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Hopestill Tyler Sr. (abt. 1645 - 1734)

Hopestill Tyler Sr.
Born about in Roxbury, Essex, Massachusettsmap [uncertain]
Ancestors ancestors
Son of and
Brother of , , , , and
Husband of — married about 17 Feb 1669 in Medfield, Massachusettsmap
Descendants descendants
Father of , , , , , , , , and
Died at about age 89 in Preston, New London County, Connecticutmap
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Profile last modified | Created 2 Jan 2011
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Contents

Biography

Hopestill Tyler was born about 1645 or 1646 as he was "in his 89th year" (aged 88) when he died in 1734. His twin brother died on 28 March 1645/6, and it is reasonable to think they were born not long before this date.[1] He was the son of Job and Mary Tyler of Andover and Roxbury, Massachusetts.
He was apprenticed in 1658 to a blacksmith of Andover, Thomas Chandler; the boy was to be taught the blacksmith trade "so far as he was capable to learn" for a period of 9 years; was to be "taught to read the Bible and write so as to keep a book for his trade", and to be "allowed convenient meat and drinke, washing, lodging and clothes." His father soon after attempted to dissolve this contract, which resulted in a legal battle which lasted many years. His father failed to regain custody of his son, and was even fined by the court for his troubles. As an adult, Hopestill Tyler served as the blacksmith of Andover.
Hopestill Tyler initially settled in Mendon where they lived for some years. Because of the threat of Indian raids, they removed to Roxbury where two of their children are recorded. Finally, they returned to Andover by 1679 where he worked as the town blacksmith.
In 1692, the Tyler family was caught up in the witchcraft hysteria with Mary Tyler and a daughter being accused of witchcraft. Mary confessed to witchcraft but soon recanted saying she had been forced and that it was all a lie. She was eventually acquitted as was her daughter Johannah.
To escape the accusations and whispers of witchcraft in Andover, Hopestill Tyler sold his land in Andover in 1697 and moved his family to Preston, Connecticut. He was among the 12 men who organized the first church in Preston.
Hopestill remained in Preston the rest of his life and died there on 20 January 1734. His 1728 will names his wife Mary (who died in 1732), daughter Mary Farnum, daughter Hannah Buswell, daughter "mathew" (i.e. Martha), daughter Abigail (unmarried), son Daniel, son James, and grandson Moses Tyler in Boston (oldest son of James).

Name

Name: Hopestill Tyler
Orthographic variations: Tyler, Tiler, Teyler

Birth

Born: Between 1645 and 1646, probably in Roxbury, Massachusetts.
Gravestone states he died "in ye 89th year of his age. [2]
Note: There is no primary record which supports the exact date of 28 January 1645 previously found on this profile. This is in fact an error related to the death of his twin recorded on 28 (1) 1645/6. He would have been born in either Andover or Roxbury, Massachusetts. His father originally settled Andover, but was in Roxbury by 1646 and his brother's death was recorded in Roxbury.

Marriage and Children

Married: Mary Lovett on 17 February 1668/9 in Medfield, Massachusetts.[3] There is discrepancy in the primary records - see marriage notes.
Children of Hopestill Tyler and Mary Lovett:
  1. Mary Tyler. Born on 31 January 1669 in Mendon.[4] She married John Farnum on 30 June 1693 in Andover.[5] Mary died after 15 May 1728 when named in her father's will.
  2. Daniel Tyler. Born say 1675. He was the first son mentioned in his father's will. He married Anna Geer on 28 May 1700 in Groton, Connecticut.
  3. Martha Tyler. Baptized on 9 April 1676 in Roxbury.[6] She was the third daughter mentioned in her father's will. She married Robert Geer on 3 April 1700 in Groton, Connecticut. Martha died on 18 Sep 1741 in Groton.
  4. John Tyler. Born on 19 February 1677 in Roxbury.[7] He removed to Boston. He married Deborah Leatherland on 2 Nov 1699 in Boston.[8] John died on 19 May 1705 in Boston.[9]
  5. Johannah Tyler. Born on 21 November 1681 in Andover, Massachusetts.[10] She is called Johannah, Joanna and Hannah in various records. Accused of witchcraft in the 1692 Salem trials. She married Robert Busswell in December 1697.[11] Johannah died on 6 November 1717 in Canterbury, Windham, Connecticut.[12]
  6. James Tyler. Born on 28 December 1683 in Andover.[13] He married Hannah Safford on 8 October 1705 in Ipswich, Massachusetts.[14][15] James died on 2 November 1754 in Griswoldville, Hartford, Connecticut.[16]
  7. Hopestill Tyler Jr. Born on 26 October 1685 in Andover.[17] He married Anna Gates on 25 January 1709/10 in Preston, Connecticut.[18] Hopestill died on 17 October 1762 in Preston.[19]
  8. Abigail Tyler. Born on 4 January 1687/8 in Andover.[20] Twin to Mehitable. She married Daniel Fitch. Abigail died on 13 March 1771 in Preston.[citation needed]
  9. Mehitable Tyler. Born on 4 January 1687/8 in Andover.[21] Twin to Abigail. Mehitable died young.

Death

Died: 20 January 1734 in Preston, New London County, Connecticut. [22]
Will of Hopestill Tyler, Sr.
In the name of God, Amen, May the fifteenth, 1728. I Hopestill Tyler, of Preston, being aged and of parfet mind and memory, thanks be given to god for the same, caling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that It Is appointed for all men once to dye do make and ordain this my last will and testament. That is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my Soul Into the hands of God that gave It and my body i recommend to the earth to be buried In decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executtors, nothing doubting but at the general resurrection i shall reseaive the same again by the mighty power of god and as touching Such wordly estate wharewith It hath pleased god to bless me In this Life I give Demise and Dispose of the same in the following manner and form.
Imprimis:—I give and bequeath to my Loving wife mary [she had died meanwhile, 1732] of my estate as the Law dierets. " Then to my dafter mary furnnum I give fifty shillings besides what she has allready had. Then I give to my dafter hanna busel her children teen pound besides what she has already had. I give unto my dafter mathew teen pound besides what shee has allready had. I give unto my dafter abigel three score pound besides what she allready has had. I give unto my Son Daniel teen pound besides what he allready has had. I give unto my Son James five pound besides what he allready has had. I give unto my granson moses tiler In Boston fifty Shillings besides what hee allreadye has had. Then I give unto my Son Hopstill all my Land In the township of preston with all my housing and Shope tols. I allsoe constitut make and ordain my Sole exsexaters my Son James and my Son Hopestill and my dafter Abigel my will Is that my dafter abigel shall have a room In the hous to live in as long as she lives unmarried.
his Hopestill X Tyler.
mark Witnesses:
Thomas Stanton,
Jabez Fitch,
Anna Stanton."
Recorded in the 6th book of wills for New London district, Folio 155-156 Aug. 9th, 1734.
Rich. Christopher Clerk.
Preston Jan. 30, 1733-4 then the within named Thomas Stanton, Jabez Fitch and Anna Stanton did all parsonally appear and made oath that thay did se ye within named Hopestill Tyler sign and seal ye within written instrument and that thay herd him then publish and declare ye same to be his Will and Testament and that he was then in his perfect mind and memory and that thay did then all thereunto sign as witnesses in ye presence of ye sd Hopestill Tyler dec'd—before me John Cooke. Justice of Peace.
Inventory:
Wearing apparel
The building & part of the homestead mentioned in the will l £600. 0. 0.
A fifty acre loot of land lying in the Northeast Corner of Preston £50.
The black smith Shoop & tools, &c.
1 yoke of oxen £18. 0. 0.
1 8 year old heifer
1 4 year old heifer
1 8 year old steer
1 yearling heifer
1 calfe
1 horse five years old
1 maire nine years old
1 maire seven years old
1 maire two years old
14 sheep
17 goats
Money in Daniel tiler's hands
Money in Jacob Parkes' hands
Money in Hopestill Tiler's hands
Money in Moses Tiler's hands
Money in Job Tiler's hands
&c . . .
Total £842. 7. 3.

Common Errors to Avoid

Daughter Hannah/Joanna: Hopestill Tyler is frequently given both a daughter of Hannah and a daughter Joanna. This is an error as they are the same person. The error comes from the Salem witch trials which includes records for Hannah Tyler, Joanna Tyler and Johannah Tyler. A close reading of the trial records shows that the Joanna referred to and the Hannah referred to are the same.
Daughter Martha a witch?: It is often said that Martha, daughter of Hopestill Tyler, was accused of witchcraft along with her sister and mother. This is not true, as the records in question are actually referring to Martha Sprague alias Tyler, stepdaughter of Moses Tyler. Martha Sprague with Rose Foster and Abigail Martin accused several people of witchcraft. Martha Sprague in the records is variously called Martha Sprague, Martha Sprague alias Tyler, and Martha Tyler, leading to the confusion.

Research Notes

Marriage date and place: Hopestill and Mary’s marriage is recorded in two sources, one originating in Mendon and the other in Medfield, and they differ in date. The Mendon record, available only as a secondary source in the court records for Middlesex County, says 20 January 1668.[23] A transcribed Medfield town record says 17 February 1668.[24] Because the person who married them, Ralph Wheelock, was appointed by the MA Bay Colony General Court to perform marriages within Medfield only and his record of them comprise the Medfield records that include Hopestill and Mary’s, this record is more reliable as to date. Also, his records are almost exactly chronological, showing the marriage at the end of 1668. This was within the Julian calendar year used at the time, February being the eleventh month. On today’s Gregorian calendar, it would be February 1669. Therefore, the dual year for the marriage is 1668/69. A more detailed review of the sources can be seen here.[25]

Sources

Footnotes and citations:
  1. ↑ Roxbury. Vital records of Roxbury, Vol. II. (1926): page 650.
  2. ↑ Brigham. The Tyler Genealogy, vol. 1 (1912): page 25.
  3. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," familysearch.org database online (Salt Lake City, UT: 1972), Norfolk, Medfield, Births, marriages, deaths 1651-1876, [image 138 of 601].
  4. ↑ Mendon. Vital Records of Mendon. (1920): page 412.
  5. ↑ Andover. Vital Records of Andover, vol. 2 (1912): page 119.
  6. ↑ Brigham. The Tyler Genealogy. (1912): page 53.
  7. ↑ Roxbury. Vital records of Roxbury, vol. 1. (1925): page 340.
  8. ↑ Boston Record Commissioners. Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths, 1630-1699. (1883): page 252.
  9. ↑ Boston, MA: Deaths, 1700-1799. (AmericanAncestors.org online database: citing Boston City Hall Archives p. 35207). John Tiler d. 19 may 1705.
  10. ↑ Andover. Vital Records of Andover, vol. 1. (1912): page 368.
  11. ↑ Andover. Vital Records of Andover, Vol. 2. (1912): page 70.
  12. ↑ Barbour Collection. Canterbury Births, Marriages and Deaths 1703-1850, (1920): page 38.
  13. ↑ Andover. Vital Records of Andover, vol. 1. (1912): page 368.
  14. ↑ Ipswich. Vital Records of Ipswich, Vol. 2. (1910): page 436.
  15. ↑ Boston Records Commioners. Records of the Early History of Boston. (1903): page 302.
  16. ↑ "Connecticut, Charles R. Hale Collection, Vital Records, 1640-1955". FamilySearch online database. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7NF-49L), James Tyler, 2 Nov 1754, headstone inscription.
  17. ↑ Andover. Vital Records of Andover, vol. 1. (1912): page 368.
  18. ↑ Barbour Collection. Preston Vital Records, (NEHGS online database, 1928): page 205.
  19. ↑ Barbour Collection. Preston Vital Records, (NEHGS online database, 1928): page 205.
  20. ↑ Andover. Vital Records of Andover, vol. 1. (1912): page 368.
  21. ↑ Andover. Vital Records of Andover, vol. 1. (1912): page 369.
  22. ↑ Barbour Collection. Preston Vital Records, (NEHGS online database, 1928): page 205.
  23. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," familysearch.org database online (Salt Lake City, UT: 1972), Middlesex, County records, Births, marriages, deaths 1651-1793, original ms. page 161. [image 91 of 652].
  24. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," familysearch.org database online (Salt Lake City, UT: 1972), Norfolk, Medfield, Births, marriages, deaths 1651-1876, [image 138 of 601].
  25. ↑ Doug Sinclair, "The marriage records of Hopestill Tyler and Mary Lovett"[[1]]
Source list:
  • Barbour, Lucius Barnes. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Vital Records: Preston Births, Marriages and Deaths 1687-1850, (1928, NEHGS online database): page 205. AmericanAncestors.org link.
  • Barbour, Lucius Barnes. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Vital Records: Canterbury Births, Marriages and Deaths 1703-1850, (NEHGS online database, original 1920): page 38.
  • Brigham, Willard Irving Tyler The Tyler Genealogy: the Descendants of Job Tyler, of Andover, Massachusetts, 1619-1700, volume 1. (1912). Google Books link
  • Mendon. Thomas W. Baldwin, ed. Vital Records of Mendon Massachusetts, to the Year 1850. (Boston: Wright & Potter, 1920). Internet Archive link.
  • Medfield. Henry Ernest Woods, ed., Vital Records of Medfield, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850. (Boston: NEHGS, 1903).
    Internet Archive link
  • Gidman, R.H. ed. Bi-centennial Celebration: First Congregational Church of Preston 1698-1898. (1900): Google Books link.
  • Roxbury. Vital records of Roxbury, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849: Volume I - Births. (Salem: The Essex Institute, 1925): page 340. HathiTrust link.
  • Roxbury. Vital records of Roxbury, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849: Volume II - Marriages and Deaths. (Salem: The Essex Institute, 1926): page 650. Google Books link.
See also:
Acknowledgements:
  • Please contact Joe Cochoit for substantial changes to the profile.





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Comments: 10

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Doug Sinclair
The Martha Tyler named in the witch trials was Mary Sprague, also known by the last name Tyler because she was the stepdaughter of Hopestill's brother Moses. She wasn't Hopestill's daughter Martha. I have more on this here:

http://dougsinclairsarchives.com/tyler/witchcraft.htm

posted by Doug Sinclair
Cochoit-2 Joe Cochoit
I will have to go through this more closely, but I'm not sure this is true. The records and evidences do not overlap in such a way as to suppose Mary Sprague is the same as Martha Tyler. Children would not be called by their step-parents name in this time period - they keep the name of their birth father. Mary Sprague was one of the afflicted; Martha Tyler was one of the accused. As I said, it is late and I haven't gone back through all of the testimony. Is there something specific in the testimony/evidence that makes you say they are the same?
posted by Joe Cochoit
Doug Sinclair
If you go to the link I posted, you'll find my explanations. I expanded the article to make sure the points I was trying to make are clear.
posted by Doug Sinclair
Cochoit-2 Joe Cochoit
I agree it is clear in the record that Martha Tyler, daughter of Hopestill Tyler, was never accused of witchcraft. Interesting that so many secondary sources over the past 200 years have gotten this wrong, despite intense study of the Salem witch trials. I will fix the profiles - probably on Monday.
posted by Joe Cochoit
Doug Sinclair
Referring back to my previous comment, I was confused in saying it should be 20 January (Middlesex Co., MA, court record). The Medfield town record that I posit is the more reliable, based on my research that I've linked to in the profile, says 17 February. I changed the date.
posted by Doug Sinclair
Doug Sinclair
I think the marriage should be changed to the Medfield record, and the dual year given. The published Mendon vital records include this marriage and that of his sister Hannah, citing Middlesex Co., MA, court records ("M. R."). The county record is based on statistics sent in yearly by representatives of the towns. In this case, these marriages were sent in by Daniel Lovett of Mendon (Mary's father) as part of a larger group of vital records. Hopestill's father was in Mendon as obviously were the Lovetts. While a Mendon marriage seems most likely, both Tyler/Lovett marriages, which took place on the same day, are in the town records of Medfield (see the originals, not the published version of vital records), which say they were performed by Ralph Wheelock (founder of Medfield and General Court representative of that town). Medfield and Mendon shared orginal boundary lines, so it's plausible that the couples actually went to Medfield to be married, for whatever reason. It's also possible that Wheelock married them while visiting Mendon, but two days previous he married a Medfield couple. Wheelock was the primary person in Medfield officiating marriages at this time. Daniel Lovett may have included the marriages in his group because the couples were residents of Mendon. Also confusing is that Mendon and Medfield were in Suffolk County at the time, so why was Mendon sending records to the Middlesex Co. court?

The dual year given in Medfield shows that the year was 1669 on the Gregorian (our modern) calendar, which is why dual years are important to include for clarity in any wikitree reference that was in the overlap of the Julian and Gregorian calendars.

The reliance on Bailey's Tyler genealogy, now 120 years old, is problematic. It has errors in the early generations of the family that people continually repeat. More updated sources should be used, preferably primary. As for the 1692 witchcraft trials, Bailey is also mistaken about the Tylers who were involved. I invite anyone interested in this to look at my article about it.

http://dougsinclairsarchives.com/tyler/witchcraft.htm

Bailey adds Hannah to Hopestill's children because of the court records. Johannah and Hannah Tyler were the same person. Also, Mary (Lovett) Tyler is misidentified in some of the court records as Martha, leading people to believe that her daughter Martha was also involved. The primary evidence (the court records) doesn't support this.

Doug Sinclair

posted by Doug Sinclair
edited by Doug Sinclair
Slusser-393 Nicolette (Slusser) Toussaint
I agree and I edited the marriage and appended your note to the references for the message in the bio, which I just rewrote and formatted.
posted by Nicolette (Slusser) Toussaint
Cochoit-2 Joe Cochoit
Where do you find a copy of the original Medfield marriage record? It doesn't fit well with Mendon birth record of Mary unless she was born 1669/70 which isn't clear from either the printed vital records or the originals on ancestry.com.
posted by Joe Cochoit
Doug Sinclair
The available records really complicate things, and it needs more explanation than what I said in my post. I'm going to try to make sense of the information and add specific sources to the profile, if you don't mind. I'll let you know when I'm ready to do this. I also overlooked the fact that the marriage dates between Medfield and Mendon are about a month apart. I think one of them is incorrect, but I'll explain my thoughts on this. As for the marriage and Mary's birth, the original Middlesex Co. court records show Mary within the group of births for 1669, as Daniel Lovett, "clerk of the writs" for Mendon, sent them. They (and others) were recorded by Thomas Danforth for the county in April 1670. Since her birth was in the Julian/Gregorian calendar overlap, her dual year is 1669/70, so the marriage and birth were almost a year apart. That source is here, and I can make a note of that in the profile, unless you want to do it

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99QY-H3K8?i=112&cc=2061550&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AFCM1-D74

This is also a Middlesex Court record (which calls Mendon "Mendham"). The original records held by the town for this period are lost. The "M.R." after her birth date in the publishied vitals notes that it's a Middlesex record rather than a town record.

posted by Doug Sinclair
Doug Sinclair
My review of sources and circumstances for the marriage is very involved, so rather than put all that in the profile, I'll summarize and include a link to a page with more details.
posted by Doug Sinclair

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