John Round Sr (abt. 1645 - 1716)

Born about 1645 in England

Descendants

Died 14 Oct 1716 at about age 71 in Swansea, Bristol, Massachusetts Bay

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Biography^[1]

John Round(s) was Christened September 24, 1645, in Alcester, Warwickshire, England. His father's name was Thomas Rounde^[2] NOTE: Book broken up by years. Record found on first page of "Anno do. 1645 Re: Char Box Ang.21" in fact, his first mention in Massachusetts is 23 July 1689 (when name appears on quit claim deed,^[3] implying that he arrived shortly before that time.

"One tradition has it that John 1 Round came from the Isle of Wight, on the English Channel off the southern coast of England. Another tradition states that he originated in Wales. Extensive research has been unable to verify which tradition, if either, is correct. We are thus compelled to say that we know no more about his origin than that he probably came from some place in the British Isles."

"In 1935 Ramon Meyers Tingley presented reputed parents of this John1 Round, as well as a list of the reputed children of that earlier John Round^[4]. Tingley claimed that John and Ruth Round, parents of the John1 Round who is the subject of this present work, were first in Yarmouth, MA prior to moving to Rehoboth and then to Swansea.

"However, very extensive research has not been able to locate a single record to validate Tingley's claims. Robert S. Wakefield, F.A.S.G., an expert on the early Plymouth Colony, has dealt with Tingley's statements and essentially concluded they are undocumented fiction.^[5]

Another claim is that the supposed parents and siblings of this John Round were killed in an Indian massacre during King Philip's War n 1675.^[6] But H.L. Peer Rounds conducted extensive research into the names of those killed during that massacre, and no Round appears in the list of victims.^[7]

He was likely Baptist in religious practice, as were many from Rehoboth.

'Other than the 1689 quit claim deed mentioned, there is one other reference to John1 Round in early Swansea records. In noting 'The Bounds of a Highway Laid Out March ye 13:1703,' the description in Swansea records commences: 'Beginning at John Rounds Southwest Corner of his home lot...' (Swansea Proprietors' Records, Book for 1667-1730, p.214; on LDS #903, 396). There were no recorded Deeds for John1 in Bristol Co. Land Records (hereinafter referred to as BMD), though we know that in his Will, John1 left 'a homsted housen Lands,' valued at 100 pounds (see inventory below).

He married about 1665 possibly in England, Elizabeth Chase in Swansea, Massachusetts. Elizabeth was apparently mother of all the children, since John1's Will named her and son John2, 'with his mother,' as Executors; and John2 was probably at least the second child, if not the first.

NOTE: Biographer/researcher H.L. Peter Rounds does not provide a maiden name for her: "The only recorded evidence there is about John1's wife, Elizabeth, and the names of their children, comes from his Will and Inventory, found in Bristol Co., Mass. Probate Records (hereinafter referred to as BMPR)."

He died 14 October 1716 in Swansea, Massachusetts.

Will

Dated 16 OCT 1710, Swanzey, Bristol Co., MA

Extract

'Will of John Round of Swan., Yeoman, 'being weak of Body,' dtd. 16 Oct. 1710, recorded 10 Nov. 1716 [date of probate not indicated]. Wife Elizabeth. Sons: John, Richard & George. 5 daus: Elizabeth Bowen wife of Joseph Bowen, Ruth Mason wife of Benjamin Mason, Sarah Bozworth wife of Jonathan Bozworth, Judith Round & Susannah Read wife of John Read. Job Winslow, Sr. & Samuel Bullock, Sr., Overseers. Witns: John West, Henry West & William West [3:299/300].

'Inv. of Est. of John Round of Swan. who died 7 Oct. 1716, recorded 10 Nov. 1716, pres. by Elizabeth Round, his widow, & by John Round, son. Apprs: Samuel Bullock, John West & Richard Harding [3:301]

'Order for acct. by Elizabeth Round & John Round, Adms. of Est. of John Round of Swan., dtd. 10 Nov. 1716 [3:302]'^[8]

Full Text

Dated 16 OCT 1710, Swanzey, Bristol, Massachusetts^[9]

'In the Name of God amen. The Sixteenth Day of october in the yeare of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ten: I John Round of the town of Swanzey in the County of bristol in the province of Masachusets bay in New England yeoman: being weak of body but of perfect mind and memory praised be the almighty god for the same: Thereafore Calling into mind the motallity of my body: and Knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Dye: Doe make and ordaine this my last Will and testament (that is to say) principally and first of all I give and Recomend my soule into the hands of god that gave it: and for my body I commend it to the earth to be buried in a Chrstian like and Decent manner: at the Discretion of my executrix & others heare after named nothing Doubting but at the Generall Resurrection I Shall receive the Same againe by the mighty power of god: and as touching such worldly Estate wheare with it hath pleased god to bless me in this Life:

I give Devise and Dispose of the same in manner and form following (viz)

'Impris 'I give and bequeath all that my homsted housen Lands scittuate Lying and being within the township of Swanzey afore sd: unto my beloved wife Elizabeth with all my movables to her During her natural Life, or her remaining my widow and after her Decease or removal by marrig: I give to my son John Round and to his heirs and assigns for Ever all the afore Sd homsted housen Lands orchards fences and as it is theare bounded both improved and un improved Lands: after my Sd wifes Decease or removall as afore Sd: and Doe will that my Son John Round his heirs and assignes shall pay or cause to be paid unto my son Richard Round and George Round the Sum of five pounds to each of them: after my wifes Decease or removal as afore Sd.

'Imprim 'I give to my five Daughters Elizabeth bowen wife of Joseph bowen: Ruth Mason wife of benjamin mason: Sarah bozworth wife of Jonathan bozworth: Judeth Round: Susanah Reed wife of John Reed: all my movabel estate after my wifes Decease: to be equally Devided amongst them and Likwise I constitute and make and ordaine my beloved wife Elizabeth to be my executrix and my son John Round to be my executor with his mother: of this my Last Will and testament and all and singular my mesuage Lands or Tenements by them freely to be possessed as afore Sd: and I Doe hearby utterly Disallow revoake and Disannul all and every other and former testaments wills and Leggeces requests and executors by me in any Wayes before this time named: willed and bequeathed: Ratifiing and Cinfirming this and no othere to be my Last will and Testament In Witness whearof I the Sd John Round hath heare unto sett my hand and seale: the day and yeare above written & c.

'Signed sealed published pronounced and Declared by the Sd John Round to be his Last Will and testament in the presents of us the subscribers: John West; Henry West; William West.

'Signum John Round

'It is unfortunate that Nichols' book, in presenting this will, mistakenly omitted the last sentence of the second paragraph, referring to sons Richard and George (p.194). Ever since, ancestor-searchers have been uncertain about the parentage of these two sons. Some people have even assumed Nichols 'invented' them.'^[10]

Inventory^[11]

'The Inventory of the estate of John Round Late of Swansey who Deceased the 7th Day of october 1716 (is as followeth) -

(viz) To Money and Debts - 03-17-06

To waring apparril - 08-18-00

To the best bead and furniture - 12-00-00

To a small bead and furniture - 06-00-00

to 2 pr of sheet 3 pillow casses - 02-05-00

To Table lining - 00-12-00

To Pewter platter basons poringers spoons - 03-00-00

To 1 bras Kittle skillet and warming pans - 03-00-00

To 1 tongs boll and old Iron - 01-10-00

To 1 box Iron and 2 heaters 1 candlestick - 00-06-00

To earthen warr and wooden warr - 00-10-00

To 2 chests and one box - 01-00-00

To 1 Looking glass - 00-05-00

To 2 Tables - 00-09-00

To 4 Cheires and two sieves - 00-11-00

To 1 Jugg 1 bottle 1 sugar pott and turriol - 00-05-00

To 1 gunn - 00-15-00

To 1 ladle - 00-08-00

To 2 spinning wheels and 1 Churn - 00-12-00

To 3 barrills of flour and 1 empty barril - 01-06-00

To 8 geese - 00-12-00

To 2 pr of wool cards - 00-03-00

To 1 pott of butter - 00-11-00

To sundry small Cheeses - 01-00-00

To wooll and yearne - 00-06-00

To the house and homsted - 100-00-00

To 2 cows 1 heaffer 1 Calfe - 11-05-00

Total - 163-06-06

Samuel Bullock \\ John West

Prizers Richard Hardinge /

'Bristol Ss 'before the Honble Nathal Byfield Esqr Judge of the probate of will & c appeared Elizabeth Round & John Round & made oath that the above written inventory contains the whole of ye Estate that the Sd John Round Dyed seized of & that when more Comes to their knoledge they will reveal it that it may be of Record therewith. 'Byfield'^[12]

Children

'There were at least eight children of John1 Round and Elizabeth ____, as listed in John1's will. Their order is uncertain and they are presented here in what seems a logical sequence. The suggested dates and order are based upon John1's Will, known marriage dates, known data for their spouses and data on the births of their children. Possibly only the last two or three were born in America.'^[13]

1. Elizabeth; b. possibly ca. 1670; m. ca. 1688 Joseph Bowen.
2. John; b. possibly ca. 1672; m. 1st, possibly ca. 1698, Abigail ___; m. 2nd 26 Nov. 1711 at Swansea (SVR) Hannah (____) Carder.
3. Ruth; b. possibly ca. 1676; m. ca. 1696 Benjamin Mason.
4. Richard, b. 4 May 1678 (AVR); m. 1701 Anne Martin.
5. Saran, b. possibly ca. 1680; m. 26 Nov. 1703 at Swansea (SVR-A) Jonathan Bosworth.
6. George, b. possibly ca. 1686; m. ca. 1713/14 Susannah Cole.
7. Judith, b. 16897 (g.s.); m. 26 Nov. 1711 at Swansea (SVR) Mial Pearce.
8. Susannah, b. possibly ca. 1688/9 at Swansea; m. 8 Feb. 1709/10 at Swansea (SVR) John Read.

Sources

1. ↑ H.L. Peter Rounds, John Round Family of Swansea and Rehoboth, MA, Boston, MA (1983), pp.11-15
2. ↑ "England, Warwickshire, Parish Registers, 1535-1963," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DH83-VJV?cc=1462403&wc=X8N3-ZNL%3A42645501%2C1583872602%2C1583872918 : 22 September 2016), Warwickshire > Alcester > Baptisms, marriages 1560-1659 > image 39 of 60; from parish registers of the Church of England. Database and images, Warwick County Record Office, England.
3. ↑ Richard LeBaron Bowen, Early Rehoboth, 4 Vols., Rehoboth, MA (1945), Vol.I, pp. 60-63
4. ↑ Ramon Meyers Tingley, Some Ancestral Lines, (1935), p.314
5. ↑ Robert S. Wakefield, "Round Family - Fact or Fiction," in The American Genealogist, (1978), p.37
6. ↑ Theron Woodward, 'Rounds Genealogy,' unpub. 6-page typescript Ms (1905) on deposit with Newberry Library, Chicago; hereinafter referred to as 'Woodward']; by the Rev. Nathan Round Nichols (p.10); and by F.A. Virkus (F.A. Virkus, A Compendium of American Genealogy, Vol. III, p.266)
7. ↑ H.L. Peter Rounds, "Round Family - Fact or Fiction II," in The American Genealogist, 57 (1981), p.179
8. ↑ H.L. Peter Rounds, Abstracts of Bristol County, MA Probate Records, Baltimore, MA: Genealogical Publishing Co. (1987), p.71
9. ↑ Bristol MA Probate Records 3:299)
10. ↑ H.L. Peter Rounds, John Round Family of Swansea and Rehoboth, MA, Boston, MA (1983), pp.13-14
11. ↑ BMPR 3:301
12. ↑ H.L. Peter Rounds, John Round Family of Swansea and Rehoboth, MA, Boston, MA (1983), pp.14-15
13. ↑ H.L. Peter Rounds, John Round Family of Swansea and Rehoboth, MA, Boston, MA (1983), pp.15-16

Acknowledgements

• Merryann Palmer.