Nathaniel Sparhawk (1598 - 1647)

Born 16 Feb 1598 in Dedham, Essex, England

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Angier) Sparrowhawk — married about 1619 (to 25 Jan 1644) in England

Husband of Katharin (Haddon) Sparhawke — married after 26 Jan 1644 in Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died 28 Jun 1647 at age 49 in Brighton, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Puritan Great Migration Project WikiTree [send private message]

Nathaniel Sparhawk migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 314) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Among the English households that came from Old England to New England in the great Puritan emigration, 1629-1640, was that of Nathaniel Sparhawk, son of Lewis & Elizabeth (Bayning) Sparhawk. [Note: Genealogies that show Lewis and Elizabeth as parents also show Elizabeth death 25 years before Nathaniel was born]. The English home of these adventurers was in Dedham, Essex Co., England. Whatever may have been Nathaniel Sparhawk's prospects in life, he had heard of the brighter prospects opening to his countrymen beyond the sea, and ready to bear his share of the hardships that necessarily must be incurred by a removal to the New World, he joined his neighbors and friends who were hastening thither.

With him came his wife, Mary (who died January 23, 1643/4) and probably his children, Nathaniel, Anne, Mary and Esther. He also had a son Samuel Sparhawk by this wife. By his 2nd wife, Katherine, he had two daughters, Ruth and Elizabeth Sparhawk.

This name is also written Sparhawke, Sparhauk, Sparrowhauke, Sparowhauke and SparrowHawke. Author's note: I have here followed Mr. Cecil H. Cutts Howland in his materials for the Genealogy of the Sparhawk Family, Historical Collections, Essex Institute, Vol. XXV, p.30. See also Mr. W. S. Appleton, NEHGS Register, Vol. XIX, p.125 - who makes Nathaniel Sparhawk the son of Samuel Sparhawk.^[1] Also, Paige, in his History of Cambridge, says 1636 but 1638 is the generally accepted date. See also Materials for a Genealogy of the Sparhawk Family, Historical Collections, Essex Institute, Volume XXV, p.30.

We find him in Cambridge, Mass., as early as 1638. At the time of his coming to New England, he was in the fortieth year of his age. He kept a public house (Inn) and was given permission to sell wine and strong water in 1639. His worth as a member of the community was early recognized by his fellow citizens, and he was made freeman, May 23, 1639. He was also made a deacon of the church in Cambridge, Mass. from 1642 until his death in 1647, he was a Deputy from Cambridge to the General Court. In May, 1645, he was one of "a committee to consider of some way whereby y e negative vote may be tempered, y 1 justice may have free passage."

By his wife Mary (whose maiden name is unknown, likely Angier, the dau. of John Angier of Dedham, England), he had five or more children. Of these, the eldest, Nathaniel, was born in England, and probably all but the youngest. The following is the list of his children in the probable order of their birth:

1 Nathaniel, b. 1630; m. Patience Newman, Oct. 3, 1649; d. Jan., 1687.

2 Anne, ; m., 1st, Deacon Jon. Cooper; 2nd, James Convers, Sr., of Woburn, MA

3 Mary, ; m. Capt. William Symmes.

4 Esther, ; m. Samuel Adams of Chelmsford, Mass., May 7, 1668.

5 Samuel, b. Aug. 27, 1638; d. Aug. 13, 1639.

6 John Sparhawk who died Sept 21, 1644.

Mrs. Mary Sparhawk died in Cambridge, Mass., January 25, 1643/4. Her husband soon after married again and by his second wife, Katherine, had

7 Ruth, b. April 12, 1645 ; d. May 7, 1645.

8 Elizabeth, b. , 1646; d. unm. Nov. 9, 1692.

Nathaniel Sparhawk, Sr., died June 28, 1647, and his wife, Mrs. Katherine Sparhawk, July 5 of the same year.

His home was on the easterly side of Brighton Street, between Mount Auburn and Harvard Square. He must have brought with him some personal property and this he enlarged. We are told by Paige, in his History of Cambridge, "He appears to have owned, in 1642, five houses and about five hundred acres of land, which quantity was afterwards increased. After his death about a thousand acres were sold from his estate, leaving a large quantity of land on the south side of the river (now Brighton District), a part of which still remains in possession of his descendants." This shows a large increase in his real estate during the last five years of his life. Deacon Nathaniel Sparhawk was christened on 16 February 1597/98 in Dedham, Essex, England.[1] He was the son of Samuel Sparhawk. Nathaniel, married Mary Angier, daughter of John Angier.[1] Deacon Nathaniel Sparhawk lived in 1636 in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.[2],[1] He was licensed to sell wine in 1639.[1] He served between 1642 and 1644 as a Representative to the Massachusetts General Court. He served again from 1646 to 1647.[1] Nathaniel, married Katharine Haddon.[1] Deacon Nathaniel Sparhawk died on Friday, 28 June 1647 in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, at age 49 years, 4 months and 12 days. His death was recorded as 28.

Research Notes

Confessions to Rev Thomas Shepard

Sources

1. ↑ Appleton, William S., "Family of Nathaniel Sparhawk of Cambridge" 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.) Reference page 125. Subscription

• History of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1630-1877: with a genealogical register [1]

• Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, for Nathaniel Sparhawke [2]

• New England, The Great Migration and The Great Migration Begins, 1620-1635, for Nathaniel Sparhawk, part 1 [3]

• New England, The Great Migration, and The Great Migration Begins, 1620-1635, for Nathaniel Sparhawk, part 2 [4]

• Howard, Cecil Hampden Cutts. Materials for a Genealogy of the Sparhawk Family in New England. Salem Press 1888. https://archive.org/details/materialsforgene00howa Accessed 3 Apr. 2023.

• http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=agbi&h=1619985&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt
• http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=millind&h=104414099&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt
• http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=pili354&h=1588293&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt
• http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=pili354&h=775203&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt
• http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=worldmarr_ga&h=1141268&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt
• http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=genealogy-glh20106721&h=652&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt
• http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=genealogy-glh32492183&h=4&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt
• Sharples, Stephen Paschall. Records of the Church of Christ at Cambridge in New England, 1632-1830 (Eben Putnam, Boston, 1906) Page viii

• Page 4: "Mr Nathaniel Sparrowhawke sometimes Deacon of the Church: & (Mary) Hes first, Katharine His second wife, all now deceased left with us 5 Children viz..."

Baptism record from Dedham, Essex, names Samuell as the father. Baptism date of 16 Feb 1597/98 https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/58181c94e93790ec8bbed9bf/nathaniell-sparhauke-baptism-essex-dedham-1598-02-16?locale=en