upload image

James Moulton

Privacy Level: Open (White)
Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Profile manager: K OBrien private message [send private message]
This page has been accessed 101 times.

Contents

Biography

James Moulton (farmer), son of Robert Moulton and Mary Smyth, was born about 1603 in Scratby, Norfolk, England. Church records that would have provided a more exact date do not exist for the year in which James Moulton’s baptism probably would have been recorded. Evidence of the location of the family's residence at the time of James' birth was found in a 1606 deposition made by his father, Robert. In the deposition:

Listed as a husbandman, he [Robert] stated at that time he was 41 years old, that he had lived in Scratby for approximately ten years and prior to that in Ormesby where he was born. [1]

According to Joy Wade Moulton in the English Background of the Moulton Family: "In a 1633 Episcopal Visitation of the Norwich Diocese (VIS 6/4), a presentment was made against William Palmer, James Moulton, his brother Thomas Moulton and William Easte (probably William Estow...). All men were charged with leaving their [Ormesby] parish church on Sunday afternoon and going to Great Yarmouth."[1] At this time Reverend George Burdett, a well-known Puritan minister, was preaching in Great Yarmouth. Burdett was later charged with "blasphemy, schism, and other crimes of foul nature," for raising new doctrine and in 1635 was removed to Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony.[2]

In October 1633, James (age about 30) inherited the home of his father (Robert) in Scratby, as described in Robert's will:

James my sonne shall have the house wherein I now dwell at Scratby with the appurtenances there unto belonging, And also all the Lande both free and copy that I purchased of Simon Maston & William Richard now belonging to the said house and tenement...in consideracon that I have given and bequeathe my houses and Lande until my Sonnes James and Thomas, therefore the Said James shall pay or cause to be paid the sume of three pounds unto my son John...And my two Sonnes James Moulton and Thomas are to be allowed three pounds to each of them out of the movable goods, for certain Bullocks which were late sould.[3][4]

After the death of their father (1633) and mother (1636) several of James' siblings emigrated from England. The siblings were John (and his family), Elizabeth Skerry (and her family), Miriam, and Ruth. They sailed on the ship "Rose" of Yarmouth and/or the "John and Dorethey" of Ipswich since the ships sailed together. Also traveling on one of those ships was James' 2nd cousin once removed William Moulton.[5][6][7] They arrived in Boston on 8 June 1637. Even though James' name does not appear on a list, the Winthrop Journal, dated 20 June 1637, stated: "Three ships arrived here [Boston] from Ipswich, with three hundred and fifty passengers." That leaves about 200 passengers that were not on the surviving lists.[1] James was likely among these 200 (along with his wife and possibly one or more children).

The fact that James was admitted as inhabitant of Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony on 7 August 1637 provides further evidence to support James' arrival in June 1637. Additionally the fact that Reverend George Burdett (whose services James was attending in England) was a minister at the Salem church at this time supports James Moulton of Salem being the same James Moulton of Scratby.[1] The actual 1637 town record for when James was admitted as inhabitant of Salem, reads:

In a town meeting ye 7th of 6th month Marmaduke Percie, James Moulton, John Gedney are admitted for inhabitants.[8]

James was one of many people involved when the "marsh and meadow were ordered to be assigned and laid out to the families at a town meeting, Dec. 25, 1637." His share was three acres, he having at that time a family of five persons.[9]

On 31 December 1637 (given as 31: 10 mo. 1637 on the church record), James was admitted to membership in the First Church in Salem. His wife, Mary, was admitted to membership in the church on 25 February 1638 ( 25: 12 mo. 1637). [10]

As one of the original settlers: "James was one of the first men chosen by the town, to serve on the grand jury, and he was afterwards elected to various important stations..." [11] In March 1637/8, both James and his brother-in-law, Henry Skerry were each made freeman by the General Assembly of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.[12][13][14]

James eventually became "a man of large property."[11] This included property which was granted to him at a town meeting on 9 December 1639 (given as the 9th of 10th mo in the town record):

Granted to James Molton 80 acres whereof 8 acres to be meadow.[15]

In 1643, the part of Salem where James resided was set off from Salem as a distinct township named Wenham. James became a dedicated member of the First Church in Wenham which was founded in 1644 under the ministry of Rev. John Fiske.

In 1646 James was sworn in as Wenham's constable.[13][14] At a town meeting in 1654, he was chosen Graineryman.[14]

In 1655 Rev. John Fiske and many of his congregation from the First Church in Wenham resettled in Chelmsford, Massachusetts Bay Colony. James, along with Mr. Gott, were chosen to procure a new minister in Wenham as described in the First Church records:

At a town meeting this 6 of 12 Mo. 1656, whereas ye town hath taken into great consideration, the great want of a minister amongst us, it's therefore ordered that Mr. Gott and James Moulton is hereby chosen to endeavor to procure a Minister & to present him with the promise of 45 lb per year for his yearly maintenance.[16]

In 1658, James built a home that "stood on the southern side of the road leading from Wenham to Topsfield, just west of the straits and at the base of [what came to be known as] Moulton Hill." [17][13] See picture of James Moulton Historic House.

On 16 January 1664, James bought 40 acres that adjoined his property on the south side:

Daniel Rumball, of Salem, blacksmith, for thirty pounds sold to James Moulton Sr., of Wenham, yeoman, forty acres of land formerly being the land of George Noole, deceased. Bound on the east by land formerly of Mr. John Fisk and now in the tenure and occupation of James Bette. On the south side by Richard Kimball’s land. On the west and north by land of said James Moulton. January 16. 1664.[18]

On 29 June 1674, James sold this same 40 acres to his son-in-law, James Friend:

James Moulton Sr., sold to James Friend, forty acres of upland with all of the thacht pond, the which pond lines in his forty acres. Bounded east by Mark Bachellor’s land and land formerly Mr. Fisk’s. West by Goodman Lord’s land, that was Richard Kimball’s. North by James Moulton Sr. South by Richard Kimball’s land and Mr. Fisk’s. It was 29 June 1674.[18]

According to First Church records, on 31 December 1674, James (age about 71) was chosen to be deacon:

Att a church meeting December 31, 1674, the chh chose James Molton Sen. & John Fiske Sen. the office of Deacons; John Fiske refused.[19]

Marriage and Children

Married: James married Mary (maiden name unknown). Presumably, James and Mary were married in England since James Jr. was born in January 1638 in Salem implying Mary was pregnant at the time of their presumed arrival in June 1637.
Children: According to Salem town records, James and Mary had a family of five on 25 December 1637.[9] Of the three known children, Samuel was born after 25 December 1637 so there is at least one unknown child:
  1. Mary, birth unknown but likely before 1637.
  2. James Jr., baptised on 7 January 1638 in Salem. Church record reads: 1637 7:11 mo. James, son of James Moulton.[20] Named as the oldest son in his father's will. (Probably born before 25 December 1637 and baptised on 7 January 1638.)
  3. Samuel, baptised on 25 December 1642 in Salem: Church record reads: 1642 25:10 mo. Samuel, son of James Moulton.[21]
  4. John, baptized in 1645 in Wenham. Not mentioned in his father's 1678 will.[22]
  5. Elizabeth, baptized in 1647 in Wenham. Not mention in her father's 1678 will. [23]
James will was inventoried 6 January 1679 and proven 30 March 1680.[13] "The amount of estate was four hundred and fifty-six pounds; with one exception the largest in Wenham."[13]

Research Notes

Of note there is a marriage record for a James Moulton and Mary Norgate married on 20 February 1636/1637 at Saint Gregory By Saint Paul, London, London, England.[24] There is, however, no other identifying information on this record to link this to the subject James Moulton of this profile. It should also be noted that London is 250 miles from James' home in Scratby.

Sources

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Moulton, Joy Wade. "Some doubts about the English Background of the Moulton Family." New England Historical and Genologial Register. 144: 260 AmAncestors($)
  2. ↑ Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, Volume 8. Boston, Published by the Society. 1906. Page 364.
  3. ↑ Church of England, Archdeaconry of Norwich Court, Wills and Administrations, 1469-1857. Regd. copy wills, v. 44, 1632-1634. Robert's Will.
  4. ↑ Jones, William Haslet. "The English Background of Some Early Settlers of Hampton, New Hampshire from Ormesby, St. Margaret, Norfolk," published in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, (Boston, MA: NEHGS). Vol. 141 (Oct 1987) pages 313-329. Online at AmericanAncestors.org, p. 326
  5. ↑ Hotten, John Camden, The Original Lists of Persons of Quality Page 291
  6. ↑ Filby, P. William, ed. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2012. Annotation: From documents in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, and the Public Record Office, London. Passengers to New England on the John and Dorothy and the Rose, pp. 21-23; passengers to New England on the Marey Anne, pp. 29-30; passengers to Holland not indexed. Full
  7. ↑ Jewson, Charles Boardman. Transcript of Three Registers of Passengers from Great Yarmouth to Holland and New England, 1637-1639. (Norfolk Record Society Publications, 25.) Norwich: Norfolk Record Society, 1954. 98p. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1964.
  8. ↑ Town records of Salem, Massachusetts, Volume 1, 1639-1659. The Essex Institute, Salem, Massachusetts, 1868. Page 53
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Perley, Sidney. The History of Salem, Massachusetts. Salem, Mass., 1924-28, Page 462.
  10. ↑ Richard D. Pierce, ed., The Records of the First Church in Salem, Massachusetts, 1629-1736).Page 7.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Allen, Myron O., The History of Wenham; civil and ecclesiastical: from its settlement in 1639, to 1860. Page 139
  12. ↑ Vital Records from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (Compiled from articles originally published in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register.) AmAncestors($)
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Moulton, Henry William, and Claribel Moulton (ed.), Moulton Annals, Chapter IX, "Descendants of James Moulton, of Wenham, Massachusetts," Chicago: published by Edward A. Claypool, Genealogist, 1906: Page 150
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Moulton, Eben Hobson, 1818-1894. A history of the Moulton family; a record of the descendents of James Moulton of Salem and Wenham, Massachusetts, from 1629-1905. Pages 7-8
  15. ↑ Town records of Salem Massachusetts. [v.1]-1634. Page 93
  16. ↑ Wenham, Massachusetts. First Church in Wenham Congregational records Church records, 1643-1805 Page 14.
  17. ↑ “Moulton, Eben Hobson, 1818-1894. A history of the Moulton family; a record of descendants of James Moulton of Salem and Wehnham Massachusetts, from 1629-1905. Pages 6-7
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Moulton, Eben Hobson, 1818-1894. A history of the Moulton family; a record of the descendents of James Moulton of Salem and Wenham, Massachusetts, from 1629-1905. Page 49
  19. ↑ Wenham, Massachusetts. First Church in Wenham Congregational records. Church record, 1674-1719. Page 7
  20. ↑ Pierce, R. D. (1974). The records of the First Church in Salem, Massachusetts, 1629-1736. Essex Institute. Page 16
  21. ↑ Pierce, R. D. (1974). The records of the First Church in Salem, Massachusetts, 1629-1736. Essex Institute. Page 19
  22. ↑ Pope, Robert. "The Notebook of the Reverend John Fiske, 1644-1675," Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts Volume 47. Boston, 1974. Page 32
  23. ↑ Pope, Robert. "The Notebook of the Reverend John Fiske, 1644-1675," Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts Volume 47. Boston, 1974. Page 50

    Death and Estate

    Died: No actual death record has been found but James’ death would have been sometime after 26 February 1678 (when his will was written) and before 30 March 1680 (when the will was proved).
    Will: The will in part reads:
    Know all men by these presents the twenty sixth of February in the yeare of our Lord God, one thousand six hundred & seventy-eight, I James Molton Senr of Wenham in the County of Wessex well in body & of good & perfect memory, doe make & ordaine this my last will & testament in manner and forme following:
    Imprimis, I bequeath my body to the earth & my soule to God that gave itt.
    Item I leave to my well beloved wife, my housing & land wth all the apurtinances, wth my stock & household goods for her use & benefitt during her life excepting, such as I shall after dispose of (viz: 20 acres of land to my son Samuell ten acres by cedar pond & ten acres belongting to Lords farme next the great pond which I give him & His heires for ever after my decease.
    Item I give my wife my household stuff to dispose of according as she please after her decease. :Item, after her decease I give to my son Samuel Molton my housings and the twenty acres of land belonging to itt more or less with the ten acres of land before mentioned joining to Cedar Swamp and ten acres of Lord's farm by the great pond & Six acres of Meadow.
    Item I give my daughter Mary Friend & her heires five aces of land joining the backside of his present house & ten acres of Lords farm next his own land.
    Item I give to my eldest son Jame Molton & his heires for ever the residue & remainder of all my lands and meadow 62 itt more or less
    Item I give him five pounds of my moveable estate.
    Item I give to the College [Harvard] five pounds.
    Item I give to the church att Wenham five pounds.
    Item I give to the present Minister Joseph Gerrish or his heires five pounds which legacies shall be paid within a yeare after mine & my wives decease.
    I make and ordane my three children joint executors, of this my last will. And I doe entreate my loving friends Capt. Thomas Fiske and William Fiske to oversee the accomplishment of this my will In witness where of I have sett to my hand & seale this day and date above mentioned.<ref>Ancestry.com. ''Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991'' [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

    Original data:Massachusetts County, District and Probate Courts.</li>

    <li id="_note-13">[[#_ref-13|↑]] ''England Marriages, 1538–1973'', database, FamilySearch: 10 February 2018), James Moulton and Mary Norgate, 20 Feb 1636; citing Saint Gregory By Saint Paul,London,London,England, reference , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 375,028. [https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NKGB-V62 Moulton/Norgate marriage.]</li></ol></ref>




Collaboration
  • Login to edit this profile and add images.
  • Private Messages: Send a private message to the Profile Manager. (Best when privacy is an issue.)
  • Public Comments: Login to post. (Best for messages specifically directed to those editing this profile. Limit 20 per day.)


Comments

Leave a message for others who see this profile.
There are no comments yet.
Login to post a comment.