| Susan (Wood) Mitchell migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm |
Ancestor of Grover Cleveland[1]
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Susan Wood of Ovenden[2][3] was born approximately the year 1590[4] to 1591.[5]She was the daughter of Edmund Wood, Sr.[4]who was born in 1535[5]and her mother's name is not known.[6]Hause was in error when he recorded that Edmund Wood's 3rd wife was Margret (Heard) Wood.[6][7]
Edmund Wood, Jr.[4]
Susan was first married to Thomas Butterfield in about 1611, a prominent citizen of Ovenden. Thomas Butterfield died and was buried in Halifax, Yorkshire, England on September 16, 1614.[4]His will was proved July 3, 1615.[8]
Children of Susan Wood and husband, Thomas Butterfield[4][8]
Susan married (2nd) Matthew Mitchell of Southowram at Halifax, Yorkshire, England on April 16, 1616.[5][2][3]or August 21, 1616[4][2]Mitchell was a merchant by trade.[5]
The couple, together with their children and Samuel Butterfield from Susan's first marriage, came to New England on the ship James[5]out of Bristol.[9] Governor Winthrop said in his journal: the ship carried "one hundred passengers, honest people of Yorkshire."Rev. Richard Mather, a passenger on the ship, wrote a journal indicating that Rev. Mather, Rev. Mawde and Mr. Matthew Mitchell were leaders of the group of passengers. The passenger list has been lost, but it is likely that Edmund Wood and John Lum were also passengers. and that Rev. Richard Denton was not a passenger on the James, but arrived later.[10] Mather's journal also shares the story when Susan was one of a group of people who went "on shore to Nangle," It was said to have been a fair day, so the group walked in the fields and were refreshed at a house where they got some milk, then came aboard the James again in the evening.[11]
Mather's journal relates the story of the night before the James landed in Boston Harbor, "That night a hurricane struck the coast, tearing up trees, demolishing houses and scattering the ships in the harbors. The James lost all its anchors and was blown towards Piscataqua. When it was within a cable's length of the rocks the wind reversed direction and drove it back towards the Isle of Shoals, where it was almost dashed to pieces again. Fortunately, the wind again died. When the tempest had passed it was found that not a soul had perished, nor had any of the cattle been injured. The following day one hundred passengers, twenty three seamen, twenty three cows and heifers, three calves and eight mares disembarked. A sister ship, the Angel Gabriel was smashed to pieces with the cattle and all goods on board, but fortunately the crew and passengers had already gotten off." Mather writes "It was a day much to be remembered, because on that day the Lord granted us a wonderful a deliverance as, I think, people had, out of as apparent danger as I think ever people felt. I am sure our seamen confessed they never knew the like. The Lord so imprint the memory of it on our hearts."[10]
The James landed in Boston on August 17 1635. The journey across the Atlantic was described as "somewhat long" by Rev. Richard Mather who also was a passenger on the James.[11] They lost sight of the Old English Coast on the 22nd of June and they made land again on August 8 at Menhiggin and were at Boston on August 17 - twelve weeks and two days.[12]
Susan's husband, Matthew Mitchell, was a prominent and wealthy man who immediately upon their arrival, purchased a house in Charlestown, Massachusetts.[4]The entire family were "visited with sickness" the winter after their first arrival in Charlestown, and "the scarcity then afflicting the country added unto the afflictions of their sickness" says Cotton Mather in his biographical sketch of Susan's son Rev. Jonathan Mitchell.[5]In early spring of 1636 they removed to Concord. Here their home and material possessions were consumed by fire. In May they were at Springfield, Massachusetts with Susan's brother Edmund Wood.[4][13][3]The family relationships must have been considered close, as the Mitchell land joined with Susan's son, Samuel Butterfield; her brother Edmund and Edmund's son, Jonas Wood.[5]While at Springfield he signed the Pynchon compact of 1636.[14]That summer they moved further down the Connecticut River to Saybrook, Connecticut where they were one of the first settlers. Heavy property loss from the Indians and the death of Susan's son, Samuel Butterfield were sustained by the family.[3]Samuel was captured and tortured to death by the Pequots.[4]Mather says in his writings "Magnalia Christi Amricana, "three men were slain... the Pequot scourge fell more on this family than on any other in the land."[5]They moved once again, this time to Wethersfield, Connecticut, sometime before April, 1637[14]where her husband was a large land owner.[3]Here Susan's husband was recognized as possessing sound judgement and executive ability. He was chosen as a member of the General Court in 1637 and was a member of that court when it declared war against the Pequots. However, he made an enemy of the very sensitive Ruling Elder at Wethersfield, Clement Chaplin. It was because of this antagonistic relationship that he was rejected by the court as Recorder for Wethersfield in April, 1640.[14]Another move happened when Mitchell was one of four persons chosen at Wethersfield to regulate the Stamford settlement,[3]and it may be that the move to Stamford was caused by the animosity shown by Chaplain.[14]The Mitchell's moved to Stamford with Rev. Richard Denton and his parishioners[3] included the Edmund Wood's family (his son Jonas "Oram" Wood,) the John Lum's family and the unrelated Jonas "Halifax" Wood. Rev. Denton had been curate of Coley chapel a small vicarage between Northowram and Southowram England,[10] and at that earlier time, Mitchell had been under his instruction and influence.[14]It was at Stamford, that Susan's husband was "much the wealthiest settler, his tax being about three times as large as that of Thurstan Rayner, the next largest taxpayer.[3]Mitchell was "sorely tried, by fires, by Indian attacks, and by human animosities - under all of which he exhibited a high degree of Christian humility and patience."[14]
Susan Mitchell survived the death of her husband, Matthew Mitchell,[3]which is evident because she is listed in his will. Matthew died at Stamford before May 19, 1645 at the age of 55 years.[14]His death was caused by a horrible disease call the stone.[5]His will was proved on June 16, 1646 at Stamford. In it he left L100 for son Jonathan; L80 each to daughters Susanna and Hannah; L40 to his son David; and "my wife may by all right claim the rest."[16]
Mr. Somerby, the genealogist, of London, states that "the Mitchells were a family of good standing, and their arms, "sable, a chevron between 3 escallops argent," are painted on the roof of the chancel of the Halifax church."[14]
Research notes
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W > Wood | M > Mitchell > Susan (Wood) Mitchell
Categories: Founders of Saybrook | US President Direct Ancestor | James, sailed May 23, 1635 | Halifax, Yorkshire | Puritan Great Migration
Specifically, Thomas Butterfield-492 and Sarah Susan (Butterfield-333) Halstead. As I have said before, according to NYGBR, there were only 2 children. 1st was Samuel Butterfield-493 and 2nd was unnamed. So we are left with the qustion of what to do with the profiles of the 2 named children -492 and -333. I want input from the other PMs, please.
Regarding -333, I am leaning toward changing the name of the profile to Sarah Unknown, disconnecting the parents, and leaving her as the wife of Jonas Halstead.
Regarding -492, I am leaning toward changing the name of the profile to Samuel and merging him with Samuel Butterfield-493, thus merging this profile away.
Please respond. Thanks.
Cheryl
I need to do some more research on Sarah Susan Butterfield-333 and Thomas Butterfield-492. There was another Butterfield child, but so far I have only seen "unknown" as the name.
Any comments?
I set Wood-11462 and Wood-2488 as unmerged matches. The death date/place and the children need to be resolved. Can you work on this? Cheryl
Since there are several sources on this profile that Susan Wood married Matthew Mitchell-1313 who was born in England, I'm going to detach Mitchell-9275 who was born in Scotland, as husband.