Herbert Pelham (abt. 1600 - bef. 1674)

Born about 1600 in Sussex, England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Jemima (Waldegrave) Pelham — married 18 Oct 1626 in Mount Bures, Essex, England

Husband of Elizabeth (Bosvile) Pelham — married about 1639 in Cambridge, Massachusetts Bay Colony [uncertain]

Descendants

Died before 1 Jul 1674 before about age 74 in Bures, Essex, England

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Magna Carta Gateway Ancestor Descendant of Magna Carta Surety Baron William de Mowbray (see text). Join: Magna Carta Project Discuss: magna_carta

Herbert Pelham migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 258) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Herbert Pelham immigrated to New England between 1621 and 1640 and later departed for Bures, Essex, England.

Birth and Parents

Herbert was the son of Herbert Pelham and his first wife Penelope West. His father had lands in Sussex and Lincolnshire and his birthplace is not certain,^[1][2][3][4] but it is likely to have been in the Hastings areas of Sussex where several of his siblings were baptised (see his mother's profile). The 1626 licence for his first marriage gives his age as 26, so he was probably born in about 1600.^[5]

First Marriage

Herbert married, by a licence issued by the Bishop of London dated 13 October 1626, Jemima Waldegrave (age about 20), second daughter of Thomas Waldegrave, Esq. of Bures ad Montem (Mount Bures), Essex and Margaret Holmstead.^[1][2] The licence described him as a bachelor of Boston, Lincolnshire and was for their marriage at Bures - probably Mount Bures, given as her father's residence in the licence, rather than nearby Bures St Mary, Suffolk.^[6][5] They had the following children:

• Waldegrave,^[1][2] baptised at Bures on 26 September 1627 according to Susan Hardman Moore^[4] but a FreeReg transcript gives baptism at Bures St Mary, Suffolk in December 1627^[7] (Bures straddles the Essex/Suffolk border and the church is in Suffolk)
• Herbert^[1][2]
• Jemima, who married the Rev. Samuel Kern^[1][2] and who was baptised at Bures St Mary, Suffolk on 24 June 1630^[8]
• Nathaniel,^[1][2] baptised at Bures on 5 February 1531/2^[9] (Susan Hardman Moore's Abandoning America'’ again says the baptism was at Bures, Essex.^[4])
• Penelope, who was baptised at Bures St Mary, Suffolk on 25 April 1633^[10] and who married Josiah Winslow, who became Governor of Plymouth Colony^[1][2]
• Margaret, baptised (with her first name spelt Margarite) at St John’s, Twinstead, Essex on 30 November 1634^[11] (not listed by Richardson)
• Katherine, who married someone with the last name Clarke^[1][2] and who was baptised at St John's, Twinstead, Essex on 30 March 1636^[12]
• Elizabeth, baptised at St John’s, Twinstead, Essex on 29 November 1638^[13] (not listed by Richardson)

Emigration to Massachusetts

In 1629 Herbert became a member of the Massachusetts Bay Company.^[1][2][4] He was one of those who prepared the wording of an oath for the Governor, Deputy Governor and Council.^[3]

In 1639 Herbert emigrated to New England, settling in Cambridge, Massachusetts,^[1][2] along with his children Waldegrave, Nathaniel, Jemima, Katherine and Penelope.^[4] (Presumably Herbert and Elizabeth had died.) His first wife Jemima appears to have died about this time. Susan Hardman Moore says she died in England,^[4] as does Herbert's entry in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.^[3] Richardson says she died during the voyage to America, or very soon after his arrival there.^[1][2] A 2021 article in the The New England Historic Genealogical Register indicates that there is no clear evidence of whether she died in England, on the way to New England, or in Massachusetts.^[14]

Herbert joined the Artillery Company of Massachusetts in 1639.^[4]

Second Marriage

By 1640 Herbert remarried, his second wife being Elizabeth Bosville, widow of Roger Harlakenden (who died in Massachusetts in 1638^[4]) and daughter of Godfrey Bosville and Margaret Greville.^[1][2][3][4] They had the following children:

• Herbert,^[1][2] born on or before 3 October 1645^[15] and buried at Boston, Massachusetts on "3nd of the 11th month 1645".^[16]
• Edward^[1][2]
• William^[1][2]
• Henry^[1][2]
• Mary^[1][2]
• Frances, who married Jeremiah Stonnard^[1][2] (Susan Hardman Moore names her Frances at one point and Elizabeth a few lines later - an obvious slip^[4])
• Anne^[1][2]
• probably Hannah, "daughter of Mr Pellam of New England", baptised at Bull Lane Independent Church, Stepney, Middlesex on 11 July (5th month) 1647^[17]

Life in Massachusetts

In 1643 and 1644 Herbert acted as town surveyor for Cambridge, Massachusetts.^[4] On 27 December 1643 he became the first Treasurer of Harvard.^{[1][2][3][4][18]}

Herbert became one of the richest residents of Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1644 he was awarded land at Sudbury, Massachusetts, though there is no evidence he ever settled there. The next year he was made a Freeman of the colony, was elected to represent Cambridge, and served as an assistant to the General Court of Massachusetts. In 1646 he was made a Commissioner for the United Colonies.^[4]

Back in England

In 1646 Herbert returned to England, along with most of his family. (His son Nathaniel remained in Massachusetts, studying at Harvard.)^[4] He sailed in the Supply.^[1][2] The expectation must have been that his sojourn in England would be brief: in his absence, he was elected an Assistant of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1647-1649, but he never returned to take up the position.^[3][4] By 1648 he was residing at the manor of Ferrers in the hamlet of Bures, Essex, which had come into his possession through his first marriage.^[3][4]

In 1649 Herbert was a founding member of the Corporation for the propagation of the Gospel in New England.^[19]

Herbert engaged in local affairs in Essex. He became a Justice of the Peace, and was chosen as Member of Parliament for Essex in 1654.^[1][2][3][4] That year he was one of the Essex Commissioners for "ejecting Scandalous, Ignorant and insufficient Ministers and Schoolmasters".^[20]

In 1656 Herbert acquired an interest in land at Kempsey, Worcestershire.^[21]

In 1657 Herbert was one of those made responsible in Essex for the assessment and collection of a tax to raise funds for war with Spain.^[22]

Herbert's second wife died a little before 25 August 1659,^[1][2] when Herbert was appointed administrator of her estate.^[4]

Death

Herbert was buried at Bures, Essex on 1 July 1674.^{[1][2][3][23]}

Will

Herbert's Will was dated 1 January 1672 (probably 1672/3) and proved on 30 March 1676. ^[24] A transcription is here: Will of Herbert Pelham of Ferrers, Bures Hamlet, Essex, 1676

In it he:

• described himself as of Ferrers in the Hamlet of Bewers (Bures), Essex
• named the following relations:
  • his sons Waldegrave Pelham, Edward Pelham, Henry Pelham and Nathaniell Pelham
  • his daughters Penelope Winslow, Katherine Clark and Anne Pelham
  • a [step-]daughter who was the wife of Guthlach Tolliot, and her daughter Elizabeth (she was a daughter of his second wife Elizabeth Bosville by her previous marriage to Roger Harlakenden
  • his son[-in-law] Jeremiah Stonnard
  • his son[-in-law] Josias Winslow
  • his grandmother Katherine (Thacker) Pelham, sister of James Thacker or Thatcher
  • his sister Penelope Bellingham, wife of Richard Bellingham
  • his sister Elizabeth Pelham
  • his grandchildren Waldegrave Pelham and Herbert Pelham
• appointed his son Waldegrave Pelham as sole executor

Research Notes

Bures

There are two parishes, close together, called Bures on the Essex/Suffolk border:

• Mount Bures (Bures ad Montem in the licence for Herbert's first marriage), also known as Bures St John, Essex, where the father of Herbert's first wife appears to have resided.
• Bures, which straddles the Essex/Suffolk border, and which comprises Bures Hamlet in Essex and Bures St Mary (where the parish church is) in Suffolk: the manor of Ferrers, brought to Herbert by his first wife, was in Bures Hamlet.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23} Douglas Richardson. Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 4 vols, ed. Kimball G. Everingham, 2nd edition (Salt Lake City: the author, 2011), Vol. IV, p. 327 WEST 15.iii.a, Google Books
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 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23} Douglas Richardson. Royal Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 5 vols, ed. Kimball G. Everingham (Salt Lake City: the author, 2013), Vol. V, pp. 355-356, WEST 15.iii.a
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8} Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, entry by Robert Charles Anderson for Pelham, Herbert, print and online 2004
4. ↑ ^{4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17} Susan Hardman Moore. Abandoning America, Life Stories from Early New England, The Boydell Press, (2013), pp. 235 - 239
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} L J Chester. Allegations of Marriage Licences issued by the Bishop of London 1611 to 1828, the Publications of the Harleian Society, Vol XXVI, 1887, page 177 Internet Archive accessed 1 April 2023
6. ↑ London and Surrey, England, Marriage Bonds and Allegations, 1597-1921, London Metropolitan Archives; Reference Number: MS10091/11, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2056 #50441 (accessed 1 April 2023). The original text shown in this image shows Herbert's signature which matches that on the administration bond for his father's estate.
7. ↑ Suffolk: Bures: St Mary: Parish Register, FreeREG (https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5a7dbd85f493fdba7380cc61 : viewed 1 Sep 2023) baptism Waldegrave Pelham * Dec 1627
8. ↑ Suffolk: Bures: St Mary: Parish Register, FreeREG, (https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5a7dbd8af493fdba7380cd8e : viewed 1 Sep 2023) baptism Jemimah Pelham 24 Jun 1630
9. ↑ Suffolk: Bures: St Mary: Parish Register, FreeREG (https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5a7dbd8cf493fdba7380ce38 : viewed 1 Sep 2023) baptism Nathaniell Pelham 05 Feb 1631/32
10. ↑ Suffolk: Bures: St Mary: Parish Register, FreeREG, (https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5a7dbd8ff493fdba7380cf10 : viewed 1 Sep 2023) baptism Penelope Pelham 25 Apr 1633
11. ↑ Parish register of Twinstead St John, Essex, England EssexArchivesOnline Reference: D/P 212/1/1 Image 38, accessed 1 April 2023
12. ↑ Parish register of Twinstead St John, Essex, England, EssexArchivesOnline, Reference: D/P 212/1/1 Image 38, accessed 1 April 2023
13. ↑ Parish register of Twinstead St John, Essex, England, EssexArchivesOnline, Reference: D/P 212/1/1 Image 39, accessed 1 April 2023
14. ↑ Robert Battle. The Colman and Cutler Ancestry of John1 Thorndike of Essex County, Massachusetts,with the Colman Ancestry of John1 Coggeshall, Muriel1 (Gurdon) Saltonstall, and Jemima1 (Waldegrave) Pelham, concluded, in 'The New England Historic Genealogical Register', Summer 2021, Appendix, pp. 263-268, web ($)
15. ↑ Vital Records of Cambridge Massachusetts to the Year 1850 ed. Baldwin T.W. pub 1914 Boston, Mass (NEHGS) Volume 1 Births, page 551 FamilySearch Image accessed 1 April 2023
16. ↑ Image on his profile
17. ↑ "England & Wales, Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial Registers, 1567-1936", The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; General Register Office: Registers of Births, Marriages and Deaths Surrendered to the Non-Parochial Registers Commissions of 1837 and 1857; Class Number: RG 4; Piece Number: 4414 Bull Lane Independent Church, Stepney, Middlesex, England, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2972 #400879 (accessed 1 April 2023)
18. ↑ Samuel Eliot Morison. The Founding of Harvard College, Harvard University Press, 1995, p. 328, Google Books
19. ↑ 'July 1649: An Act for the promoting and propagating the Gospel of Jesus Christ in New England.', in Acts and Ordinances of the Interregnum, 1642-1660, ed. C H Firth and R S Rait (London, 1911), pp. 197-200, British History Online, accessed 1 September 2023
20. ↑ 'August 1654: An Ordinance for ejecting Scandalous, Ignorant and insufficient Ministers and Schoolmasters', in Acts and Ordinances of the Interregnum, 1642-1660, ed. C H Firth and R S Rait (London, 1911), pp. 968-990, British History Online, accessed 1 September 2023
21. ↑ 'Parishes: Kempsey', in A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 3 (London, 1913), pp. 430-437, British History Online, accessed 31 August 2019
22. ↑ 'June 1657: An Act for an Assessment upon England at the Rate of Sixty thousand Pounds by the Moneth, for three Moneths.', in Acts and Ordinances of the Interregnum, 1642-1660, ed. C H Firth and R S Rait (London, 1911), pp. 1058-1097, British History Online, accessed 1 September 2023
23. ↑ National Burial Index For England & Wales, FindMyPast
24. ↑ The National Archives, ref. PROB 11/352/9, Discovery Centre catalogue entry

• Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Vol. 44, p. 248, entry for 'PELHAM, HERBERT (1600–1673)', Wikisource

Acknowledgements

Magna Carta Project

This profile was re-reviewed for the Magna Carta Project by Michael Cayley on 1 September 2023.

Herbert Pelham is listed in Magna Carta Ancestry as a Gateway Ancestor (volume I, pages xxiii-xxix "List of Colonial Immigrants") in a badged trail to Magna Carta Surety Baron William de Mowbray that was reviewed and approved in May 2015 by a Magna Carta project member. The trail was re-reviewed in July 2017 and was updated again in August 2019. Badged trails from Herbert Pelham to Gilbert de Clare, Richard de Clare, John de Lacy, Saher de Quincy, Hugh le Bigod and Roger Bigod also exist and were re-reviewed by the Project in June 2020 as part of the trail review from the West Gateways. All the trails are outlined in the Magna Carta Trails section of his mother's profile.

See Base Camp for more information about identified Magna Carta trails and their status. See the project's glossary for project-specific terms, such as a "badged trail".

See also the related West and Humphrey trails.