Cattle, & horse kind, sheepe & swine, & all my househould goods, & all my moveable goods, all which is to bee at her Lyberty to dispose off, as shee shall see Cause, & all the rest of my Lands (except wt is underwritten) I do give & bequeath unto my sun John Gooch, vidzt: My land which I now live upon & Marsh belonging thereunto, which is to bee his own with in six Moenths after my death & my executrix to have the use of the dwelling house as shee shall see Cause dureing her life, & the sd John Gouch is to pay my executrix towards her livelihood yearely, & every yeare seaven pounds dureing her life in Mrchandable pvission…

Allsoe I do will & bequeath unto my sun John Gouch, all my right & priviledg to & in that swampe liing on the North east side of my house, & all my housing except yt before excepted.

And I do… bequeath to my sun James Gooch a Certen pcell of Land wch I bought of William Hamonds, Namely an Oachard Garden & house being in a place Called Slymbridge, in ould England with all Rents… thereunto belonging

I do… bequeath unto my sunn James a certen Prcell of upland, lying on the South West side of the above mentioned land, next the Mussell Ridge & soe to ye Sea Wall & soe Joyneing to the Marsh Wch I formerly gave to my sun James

I do… bequeath to my grandchildren Elizabeth Donell, Mary Weare, & Hannah Weare tenn shillings a peece to bee payd within three years after my death by my executrix. And the other of my grandchildren Phoeby Weare, Peter Weare, Nathaniell Weare & Ruth Weare & Elizabeth Austin I give to them five shillings a peece to bee pd by my executrix… wn they come of age. And I do give my grandchild John Gooch five shillings… John Gooch Senior

I do make Mr. William Symonds and my brother William Hammonds my supervisors… & see I give them tenn shillings a peece…
John Gooch Senior
In ye Presence of us
William Hamonds
Jonathan Hammonds"^[21][22]

It’s interesting that John left his "horse kind" to Ruth, this being earliest mention of horses found in possession of a resident of York. John, along with a lot of other people, was not too fond of Peter Weare as he gave the legacy to the children so that it wouldn’t fall into Peter's hands. The same situation occurred with regard to his daughter Francis, he giving the legacy to his grand-daughter Elizabeth Donnell since her father Henry had deserted his family leaving them to take care of themselves.

"Yorke the 13th 1667 Whereas Mr John Goch late of Wells deceased made a Will… Itt is mutually Agreed Betwext Mrs Reuth Gooch and her sonn John Gooch… the said John Goch by his Mothars Consent is to have the Percell of Marsh at the Iland that is Exprest in the Will att his mothers desease. And alsoe as for the orchard it is concleuded that John Goch shall have it as his owne after Two years is Expiared only shee is to have libartie to move Tenn trees if shee Please. Itt is alsoe Concluded that forty shillings p ano is to be abated unto John Goch out of the seven Pounds Rent that is Expresed in the will…
Reuth Gooch
John Gooch
In the presents of
Isaacke Walker
Peter Weare"^[23]

"An Inventory of the Estate of Mis Ruth Gouch, Deceased
Imprs too steares, too Cows with part
of one Calfe........................................................18 8 00
It one horse too pounds..................................02 00 0
............................................................................20 08 00
Apprised by us this 6th day of December 1676
Samll Wheelewright
John Wells"^[24]

Children

• I. Frances- m.c.1636 Henry Donnell

• II. Barnaby- bpt. Sept. 1618 St. Margaret, Westminster, London, probably d.s.p.

• III. Ruth- b.c.1628, m. Peter Weare

• IV. John- b.c.1630, m. Lydia Hammond, will 2 July 1672. John was killed by a charlatan "A black man commonly counted a portingale (a Portuguese)" called Anthony Lame who plied his trade in York in 1672. John's widow sued him for malpractice.(15)

• V. Elizabeth- b.c.1632, m. Samuel Austin, living in 1661

• VI. James- b.c.1635, m. Rebecca Pudington (d. 24 Sept. 1676), d. 24 Sept. 1676. Both James and Rebecca were killed by Indians.

Sources

1. ↑ The Line of John Gooch in New England- Frank Austin Gooch, pp.52-6,63-8
2. ↑ History of York, Maine- Col. Charles Banks, Regional Pub. Co., Baltimore, 1935- Vol.2, pp.139-40
3. ↑ History of York, Maine- Col. Charles Banks, Regional Pub. Co., Baltimore, 1935- Vol.2, p. 15
4. ↑ History of York, Maine- Col. Charles Banks, Regional Pub. Co., Baltimore, 1935- Vol.2, p. 15
5. ↑ History of York, Maine- Col. Charles Banks, Regional Pub. Co., Baltimore, 1935- Vol.1, p.82
6. ↑ York Deeds- Vol. I, fol. 101 also Vol. II, fol. 178
7. ↑ York Deeds- Vol. II, fol. 179
8. ↑ York Deeds- Vol. II, fol. 177
9. ↑ York Deeds- Vol.14, p.144
10. ↑ Mass. Archives- Vol. III, p.222
11. ↑ York Deeds- Vol. 1, fol. 29
12. ↑ York Deeds- Vol. I, fol. 107
13. ↑ York Deeds- Vol. I, fol. 14
14. ↑ York Deeds- Vol. I, fol. 127
15. ↑ York Deeds- Vol.2, pp.177-9; History of York, Maine- Banks, Vol.2, p.27
16. ↑ Mass. Archives- Vol. 1, p. 199; Vol.3, p.199
17. ↑ Mass. Archives- Vol. 1, p. 199; Vol.3, p.242
18. ↑ Mass. Archives- Vol. 1, p. 199; Vol.3, p.238
19. ↑ Court Records- Vol. I, p.80
20. ↑ Mass. Archives- Vol. IV, pp.230-1
21. ↑ York Co. Court Records- F, 31 quoted in Maine Wills- pp. 27-8
22. ↑ “Maine Wills, 1640-1760”, Sargent, William M., database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89J3-N5J  : 5 April 2021), FHL microfilm 007600602, image 61, Portland, Brown Thurstone & Company, 1887, Page 32-33.
23. ↑ York Deeds- Vol. II, fol. 80
24. ↑ York Deeds- Vol. V, pt. 1, fol. 12

• Donnell Genealogy- George Ernst, MS at York Historical Society
• Wells: The Frontier Town of Maine- Esselyn G. Perkins- p.18
• Maine Pioneer Settlements- Old York- Herbert Milton Sylvester, p.99
• York Co. Deeds- Vol.2, p.80
• Mass. Archives- Vol. III, pp.269,273
• Pope, Charles. The Pioneers of Maine and New Hampshire, 1623 to 1660 (Boston, Mass., 1908), p.82
• Hoyt, David W. The Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury Massachusetts (Providence, Rhode Island, 1897) Vol. II, [https://archive.org/details/oldfamiliesofsal02hoyt/page/n329/mode/2up pp.573-4.
• Libby, Charles Thornton. Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire (Southward Press, Portland, Maine, 1928) Vol. II, p.270 View on FamilySearch (Go to online page 23).
• Holman, Mary. Ancestry of Colonel John Harrington Stevens and His Wife Frances Helen Miller (Rumford Press, Concord, N.H., 1948) Vol 2, p 97-105.
• Sargent, William. Maine Wills. 1640-1760 (Brown Thurston & Co., Portland, 1887) Pages 32-33.
• Province and Court Records of Maine, 6 volumes (Portland 1928-1975; volumes 1­3 rpt. Newburyport, Massachusetts, 1991) Vol 1:54, 58. [Noted in Great Migration Directory]
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/126837232/john-gooch : accessed 15 June 2022), memorial page for John Gooch (1600–7 May 1667), Find a Grave Memorial ID 126837232, ; Maintained by Robert DeVowe (contributor 48224154) Burial Details Unknown. No headstone.