Christopher Hussey (abt. 1599 - abt. 1686)

Born about 18 Feb 1599 in Dorking, Surrey, England

Ancestors

Husband of Ann (Capon) Hussey — married 9 Dec 1658 in Hampton, New Hampshire

Descendants

Died about 6 Mar 1686 at about age 87 in Hampton, New Hampshire

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Christopher Hussey was a founder of Nantucket. Join: Nantucket Founders and Descendants Project Discuss: nantucket

Christopher Hussey migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See Great Migration Begins, by R. C. Anderson, Vol. 2, p. 1048) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Christopher Hussey migrated from Surrey, England to Nantucket, Massachusetts.

From Robert Charles Anderson, Great Migration Begins... ^[1]

Christopher Hussey was christened 18 Feb 1598/9 in Dorking, Surrey, England, son of John and Mary (Wood) Hussey [GDMNH 365]. Note that the GDMNH of 2012 does not name his parents, but does name his father-in-law as Rev. Stephen Batchelder. Mentioned in the book Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire (GDMNH) in 2012. Source states the Hussey name is from Wiltshire and Somersetshire.]^[2] Nevertheless, the St Martin Parish Register record does at least show his father, citing Christopher Hussey, son of John Hussey, was baptised on 18 Feb 1598/9 in Dorking, Surrey, England.^[3] Another transcription shows his birth year as 1598, however.^[4]

Christopher arrived from England at Boston June 5, 1632 on the Ship William and Francis^[5] after a voyage of 88 days at sea; although, the GDMNH suggests the original settlement date was with his in-laws 6 Sep 1638.^[2]

He married (1) by 1635 Theodate Bachiler (Batchelder), born about 1610, daughter of Reverend Stephen Bachiler.^[2] She died "8th mo 1649" at Hampton [HampVR 557]^[6]

Christopher married (2) in Hampton 9 Dec 1658 Ann (Capon) Mingay [Hamp VR 74, 556], widow of Jeffrey Mingay [NHGR 8:148]; she died at Hampton 24 Jun 1680. [Hamp VR 117]. (Hussey says Nantucket Island.)

"In the year 1659, Thomas Macy, a name which had been noted in our Colonial annals on account of his persecution for entertaining Quakers in violation of the law 1657, then a resident of Salisbury, desiring a greater freedom of conscience than he had hitherto been permitted to enjoy among his own people, formed a company for the purchase of the Island of Nantucket ,-- then inhabited solely by a tribe of Indians. Nantucket had previously been purchased by Thomas Mayhew, October 13, 1641 of James Forrest, agent of Lord Sterling, in New York, who claimed for his principal all the islands lying between Cape Cod and the Hudson River, under the patent granted to him and Sir Ferdinando Gorges, but it had not yet been occupied. Richard Vines, of Saco, also claimed it, but he had bought out his rights. Though the purchase had been made in the winter preceding, the deed was not executed till the 2nd of July, 1659.

Thomas Mayhew was a merchant of Watertown. The company formed by Macy consisted of Tristram Coffin, Thomas Macy, Christopher Hussey, Richard Swayne, Thomas Bernard, Peter Coffin, Stephen Greenleaf, John Swayne, and William Pike or Pile. To these were afterwards added others, among whom were Tristram, Jr., and James, sons of Tristram Coffin, Sr. There were twenty persons who became the proprietors in equal parts of the Island. The price paid was oe30 and two beaver hats. The Island is fourteen miles long, east and west and three and one-half miles wide."^[7]

Although Christopher was one of the original purchasers of Nantucket, he never lived there. Circa 1671, he sold his lands there to his sons John and Stephen.^[8]

He died at Hampton 6 March 1685/6 "being about 90 years of age"^[9] (Anderson gives date as 7? March 1685/6, citing Hampton Vital Records (1993), page 9).^[10][11]

"Among the descendants of Christopher and Theodate (Bachiler) Hussey were the poet Whitter and Daniel Webster." ^[12]

Will

His will, recorded in "Province of New Hampshire Probate Records," Volume I, read: "The last will and testament of Capt. Christopher Hussey made the 28th day of Feburary, 1684".

"I, Christopher Hussey, being through the mercy of God in health of body and of sound memory and disposing capacity for which bless the Lord; and yet being stricken in years . . ." "Imprimis: I give my two sons Steven Hussey and John Hussey my farm with all priviliges thereof, namely the hundred and fifty acres of meadow and upland granted me by ye town as also 50 acres of marsh which I bought adjacent to it. I say I give it by equal parts, that is to say, the one half of it to my son Steven, his heirs and assigns in fee simple, and the other half to my son John in like manner only they paying to my daughter, Mary, as hereafter in my will expressed." "Item: I give to my daughter, Mary Hussey, now wife of Thomas Page, my seven ackers of medow lying near Benjamin Shaw's: and that peece of medow through which the highway lyeth and also two shares in the ox common and also two shares of cow common and also I do order that my son, John Smith, shall pay her thirty pounds and my two sons, John and Steven, shall pay her forty pound a peece in goods." "Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter, Hulda, in the like manner all the rest of my lands and housing and Common Rights in the towne of Hampton and all the household goods and stuff remaining, that is to say, my house and all in it or with it all the land adjacent and the planting lot toward the spring, two shares in the ox common and two shares in the cow common and do order and appoint that she shall pay to my daughter, Mary, thirty pound toward her pension." "It is my will that the Legasies that I have bequeethed to my daughter, Mary, that part of it which is in land that she shall enjoy it immediately after my decease, and the thirty pound that she shall have of my son, John Smith, husband of my daughter, Hulda, I do will it to be paid to her in two years after my decease, that is to say, thereon half the first year and the other half the second year in good pay of Country." "It is my will also that the forty pound a peece that I have willed to my two sons, Steven and John Hussey to pay her that it be paid also within or by the end of the two years next after my decease in some good pay of the Country. And, in case of fayler, she, my said daughter, shall have in lue thereof, thirty acres of the farm whereof shall be the old field lying on the other side of the way on end whereof butts upon my old house, and the other toward the mill river by the bridge and the rest to be made of the farm with said lands shall be engaged hereby and shall be responsible for the payment of the aforementioned some ten or twelve acres where of shall be meadow." "I do upon further consideration will and declare that it shall be in my daughter, Mary's, choice whether she shall have the land forementioned in the farm or 80 pounds of my two sons Steven and John Hussey." Lastly I make and ordain my son, John Hussey and my son, John Smith, to be joint executors of this, my will, and in case either of them should die before they have executed the same then the sole power to be in the survivor, and in case they should both die before as above said, then I do appoint my daughter, Mary, in case she should also in like manner fayle, then I appoint my son, Steven, to be my executor in their stead. And my trusty friends, Richard Waldren and Major Robert Pike, to be overseers of this, my will. In witness of all which I have set my hand and seal the day and year aforesaid mentioned." s/Christopher Hussey "Signed and sealed and declared to be his last will and testament before us. s/ Moses Pike s/ Robert Pike s/ Steven Tuck [his mark]".

He wrote a codicil at Salisbury October 28, 1685.

"Salisbry October ye 28 - 1685 upon a considering of som dubiausness in the expression of some things in this my Will respecting coman rights or privaleges I do by these present for the avoyding of any contraversy or mistakes about it in time to come declare that by the privileges mensioned belonging to my farm by it I do plainly intent whatsoever woods, woodland or feeding rights or coman lands to be divided that do belong to ye sd. farm it shall remaine and be to ye sd. farme and so — porsionably to be divided to my two sons that have the farm and lands adjacent or lands not yet pofost (possessed) that ly in coman and in like manner the coman rights that do belong to the lands that is given to my two dafters Mary and Huldah in the Towne it shall belong to each of them attending to thayr severall portions of land I meane any coman rights thereto belonging devided or undevided and this I do declare to by my plane intent and meaning in that case as wwitness my hand and seale, day and year above written." Christopher Hussey (SEAL) Signed, sealed and declared in ye presence of us Steeven Tong (his mark) Robert Pike Martha Pike New Hampshire in New England Moses Pike, Robert Pike and steeven Tong appeared the 7th of 8th month 1686 before Richard Waldron, Jr. and made oath that they saw Christopher Hussey signe, seal and heard him declare this Instrumit contained in the two former pages as his last will and then saw him signe and seal the above menconed codicill being of a disposing mind. Attests Elisa Stileman Clery

His estate was inventoried March 25, 1686 by Joseph Dow and John Tuck who set the value at £651 13s., including £589 in real estate. It was itemized as: "House, orchard and land adjoining £42, the upland on the farm £200, 50 acres of meadow belonging to the farm £100, a lot of marsh, 40 acres £60, a lot of marsh, 15 acres £24, planting land £28, Spring Meadows £30, 7 acres meadow £14, Meadow toward Boulter's £6, land at the new plantation £5, Land in the north division £6, Four shares at the ox commons £24, Four shares cow pasture £30, 12 acres of pasture land £20, 3 cows, 1 ox, 1 one-year-old beast £12, Beds, bolsters, blankets, rugs curtains £12, Table, linen, sheets, etc. £10."^[13]

Children

With first wife:

1. John, bp Lynn 29 Feb 1635/6; m in Hampton 21 Sep 1659 Rebecca Perkins
2. Mary, bp Newbury 2 Apr 1638; m1 in Hampton 21 Jan 1664/5 Thomas Page; m2 in Hampton 10 Mar 1690/1 Henry Green; m3 in Hampton 10 Nov 1704 Henry Dow.
3. Theodata, bp Hampton 23 Aug 1640; d 20 Oct 1649
4. Stephen b abt 1643; m n Nantucket 8 Oct 1676 Martha Bunker
5. Hulda, b abt 1646; m in Hampton 26 Feb 1666/7 John Smith.

Chronology

"Hampton, original settler, 6 September 1633, with his mother and father-in-law Rev. Stephen Batchelder, whose footsteps he followed after marrying his daughter Theodate, meeting her by family tradition in Holland; coming on the same William and Francis, which arrived 5 June 1632; settled first at Saugus (Lynn); freeman 14 May 1634; Newberry property 1637; Hampton committee 22 May 1639, the first of many times; lot layer 31 October; called present deacon 30 June 1640; Moderator, 1641, 1662-4, 1672; Town Clerk 1650-53; Selectman 1650, 1658, 1664, 1669. Often Trial and Grand Jury, and foreman, Confirmed Lieut. 14 June 1658, Captain 11 October 1664. Representative 1658, 1659, 1660, 1672; Councillor 1679 until Cranfield came in. Nantucker property July 1659, sold there to his sons in 1671 and 1681. In April 1674 he and son John were summoned for breach of the law called Quakers meeting. Colcord deposed that her father gave them all his cattle, goods, and debts on going back to England, indicating his wife lived beyond that time. ^[14]

From Austin's One Hundred and Sixty Allied Families^[15]

"1599, 2, 18. Baptized at Dorking. (His brother, John had been baptized 1599, 4, 29, and died following year.) He was for a time in Holland, where he became enamored of Stephen Batchelder's daughter, Theodate, and as her father would not consent to their marriage unless they accompanied him to New England, they were married and came in the same vessel with Stephen Batchelder.

1632, 6, 5. Arrived in the ship, "William and Francis" at Boston, after eighty-eight days' passage from London.

1636. Till this year he probably remained at Lynn, where his father-in-law was some tine minister. He went to Newbury during the year, and resided there a year or two.

1637. deputy.

1638. Hampton. One of the original settlers.

1639, 5, 5. He and Stephen Batchelder sold their Newbury lands for L120, to John Oliver.

1639, 6, 7. Appointed with two others, to end all business under 20s. This office (equivalent to Justice of the Peace) he was sustained in for several years, by vote of the town of Hampton.

1639, 10, 30. He with two others was chosen to measure and bound the several lots; at 12d per house lot, and 1d per acre for other lands.

1640, 5, 29. He and Mr. Dalton and John Moulton were appointed to set bounds between Hampton and Salisbury.

1640, 6, 30. Granted 250 acres. For a house lot, 10 acres, as it laid out, fresh meadow 14 acres, planting ground 15 acres, for a farm, 150 acres etc., altogether making 250 acres. (He seems to have had interests at Haverhill also.)

1640, 8, 25. One of six persons chosen to view the highway toward Colchester.

1641, 1, 29. He with two others, to oversee the building of the new meeting house.

1641, 4, 19. He was to conferre of ye ferry place. Same year elected Moderator.

1643, 3, 7. Joined other Hampton settlers in a petition to Governor of Massachusetts and General Court, complaining of Wiliam Haward, military officer of the Colony.

1645. He was to have two shares of the 147 allocated, besides his farm.

1650. Town Clerk, and next year had two shares of the Ox Commons allotted to him.

1650, 58, 64, 68. Selectman. During part of this time he was called "Lefenant Christopher Hussey," and later in life he was called "Captain." He was one of the first deacons of the church, having the first seat.

1653, 6, 9. Taxed, L2, 8s, 3d., being the highest taxed payer but one.

1658, 59, 60, 72. deputy.

1659, 7, 2. One of nine purchasers of Nantucket, Massachusetts, from Thomas Mayhew, for L30, and two beaver hats; one for myself and one for my wife, as the deed says. It is not known that he went to that island; he certainly never lived there for any considerable time.

1659, 10, 18. He was empowered to join in marriage, persons within limits of Hampton, if published previously.

1671, 6, 29. Wanackmamackk, Head Sachem of Nantucket, deeded his interest in same, to him and others.

1671, 10, 23. Captain Christopher Hussey of Hampton, deeded to his sons Stephen and John of same place, for L80, all his interest on the Island of Nantcuket, that is to say all my lands, arable land, pasture, meadows, woodland, all commonage, rights, and privileges due unto me, according to the purchase made by me; with all my cattle, meat cattle, goats or horses, all my stock that is on the said island of Nantucket of what kind or quality so ever it be. Witness, Samuel Dalton.

1679, 9, 18. It was determined by the King, in Council, to erect New Hampshire into a separate government , under jurisdiction of a President and Council to be appointed by himself. l This was owing to representations made by Randolph, in confirmation of Mason's complaint against Massachusetts. Accordingly, a commission passed the great seal, appointing John Cutt, President;and as Councillors, Richard Martin, William Vaughn, and Thomas Daniel, of Portsmouth, John Gilman of Exeter, Christopher Hussey of Hampton, and Richard Waldron of Dover. The President was to remain in office one year, or until another was appointed in his stead. The President had power to appoint one of the Counceil to preside in his absence, as deputy. The Council had power to elect three others to be added to their number. The President and five Councillors to be a quorum. The President and Council were constituted a Court of Judicature with civil and criminal jurisdiction; with right of appeal in certain cases to the King.

The Council were to appoint civil and military officers, and to issue writs for calling an Assembly, who, with them, were empowered to enact laws, subject to the revision of the King. On the death of the President, his deputy succeeded him; and when a Councillor died, the remainder elected another, sending his name and two other names of suitable persons, to the King, for him to choose from. The King agreed to continue the privilege of an Assembly, unless from inconvenience attending it, he should see cause to alter his mind. This was the only charter ever granted New Hampshire. It seemed that the position of Councillor was a very important and responsible one. This office was held by Chistopher Hussey for three years, and until the inauguration of Cranfield.

1680, 1, 1. The Commission from the King was received at Portsmouth, and the several persons therein appointed, were qualified by taking oath, on the 22nd of the same month. They elected three others, as provided, viz,: Elias Stileman of Great Island, Samuel Dalton of Hampton, Job Clement of Dover. The President appointed Richard Waldon, his deputy, Richard Martin, Treasurer, Elias Stileman, Secretary. The Council issued writs to the four towns, designating the qualified voters in each, by name; and requiring them to choose dutiable Representative.

Another Biography

"Christopher Hussey, deacon and captain son of John, was born in Dorking, England, 1595-6. Of his early education and employment little is known, nor do we know where his father died. With many of his countryman he was driven by religious persecution to Holland, and it was thought he was one of the parishioners of Rev. Stephen Bachilor. It is stated in several works, that Mr. Hussey was engaged to be married to Mr, Bachiler's daughter, but that clergymen objected until his prospective son-in-law diecided to emigrate with him to America. It was only upon this condition that he would consent to the marriage. It is said they were married in England, probably before their sojourn to Holland. Hussey, with his wife and widowed mother, arrived at Charlestown, Massachusetts, July 23, 1630, in the William and Francis, which sailed from Southampton some time in May. Two years later they removed to their home in Saugus (Lynn). Mrs. Hussey's and some others of the family with their friends and acquaintances from England joining them. Mr. Bachiler established his church immediately in Lynn. On his first Sabbath he baptized four children. On being asked to baptize one of the children he refused, saying he would baptize his own grandchild first, Stephen Hussey, the second white child born in Lynn. Christopher subsequently removed, with his mother, to Hampton, New Hampshire, and was one of the grantees of the town. He was the first deacon of the church there established, and a prominent and influential man. His farm was on the falls side of the town, to which place he removed a few years after settlement. Christopher Hussey, of Hampton, conveys to Thomas fillbrick and James fillbrick marsh in Hampton, bounded by The Masten and the river 10, 8 1651. Witness Robert Tuck. Acknowledge before Richard Bellingham 8, 8, 1652 Christopher Hussey, of Hampton, yeoman, for L70 conveys to Steven Sainborne; and land adjoining Will ffulears and tho; Lovets 5, 2, 1650. Wit Steven Bachiler, Edward Colcord and John Radman. Ack before the court of Hamton 10, 6, 1651. Deacon Hussey was captain of the militia and a magistrate, town clerk, selectman and representative to the General Court, and when New Hampshire was made a royal commission. After the death of his wife Theodate Batcheiler, he married second December 9th, 1658, Ann, widow of Jeffrey Mingay, who died January 24, 1650. A few more years passed, and Captain Hussey, having passed ninety years in an honorable and distinguished career, died March 6, 1686. He died and was buried in Hampton, and was not cast away on the coast of Florida, as stated by Savage." ^[16]

Sources

1. ↑ Robert Charles Anderson, Great Migration Begins... Boston, MA: NEHGS 1995, pp 1048-1052; AmeicanAncestors. his sources are in [brackets]; other sources are referenced specifically.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Book: Noyes, Sybil I., 1878-1967, author, Genealogical dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire
   Boston, Massachusetts : New England Historic Genealogical Society; 2012; page: 364
   Internet Archive (accessed 11 April 2024)
3. ↑ Baptism: "FreeReg UK Parish Register database"
   Surrey; Dorking; St Martin; Parish Register; File line number: 777
   FreeReg Transcription (accessed 11 April 2024)
   Christopher Hussey baptism on 18 Feb 1598/9, son of John Hussey, in Dorking, Surrey, England.
4. ↑ Baptism: "FreeReg UK Parish Register database"
   Surrey; Dorking; St Martin; Other Transcript; File line number: 1764
   FreeReg Transcription (accessed 11 April 2024)
   Christopher Hussey baptism on 18 Feb 1598, son of John Hussey, in Dorking, Surrey, England.
5. ↑ Banks, Charles Edward. (1930).”The Planters of the Commonwealth.” Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. pps. 96-97
6. ↑ Wentworth-p38
7. ↑ Genealogy of the Greenleaf Family, Genealogy Library, October 26, 2003.
8. ↑ Nantucket Lands and Landowners, Volume 2, Issue 1, by Henry Barnard Worth, publ. 1901, p. 69
9. ↑ "New Hampshire Death Records, 1654-1947," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FS2D-H3X : 10 March 2018), Christepher Hussy, 06 Mar 1685; citing , Bureau Vital Records and Health Statistics, Concord; FHL microfilm 1,001,085.
10. ↑ Vital Records of Hampton, New Hampshire To The End of the Year 1900, Vol. 1, George Freeman Sanborn Jr. and Melinde Lutz Sanborn, eds. (Boston 1992), page 9, as cited in Anderson.
11. ↑ Hussey claims in Rockingham, New Hampshire
12. ↑ The underwood Families of America, Notes on the Hussey Ancestry, page 678.
13. ↑ Ruth Hussey, webpage: archived page from 15 Nov 2012, wayback machine.
14. ↑ Libby, Charles Thornton. Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire (Southward Press, Portland, Maine, 1928). Page 364. View on FamilySearch (go to only page 117).
15. ↑ Austin, John O. One Hundred and Sixty Allied Families. Salem, Mass: Printed at the Salem Press, 1893. Page 146. View on FamilySearch (go to online page 169).
16. ↑ Batchelder, Batcheller Genealogy, Descendants of Rev. Stephen Bachiler, of England, by Frederick Clifton Pierce, page 77.

See also:

• Wentworth, Edward Norris, Jr, The Genealogy of Edward Norris Wentworth Jr, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, June 1928, Special Project Submitted in Courses in Community Life and Advance Biology at the University High School, University of Chicago Footnote Abbreviation: Wentworth
• Duncan Rea Williams III. , "Ancestors of Allied Families of Captain Christopher Hussey" : 16 Feb 2005 [Wayback Machine Archived Page]
• Yates Publishing, U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900, Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Provo, Utah, 2004
• Starbuck, Alexander,. The history of Nantucket, county, island, and town : including genealogies of first settlers. Boston: C.E. Goodspeed & Co., 1924.
• Robert Charles Anderson, "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633", Published 1995 by the New England Historic Genealogical Society, pp1048-1052.
• http://www.treetreetree.org.uk/BachilerTheodatedaughterStephen.htm#AmossonofLydiasonofRecordsonofJohnsonofJohnsonofJohn
• Quakers in Delaware in the Time of William Penn, by Herbert Standing: http://nc-chap.org/church/quaker/standingDH3crop.pdf
• Find A Grave: Memorial #10904506, Founders memorial marker.
• New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015.[1]

Christopher HUSSEY

Marriage 1629

Location England

Original Text HUSSEY, Christopher (1599-1686) & 1/wf Theodate [BACHILER] (1596, ?1588-1649 1648?); in Eng, by 1629; Lynn/Newbury/ Hampton, NH {GDMNH 82, 364; EIHC 58:230, 70:67; Cram 31; Pope's Pioneers 26; Weis Anc. 15; Knapp Anc. 26; Reg. 46:157; Lynn 125, 162, 238;

Spouse Theodate BACHILER

Later Residences Newbury, Hampton, NH

Volume Name Volume 2 Page 828

• Barney Genealogical Record Unsourced family tree maintained by Nantucket Historical Association.