| Henry Smith migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See Great Migration Begins, by R. C. Anderson, Vol. 3, p. 1691) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm |
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Henry Smith
Henry was born in England about 1610, a son of Frances (Unknown) Smith Sanford Pynchon and her first husband, Unknown Smith.[1] [2] [3] [4]
Henry and his widowed mother, Frances (Unknown) Smith, sailed to Boston from England in 1630 on the Mary & John.[3] Frances was described as "a grave matron of the church at Dorchester."[5] She was the widow of 1) Unknown Smith, 2) Dr. Tobiah Sandford.[5]
William Pynchon sailed, with his first wife, in 1630 on the Arabella, the flagship of the Winthrop fleet. He was "one of the Patentees of the Charter granted by King Charles I to the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, 18 Mar. 1628/9." [6]
"Henry Smith living in New England" was in the 1634 list compiled by Rev. John White of Dorchester, Dorsetshire, England [NEHGR 61:280].[1]
Henry married c. 1635 his step-sister, Anne Pynchon, the daughter of William Pynchon and his first wife, Ann (Andrew) Pynchon.[2] Anne's father, William Pynchon, married as his 2nd, and as her third, to Frances (Unknown) Smith Sanford who was Henry's mother.[2]
Henry was named with his father-in-law, Mr. Pynchon, in March, 1636, as one of the Commissioners to govern the Connecticut River Settlements, and removed from Dorchester to Springfield. There he was Town Recorder 1636-1653, Selectman 1644-1650, Sergeant of the Military Company, 1639, and Deputy to the General Court, 1651."[6]
Henry Smith returned to England in 1652 with his wife Ann and her father, William Pynchon and Henry's mother Frances, William Pynchon's wife.[6]
Henry died in Wraysbury, Buckinghamshire, England between 1 August 1681 and 24 October 1682.[1]
Henry made his will August 1, 1681, and the will was proved October 24, 1682. His wife, Ann, survived him.[6]
Henry Smith of Wraysbury, Bucss., 1 August 1G81, proved 24 October 1682. My body to be buried in a decent manner. I do give unto my daughter Martha Cairiock five shillings. To my daughter Mary Lord in New England five shillings. To my daughter Rebecca Lee five shillings. To my son Elisha Smith five shillings. To my daughter Elizabeth Smith not yet disposed of in marriage, I do give fifty pounds, to be paid at the time of her marriage, if she survive after her mother. I do, out of that dear and tender love I bear unto my beloved wife, Mrs. Anna Smith, give and bequeath all and singular my goods, chattels, leases, debts, ready money, plate, rings, household stuff, apparel, brass, pewter, bedding and all other my substance whatsoever, movable or immovable, quick and dead, of what nature, quality or condition the same are or be, as well in my own possession as in the hands and possession of any other person whatsoever, to her own proper use and liehoof, whom I do hereby ordain and appoint to be my only executrix.[7]
xxiv° Octobris 1682. Which day appeared personally Cuthbert Walker of the parish of St. Gregories' London, haberdasher, aged about fifty, and Rebecca Lee, of Wraysbury in the County of Bucks., widow, aged about thirty years, one of the daughters of the deceased, being severally sworn upon the Holy Evangelists deposed that they were well acquainted with the within named Henry Smith, the testator deceased, and with his manner or character of handwriting, and having perused the will within written and the name Henry Smith thereto subscribed believe the same to be all wrote with the proper handwriting of the said deceased. Jurati coram Rich Lloyd Surr. Cottle, 123.[7]
Children of Henry and Anne, per Anderson:[1]
Elizabeth, Mary, and Rebecca Smith were mentioned in the will (4 Oct 1662) of their grandfather, William Pynchon.[8]
Note: Winthrop Society reports only eight children: Anna, Elisha, Martha, Mary, Elizabeth, Margaret, Rebecca, Abigail.[3]
See also:
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Henry is 22 degrees from Herbert Adair, 20 degrees from Richard Adams, 17 degrees from Mel Blanc, 24 degrees from Dick Bruna, 17 degrees from Bunny DeBarge, 32 degrees from Peter Dinklage, 19 degrees from Sam Edwards, 17 degrees from Ginnifer Goodwin, 21 degrees from Marty Krofft, 13 degrees from Junius Matthews, 14 degrees from Rachel Mellon and 20 degrees from Harold Warstler on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
I suspect that he may have been Henry's stepfather during much of his childhood. He certainly received more in the will than his natural children who were by then older and settled.
Edit Ah , I missed his mention in the second section.
Henry's mother Frances married 1) unknown Smith by whom she had Henry 2) Toby Sandford.(Sandford-336) The couple lived in Dorchester, England. Toby left a will in 1623 mentioning his stepson Henry Smith Frances Sandford left with 'many of this town to plant in New England 'at the beginning of April 1630 (source William Whiteway of Dorchester diary 1618-1635)
Frances married William Pynchon in Dorchester New England (or whatever is the best designation!)