John Small Sr (1616 - bef. 1708)

Born 1616 in England

Husband of Ann (Unknown) Small — married about 1639 in England

Descendants

Died before 28 Jun 1708 before age 92 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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John Small Sr migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 6, p. 345) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

John was a Friend (Quaker)

John Small was born about 1616 at England. This birth date is an estimate (deposed on 16 Mar 1684/5 "aged about sixty-eight years").^[1] His origin and parents are unknown^[1]but it is worthwhile to consider whether he may have come from Wiltshire since he immigrated as a servant of Edmond Batter of Salisbury, Co. Wilts.^[2]Some assume he was born in Ware, Devon, England (without evidence or source).^[1]

Immigration

John came to Boston as a servant to Edmund Batter of Salisbury, England. They were passengers on the James of London, sailing from Southampton on April 5, 1635^[1] and arriving at Boston on June 3, 1635.^[2]

Marriage

John married about 1639 to Ann (Unknown); she died after 29 Jun 1680 when "John Small and his wife gave testimony in court" [EQC 7:249, 419].^[1]

Ann's maiden name is unknown, but she was twice associated with Edward Grove, of Salem, in settings suggestive of a family connection: settlement of the estate of Ralph Tompkins, and in the estate of Thomas Small, when Edward Grove is called the uncle of Ruth Small.^[1]

Property and Positions

In 1642, he became a proprietor.^{[citation needed]}

The selectmen on January 23, 1642/3 granted John 10 acres; Phillip Veren of Salem sold him 40 acres; and in 1667 Judith Cook of Salem sold him about 10 acres. He was recorded on the tax lists to have lived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1682 & 83.^[1]

In 1658, 1660 through 1668 he had trouble for being a Quaker, being fined several times for not attending the Puritan meeting. He apparently repented of his ways for on March 25, 1678 he, along with his son Stephen,^[1] took the oath of allegiance and fidelity.^[2][3]

but was permitted to leave to Rhode Island. ^{[citation needed]}

In March 1685 he deposed "aged about 68 years" at Essex Quarterly Court in relation to Deacon John Orne.^[4]

Death and Legacy

Secondary sources say he "died in the spring of 1688" but no evidence of this has been found.^[1]

John's will written 16 May 1688 has been found, he died before 28 June 1708 when inventory of his estate was taken.^[5] His will listed son Stephen (executor) and Stephen's son John along with the "sons and daughters" of his children Benjamin, Joseph, Thomas and "John Buxton who married my daughter Mary". Sons Thomas & Samuel (died childless apparently) and daughter Mary had predeceased John. There was no mention of a son John who is believed to be the "John Smale Jr." who appeared in Essex Quarterly Court in 1660 but then disappeared from primary records found to-date.

Children

Children of John and Ann:^[1]

1. John Small, b say 1639
2. Thomas Small, b say 1641; m Salem 15 Mar 1663[4/?] to Ruth Cantlebury.
3. Joseph Small, b say 1643; m Salem 26 Dec 1672 to Lydia Buxton.
4. Benjamin Small, b abt 1645 (deposed 17 Jul 1676 "about thirty years" and 26 Jun 1677 "aged about thirty years"); m Salem Jan 1671 to Martha Fisk.
5. Mary Small, b say 1647; m 30 Mar 1668 to John Buxton.
6. Samuel Small, by abt 1649. Had only one eye.^[2]
7. Stephen Small, b abt 1656 (deposed on 3 Dec 1678 "aged about twenty-two years"); m Salem 25 Feb 1676[/7?] to Hannah Sibley, daughter of John Sibley.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9} Anderson, Robert Charles, (1995) "John Small," featured name. Great Migration 1634-1635, R-S. AmericanAncestors.org NEHGS, (Volume VI, R-S, Pages 345-47).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Jacobus, Donald Lines. "The Granberry Family and Allied Families. Edgar Francis Waterman, Hartford, Conn. 1945. p. 315- 317.
3. ↑ Quarterly Courts of Essex CountyEdited by George Francis Dow Transcribed and Abstracted from the Original Manuscript by Harriet S. TapleyPublished and Copyrighted by the Essex Institute Vol. 7 p. 155
4. ↑ Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County Volume IX Edited by George Francis Dow Transcribed and Abstracted from the Original Court Manuscript by Harriet S. Tapley Published and Copyrighted by the Essex Institute 1975 Vol. 9 p. 439
5. ↑ Essex County, Massachusetts, probate records and indexes 1638-1916 Old Series : Probate records, vols. 309-310, Book 9-10, 1705-1713. Book 309 Folio 348

• Jacobus, Donald Lines. "The Granberry Family and Allied Families. Edgar Francis Waterman, Hartford, Conn. 1945. p. 315- 317. see at hathitrust

See also:

• James Savage, Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Boston 1860-1862
• John Small in the Global, Find a Grave Index for Burials at Sea and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current
• https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/761180:60541?tid=178720186&pid=122356716735&queryId=a0858b1acd052739d9b5dbd2ee9ece8a&_phsrc=JxH6440&_phstart=successSource