John Kitchin (abt. 1612 - bef. 1676)

Born about 1612 in England

Husband of Elizabeth (Grafton) Kitchen — married before 1645 in Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

Died before 30 Jun 1676 before about age 64 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts Bay

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John Kitchin migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 4, p. 201) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

John was a Friend (Quaker)

John Kitchen's origins are unknown. He was born about 1612, based on his age of 23 when on March 20, 1635, he was enrolled at Weymouth, England on the Marygould as a servant to Zachary Bicknell. ^{[1] [2]}

John was first of Weymouth, Massachusetts, but settled at Salem by 1638. He was a cordwainer. ^[2]

He and his first wife were admitted to the church at Salem on February 26, 1642/3, and 2 daughters, Elizabeth and Hannah were baptized that day. He became a freeman on February 28, 1642/3. Their children were: ^[2]

1. Elizabeth born about 1640; baptized February 26, 1642.
2. Hannah born about 1642; baptized February 26, 1642.

Anderson in Great Migration says there are no further records of these two children.^[2]

John Kitchen purchased land in Salem on different occasions: in 1638 about 3 acres; in 1642/3 ten acres; in 1643 about an acre; in 1649 40 acres of upland and meadow; and 1653 only enough land to make a cellar; in 1658 4 acres of meadow. Much of this land was sold by 1664.^[2]

He was on the Salem petit jury several times between December 31, 1644 and November 26, 1661 and chosen Constable November 11, 1648; sealer of leather on November 10, 1655.^[2]

In 1645 John Kitchin sued Robert Adams for defamation; in 1650 was "presented" for beating Giles Corey; and on the same day presented for playing shuffleboard (although this was dismissed for lack of evidence.) Several times between June 30 1658 and June 28, 1670 "John Kitchin and his wife" were before the court and fined because they were absent from the Salem church and attended Quaker meeting.^[2]He was excommunicated by the Salem church on February 19, 1621/2 and it is probable that his wife was excommunicated at approximately this same time. He was brought before the court again on November 25, 1662 and removed from the office of sergeant of the foot company; being charged with "unworthy and malignant speeches and carriages..." In 1663 he was called before the Ipswich court for "seditious and treasonable words against the government, in saying that they had murdered the dear saints and servants of God and that he himself saw one of them murdered at Boston."^[2]

His first wife died and sometime between 1643 and 1645. He married second, widow Elizabeth (Grafton) Saunders; daughter of Joseph Grafton and widow of John Sanders. Their children (all baptisms at Salem) were: ^[2]

1. Joseph was baptized on April 20, 1645. (no additional records)
2. John was baptized on July 28, 1646. (no additional records)
3. Mary was baptized on April 23, 1648; married (1) Timothy Robinson and (2) Thomas Hanson.
4. Abigail was born about 1650; married John Guppy.
5. John was baptized March 21, 1651/2. (no additional records)
6. Priscilla was born in 1647 and died in 1721'^[3] married (1) Nathaniel Hunn (2) George Bowers; (3) John Curtis; (4) John Gilbert^[2]
7. Robert, a shipping merchant^[3] was baptized April 15, 1655. Married (1) Mary Boardman, daughter of Wm. Boardman; (2) Bethia Weld, daughter of Daniel Weld.
8. Benjamin born at Salem on August 28, 1660 and died there September 15, 1660.

John's will was dated on December 20, 1675 and proved on June 30, 1676. In it he bequeathed "my dwelling house & land belonging to it and about an acre of salt marsh by Castle Hill unto my wife during her lifetime & to my son Robert after her decease"; "my orchard and ground behind it unto my son Robert Kitchen, provided that the one half of the projece of both be for my wife's use & to her disposal during her life"; residue to "my wife to be for her use during her lifetime & after her decease to be disposed of to the rest of my children". His wife Elizabeth and son Robert Kitchen were executrix and executor; no other children were listed by name. ^[4][2][5]

Research Notes

• Some claim the first wife of John Kitchin was named "Elizabeth." However, Anderson in Great Migration says, "this must derive from a confused reading of some record pertaining to the second wife. No record states the given name of the first wife of John Kitchin."^[2]
• Anderson in "The Great Migration" assumes that Elizabeth (2nd wife) is the mother of all John Kitchen's children except Elizabeth & Hannah, however in the distribution of the estate of Joseph Grafton, Elizabeth's father, Robert Kitchin and "his three sisters" received legacies. "The three ssters would be Mary (Kitchin) (Robinson) Hanson, Abigail (Kitchin) Guppy and Priscilla (Kitchen) Hunn. Based on this evidence, we cannot determine with certainth the maternity of the third and fourth children of John Kitchin, and so it may be that they were with the first wife."^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Hotten: James C. The Original Lists of Persons of Quality; Emigrants; Religious Exiles; Political Rebels; Serving Men sold for a term of years; apprentices; children stolen; maidens pressed; and others who went from Great Britain to the American Plantations, 1600-1700 : with their ages and the names of the ships in which they embarked, and other interesting particulars; from mss. preserved in the State Paper Department of Her Majesty's Public Record Office, England, London, England, 1874. , p. 284.link
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12} Anderson, Robert C. John Kitchin in: Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume IV, I-L, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts, 2005, p. 201-7 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.)[https://www.americanancestors.org/databases/great-migration-immigrants-to-new-england-1634-1635-volume-iv-i-l/image?volumeId=12108&pageName=201&rId=235147478 subscribers$
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847-. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2018.) "Priscilla Kitchen, Quakeress of Salem, Mass., and Kent County, Del., and Her Family" Massey, George Valentine.Vol. 106 p. 38 subscribers$
4. ↑ "Abstracts From Essex County, Mass., Probate Records", Putnam's Monthly Historical Magazine (Eben Putnam, Danvers, Mass., 1900) Vol. 1, Page 118
5. ↑ The probate records of Essex County, Massachusetts by Massachusetts. Probate Court (Essex County); Essex Institute; Dow, George Francis, 1868-1936 Publication date 1916 Vol 3. p. 78

See Also: Moriarty Jr., Andrews. EIHC 51:126-130