William Fiske Sr. (abt. 1613 - 1654)

Born about 1613 in South Elmham, Suffolk, England

Ancestors

Husband of Bridgett (Muskett) Rix — married about 1640 in Salem, Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

Died Sep 1654 at about age 41 in Wenham, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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William Fiske Sr. migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 116) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

William Fiske was born about 1613 in South Elmham, Suffolk, England. He was a son of John Fiske and Ann Lawter.

He came to New England in 1637, with his mother Ann who died on the voyage, and his brother John Fiske and sisters Anne Fiske and Martha Fiske.^[1][2]

On December 25, 1637 William was granted one half acre for a 'household of one' in the division of marsh and meadow at Salem. ^[2]

In July 1638 William sought a ten acre lot at Salem.^[2][3]

In 1639 William was granted one hundred acres of upland and 10 acres of meadow.^[3]

He was admitted as a member of the Salem Church on July 2, 1641^[2]. He was a zealous Puritan.

Marriage

William first settled at Salem, Massachusetts where he married Bridgett Muskett about 1643, in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts.^[1][4]

Children

1. Samuel ^{[1] [5]}eldest son ^[6][7]
2. William ^[1] baptized at Salem on June 4, 1644 [4: 4 m: 1643]; died on February 4, 1728; married Sarah Killim on January 15, 1662 ^{[8] [7]}
3. Martha ^[1]; married Benjamin Small.^[7]
4. Benjamin ^[1][7]
5. Joseph.^[1][7][9]

Salem

Soon after he removed to Wenham, In the Colonial Record is a settlement of rights between William and his brother John. Endicott, Hathorne, and two others of the men of Salem made the terms of agreement.

He was admitted as a freeman on May 18, 1842/43.^[1][5]

He was the first Town Clerk or clerk of the writs, from 1643 to 1650.^[9][5] and was appointed constable on February 26, 1643/4. ^[1][5]

On March7, 1643, William received authority from the General Court to keep a Tavern in Wenham.^[10] A year later on November 13, 1644 he was licensed "to sell wine and strong water;^[1] He continued operation of the ordinary until October, 1647.^[10] The tavern was on a parcel of land across from Wenham’s First Church where William's brother, John was minister.^[11] In 1647, the tavern was transferred to Phineas Fiske. One of the appraisers of his property was Phineas Fiske and one of the items was a "sign with the sign post."^[12]

He served at deputy to the General Court.^[1]

On June 30, 1646/7 William served on the Grand Jury as a representative of Wenham. ^[13]

He was elected representative to the General Court of the Commonwealth in 1647 and continued in that office until the year 1652, being annually re-elected. He enjoyed to a large extent the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens.^[9]

William and John Fisk were witnesses in the case of William Payne for scandalizing the church at Wenham in 1648.^[13]

From October 25, 1649-1651 William served on the Jury of Trials representing Wenham. ^[13] Including as a witness in the 1650 trial of Daniel Kellum and wife Mary, for fornication, child being born 28 weeks after their marriage.^[13]

November 7, 1649 he was chosen clerk of the market at Wenham.^[13]

Death

William Fiske died suddenly in Sep 1654 in Wenham, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony.^[14]

Administration on the estate

Administration on the estate of William Fiske of Wenham, intestate, granted 26: 7: 1654, to his widow, Bridgett Fiske. Her house and land are bound to pay the shares of the five children viz: to the eldest son, 10li., to Samuel, the next, 5li., and to the other three, 3li., when they come of age. Inventory brought in.^[15]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10} Moriary, G. Andrews. Genealogical Research in England: The Fiske Family in: New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 88, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts, 1934, p. 272-3
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Focus on Immigration in: Great Migration Newsletter, Volume 19, 2010: p. 4 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2018.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Howe, Martha and Sidney Perley, Town records of Salem, Massachusetts, Volume 1 1634-1659, The Essex Institute, Salem, Massachusetts, 1868, p. 72: 89: 95: 103
4. ↑ Zubrinsky, Eugene Cole. 'New England Historical and Genealogical Register: Volume 149 [online database] AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2018. Boston, Massachusetts, 1995, p. 232-3 2001-2018.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} Perley, Sidney. The History of Salem, Massachusetts, Volume 2: 1638-1670, Salem, Massachusetts, 1926, p. 153: 403
6. ↑ Essex County, MA: Early Probate Records, 1635-1681: Volume 1: p. 188-9. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4} Perley, Sidney. The History of Salem, Massachusetts, Volume I: 1626-1637, Salem, Massachusetts, 1924, p. 430
8. ↑ The Essex Institute, Vital Records of Wenham, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849 (Salem, Mass. 1913)(Free e-book) p. 119
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2} Pierce, Frederick Clifton. Fiske and Fisk family : being the record of the descendants of Symond Fiske, lord of the manor of Stadhaugh, Suffolk County, England, from the time of Henry IV to date, including all the American members of the family, 1855-1904. Chicago, IL: 1896.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Hurd, Duane Hamilton. History of Essex County, Massachusetts: With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Volume 2, Part 1, J. W. Lewis & Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1888, p. 1241: 1245
11. ↑ Hauck, Jack E. A History of Wenham Taverns From 1643 to 2008 [online] Treasures of Wenham History: Taverns pg. 275.
12. ↑ Abstracts from Essex County Judicial Court Records, Vol. I, page 29.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4} Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Volume 1, 1636-1656, The Essex Institute, Salem, Massachusetts, 1911, p. 89: 160: 170: 174: 181: 196: 365
14. ↑ Founders of Early American Families - Emigrants from Europe 1607-1657 Abbreviation: Founders of Early Am. Families Author: Colket, Meredith B Publication: General Court of the Order of Founders and Patriots of America, Cleveland, OH, 1975 Repository: #R62
15. ↑ Ipswich Quarterly Court Records, vol. 1, pages 29-51.

See also:

• Bisbee, Frank J., Genealogy of the Bisbee family : Descendants of Thomas Besbeech (Bisbee) of Scituate, Duxbury and Sudbury, Massachusetts Abbreviation: Besbeech gen. 1956. Otter Brook Press, 1956.

• Compendium of American Genealogy Abbreviation: Compendum of American Gen Author: Virkus Repository.

• Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County Massachusetts Abbreviation: Essex Co. Quarterly Court Rec Author: Essex Institute Publication: Essex Institute, Salem, MA, 1911.

• Ffisk, Henry. Fiske Family Papers, Series: Private. Fletcher and Son, Ltd., Castle Works, Norwich, 1902 Repository: #R18 Call Number: 929.2 F54501F

• Essex Institute Historical Collections Abbreviation: Essex Institute Author: Essex Institute Publication: Salem, MA, various

• Perley, Sidney. History of Salem, Massachusetts, 1924