John Tenney (abt. 1636 - 1722)

Born about 1636 in Falmouth, Massachusetts Bay [uncertain]

Husband of Agnes (Boaden) Tenney — married about 1664 (to before 1668) in Kittery, York, Massachusetts Bay [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 22 Mar 1722 at about age 86 in Scarborough, Cumberland, Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

John Tenney was born about 1636, an approximate birth year inferred from his reported age of about 40 in the year 1676. The curator of "The Tenney Family Association" (Newton, MA) also provided information that a John Tenney arrived in Kittery, York, Massachusetts Bay (now Maine) before the year 1640. John, subject of this profile, would only have been about 4 years old at that time, thereby suggesting that perhaps the John Tenney, who was born in Cornwall, England in 1610, may have arrived at Kittery before 1640 with a young John Jr. This speculation is pending further research and verification.

John, b. about 1636, was a fisherman for John Winter of Richmond's Island. These fishermen travelled all along the coast. John married 1st Agnes Boaden with whom he had two children: Agnes and John. After Agnes's death, John met and married 2nd Margaret Carkeet after her husband's death in 1662. John resided in Scarborough, Maine for some time. He was Constable there in 1668. Also listed as one of the Selectmen in 1679 and 1681.

During King Phillip's War he is listed as one of the Militia members garrisoned at Black Point, which was surrendered to the Indian Chief Mugg on October 12, 1676.^[1] In 1680 he was one of the signers of a petition to King Charles II requesting the King reassert direct control over Maine, rather than becoming absorbed by the government of Massachusetts, which had just happened. ^[2] By 1690 he had moved to Gloucester, Massachusetts.^[3]

John Tenney lived at Black Point, husbandman, about age 40 in 1676. He settled about 1657 on 50 acre on west side of Spurwink river he bought from Ambrose Boaden. He met and married Agnes, Ambrose's daughter. John was a constable 1668; com. t.e.s.c. 1682, 1683, 1686; selectman 1671, 1673, 1679, 1683-1686, 1688; j. 1675; trustee under Danforth 1684. He received a grant of 80 acres in 1671. Sued by John Williams 1666, by Capt. Scottow 1678, by Capt. Hooke 1682. As John Senior, he acknowledged judgement to Mr. Francis Tucker in York ct. 1694. When Scarborough, Maine was abandoned, due it the Indians Wars, he fled to Gloucester, Mass. where on 17 Jan. 1692-3 Jane Waddock, the mo. of his 2d w., Margaret Waddock, gave him power of attorney. Settled at Kittery, Maine by 1694, selling the Waddock property to Scammon in 1700. On 22 Aug. 1715 he deeded the Spurwink land to his daughter Elizabeth Mitchell and some yrs. later he and his wife left Kittery,and went to live with their daughter, where John and Margaret died. 'Dath of John Tenney Husbant to Margaret Tinney march 22th day 1722.' Ch. by 1st w: 1)John, b. ab. 1665. 2)Agnes, m. Gloucester, Mass. 2 Jan. 1691 John Hammans who d. at Casco Bay 1717-8, ag. ±54. By 2d w: 3)Sarah, ±23 in 1702 when John Amee was acc. of trying to rape her, the court judging her to be at fault. 4)Mary, ±18 in 1702, wit. in Sarah's case. 5)Elizabeth, ±64 in 1750, m. 1st William Mitchell(16), m. 2d Benjamin Haskins. In 1752 the Boadens (the original owners of the property) disputed the Haskins title at Spurwink.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ Collections of the Maine Historical Society, Volume 3Google Books page 110 http://tinyurl.com/y9kkolf2
2. ↑ Collections of the Maine Historical Society, Volume 3Google Books page 129 http://tinyurl.com/y9kkolf2
3. ↑ Collections of the Maine Historical Society, Volume 3Google Books page 75 http://tinyurl.com/y9kkolf2
4. ↑ [Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire page 677]

• U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700, p. 732. [Repository: Ancestry.com. U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700 (database on-line, Frame #747 of 1022). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2012. Original data: Torry, Clarence A. New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2004.] (spouse, approximate marriage year and location listed)
• Noyes, Sybil and Thornton Libby and Walter Goodwin Davis. Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1972 [reprint (795 pp.) of the 1929-39 edition, which was originally published in five parts], p. 677.