Mary/Margery Steele vs Rebecca (Steele-Unknown) (Elsen) (Mudge) Greensmith

Profile manager: Anne B [send private message]

A discussion page for a disputed person.

Persons:

George Steele

Mary Steele known d/o George

Rebecca Steele speculated d/o George

From the will of George Steele:

Alsoe I give unto my grandchild Martha Hanison my best chamber pott.

Alsoe I give unto Moses and Micah Mudge ten shillings apeece.

his inventory values two chamber pots at 9 shillings total.

It was determined by Jacobus and Anderson^[1] agreed that Hanison was the married name of Martha and that she would be the daughter of one of George Steele's daughters, but not Elizabeth.

Known children of George:

Children^[1]

1. Richard b. say 1610; d. at Hartford by about 1640, when he was mentioned as deceased in the land inventory of his father
2. Margery, bp Fairstead, Essex, 24 Sep 1612. No further record (n.f.r.)
3. John bp Fairstead, 2 Sep 1615; died soon
4. John bp. Fairstead 20 Sep 1618; n.f.r.
5. Mary bp. Fairstead 7 May 1620; n.f.r.
6. James bp Fairstead 30 Nov 1622; m. (1) (possibly at Guiford 18 Oct 1651) Bethia Bishop, d/o John Bishop, [TAG 36:188-89]; m. (2) by 1685 Bethia (Hopkins) Stocking, widow of Samuel Stocking [TAG 36:188]
7. Elizabeth, bp. Fairstead 4 May 1628; m. Hartford 1 May 1645 Thomas Watts [HAVR 606; TAG 22:161]
8. Sarah buried at Fairstead 10 Nov 1629.

Martha daughter of Mary

Martha daughter of Rebecca

This is Dennis Henderson (Henderson-15078). Martha was my paternal grandmother X9, married about 1660 probably in Hartford, Connecticut to John Henderson (or Handerson Hannison, Henryson and many other spelling variations). My lineage from Martha and John is clear with no disputes. However, irrefutable evidence regarding Martha's origins cannot be found: John's origins are even more murky (if such a thing is possible).

From childhood I heard stories passed down from family members about our "Scottish forebearer" John and to a less extent his wife Martha. At least 20 years ago I started digging a bit, and have been at it quite seriously for the past 10 years or so. I have followed hundreds of leads on both Martha and John and can say honestly that, while finding countless similarities, seeming matches and confirmations I have also found a large number of inconsistencies, contradictions, and absolute blanks. I'm sure this sounds more than familiar to anyone who has taken a serious look for their roots. At this point I will offer a summary of what I believe to be a reasonable background for Martha. It is both logical and consistent with many found reports, conclusions, and speculations. It is also at odds with others. Nonetheless, it is my story at this point; I am willing to modify my view but it will take more conclusive "evidence" than I have been able to find so far. For me, logic is always the "tie-breaker."

In my looking-glass, Martha was the daughter of Rebecca Steele (cum-Elsen, Mudge, and Greensmith). Rebecca was a daughter of George and Margery Sorrell Steele, originally of Fairstead, Essex, England and later of Hartford, Connecticut. Rebecca was a woman of ill repute in the latter community, eventually being convicted of and executed for the practice of witchcraft. As her reputation hardened, her Steele parents and siblings widened their separation from her. Prior to her first marriage to Abraham Elsen (or Elson), she gave birth to a daughter, Martha. Out of concern for Martha's welfare given increasing displeasure with Rebecca's behavior, George and Margery Steele took Martha in as a member of their household. Thus, Martha would have borne the surname Steele, reflecting both the household name and the surname of her mother Rebecca when Martha was born out-of-wedlock. This ends my current summary. I believe that a careful reader of the many related reports, etc. will find it logical. Oh...my one great desire: to have a conversation with John, if only one could understand a 17th century Scottsman!

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols., 1995). p. 1754+ Link at AmericanAncestors ($)