John Cross (abt. 1610 - 1676)

Husband of Joan (Unknown) Cross — married 1635 in Wells, York, Maine

Descendants

Died 16 Oct 1676 at about age 66 in Wells, York, Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

John settled in Exeter in 1639 where he signed the Exeter Combination of 1640. He then moved to Dover in 1640 where he had a 20 acre lot in 1642: "A Record of ye 20 Acker loets as theay waer in order given and layed out to ye inhabetance hoes names are here under menshened with the nomber of the loet to each pertickler man. As it was fowned Recorded by William Walden in a Pec of paper in ye yeir 42, wich lots as in Breadth at ye water sied 40 poell and in lenketh 80 poll into ye woods... John Crosse, 17."^[1] There was another John Cross who settled in Hampton and then moved to Ipswich, where he died in 1651, who is often confused with John of Exeter, Dover and Wells.

John also signed the Dover Combination while living in that town:

"Whereas sundry Mischeifes and inconveniences have befaln us and more and greater may in regard of want of Civell Government his Gratious Matie having hitherto Settled no Order for us to our knowledge.

Wee whose names are underwritten being Inhabitants upon the River Pascataquack have voluntarily agreed to combine our Selves into a Body Politique that wee may the more comfortably enjoy the benefit of his Maties Lawes And do hereby actually ingage our Selves to Submit to his Royal Maties Lawes together with all such Orders as shallbee concluded by a Major part of the Freemen of our Society, in case they bee not repugnant to the Lawes of England and administered in behalf of his Majesty.

And this wee have mutually promised and concluded to do and so to continue till his Excellent Matie shall give other Order concerning us.

In Witness wee have hereto Set our hands the two & twentieth day of October in the Sixteenth yeare of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles by the grace of God King of Great Brittain France & Ireland Defender of the Faith &c. Annoq Domi 1640… John Cross" ^[2]

John then came to Wells in 1643 and settled along the Wells River his home being at Drake's Island. He also owned land at Maryland Ridge. He made the inventory of Mrs. Dillingham's Estate Oct. 1645.^[3] John was a Constable and a juryman in 1647.

In 1649 John Jr. wandered from home distracted and was forbidden the use of the ferries. On 12 Apr. 1650 he apprenticed his son John for eleven years to Mr. Edward Rishworth and had a receipt in full from Rishworth 27 Oct. 1661:

"I John Crosse of wells do bind my sun John Crosse for the full Tearme of Eleaven Yeares unto Edw : Rishworth… to pforme true & Honest service to him… in such lawfull Imploymts as hee hath necessary to bee done his tyme to begine the first of May next Insewing 1650… John Crosse
In the psence of
Geo : Haborne his Marke X…

In Consideration of wch servis… Edw : Rishworth his Maister… is to provide such Competent Mantenance for him as is fit for a servant… to use there best Indeavours to teach him to Reade… & to wright before his tyme bee out… is to double suit in lining & wollen apparell… hee… to give ye sd Jon Crosse one Heffer of two years ould wn his tyme is out… this 12 : Aprill : 1650…
p me Ed : Rishworth
In the psence of
Geo : Haborne his Marke X" ^[4]

"Receaved by mee Edw : Rishworth, of John Crosse of Wells Senjor, the Just some of fiveteene pounds in good Mrchandable beife & is in full discharge of a bill made unto mee by the sd Crosse, beareing date the 3d of Decembr : 60 : In reference to his sun (& of all other debts or Demands wtsoever) from the beginning of the world to this psent day, I say receavd 15 0 0 in beife by mee at the day & date hereof…
Edw  : Rishworth
In psence of
Hene : Donell his marke HD
Charles Frost" ^[5]

John was admitted Freeman 5 July 1653 and was an inhabitant of Wells.^[6]

On 24 Sept. 1676 the Indians went to Cape Neddick from Wells where they destroyed the entire village with its people either killed or captured. Following this attack they returned to Wells. Among those that were killed that year were John Cross and his son John Jr.

"2 Jan. 1676/7 Assootiate court at Newgewache (Berwick) the estate of John Cross settled by his son Joseph."^[7]

"An Inventory of the Estate of John Cross senior Deceased… 18th Decembr 1676

Imprs to House & Land & Marsh at home, Marsh at Ogunquent & Marsh
& Upland at Drakes ysland all in Wells at.......................................140 00 0
It to 7 Cotton sheetes at seaven shillings p sheete........................002 09 0
It 15 Cheeses 15s : one table cloath 4 Napkines & a pillow beare
12s.........................................................................................................01 07 0
It wanescott Chest 10s. a rug, 2 blankets a Civering & a pillow 3£..03 10 00
It one bed one bowlster too pillows & three blankets at................05 00 0
It butter dishes, 2 Candlesticks & spoones at ..................................01 01 0
It 2 potts & pot hookes, 2 small Kettles & a friingpan at.........01 10 00
It one brass Kettle at 10s 1 Chest bed 2 Cives 2 cabbines at 20s..02 00 00
It one Cart 3 Clevesses 3£ : 4 yoaks, 1 peyre of hookes & a staple at
20s................................................................................................04 00 00
It foure axes, one shayre & Cowlter & a plow at 28s...............01 08 00
One peyre of betel rings, 5 wedges & foure forkes at.............00 13 00
It 2 spades a she shovel & a roape all at 20s.............................01 00 0
It one horse Coller syth tackeling & three Hammers at...........01 00 0
It too Adges, 2 Augers, one Chissell & a small Gouge all at.........00 08 0
It 1 Chayre & Carpet 10s, 4 baggs 11s, 1 peyre toagus 1 spitt & pot
hangers.............................................................................................01 13 6
It Conows at 20s, a Wheele, k Cards & a sleade at 15s................01 15 0
It 3 fat Hoggs nine pounds, old hows 5s, a skillet 3s....................09 08 0
It 15 harrow teeth & one Haulter 8s, Meate Hides & Caske 4 : 15 :.05 03 0
It eight Hoggs & 14 piggs 17£ : a Prcell of Woll 20s.......................18 00 0
It Too horses, too Mayres & too Cowlts at.....................................16 00 0
It Caske & a Churne & severall other small things at....................00 11 0
It 4 buslls of Rie, 19 bushlls & an halfe of peas 4s p bushll..........04 14 0
It seaventy seaven bushlls of Indean Corne at 4s p busll is
15 : 08 : 0............................................................................................15 08 0
It 25 buslls ½ of good Wheate at 5s p busll....................................06 07 0
It More 4 oxen at 30£ 6 Cows at 4£ 10s p Cow..............................27 00 0
More to foure oxen at 30£...............................................................30 00 0
It Two steares & a bull at three pounds p beast...........................09 00 0
It Two yearlings & one yeareling is five pounds............................05 00 0
It 19 sheepe at ten shillings p sheepe is 9£: 10s: 0.......................09 10 0
It one pillion a Prcell of trays & Pales.............................................00 10 0
...........................................................................................................325 06 8
Debts due p balla:...........................................................................07 04 00
Totall...............................................................................................332 10 08
Samuel Wheelwright
ffrancis Littlefield

John Cross his Estate
To severall Prsons is Dr
To Mr. Fryer for a debt....................................3 - 10 - 0
To Jos: Cross for threshing Corne.......................19 - 0
..........................................................................03 -09 -00

Cr 11 08 00

Dr 03 09 01
P alle 07 04 00

Estate p Contra is Cr
Imprs p a Cow Impressed for ye......................£ - s - d
Countrey...........................................................4 - 00 - 0
p dyet for souldgers on ye accop...................4 - 15 - 0
P five weeks dyet from Mr Buss.....................1 - 05 - 0
p a debt due from Richd Palmer....................0 - 15 - 0
p a small debt from Nathll Cloyce..............................0
p a debt due from Fras Backens......................0 - 8 - 0
...........................................................................11- 03 -0

January 2 : 1676 :" ^[8]

Received by mee ffran : Backus of Wells of Joseph Cross of the sayd Town, Administrator unto ye Estate of John Crosse Senior my father in Law deceased, the Just some of fivety two pounds in Land Cattle & househould stuffe in full satisfaction of all dues & demands for my wifes portion out of the sayd Estate I say received the some of 52 : 00 : 0 this 14 : d : of Janua : 1677 :
p mee Fran : Backus"^[9]

Children

^[10]

• Mary m. 1658 Roger Hill
• John b. about 1640, called 'a kind of distracted fellow' when killed by the Indians early in 1676.
• Joseph gr. 1668; 1680 m. Mary Pendleton; died 18 June 1684, widow m. Nicholas Morey.
• Rebecca m. 1672 Francis Backus

=

John was born about 1584.

Sources

1. ↑ History of Dover, NH- John Scales, Dover City Council, Manchester, 1923
2. ↑ PRO/TNA- NH Papers- Vol. 47- in Notes on the Dover Combination- Rev. A.H. Quint, NEHGR- Vol. 33, pp. 91-6, 243 (Jan. 1879)
3. ↑ Massachusetts Archives- Vol. 15b, p.65
4. ↑ York Deeds- Vol. I, pt. 1, fol. 66
5. ↑ York County Registry of Deeds- book I, pt. 1, fol. 115
6. ↑ Mass. Archives- Vol.3, p.6b
7. ↑ History of Dover, NH- John Scales, Dover City Council, Manchester, 1923
8. ↑ York Deeds- Vol. V, pt. 1, fol. 11
9. ↑ York Deeds- Vol. III, fol. 16
10. ↑ Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire. Part II. p. 174. Portland, Maine: The Southworth Press, 1933

• Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire- p.174
• Wells: The Frontier Town of Maine- Esselyn Perkins, Ogunquit, 1970- pp.26,63,65,103,131
• Pioneers of Maine & New Hampshire- Charles H. Pope, Boston, 1908- p.49
• Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England- James Savage, Little, Brown & Co., Boston, 1860- Vol. I, pp.477-8