Robert Child (abt. 1613 - 1654)

Born about 1613 in Northfleet, Kent, England

Died 1654 at about age 41 in Lisburn, County Antrim, Ireland

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Robert Child migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 63) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Robert Child immigrated to New England between 1621 and 1640 and later departed for Lisburn, County Antrim, Ireland.

Robert Child was born about 1613 in Northfleet, Co. Kent, England.^[1]

He attended Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, graduating with a BA in 1631/2 and a MA in 1635. He also schooled at Leiden and at Padua, graduating MD on August 13, 1638.^[1]

Robert was in New England two separate times, from 1638 to 1641 and from 1645 to 1647. Between his times in New England he was traveling extensively in Europe.^[1]

His arrival in 1645 far exceeded his earlier stay in the colonies for he was known to be well connected in England. He enlightened and aided John Winthrop, Jr. in the development of ironworks at Saugus.^[1]

Child embroiled himself in controversy, however, over the Remonstrance presented to the Massachusetts General Court in May 1646. Signing the petition, along with Child, was Thomas Burton, John Smith, Thomas Fowle, David Yale, Samuel Maverick and John Dand. Also implicated was William Vassall. The Remonstrant specified that all colonists be eligible to become freemen whether members of an organized congregational church or not. Additionally it requested greater freedom of admission to church membership or the liberty to form their own churches. Robert Child and his associates were investigated in November 1646 and find Child L50, Smith L40, Maverick L10 and the rest of the co-petitioners L30 each.^[1]

News of the Remonstrant controversy crossed the Atlantic rapidly, reaching England before Child himself did; with his supporter Thomas Fowle leaving on the Supply on November 9 with a copy of the petition. Soon the Massachusetts hiarchiary commissioned Edward Winslow to travel to England to present their case against the Remonstrants; setting sail in December of 1646. Child intended to leave as well, but was detained when a draft of the appeal and written questions about the legality of the colony's charter were discovered on his person. The Massachusetts General Court administered formidable penalties on the co-signers, Robert Child was fined L200 and put into house arrest at Richard Leader's home... he managed the Saugus ironworks. In London, meanwhile, Winslow put the Massachusetts' case before the public in "New-England's Salamander" (1647) and Robert Child's brother, Major John Child a parliamentary officer, presented Child's side of the argument in "New-Englands Jonas" (1647). ^[1]

Robert Child returned permanently to England in 1647^[2]October and reached London early in 1648. In about May 1648 John Winthrop wrote the arrival of "3 shipps from London in one day," heralding news from England that Robert Child had forsaken his petition. Winthrop also wrote about Child meeting Francis Willoughby at the Exchange in London - when the two came to blows as Child called New England "a Company of Rogues & knaves."^[1]

Although Robert Child's relationship with the New England authorities was tempestuous, he maintained a friendship with John Winthrop Jr through letters.^[1]

Child was a well known alchemist in London. He introduced George Stirk to Robert Boyle and corresponded with Samuel Hartlib and Elias Ashmole.^[1]

Robert Child left London, sailing for Ireland in 1651 where he settled at Lisburn, County Atrim; pursuing botanical and entomological interests, sending specimins back to London.^[1]

Child died in Lisburn, Ireland in 1654.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10} Susan Hardman Moore. "Abandoning America, Life-Stories From Early New England" Sketch of Robert Child. Boydell Press, New York. p. 79, 80.
2. ↑ Robert Charles Anderson. "The Great Migration Directory, Immigrants to New England 1620 - 1640" The New England Historic Genealogical Society (2015). p. 63.

See Also - GMD Sources:

• Winthrop, John; Hosmer, James Kendall, 1834 - 1927. "Winthrop's Journal: History of New England 1630 - 1649" Vol. 2, p. 320.see at archive.org
• "Winthrop Papers" 1638 - 1644.Massachusetts Historical Society (1944) The Merrymount Press, Boston, Mass. Vol. IV, pp 333 - 338 [https://books.google.com/books?id=Z1EzAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false see at books.google.com
• Oliver Ayer Roberts. "History of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts. 1637 - 1888" Vol. 1, pp 86, 87. see at archive.org.
• Samuel Eliot Morison. "The Founding of Harvard College" Cambridge 1935. pp 371, 372.purchase at books.google.com
• Samuel Eliot Morison. "Builders of the Bay Colony", (Boston 1930) Chp. VIII.purchase at books.google.com
• CSMP 21:1-146