John Harwood (1621 - 1685)

Born 1621 in London, England

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Usher) Harwood — married about 1650 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 22 Jun 1685 at about age 64 in London, England

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Biography

There is some conflicting evidence about John's father. In an 1888 genealogical journal, it was conjectured that John Harwood is the son of George Harwood, the first Treasurer of the Massachusetts Company. ^[1] However, another source specifically about the Harwoods of Boston ^[2], list him as son of John Harwood of London and sibling of Nathaniel, Thomas and Hannah, all of Boston Massachusetts, which accords with his Will. In addition, the source confirms John being in Boston from 1646 to 1661, which accords with other records quoted in the Journal article.

He is likely to be the John Harwood admitted to First Church December 25 1647, when he was described as a taylor. ^[3]

Whatever the case, he and Elizabeth married, presumably in Massachusetts, and had three children there between 1650 and 1655. ^[4]

It is said he sold his estate in America in 1657. By 1666, John is listed as leasing a home in Bednall Green, on which he was paying tax for five hearths.^[5] They are recorded leasing that particular house for about three years. ^[6]They are consistently said to have lived in Bednall Green.

John and Elizabeth had at least three more children: sons John, Jacob and Joseph.

John Harwood, merchant, died in London in 1685, leaving a will dated 13 November 1684 which was proved on 22 June 1685. ^[7]He is buried at Bunhills Field.

He left to wife Elizabeth, tenements in St George's Lane and Pudding Lane which he leased from the company of fishmongers and two messuages in Pudding Lane which he held by lease from Christ's Church Hospital. He also left a messuage near the Monument in London to his son Jacob Harwood and another to his son Joseph Harwood upon the decease of his wife. He left the three houses in St George's Lane to his daughter Elizabeth Sedgwick, now in New England, and her son Samuel. There is also mention of his daughter Hannah Manwaring and her daughter Elizabeth, son Joseph's wife Elizabeth, brother Thomas Harwood of New England and Nathaniel Harwood of New England.

• Christening (25 December 1621)

Research notes

Family mentioned in John's Will: sons John (in New England), Jacob (an apprentice) and Joseph; daughters Elizabeth Sedgwick (now in New England), wife of Samuel Sedgwick, and Hannah Manwaring, wife of Ralph Manwaring; grandchildren Samuel Sedgwick and Elizabeth Manwaring; brothers in law Samuel and Hezekiah Usher both in New England; siblings Thomas & Nathaniel both of New England and Hannah Wheeler of Concord. Also mentioned was Sarah Tucker, formerly Scotto.

Sources

1. ↑ The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 42, 1888, Volume 42, page 66. Accessed via internet search for harwood pudding lane london monument
2. ↑ "The Harwood Family in England and America" by Fred H. Harwood, 1912. Book in public domain https://www.wikitree.com/photo/png/Harwood-4
3. ↑ The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 42, 1888, Volume 42, page 66. Accessed via internet search for harwood pudding lane london monument
4. ↑ The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 42, 1888, Volume 42, page 66. Accessed via internet search for harwood pudding lane london monument
5. ↑ https://www.british-history.ac.uk/london-hearth-tax/london-mddx/1666/stepney-bednall-green
6. ↑ https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/middx/vol11/pp95-101
7. ↑ Will of John Harwood, Merchant of Pudding Lane, City of London. 22 June 1685. Reference: PROB 11/380/299. Both held by The National Archives, Kew & Accessed on ancestry.com

• Reed, Paul C., "The English Origin of Hezekiah¹ Usher, of Boston, Massachusetts, and His Brother, Robert¹ Usher of New Haven and Stamford, Connecticut", The American Genealogist (The American Genealogist, Barrington, RI, 2010) Vol. 84, Page 275.
• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 04 July 2017, 03:01), entry for John Harwood Jr(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:LH26-SMB); contributed by various users.