William (Kinge) King (abt. 1595 - bef. 1650)

Born about 1595 in England

Husband of Dorothy (Unknown) Kinge — married about 17 Feb 1616 in Sherborne, Dorset, England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died before 27 Jun 1650 before about age 55 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts

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William (Kinge) King migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 4, p. 174) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Unknown Parentage

William has been detached from Kinge-14 and Bowdiedge-1 due to there being no proof of the connection. See notes for information. Please don't attach parents without discussing on G2G and providing reliable sources. (2017)

Biography

William Kinge was born about 1595 in England, his age based on his listing as "William Kinge aged 40 yeare" on the passenger manifest of the ship Marygould, which sailed from Weymouth, England, in March 1635.^[1]

William Kinge, age 40, along with his wife Dorothy, 34, and children Mary (12), Katheryn (10), Will[ia]m (8), and Hanna (6) were enrolled at Weymouth as passengers for New England on the Marygould on 20 March 1634/5.^[1][2]

William Kinge’s Marriage

Lucy D. Ackerly (GM4 p. 177)^[2][3] took note of the marriage in Sherborne, Dorset: "In the Register of the Abbey Church of St. Mary at Sherborne, Dorset" the marriage of William Kinge and Dorothy Hayne on 17 February 1616, and suggested that this marriage pertained to this immigrant. There is no evidence that this marriage belongs to the immigrant couple other than a coincidence of names. The fact that the oldest child, per the immigrant ship manifest, wasn't born until 1623 raises some doubt that this marriage is theirs, although it is possible they had children earlier who died. Birth records of the children born in England are not found in that parish, or as yet anywhere else in England. Thus, confirming evidence coming from subsequent birth records in that parish is lacking.

The Sherbourne Abbey Church in the pretty town of Sherborne in Dorset, is a grand parish church that is considered one of the best examples of Perpendicular architecture in Britain. Sherborne Abbey is one of only 18 churches to receive five stars in Simon Jenkins' book England's Thousand Best Churches.

Sherborne Abbey is famed for its Perpendicular architecture, especially its beautiful fan vaulting that covers virtually the entire interior. The fan vaults are expertly executed and each fan is a complete semicircle.

The vault intersections are decorated with bosses that are masterpieces of medieval carving. They reflect current events and society in 15th-century Sherborne, and include the red and white roses of the civil war, the coat of arms of Henry VII, and simple scenes of domestic life and legends. There are several Green Men with foliage emerging from their mouths. There is a mermaid holding a mirror and comb high up in the eastern bay of the nave.

More charming medieval carvings are in the choir, where 10 misericords survive intact. Scenes include a woman beating her husband, a master beating a boy (the welts on his bottom can be seen) and an old man selling cherries. The church bells ring out clear and strong, led by "Great Tom," a tenor bell given to the abbey by Cardinal Wolsey.”

Another article states that William King married first an unknown wife who died in England before 1631, and secondly, about 1633, a Dorothy.

William and Dorothy Emigrate in 1635

1635 on the ship Marygould:^[2]

20 March 1634/5, William Kinge, age 40, along with his wife Dorothy, 34, and children Mary (12), Katheryn (10), Will[ia]m (8), and Hanna (6) were enrolled at Weymouth as passengers for New England on the Marygould [Hotten 285; GMN 7:9].

Samuel King, son of this couple, was born in England and should have been included in this passenger list. The next line in this list, as printed, following the entry for Hannah King, is incomplete, and is simply "Somm'." This has been taken to be an abbreviation for Somerset, the residence of most of the passengers on this vessel. But this may in fact be the beginning of the entry for Samuel King, for some reason not completed.

William Kinge Farms in Massachusetts

William and his family seem to have moved directly to Salem about 1635. William spent the rest of his life there.

William Kinge was a freeman as early as 1636 and was granted forty acres of land by the Town of Salem in the fall of that year.^[4] On February 4, 1638/9, he petitioned the Salem Selectmen "to have the land layed out that the Town had granted him."^[4] The land granted to Mr. Kinge was bounded east and south by the Bass River, the northerly point being at about the junction of Matthies and McKay Streets and from that point, southwesterly as the wall runs; thence southeasterly to the river at a point west of the School for the Deaf on Elliott Street, near Herrick's Bridge. The cove running into the land at this point was formerly called "King's Cove."

Mr. Kinge chose wisely in selecting this site for his settlement. The land is of high elevation, surrounded by water on the south and east, and, though some of it could be used only for grazing purposes, a large portion of its acreage contained as good tillage land as can be found in the district.

The territory within the boundaries of the granted lands is now traversed by Echo Avenue, Pierson Street, Glidden Street, Sturtevant Street, Matthies Street, and a portion of McKay Street.

The acreage exceeded forty, as an early instrument contains an estimate of fifty acres. Mr. King built a house near the river on the north portion of his land and lived there until he died.

William Kinge had Quaker Sympathies

William was a member of the First Church at Salem,^[5] but in 1637 joined the Antinomians and came under the ban of the Salem authorities. He was requested to sever his connection with the new church or have his arms taken away from him. He remained with the new faith and gave up his gun to Lieutenant Danforth. Later he was banished for a time for sheltering the persecuted Quakers.

Antinomianism is a pejorative term leveled against Christians who do not obey church doctrine. In William’s case, it probably means that he embraced Quakerism. His son, William, Jr, was persecuted by his community for supporting Quakers.

His daughter Katherine, married a staunch Quaker, John Swezey. William Hallock disinherited one of his boys for marrying one of the Quaker daughters of Katherine and converting to the Friends.

William Kinge's Estate

William Kinge died intestate in 1650 in Salem at the age of about 55. "The Probate Records of Essex County" pp. 117-8 describe the probate of his estate in Salem.

Estate of William King of Salem^[6]

Dorathie Kinge, widow, brought in inventory of estate of William Kinge, her late husband, 27: 4: 1650. Amount 141£ 18s. Four cows were adjudged to be her own estate. (Note: 27: 4: 1650 is Julian Calendar for 27 June 1650 Gregorian Calendar)

William Kinge dying intestate, his widow Dorothie Kinge and his eldest son William (to whom is given 14£ for two oxen to teach his brothers his father's trade) were ordered by the court held last 3d day: 12: 1650, to dispose of the estate, which amounted to 112£ 10s.; Mary, his daughter, wife of John Scudder, 5£; Katherine, wife of John Swaysy, his second daughter, 5£.; Hannah, his third daughter 10£.; Mehitable, his fourth daughter, aged fifteen, 5£.; and Deliverance, his fifth daughter, aged nine, 10£. John is to serve his brother William seven years and to have 16£ at the end of his time; Sam. to serve him three years and to have 12£; and William to allow his mother, Dorathie Kinge, 2 shillings per week for her son John's service, beginning 1: 1: 1653. The two younger daughters, Mehitabell and Deliverance, are to remain with their mother. Mr. Battar and Sergant Palfree to divide the estate.

William Kinge agreed with his mother, Dorothie Kinge, to be relieved from his brother John Kinge, and that said John be apprenticed to his mother. The court 28: 9: 1651, consented to the agreement. (Note: 3d day: 12: 1650 is Julian Calendar date for 3 January 1651 Gregorian date)

Dorothy raised eight children She survived her husband and probably died in Southold, Long Island, New York, where she lived on land provided her by her son, Samuel, after William's death. She died later than 1684.

Birth

About 1595

England

(aged 40 on 20 March 1634/5 [Hotten 285]^[2]

possibly Weymouth, Dorsetshire, England^{[citation needed]}

Immigration

1635 on the Marygould (on 20 March 1634/5, "William Kinge," aged 40, "Dorothy his wife," aged 34, "Mary Kinge his daughter," aged 12, "Katheryn his daughter," aged 10, "Will[ia]m Kinge his son," aged 8, and "Hanna King, his daughter," aged 6, were enrolled at Weymouth as passengers for New England on the Marygould [Hotten 285; GMN 7:9].

Samuel King, son of this couple, was born in England and should have been included in this passenger list. The next line in this list, as printed, following the entry for Hannah King, is incomplete, and is simply "Somm'." This has been taken to be an abbreviation for Somerset, the residence of most of the passengers on this vessel. But this may in fact be the beginning of the entry for Samuel King, for some reason not completed.^[2]

Occupation

Landowner in Massachusetts^[7]

Marriage

Husband: William King

Wife: Dorothy

Child: Deliverance King

From Great Migration (GM4 p. 177):^[2]

In 1902 Lucy D. Akerly (and apparently Rufus King) took note of the marriage at Sherborne, Dorset, on 17 February 1616/7 of William King and Dorothy Hayne, and suggested that this marriage pertained to this immigrant [NYGBR 33:71]. In 1918 J. Gardner Bartlett stated (without providing any evidence or argumentation) that William King had two wives, of whom Dorothy was the second, and that he had four children with each of these wives [Bushnell Anc 31-32].

These two hypotheses are mutually exclusive. The English marriage record is certainly possible, but it seems a few years too early, based on both the approximate age of William and the ages of his children. Bartlett may have based his arrangement of the family on the apparent gap of six years between the birth dates of the fourth and fifth children. The gap is not, however, as great as this, and the total range of dates of birth for the eight children, from about 1623 to 1641, are well within the range of the fertility span of a single woman.

We do not subscribe to either of these hypotheses, and simply state that William had a single wife Dorothy, surname unknown.

Disputed marriage information:

17 Feb 1616/17, at the Abbey Church of St. Mary, Sherburne, Dorsetshire, England^{[citation needed]}

Children of William and Dorothy

1. Mary King b. c. 1623 m. John Scudder
2. Katherine King b. c. 1625 m. John Swaysy
3. William King b. c. 1628
4. Hannah King b. c. 1629
5. Samuel King b. c. 1633
6. Mehitabel King b. c. 1636
7. John King b. c. 1638
8. Deliverance King b. c. 1641

Note

On 20 November 1637, "Goodman King" was one of five Salem men who were disarmed as a supporter of Rev. John Wheelwright and Mrs. Anne Hutchinson [MBCR 1:212].

Robert Charles Anderson notes that "On 20 November 1637, "Goodman King" was one of five Salem men who were disarmed as a supporter of Rev. John Wheelwright and Mrs. Anne Hutchinson." (GM4 p. 177)^[2]

Death

abt. 1649/50

Soon after 26 June 1649 [EQC 1:169; ELR 13:297]. Dorothy removed to Southold after his death.

Salem, Essex, Massachusetts^[2]

Estate

William died intestate at Salem, in late 1649 or early 1650. His widow Dorothy is listed in the probate records, as are their children: William, Samuel, John, Mary, Katherine, Hannah, Mehitabel, and Deliverance.^[2]

Court records regarding the disposition of William's estate give modern readers a glimpse into everyday life of early New England:

"William Kinge dying intestate, his widow Dorothie Kinge and his eldest son William (to whom is given £14 for two oxen to teach his brothers his father's trade) were ordered to dispose of the estate, which amounted to £112 10s., as follows: To William Kinge, eldest son, double portion, £20; Samuell, second son, aged eighteen years, £10; John, third son, aged thirteen, £10; Mary, his daughter, wife of John Scuddr, £5; Katherine, wife of John Swaysy, his second daughter, £5; Hannah, his third daughter, £10; Mehitabell, his fourth daughter, aged fifteen, £10; and Deliverance, his fifth daughter, aged nine, £10. John is to serve his brother William seven years and to have £16 at the end of his time; Sam. to serve him three years and to have £12; and William to allow his mother, Dorothie King, two shillings per week for her son John's service, beginning 1:1:1653. The two younger daughters, Mehitabell and Deliverance, are to remain with their mother. Mr. Battar and Sergiant Palfree to divide the estate". [EPR 1:117-18; EQC 1:206]^[2][8]

William King/Kinge was probably born in England about 1595, since he gave his age as about 40 when he immigrated to New England in 1635.^[2]

He married Dorothy _____ by about 1623, based on the approximate birth year of their oldest child, Mary.^[2]

William left from Weymouth on the Marygould with his family, including wife Dorothy (age 34), and children Mary (12), Katherine (10), William (8), Hannah (6), and most likely Samuel,^[2] whose name wasn't clearly listed, but would have been about 2 years old in 1635.^[2]

William had eight children, probably all by Dorothy. The first five were born in England, and the last three at Salem, Massachusetts:

1. Mary King, born about 1623^[2], married John Scudder.
2. Katherine King, born about 1625,^[2] married John Swasey/Swazey,
3. William King, born about 1628^[2]
4. Hannah, born about 1629,^[2] married Lieut. Richard Brown.
5. Samuel, born about 1633.^[2]
6. Mehitabel King, baptized 25 December 1636.^[5][9]
7. John King, baptized November 1638.^[5][9]
8. Deliverance King, baptized 31 October 1641, married John Tuthill.^[5][9][10]

WILLIAM AND DOROTHY KING, OF SALEM, MASS., AND THREE GENERATIONS OF THEIR LONG ISLAND DESCENDANTS^[3]

William Kinge on reaching New England, settled at Salem. Mass., where he was made freeman 25 March, 1636, and received the same year a grant of 40 acres at Jeffrey's Creek, now Manchester, also in 1638, one of 30 acres at Royall Side at the head of Basse River, now Beverly, where the King homestead was pleasantly situated.

The land rose with a gentle slope to the level of a broad field, and the road turned to the left beyond the house, || passing over the bridge part way up the hill; the King acres were on both sides of the bridge.

In the deposition of John Weston, Sen'., of Reading, dated 24 Feb., 1699-1700, may be found some interesting facts relating to the disposal of this land by the widow Dorothy King and her removal from Salem to Long Island.

Capt. John Dodge of Beverly, aged about 63 years, testified on 28 June, 1700, as to the King property at Royall Side, and described the boundaries as follows: "On the East upon the river called Basse River, Southerlie on ye cove that runs to a house formerly Batchelor's and Westerly and Northerly with the land of John Green, deceased." *

William King's name appears in a list of Salem Grand Jurors in 1637, and also on the roll of members of the First Church of Salem; he took an active part in the religious controversies of the time and in 1637, identified himself with the Antinomians, a step which placed him under the ban of the Salem authorities, he was admonished to sever his connection with the sect, under penalty of being disarmed, and refusing to do so, he was directed to leave his gun with Lieut. Danforth.

Mr. King died about 1650-1, intestate; his widow Dorothy and son William settled the estate under the direction of the court at Salem, where papers on file mention the following children: William the eldest son, Samuel aged 18, John aged 13, Mary, wife of Mr. Scudder, Katheryn, wife of John Swasy, Mehitable aged 15, and Deliverance aged 9.

Dorothy Kinge, widow, of Salem, bought in 1652, of John Swazey of that place, his dwelling house and land, lying between the lands of Richard Hyde and Daniell Rumball on the South River; also a tract of land in the South Field; in 1653, she sold the same to Thomas Johnson, Thomas Reynolds and Thomas Barnes; in 1658, she is mentioned in the Salem Court Records as "Doritha King, widdow and Relict of William King, Sen'.," in the testimony of Michael Shaflin, aged about 80 years; in 1684, she received commonage of one acre at Southold.f where her daughters Hannah, wife of Lieut. Richard Brown, and Deliverance, wife of John Tuthill were then living.

This partial history of the King family includes only the early generations descended from Samuel and Frances (Ludlam) King, who were the progenitors of the Long Island branch.

The Kings of Massachusetts are the posterity of a younger brother John King of Salem, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Goldthwait of that place and was the ancestor of many of the name who have filled positions of honor and trust in the community.

William King married by about 1623 Dorothy _____. After her husband's death she removed to Southold, then came back to Salem about ten years later, and then removed again to Southold, where she may have been living as late as 28 March 1684, when a record of her commonage lot was entered in the town records.^[11]

Research Notes

Disambiguation:

There is a "Wm King," who emigrated to New England on the Abigail in 1635 when he was 28 years old.^[12]

That is not the same William Kinge. Anderson found no further record of this Wm. King in New England after 1635. (GM4 p. 178)^[2]

Disputed ship from England:

William and Dorothy Kinge immigrated with their children to America on Mar 20, 1635 with "The Rev. Hull Company" on a ship called the Abigail. Most of the passengers on board were from Somerset, England. The Kinge family included:

William Kinge, aged 40 years, Dorothy, his wife, aged 34 years, Mary Kinge, his daughter, aged 12 years, Katheryne, his daughter, aged 10 years, William Kinge, his son, aged 8 years, Hanna Kinge, his daughter, aged 6 years.

The Reverend Joseph Hull graduated from St. Mary Hall, Oxford. In 1619, he was ordained by the Bishop of Exeter, serving during the next three years as the teacher, curate and minister of Colyton, Devonshire. His sermons were popular and he appears to have been associated with several other popular preachers of the region.

In the 1620's and 1630's there were a number of non-conformist curates who offered a "cure of the soul" under license, but who later resorted to itinerant preaching due to conflict with the official church. These gadding ministers or preachers did not receive set payment for their independent services and with the pressure mounting from the Church of England chose to leave the country rather than continue such a precarious and combative lifestyle. Hull seems to have somewhat straddled this roll.

In January 1635, Hull was prosecuted for preaching at Broadway without a license. He failed to respond to the court's citation and on February 17, 1635 was expelled from the Church of England. Hull had probably already gathered at least part of his company of emigrants, and was preparing, or prepared, to leave for New England when he was cited for illegal preaching in January 1635.

The Hull Company's ship left Weymouth about March 20, 1635. The voyage took forty-six days. The ship landed at Boston on May 6, 1635.

“On July 8, 1635, the General Court of Boston passed an order giving permission to the Rev. Joseph Hull, with twenty-one families numbering about one hundred persons, to settle at Wessagussett” south east of Boston. The settlement's name was changed to Weymouth by Hull's congregation.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} John Camden Hotten, The Original Lists of Persons of Quality, (London 1874, reprint New York: Empire State Book Co.), "Waymouth ye 20th of March 1635" pp. 283-286, p. 285: William Kinge aged 40 yeare HathiTrust.org
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19} Anderson, Robert C. The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England 1634-1635 Vol. IV I-L (New England Historic Genealogical Society, Great Migration Study Project, Boston, 2005) pp. 174-178, citing Hotten 285, (Great Migration Newsletter Vol 7, p. 9) AmericanAncestors.org (by subscription) and Ancestry.com
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record - Vol. 33, pp. 71-72: William and Dorothy King of Salem, Mass., and Three Generations of their Long Island Descendants, Compiled by Lucy D. Akerly from the Manuscript Genealogy of Rufus King of Yonkers, N. Y. Archive.org
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Town Records of Salem, Massachusetts, Volume 1 1634-1659, Salem, Mass., The Essex Institute 1868
   • pp. 18-27 Original Record, Dec. 26, 1636 to July 12, 1637, p. 21: to 9 Wm King 40; p. 26: from 4 Wm King [*40*] 30 aboue Mr Cole Archive.org
   • p. 80: The 4th day of the 12th moneth (1638) Wm King desires to haue his proportion giuen him to be layd out at the head of Basse riuer. The Towne hath graunted him 30 acres at the head of Basse riuer. (Note: Gregorian Calendar date of 4 February 1639) Archive.org
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} The Records of the First Church in Salem, Massachusetts, 1629-1736, edited by Richard D. Pierce, Essex Institute, Salem, Mass., 1974
   • page 6: William Kinge Archive.org
   • page 16: 1636 25: 10 Mahitabell, daughter of William Kinge - Julian Calendar date 25 10th month 1636 is Gregorian Calendar date 25 December 1636 Archive.org
   • page 17: 1638 _4: 9 John, son of William King - Julian Calendar date _4 9th month 1638 is Gregorian Calendar date _4 November 1638 - note: page torn 1st digit of day may be lost Archive.org
   • page 18: 1641 31: 8 Deliverance, daughter of William Kinge - Julian Calendar date 31 8th month 1641 is Gregorian Calendar date 31 October 1641 Archive.org
6. ↑ Essex County, Massachusetts Probate Records, 1635-1681 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002. Original data:George Francis Dow, ed. (The Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts. Vol. I-II. Salem, MA, USA: Essex Institute, 1916-1920) - Estate of William King of Salem Ancestry.com
7. ↑ Mary Louise Marshall Hutton. Seventeenth Century Colonial Ancestors of Members of the National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century, 1915-1975 Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. 1983. Repository: Placer County Genealogical Society, Auburn-Placer County Library - p. 148: King, William (1595-1650) Mass.; Landowner FamilySearch.org and FamilySearch.org
8. ↑ George Francis Dow, ed. Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volume 1. (Salem, Mass.: Essex institute, 1911), page 206: William Kinge Archive.org (Digital copy from www.Archive.org: https://archive.org/details/recordsfilesofqu01mass. Accessed 1 Oct 2016)
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2} Vital records of Salem, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849, Volume I, Births A-L. (Salem, Mass.: Essex Institute, 1916)
   • page 492: King - John, s. Will[iam] Archive.org
   • page 494: Kinge - Deliverance, d. Will[iam] Archive.org
   • page 494: Kinge - Mehitabell, d. Will[iam] Archive.org
10. ↑ Genealogical and Family History of Central New York, Vol 3 p. 1157: John Tuthill married Deliverance, daughter of William and Dorothy Kinge Archive.org
11. ↑ Southold Town Records copied with explanatory notes - Vol. 1 Liber A & B - J. Wickham Case 1882 - page 406 of text (page 71 of Liber B): Dority King her comonage in Southold is a first lott. . . . Entred 1684, March 28. pr Benj: Yo. HathiTrust or Google Books
12. ↑ John Camden Hotten, The Original Lists of Persons of Quality - emigrants, religious exiles, political rebels, serving men sold for a term of years, apprentices, children stolen, maidens pressed, and others, who went from Great Britain to the American plantations, 1600-1700 p. 98: Wm King 28 HathiTrust.org

See also:

• Find a Grave: William King Find a Grave Memorial

• The King family of Southold, Suffolk County, New York, 1595-1901, Compiled from public records, family papers and the manuscript King genealogy of Mr. Rufus King of Yonkers, N. Y., Archive.org