Faith (Parrat) Law (bef. 1625 - 1705)

Born before 6 Jun 1625 in Melton Ross, Lincolnshire, England [uncertain]

Wife of John Smith — married 24 Feb 1657 in Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Wife of William Law — married 2 May 1666 in Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died 30 Mar 1705 after age 79 in Rowley, Essex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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Faith (Parrat) Law migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Faith Parrat, New England immigrant seems to be the daughter of Francis Parratt (various spellings) and Faith Unknown.

Birth and Baptism

The most likely baptismal record found so far is on 6 June 1625 at Melton-Ross, Lincolnshire, England.^[1] Her known brother Francis Parratt, emigrant, appears in the same location with the same father and a baptismal date of 25 May 1616.^[2].

She may have had an un-named sister baptized 30 Mar 1618 in Melton-Ross, likely that child died at or near birth if no name was recorded.^[3]

It is possible that her mother was the Faith Parratt, wife of Francis who was buried on 15 Jul 1628 about 25 miles from Melton-Ross at Bishop Norton, Lincolnshire.^[4] Since a Francis Parratt married a "Dasbera Westobie" (Deborah?) on 15 Feb 1629 in Melton-Ross, that may have been a second marriage for her father but this is speculative.^[5]

A Richard Parratt was having children baptized at Melton-Ross at about the same time so was likely a relative.

Emigration

She may have come to New England in 1638 with her brother Francis who immigrated with the Reverend Ezekiel Rogers, bringing his (Francis') sisters Ann and Faith.

Marriage and Children

Faith first married John Smith on 24 February 1657/58 at Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts.^[6] John was buried at Rowley on 19 July 1661.^[6]

Children, born in Rowley:

1. John, b. 2nd day 1st month 1659 (i.e. 2 March 1659).^[6]; "John, s. John and Faith, bur. 11: 1m: 1659"^[6]
2. Jonathan, twin, b. 2nd day 1st month 1659^[6]; "Johnathan, s. John and Faith, bur. 3: 1m: 1659. [1658. CT. R.]"^[6]
3. Sarah, b. 14 April 1660^[6]; m. John Pickard 11 February 1679/80^[6]; d. 28 September 1689.^[6]

Faith Smith, widow of John, married William Law on 2 May 1666 at Rowley.^[6] William was buried in Rowley 30 March 1668.^[6]

With William she had one son:

1. Aquilla, b. 26 July 1667^[6] and buried 15 April 1669.^[6] (Faith Parrat bapt. in 1625 would then have been 42 years old.)

Death and Estate

Faith died "The Aged widow Faith Law" Mar 1705 in Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts.^[7]

Her will was written 14 May 1699, and proved 07 May 1705.^[8][9] She mentions: Nathaniel, son of Stephen Mighill; Mary Bailey, daughter of Mary Bailey, deceased; Ann Mighill; Elizabeth and Lydia Bailey, sister of said Mary Bailey; brother Francis Parrat's three daughters, Faith Jewett, Mary Sawyer and Martha Colby; grandchildren John, Jonathan and Francis Pickard, children of her daughter Sarah Pickard. Deacon Jewett and Samuel Platts, executors.

Sources

1. ↑ England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N26V-322
2. ↑ England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N68H-TZ4
3. ↑ England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J3T9-QH9
4. ↑ England Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JCDT-9YG
5. ↑ England Marriages, 1538–1973 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NV13-HHS
6. ↑ ^{6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12} Essex Institute, compiler, Vital Records of Rowley, Massachusetts to the end of the year 1849 (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1928-1931),
   Page 397. (m. 24 Feb 1657 Faith Parrat & John Smith);
   Page 196. (b. 2 Jan 1659 John Smith (twin) s/o Faith & John Smith; b. 2 Jan 1659 Jonathan Smith (twin) s/o Faith & John Smith);
   Page 197. (b. 14 Apr 1660 Sarah Smith d/o Faith & John Smith)
   Page 520. (d. 11 Jan 1659 John Smith
   Page 397. (m. 2 May 1666 widow Faith Smith & William Law )
   Page 129. (b. 26 Jul 1667 Aquilla Law)
   Page 489. (Law, John, s. William, bur. 23 : 5m : 1661.)
7. ↑ Essex Institute, compiler, Vital Records of Rowley, Massachusetts to the end of the year 1849 (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1928-1931), Vol. II: Supplementary Records kept by Ministers and Recorders, p. 19 AmericanAncestors.org link.
8. ↑ Essex County, Massachusetts, probate records and indexes 1638-1916 Old Series : Probate records, vols. 307-308, Book 7-8, 1699-1705 Book 8 entry 176 image 444 of 508 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9YY-L9SL-2?i=443&cat=412735
9. ↑ Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.): https://www.americanancestors.org/DB515/i/13778/16441-co4/30271934

• Blodgette, George Brainard, Early Settlers of Rowley, Massachusetts Revised, Edited and Published by Jewett, Amos Everett. Newcomb & Gauss Co., Printers, Salem, Massachusetts, USA, 1933. Reprinted by the New England History Press, Somersworth, New Hampshire. 1981. Pgs. 227, 266, 345-6.