52 Ancestors #11 - Edward Doty

Edward Doty came on the Mayflower as a servant to Stephen Hopkins but he must have been close to the end of his indenture and likely an adult since he signed the Mayflower Compact. This means he was probably born around 1599. He died in Plymouth Colony on August 23, 1655.

Edward may have been married twice but nothing is known of his first wife, if indeed she existed. Her existence is implied by a comment made by William Bradford that Edward had a “second wife.” He married Faith Clarke, daughter of Thurston Clarke on January 6, 1634/5 in Plymouth. Faith outlived him and married John Phillips after Edward died. Faith was buried in Marshfield on December 21, 1675.

Edward was a planter.

He fought a duel shortly after his arrival. William Bradford recorded “ …the first duel fought in New England, upon a challenge at single combat with sword and dagger, between Edward Doty and Edward Leister, servants of Mr. Hopkins. Both being wounded, one in the hand, the other in the thigh, they are adjudged by the whole company to have their head and feet tied together, and so to lie for twenty-four hours, without meat or drink; which is begun to be inflicted, but within an hour, because of their great pains, at their own and their master’s humble request, upon promise of better carriage, they are released by the governor.”

The duel was just the first of Edward's trips to court. He was frequently in court for fighting, slandering, trespass, and debt. He was the defendant in three civil suits, all involving hogs.

On January 2, 1633/4, the Court settled a dispute between Edward Doty and his apprentice John Smith, reducing the time of apprenticeship from ten years to five.

On March 24, 1633/4, Edward Doty was fined for breaking the peace and drawing blood from Josias Cooke.

On March 28, 1634, Edward Doty won a suit against Francis Sprague.

On March 7, 1636/7, Edward Doty was found guilty of a “deceitful bargain” over a lot of land, and restored the lot to George Clarke. The controversy continued and George Clarke won damages from Doty in October 1637. The same day as that judgment, Doty was charged with assault and battery on Clarke and fined additional moneys.

He was sued and lost all four cases of debt and trespass between 1638 and 1651. He won a trespass suit against James Luxford on December 7, 1641.

On February 1, 1641/2, Edward Doty was charged with carelessly allowing cattle put in his hands to “break into men’s corn” endangering the cattle and other property. He was ordered to put his cattle in a “keep.”

Children of Edward & Faith (Clarke) Doty
  Edward was born about 1636; married Sarah Faunce.

John was born about 1638; married Elizabeth Cooke and second, Sarah (probably Rickard).

Thomas was born about 1640; married Mary Churchill and possibly another wife named Mary.

Samuel was born about 1642; married Jeane Harman

Desire was born about 1645; married three times. First marriage was to William Sherman, second was to Israel Holmes, and third was to Alexander Standish.

Elizabeth was born about 1646; married John Rowse

Isaac was born February 8, 1647/8; married Elizabeth England, widow.

Joseph was born April 30, 1651; married Deborah Ellis and Sarah Edwards, widow.

Mary was born about 1653; married Samuel Hatch in 1677 and Eleazer Churchill in 1685. 

Edward Doty

Mary Doty

Mary Churchill

Mary Stevens

Eleazer Cole

Calvin Cole

Calvin Cole

Apphia Delphinia Cole

George Hayes

Eva Delphinia Hayes

Linona Alice Yates - my grandmother

The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010), (Originally Published as: New England Historic Genealogical Society. Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols., 1995).