James Percival (abt. 1630 - bef. 1692)

Born about 1630 in England [uncertain]

Husband of Mary (Rainsford) Percival — married about 1671 in Sandwich, Plymouth Colony, New England

Descendants

Died before 23 Mar 1692 before about age 62 in Saconesset, Plymouth Colony, New England

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Chase Ashley [send private message]

Biography

Parentage

James Percival's parentage is unknown. Many family trees say he was the son of Sir James Percival of Weston-in-Gordano, Somersetshire and Alice Chester.^[1][2] However, no reliable source has been found that supports that proposition. Lodges' 1789 "Peerage of Ireland" states that James Percival of Weston-in-Gordano and Alice Chester had a son named James, but that he died young without issue.^[3]

Date of Birth

James's date of birth are uncertain. Based on his wife's date of birth (1632), James was probably born sometime in 1620-1635, with about 1630 as a reasonable, rough, best-guess estimate.^[4][5]

First Record; Arrival in Plymouth Colony from Virginia

The first record of James is a record from the Plymouth Court on March 8, 1670/1 of a fine against him for refusing to return to Virginia to face charges that he had stolen a boat:

James Pursevall, for his contempt of authoritie in nott departing the colonie according to order,^[6] and for his makeing an escape from one with whome hee was sent, in reference to his goeing to Verginnia to cleare himself of suspicion of haveing a hand in running away with a boate, etc., hee was centanced to pay a fine of five pound.^[7]

This record suggests that James may have first immigrated to Virginia before moving to the Plymouth Colony about 1669. No record of James has been found in Virginia, however.

Origin; Place of Birth

It is uncertain where James came from before Virginia, but most likely he had been born in England and emigrated from there to Virginia.

Residency in Sandwich

In the Plymouth Colony, James originally settled in Sandwich.

From the following record from the Plymouth Court on July 5, 1671, it appears that James was sufficiently well off (from either his own resources or his wife's) that he had a servant:

Wheras fifteen shillings mony was taken away by the Governor from a servant of James Pursvall, of Sandwich, whoe run away, the Court orders eight shillings of the said mony to be payed to the constable of Bridgwater, for his paynes in bringing him to Plymouth, and the remainder was returned by Mr Bourne to the said Pursvall.^[8]

James was the Constable for Sandwich in 1677.^[9]

Marriage and Children

James married Mary (Rainsford) Bassett.^{[10][4][11][12]} Based on the fact that Mary's first husband, William Bassett, died in June 1670 and James' and Mary's first child was born in January 1671/2, James and Mary were probably married sometime between June 1670 and April 1671. The 1971 article "Percival Genealogy" published in The Connecticut Nutmegger (without providing any source)^[4] and Rasmussen's 1985 NEHGR article on the Rainsfords (citing "Percival Genealogy")^[10] state that they were married about June 1671. No evidence supporting this date has been found, however, and, based on the birth of their first child in January 1672, that date would be too early unless the child was conceived before their marriage. Torry references the June 1671 date but puts questions marks around it to indicate that it is questionable.^[12] Anderson apparently did not accept the "about June 1671" estimate and instead says, more generally, "by 1671."^[11] Based on the fact that both James and Mary were residents of Sandwich at the time, they were probably married there.

James and Mary had the following children:

• James, b. January 18, 1671/2 at Sandwich,^[4][10] m. February 18, 1695/6 Abigail Robinson at Sandwich,^[10] d. May 19, 1738 at East Haddam, Connecticut^[10]
• John,^[4] b. probably about 1673 at Sandwich, m. June 3, 1703 Mary Bourne at Sandwich,^[10] d. after April 3, 1738 at Barnstable, Massachusetts^[10]
• Elizabeth, b. September 10, 1675 at Sandwich, m. August 25, 1704 Joseph Ashley at Falmouth, d. before January 1, 1728/9 at Rochester (see sources in her profile)

The 1971 article "Percival Genealogy" published in The Connecticut Nutmegger (without providing any source)^[4] and Rasmussen's 1985 NEHGR article on the Rainsfords (citing "Percival Genealogy")^[10]state that James and Mary also had a daughter named Mary who married a Nathan Bassett. It is probable that that proposition is based on the fact that James's will refers to "John Williams son of Mary Bassett deceased" and, separately, to "my son in law Nathan Bassett." It is, however, most probable that (1) as discussed in the profile for Mary (Bassett) Redding, the "Mary Bassett" who had an (adopted) son John Williams, was James's stepdaughter Mary and (2) since, at the time, "son in law" was often used to refer to a stepson, the reference to "son in law Nathan Bassett" was referring to James's stepson Nathan Bassett. Another reason for doubting that James and Mary had a daughter named Mary is that there is no suitable birth gap until after 1675, when James's wife Mary would have been more than 43 years old.

Reference in Samuel Sewall's Diary

The diary of Samuel Sewall contains the following passage that refers to James:

Oct. 24 [1676], Tuesday, went from [Hingham] to Plymouth, about noon; refreshed there. Note, James Percival met us there, and so we went cheerfully together from thence about [2 p.m.]; got to Sandwich about a quarter of an hour by sun: lodged at Percivals with Mr. Senderlen. Oct. 25, Wednesday, Breakfast at Stephen Skiphs. He, Percival and I road out about 12 miles, within sight of Marthah's Vinyard, to look Horses.^[13]

Residency in Saconesset (Falmouth)

Sometime between 1677 (when James was Constable of Sandwich) and 1679, James and his family moved from Sandwich to Saconesset (which was later renamed Falmouth). The fact that he was a resident of Saconesset by 1679 is established by a deed dated December 19, 1679 in which James is referred to as "of Suckanesett in the Constablerick of Barnstable,"^[14] as well as an entry in Saconesset/Falmouth town records that shows that "the mark that James Parsevall give to his creatures" was recorded there in that year.^[15] The "History of Barnstable County" states that James was among a handful of men who moved to Saconesset in 1679.^[16]

Since Saconesset was initially settled, at least in part, by Quakers and Quaker sympathizers,^[17] Robert E. Ashley claimed in a 1971 article in "Ashleys of America" that James was a Quaker, who moved to Saconesset when he ran into problems with the Pilgrim Fathers of Plymouth.^[18] This claim, however, appears to be purely speculative; no corroborating evidence has been found that James was a Quaker, and Robert E. Ashley did not repeat the claim in his 1981 book "Ashleys of the Old Colony."

As indicated by his will (transcribed below), James acquired substantial property in Saconesset and operated a farm there with cropland and livestock. The 1679 deed referenced above describes James's occupation as "Planter."

Death; Estate

James Percival died in Saconesset sometime between January 19, 1691/2 (the date he made his will, transcribed below) and March 23, 1691/2 (when the inventory of his estate was taken).^[19]

Last Will and Testament

I James Parsivall of Suckenessit in ye County of Barnstable in ye Colony of New Plimouth In New England being now ill and weake of Body yet through ye Mercy of God of disposing mind and memory and being sencable of ye uncertainty of this transitory Life I ame desirouse accoding to my duty to sett things in order before I goe hence, and therefore do make this my Last will and Testament hereby Revoking an disanulling all former will and wills by word or writing hertofore by me made and do hereby constitute and declare this to be my Last will and Testament in manner and forme following viz:

My desire is to comitt my soule to God in Jesus Christ who gave it and my body to decent burial when God shall please to call me hence. And as tuching my worldly estate which God hath beyound my deserts bestowed on me my will is to dispose of it as followeth:

Imprimis, My will is that all my debts in Right or conscience to any man due shall be furst discharged by my Executrix here after named in convenient time out of my estate.

It I will and bequeth unto Mary my wife the use of my dwelling house at Saconessett and my out housing and all ye yards and Inclosuers about my house and ye four Acre Lott that is my Corne field Lying nere my dwelling house togeather with my meadow Lying on and about ye Neck called Nomenecent Neck and so much of my meadow at Pasontacoy neck as will yeald yearly five Load of hay and Liberty to cutt wood for her use of from my fifty acre Lott nere ye dwelling house all which Lands fire wood and meadow ground she my sd wife is to have for her proper use and behoof during ye time of her natural Life and ye use of sd housing during ye time of her widdowhood And I also give and bequeath unto my sd wife one third part of all my moveable estate to be at her whole and sole disposall.

Itm I will and bequeath unto my son John his heirs and assignes for ever two thirds of all my Lands and meadow ground on and about ye necks called Pasentacoy and manahant neckes except one quarter part of ye meadow of both and ye other one third of both sd necks excepting as afore sd : I will and bequeath unto my grandson John Williams that dwelt with me son of Mary Bassett deceased^[20] to him his heir and assignes for ever, that is to say, that when a devition is made by persons Indifferantly chosen of my Right in both neckes that then my son John Parsivall shall take his choice of two thirds thereof. And I also will and bequeath unto him ye sd John Williams ye mare that he usually Rids on and calls his mare and one Cow and five goats: And I will and bequeath unto my son in law Nathan Bassett^[21] all my Smiths Tools and one Cow and five Sheep: And to my wife I give my gray mare and to my son John I give ye mare that he usually Rids on and calls his mare.

It I will and bequeath unto my son James Parsivall all ye Rest of my upland and meadow grounds in and about Saconessitt only excepting my last devition of out Land and my Land in Little woods hole neck and that my will is that Mary my sd wife shall sell and give deeds of and ye money or produce thereof to pay my debts with and ye charge of my funeral.

It I will and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth my black mare and three Cowes and one bed and beding to it and one pott.

It I will and bequeath more to my Son James my sd housing and Lands that my sd wife hath ye Improvement of during her Life he to enter upon and possess them after ye decease of my sd wife only he to pay to my sd daughter Elizabeth ten pounds in currant passable pay within two years after he enters into ye possession thereof.

It I will and bequeath unto my Daughter in Law Sarah Lewis^[22] one Cow and five goats and my will is that after my debts and sd Legasies are paid out of my movable estate and when my wife hath her third part thereof then ye Rest shall be equally divided between my said two Sons viz: James and John Parsivall.

And I do constitute and Appoint Mary my sd wife to be sole Executrix to this my Last will and Testament and desire my Living friends Mr. Stephen Skeffe and William Bassett both of Sandwich to be over seers of this my will to see that it be performed and to Advise my sd wife in ye management of ye premises.

In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seal this 19th day of January 1691.2.

James Parsivall /s/

Signed sealed and declared to be his Last will and testament in the presence of

John Smith

Samuel Prince

Stephen Skeffe

Wm Bassett^[23][24]

^{[15] [16] [17] [14] [13] [9] [8] [7] [3] [2] [1] [24] [4] [5] [10] [11] [12] [18] [23] [19]}

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "James Percival, Lieutenant," geni.com
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "James Percival," Our Royal, Titled, Noble, and Commoner Ancestors & Cousins
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} John Lodge, "The Peerage of Ireland: or A Genealogical History of the Present Nobility of that Kingdom, Vol. II," 1789, p 229
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6} Kernan, John D., "Percival Genealogy," The Connecticut Nutmegger, The Connecticut Society of Genealogiest, June 1971, Vol. 4, No. 1, p. 238
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Ashley, Robert. "Ashleys of the Old Colony." Gateway Press, 1981. Page xviii-x.
6. ↑ No copy of this order has yet been found.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, "Records of the Plymouth Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders, Vol V, 1668-1678," 1856, p 53
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, "Records of the Plymouth Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders, Vol V, 1668-1678," 1856, p 68
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, "Records of the Plymouth Colony of New Plymouth in New England, Court Orders, Vol V, 1668-1678," 1856, p 231
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8} Rasmussen, James A., "Edward Raynsford of Boston: English Ancestry and American Descendents," The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 139, p. 299
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2} Anderson, Robert Charles, "Edward Rainsford," The Great Migration Begins, p. 1546
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2} Torry, Clarence A. New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2004. Page 571
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} Diary of Samuel Sewall. 1674-1729. Vol. I. 1674-1700. Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Vo. V.-Fifth Series. 1878, pp 25-6. At hathitrust.org.
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1} Job Crocker of Barnstable in the Government of New Plymouth in New England, yeoman, by deed dated December 19, 1679, in consideration of £45 current money of New England, sold to James Percevall and John Robinson of Suckanessett in the Constablerick of Barnstable, Planters, a tract land that belonged to his father-in-law Mr Thomas Walley, late of Barnstable, viz one Necke of land commonly called Quanamett Necke which he bought of Agamunt Sachem. Witnessed by Thomas Hinckley and Mary Hinkley. Plymouth County Deeds 1686-1699, Vol 5-6, p 110-1
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1} Falmouth Town Records, "Births, Marriages, Deaths, 1668-1753," p 81
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1} Simeon L. Deyo, History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1890, p 634. At Achive.org.
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1} Simeon L. Deyo, History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1890, pp 632-3. At Achive.org.
18. ↑ ^{18.0 18.1} Ashleys of America, Vol 1, No 4, Page 91
19. ↑ ^{19.0 19.1} “Barnstable, MA: Probate Records 1685–1789.” Volume I, Page 65. Records of Barnstable, Mass. CD-ROM. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2002. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.)
20. ↑ It is likely that John Williams was the adopted child of James' step-daughter Mary Bassett (daughter of James' wife Mary Rainsford and her first husband William Bassett). See Caroline Lewis Kardell and Russell A. Lovell, Jr., "The Possible Identity of John Williams, "Grandson" of Jamers Percival of Sandwich and Falmouth, Massachusetts," New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 141 (1987), pp 251-4
21. ↑ This Nathan Bassett was probably James' step-son (son of James' wife Mary Rainsford and her first husband William Bassett).
22. ↑ Sara Lewis was James's step-daughter (daughter of James' wife Mary Rainsford and her first husband William Bassett) who married Thomas Lewis.
23. ↑ ^{23.0 23.1} “Barnstable, MA: Probate Records 1685–1789.” Volume I, Page 64. Records of Barnstable, Mass. CD-ROM. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2002. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) LInk to record at americanancestors.org.
24. ↑ ^{24.0 24.1} "Abstracts of Barnstable County, Mass., Probate Records," The Mayflower Descendant, Vol XIV (1912), p 118