Deborah Bachiler Poem

This poem was written by Mrs. Elizabeth Hoxie and read in 1903 when a bronze tablet was placed at the Sandwich home of Deborah (Bachiler) Wing. Deborah was the daughter of the Rev. Stephen Bachiler and the wife of Rev. John Wing. I have several lines of descent from Deborah's father so she is my 1oth or 11th great-grandaunt depending on the line. 

Long years ago in England,

When England yet was young,

Where the River Test flows softly,

Twixt banks of brightest green,

And Queen Elfrida's convent,

through the arching trees is seen.

Softly she sang her childish thoughts,         

As the daisies her small feet pressed;

Softly she touched the fragrant flowers,

Or watched the wild birds nest.

And this is the song the wee maid sang:

"There's never a day without a cloud

Or a joy without a sorrow:

And the sun that sets in the rain tonight

Will shine for me tomorrow."

The preacher prayed inside the church

For a conscience freed from sin,

While the little child in innocence

Caught the heavenly voice within--

"Father I stood by the river

just as the moon went down,

And it lighted the church of Wherewell

As if with a golden crown.

And Father, I saw a vision;

Dost thou think that children may?"

"And what was the vision daughter?

Tell it to me, pray."

Her dark eyes grew more earnest,

While steady and strong was she;

"I saw four boys and a woman

In a vessel upon the sea.

And she was sad and lonely;

And a man that looked like thee

Stood near; and there was sound of weeping,

And the woman looked like me."

"Didst see aught else, my daughter?"

And he thought of the threatening storm

Of church and state and conscience,

And his weary heart grew warm.

For might not his little maiden

Be chosen of God to warn

Benighted, priest ridden England

Of the rise of a brighter dawn?

Earnest and still that fair child stood,

As Deborah stood of old,

And God's grace shone upon her

While she her vision told.

It came again unto her,

The same foreshadowing truth;

And with a tiny hand extended,

She saw through the bounds of youth.

"Father, I see the vessel,

And many are there, who make

The air resound with prayers

For God and conscience sake."

Scarce eighteen summers now have come and gone,

With each clouds of sunshine on the way;

Life's story glimmers bright with youthful song,

And earnest hours have changed from foolish play.

The little child unto a maiden fair has grown;

A strong souled man has looked into her eyes,

And from her heart her girlhood's song has flown.

While in it's place thoughts strange and sweet arise

Across her sunny pathway

With young love's wooing came

Young John, the stalwart preacher,

With words of sweetest flame.

"Deborah, beloved maiden,

Thou art dear, and unto thee

Give I all my heart; now answer,

Givest thou thine to me?"

Deborah, the gentle maid,

With her eyes of dusky brown,

Answered softly, "John, I love thee"

With her fair face drooping down.

Think ye then that John the preacher

E'er remembered priestly gown,

With that sweet faced maid before him

With her hair of burnished brown?

Nay, for in his arms he gathered

Her love unto his heart;

"God do ill and more to me, love

If I fail to do my part."

Came there then no thought or vision?

Forgotten was the prophesy

Of the sad-eyed lonely woman

Out upon the stormy sea.

A few more years have come and gone

While joy and sadness into life have grown.

We see the blessings of the children five,

We hear the sadness of the widow's moan.

The vision given in the fleeting years long gone,

Seems nearing now it's strange, sad truth to prove.

the woman on the stormy sea forlorn,

In spirit hath no confines to her love.

Ah rare indeed that company

The Lord did send out that day!

Did the little ship The Francis

Sail calmly on it's way?

Sail, stately ship, more proudly;

Thy banners all unfurled;

Thou carry'st wondrous tidings

Unto an unknown world.

Oh, Shawme Lake, by Indians called, how fair!

We greet thee now, unknown to world and fame.

Oh Sandwich! Unto thee we give our love--

For in her longing heart she gave thee name.

Rev. Stephen Bachiler                                  Rev. Stephen Bachiler
Ann Bachiler                                                  Theodate Bachiler
John Sanborn                                                Hannah Hussey
Joseph Sanborn                                            Mary Smith
Mary Sanborn                                               Elisha Marston
Jeremiah Prescott                                        Mary Marston
Elisha Prescott                                             Hannah Prescott - Same as on left
Hannah Prescott - same as on right
Mary Edgecomb
Benjamin Perley Philbrick
Lizzie Philbrick
Ray Everett Cotton
Fern Lyndell Cotton - my grandmother

Rev. Stephen Bachiler
Nathaniel Bachiler
Nathaniel Bachiler
Abigail Bachiler
Elizabeth Dearborn
John Garland
Richard Garland
Alice Garland
Richard Hayes
Sydney Hayes
George Hayes
Eva Delphinia Hayes
Linona Alice Yates - my grandmother

Golgotha Memorial - First Settlers of Amesbury

In 1903, the Amesbury Improvement Association placed a marker at the site of the first settlers' burial ground and called the site Golgotha. The memorial plaque lists eighteen first settlers, although not all were buried on this site. I recently visited the site to see it for myself. It's hard to imagine all the wilderness that existed in the 17th century where there are now so many buildings and so much traffic. I tried to get some photos that cropped out the modern elements.

Golgotha (in Aramaic) or Calvary (in Latin) refers to the hill resembling a skull cap just outside the old gate of Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified, buried in a tomb and rose in the Resurrection.  The dictionary definition includes "place of great suffering" or "place of burial."

My ancestors are John Bailey, John Hoyt, Henry Blaisdell, and Jarret Haddon.

John Bailey, Rebecca Bailey, Ruth Brown, Isaac Rogers, Rebecca Rogers, Stephen Blaisdell, Jr., Susannah Blaisdell, Stephen Rowe, Charles H. N. Rowe, Anna J. Rowe, Eva Hayes, Linona Alice Yates - my grandmother

Jarret Haddon, Mary Haddon m. Henry Blaisdell, Henry Blaisdell, Jr. John Blaisdell, Stephen Blaisdell, Stephen Blaisdell, Jr. - see above for the rest of the line.

John Hoyt, Thomas Hoyt, Israel Hoyt, Dorothy Hoyt, Alice Babb, Lydia Waterhouse, Alice Garland, Richard Hayes, Sydney Hayes, George Hayes, Eva Hayes, Linona Alice Yates - my grandmother


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52 Ancestors #45 - The Interesting Life of Abishag Walton

Abishag Walton must have married mariner Robert Taprill between 1659 and 1663. In 1672 the Taprills were living in a house in Boston that belonged to Mr. William Waldron. The house was purchased by Mr. Waldron's brother, Alexander and when Alexander Waldron died in 1676, he willed the house, land and two gold rings to Mrs. Taprill. The house and land was to revert back to William Waldron after the death of Abishag Taprill. 

The name Abishag comes from the Bible where Abishag was a young woman who tends to King David in his old age. Another site describes her role as "a bed companion to David in the hope that her fresh beauty might induce some warmth in the old man." 

Abishag seems to have been the primary support for her family and her husband, Robert, was often at sea and contributed very little, it at all, to the family's support. One time Abishag even had to borrow money to keep Robert out of jail. 

Eventually she moved back to Great Island where her father built a home and a shop for her. Robert Taprill died in November 1678 while on a voyage on the "Providence." Unfortunately, Abishag died in January 1679 and it's possible she hadn't even received word of her husband's death at that point. Before he died he told some of his crew that he hoped his wife would find a better husband and that she had maintained and clothed him. Alice's father, George Walton, took care of her children until he did in 1685. 

Children of Robert & Abishag (Walton) Taprill:

1. Alice appears in her grandfather's will and in the local records in 1685 when she was suspected of having had an illegitimate child. 
2. Priscilla appears in her grandfather's will and married Francis Caswell and died before 1714 when her husband married again. 
3. Grace appears in her grandfather's will and inherited her mother's house on Great Island. She was presented for having an illegitimate child in 1700. She fled the jurisdiction of the court and when she returned a year later, she named John Tomson of Kittery as the child's father and was fined £2:10. She later married Israel Hoyt. 

Robert & Abishag (Walton) Taprill - 10th great-grandparents
Israel & Grace (Taprill) Hoyt
Sampson & Dorothy (Hoyt) Babb
John & Alice (Babb) Waterhouse
Richard & Lydia (Waterhouse) Garland
Isaac & Alice (Garland) Hayes
Richard & Rebecca (Greenwood) Hayes
Sydney & Apphia (Cole) Hayes
George & Anna (Rowe) Hayes
Estes & Eva (Hayes) Yates
Linona Alice Yates - my grandmother

52 Ancestors #44 - Butcher Pirate and Ghost or Respected Fisherman

The Isle of Shoals is a group of very small islands between Maine and New Hampshire. It is rumored that they were a hangout of pirates including the infamous Blackbeard. During this time southern New Hampshire and Maine were under the control of Massachusetts Bay colony. Appledore (formerly known as Hog Island) is the largest of the islands that make up Isle of Shoals. It is here that the ghost of Philip Babb was said to have haunted. Here is the legend of my alleged pirate ancestor. 

Philip Babb is "supposed to have been so desperately wicked when alive, that there is no rest for him in his grave. His dress is coarse, a striped butcher's frock, with a leather belt, to which is attached a sheath containing a ghostly knife, sharp and glittering, which is his delight to brandish in the face of terrified humanity." ~ Celia Thaxter, local historian





Philip Babb made his fortune from dunfish, cod that has been thinly sliced, salted, and dried. His house was on the south side of the island, near a cove. It is generally agreed upon by historians that he and his friend, Ambrose Gibbons (another ancestor) dug a large pit. Legend has it that it is where he found a treasure chest but it was too heavy to lift. "Smoke came from its lid when they tried to beak the lock." ~ Oscar Laighton, local historian. 

Some even name Philip Babb as the pirate in the legend of Ocean-Born Mary. Heather Wilkinson Rojo has written two excellent posts about the true story of Ocean-Born Mary and her haunted house (the one she didn't live in...but hey, who cares about the truth when there's money to be made). See links below for Heather's posts. 

On the other hand, I found these sources...
Pioneers of Maine and New Hampshire says:
Philip Babb took the oath of allegiance to the Massachusetts government on November 16, 1652 and served as constable for Isle of Shoals (except for Starr Island) also in 1652. He was one of the commissioners for settling minor cases. He died on April 24, 1671 and his wife died not long after his death. 

This hardly makes him sound like a notorious criminal. 

Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire
Babb, Philip, prominent fishing master at Isles of Shoals (Hog) from 1652 or earlier until his death. Local magistrate. In 1668 Roger Kelly was bonded for abusive carriages toward Mr. Babb and his wife; in 1671 Lawrence Carpenter for cruel usage of Mary Babb's servant. 

And of his son
Babb, Sampson (2), Portsmouth. Lists 334a, 335a. 339. Will 1736-1739. Perh. m. 3 wives: 1st "Elizabeth," in list of church [p.72] members bef. 1708, likelier the minister's error for Sarah (wife of (2); Sarah, named as mother of Esther; Grace, named as mother of Benjamin and in will, prob. Grace (Taprill), widow of Israel Hoit, dau. of Robert and Abishag (Walton) Taprill. Ch. Sampson, m. Dorothy Hoit, dau. of Israel and Grace (Taprill).

This line needs a lot more work to solidify the documentation. Still, I think it's safe to say that Philip Babb was more likely a respected member of the Isle of Shoals community than a blood-thirsty pirate turned ghost. 

Philip Babb
Sampson Babb & Elizabeth? or perhaps Sarah? 
Sampson & Dorothy (Hoyt) Babb
John & Alice (Babb) Waterhouse
Richard & Lydia (Waterhouse) Garland
Isaac & Alice (Garland) Hayes
Richard & Rebecca (Greenwood) Hayes
Sydney & Apphia (Cole) Hayes
George & Anna (Rowe) Hayes
Estes & Eva (Hayes) Yates
Linona Alice Yates - my grandmother

Sources:
http://www.shoals.org/history-myth-lore-and-legend/secrets-of-the-shoals/
http://www.founderspatriots.org/articles/babb.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isles_of_Shoals
http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2009/10/ocean-born-mary-londonderry-character.html
http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2013/10/ocean-born-mary-born-on-her-way-to.html

52 Ancestors #26 - The Original Bachelor?

I have two lines of descent from Nathaniel Batchelder. The Bachiler/Batchellor/Batchelder contains some interesting characters. The immigrant ancestor is Rev. Stephen Bachiler and this Nathaniel is his grandson.

Nathaniel Batchelder is my 9th great-grandfather and my 10th great-grandfather. Confused yet? He married three times and had seventeen children with his first two wives! I have connections to both sets of children.

His first wife was Deborah Smith, daughter of John & Deborah (Parkhurst) Smith. Their children were Deborah, Nathaniel, Ruth, Esther, Abigail, Jane, Stephen, Benjamin, and Stephen(2). Deborah (Smith) Batchelder died on March 8, 1676. His second wife was the widow Mary (Carter) Wyman, daughter of Rev. Thomas & Mary (Parkhurst) Carter, and widow of John Wyman, Jr.  Mary did not have any children with her first husband but she would have eight children to add to the nine stepchildren she instantly acquired. Nathaniel & Mary's children were Mercy, Mary, Samuel, Jonathan, Theodate, Thomas, Joseph, and Mary(2). Mary died in 1688 and Nathaniel married for the third time on October 23, 1689. His third wife was Elizabeth Knill and they did not have any additional children.

According to Joseph Dow, author of the History of the Town of Hampton, New Hampshire, Nathaniel used a rather unorthodox method to find a new wife.

"When, after the death of his first wife, he had determined to marry again, he resolved to be governed in his choice by the direction in which his staff, held perpendicularly over the floor, should fall, when dropped from his hand. The experiment being tried, the staff fell towards the southwest, and in that direction he bent his steps. Having travelled as far as Woburn, he called on the widow Wyman, and offered her his hand, stating that he was going to Boston, and would call for her answer, on his return."

Since they got married on October 31, 1676, it must be presumed that she accepted his not so romantic offer. Can you even imagine someone showing up at your door and proposing? "My staff fell in your direction" sounds kind of naughty. What exactly did he say to her to convince her to accept? I wonder if he gave her a rose...

10th great-grandfather
Nathaniel & Deborah (Smith) Batchelder
Abigail Batchelder
Elizabeth Dearborn
John Garland
Richard Garland
Alice Garland
Richard Hayes
Sydney Hayes
George Hayes
Eva D. Hayes
Linona Alice Yates - my grandmother

9th great-grandfather
Nathaniel & Mary (Carter) (Wyman) Batchelder
Mercy Batchelder
Mary Dearborn
Benjamin Blake
David Blake
Micajah Blake
Galen Blake
Charles G. Blake
Harriet May Blake
Clayton L. Blake - my grandfather



History of the Town of Hampton, New Hampshire

52 Ancestors #18 - Godfrey Dearborn

Dearborn monument in Founders' Park, Hampton, N.H.







Godfrey Dearborn came to New Hampshire and signed a compact with other followers of the Rev. John Wheelwright. Rev. Wheelwright was the brother-in-law of Anne Hutchinson, and suspected of espousing the similar antinomianism views. Godfrey lived in Exeter for about ten years before moving to Hampton. I have not found any record of his arrival in America or a record that bears the name of his wife. His first wife, the mother of his children, died between 1650 and 1662. On November 25, 1662, Godfrey married Dorothy Dalton, widow of Philemon Dalton. 

Children of Godfrey Dearborn and his first wife:

1. Henry Dearborn was born in England about 1633 and died on January 18, 1725. He married Elizabeth Merriam on January 10, 1666. 
2. Thomas Dearborn was born in England about 1634 and died on April 14, 1710. He married Hannah Colcord on December 28, 1665. 
3. Esther Dearborn married Richard Shortridge. 
4. Sarah Dearborn married Thomas Nudd on December 9, 1659. 
5. John Dearborn was born about 1643 and died on November 14, 1730. He married Mary Ward on December 12, 1672. 

One other daughter is believed to have been part of this family based on information in wills. 

I have three lines of descent from this immigrant. 

Godfrey Dearborn - 10th great-grandfather

Henry Dearborn

Samuel Dearborn - brother of Deacon John Dearborn below.

Mary Dearborn

Benjamin Blake

David Blake

Micajah Blake

Galen Blake

Charles G. Blake

Harriet May Blake

Clayton Leonard Blake - my grandfather married to Linona Alice Yates.

Godfrey Dearborn - 11th great-grandfather

Henry Dearborn 

Deacon John Dearborn

Elizabeth Dearborn

John Garland

Richard Garland

Alice Garland

Richard Hayes

Sydney Hayes

George Hayes

Eva Delphinia Hayes

Linona Alice Yates - my grandmother

Godfrey Dearborn - 11th great-grandfather

John Dearborn

Ann Dearborn

Ann Philbrick

Mary Marston

Hannah Prescott

Mary Edgecomb

Benjamin Perley Philbrick

Lizzie Philbrick

Ray Everett Cotton

Fern Lyndell Cotton - my grandmother

52 Ancestors #14 - John Hayes of Dover

Tradition says that John Hayes came from Scotland about 1680. He is one of my Piscataqua Pioneers - He settled in Dover, New Hampshire. His estimated date of birth is 1660 and he died on October 25, 1708, "seized of a malignant fever four days after he was taken sick; began with a violent pain in his shoulder" (Richmond, 28). He married Mary Horne, probably the daughter of William & Elizabeth (Clough) Horne. William Horne was killed by Indians on June 28, 1689 and Elizabeth (Clough) Horne was killed by Indians on September 30, 1707. Ironically, just months before his father-in-law's death, John Hayes joined 370 other New Hampshire residents in petitioning the colonial government for more protection from the Indians. In March 1693/94, John Hayes was granted twenty-five acres of land near the Tole-End or Tolend and Barbados sections of Dover, New Hampshire, adjacent to John Ham, Jr. Family tradition says John Hayes, the immigrant, was buried on family land and his grave marked by stacked field stones. I found a picture of a memorial plaque placed by his descendants near where his farm was located on Findagrave with the inscription, "John Hayes, the Scotsman, came to Dover about 1680, married Mary Horne, and established a family on the surrounding acres. Their integrity and industry are held in memory by their descendants. 1934."

Signature from 1689 petition

 Children of John & Mary (Horne) Hayes: 

1. John born about 1687 and died July 3, 1759. He was buried in the Pine Hill Cemetery in Dover, New Hampshire. John married Tamsen (Wentworth) Chesley, widow of James Chesley. Her first husband was killed by Indians on September 17, 1707. She died December 30, 1753 and he married second, Mary (Roberts) Wingate, widow of Samuel Wingate. His profession is listed as housewright and carpenter in deeds. he was a deacon of the First Church of Dover from March 1731 to his death in 1759.
2. Peter born about 1688 and died 1757. He married Sarah Wingate. 
3. Robert 
4. Ichabod born March 18, 1691/92 and died June 1, 1734. He was killed by a mill log. His widow, Abigail (Evans) Hayes, married second, William Twombley. 
5. Samuel born March 16, 1694/95 and died 1770. He married Leah Dam. 
6. William born September 6, 1698 and married Hannah Sanborn on November 23, 1720. 
7. Benjamin born September 6, 1700 and died May 16, 1756. He married Jane (Snell) Heard, widow of Tristram Heard, Jr. 
8. Abigail married Nathaniel Fitts on May 10, 1720 and died on June 12, 1738. 
9. Mary married Henry Ambrose.
10. Elizabeth married John Ambrose. 

Used by permission of 1_might_b_1 at findagrave.com

Although the stone is sunken, the inscription is recorded in Richmond's book as follows: "Dea. John Hayes the 1st born of the pilgrim fathers of the N.E. Hayes family Died July 3rd 1759 aged 73 years."

From John, my line of descent is:
John Hayes & Tamsen Wentworth
Hezekiah Hayes & Margaret Cate
William Hayes & Olive ? 
Isaac Hayes & Alice Garland
Richard Hayes & Rebecca Greenwood
Sydney Hayes & Apphia Delphinia Cole
George Hayes & Anna Rowe
Eva Delphinia Hayes & Estes Gilbert Yates
Linona Alice Yates - my grandmother

Sources:
Piscataqua Pioneers: Selected Biographies of Early Settlers in Northern New England.Portsmouth, NH: Piscataqua Pioneers, 2000. Print.

Richmond, Katharine F. John Hayes, of Dover, New Hampshire; a Book of His Family... Vol. I. Tyngsboro, MA: n.p., 1936. PDF.

52 Ancestors #12 - John Moses

John Moses came to Casco (Maine) about 1631 and later he moved to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In a deposition on October 5, 1686, John Moses said his age was 70. This would make him born about 1616. He was married twice - his first wife was named Alice and she died before 1667; his second wife was named Anne and was the widow of John Jones. Anne died after January 6, 1680. 

It is believed that John Moses came to Casco as an apprentice. This is based on a grant of land given to him in 1646, “in consideration of seven years service as an apprentice performed unto us.” He became a freeman on October 2, 1666.

In October 1648, John and Alice Moses sued Nicholas and Elizabeth Rowe for slander alleging that Elizabeth said “Alice was George [Ellett’s] whore.” Elizabeth was given a choice of paying a fine of 5 pounds or publicly admitting she did wrong in the public meetinghouse at Dover and at Strawberry Bank. Elizabeth Rowe must have been quite a feisty woman because she said, the “court should kiss her arse,” and when this was reported, she was whipped. 

John Moses was appointed to be a member of the jury for trials being held on June 26, 1666 but he did not show up and was fined. However, the fine was waived after he explained that he was “hindered by wind and weather at the Iles of Sholes.” 

Children with Alice:

Elizabeth was born about 1642 and married Joseph Walker before 1662. 

Daughter (name unknown) was born about 1644 and married Thomas Creber. 

Mary was born about 1645 and married Ferdinando Huff. 

Joanna was born about 1649 and married Timothy Davis. 

Aaron was born about 1651 and married first Ruth Sherborne and second Mary.

Sarah was born about 1653 and was unmarried in 1679. There are no further records for her. 

My line:

John Moses

Aaron Moses

Ruth Moses

John Waterhouse

Lydia Waterhouse

Alice Garland

Richard Hayes

Sidney Hayes

George Hayes

Eva Delphinia Hayes

Linona 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).

Friday Funny - Not My Ancestor - First Installment

One comes across a lot of names when researching one's family tree. Occasionally, those names ring a bell or bring certain image to mind and it makes me smile. Here are a few from my tree to start you off.

Isaac Hayes, son of William & Olive (Garland) Hayes, was born in 1774 and died in 1812. Not be be confused with Isaac Hayes, the musician, although I feel certain my 5th great-grandfather had a lot of soul!

Robert Barker, my 10th great-grandfather, was born about 1616 in England and died between February 18, 1689 and March 14, 1692, in Duxbury, Massachusetts. He came to Plymouth in 1632 and worked as a ferryman and innkeeper. I wonder if he ever went by "Bob" Barker or if his price was right?

Mary Buckett was the wife of Pilgrim George Soule and my 10th great-grandmother. Of course, her mother was Mrs. Buckett or was her mother a Mrs. Bouquet, like Hyacinth?

William Wallis was the husband of my first cousin 9X removed, Comfort Cotton (can't make this stuff up). I wonder if he was brave like William Wallace or looked like Mel Gibson?

A Case of Domestic Violence

On June 5, 1632, Henry Sherburne arrived in Boston on the James.  He came from Odiham, Hampshire, England where he was baptized on March 28, 1611. He married his first wife, Rebecca Gibbons, on November 13, 1637 and she was the mother of all of his children. Sherburne settled in southern New Hampshire where he owned land in the Little Harbor and Sandy Beach regions of the Piscataqua settlement. Henry ran a ferry and kept an ordinary or inn, and was involved in town affairs, serving as town clerk for three years and a local justice for twenty-five years among other offices. During that time, Henry and his wife raised a family and seemed to have been good citizens of the colony. Only two incidents indicate any conflict. In 1649, Henry successfully sued Thomas Wedge for slandering his wife. Records do not reveal what Wedge said about Rebecca. Then in 1665, when there was some opposition to the authority of the Massachusetts Bay Colony over the Piscataqua area, Henry was arrested and charged with sedition. His defense was that he was influenced by his neighbors to attend a meeting at Strawbery Banke where a Mr. Corbett read a petition and asked those present to sign. Henry refused to sign the petition because there were some words in it “concerning the usurpation of power over the people here by the Massachusetts government.” It is unclear whether Henry supported the aims of the petition but was simply astute enough not to sign the document or whether he truly supported the Massachusetts authorities. 

After Rebecca died, Henry married Sarah, widow of Walter Abbott. That seems to be the start of a series of troubles. Walter Abbott was a Portsmouth innkeeper who died in 1667 and left his affairs in disarray. Because he married Sarah, Henry became involved in several protracted lawsuits involving Walter Abbott’s property and debts. Even more troublesome was the relationship between Henry and Sarah. Within a year of their marriage, they were in court where they each admitted to beating each other. Henry confessed to beating his wife “several times” and was fined. Sarah confessed to “beating her husband and breaking his head” and she also had to pay a fine. Two years later, they were presented to the court again for “disorderly living and fighting.” The next year they confessed once again to living “disorderly” and fighting and they were given the choice of paying 50s. each or being whipped ten stripes. They paid the fines.

After Henry’s death, his neighbor, Edward Bickford, his wife and children were summoned to appear before the court and “answer sundry objections about Mr. Sherburne’s death” but they were released when no evidence of foul play was found. There had been some conflict with this neighbor regarding Bickford’s hogs, cattle, and horses causing damage on Henry’s land and the Bickford children being accused of stealing Henry's pears. Neither of these minor disputes seems like something to kill someone over but apparently Henry’s death was unexpected and hard to explain so his family was seeking answers. Walter Goodwin Davis speculates that perhaps Henry disappeared during a winter storm in 1680 and his body was not recovered until spring. However, he notes that he has no evidence to support this hypothesis. 

Henry Sherburne was my 10th great-grandfather. His name is spelled in a variety of ways as was common at that time - Sherborn, Sherborne, Sherburn, Sherburne, etc. 

His youngest daughter, Ruth, married Aaron Moses. 

Ruth Moses m. Timothy Waterhouse

John Waterhouse m. Alice Babb

Lydia Waterhouse m. Richard Garland

Alice Garland m. Isaac Hayes

Richard Hayes m. Rebecca Greenwood

Sidney Hayes m. Apphia Delphina Cole

George Hayes m. Anna J. Rowe

Eva Delphinia Hayes m. Estes Yates

Linona Alice Yates

Sources: 

Davis, Walter Goodwin, and Gary Boyd Roberts. Massachusetts and Maine Families in the Ancestry of Walter Goodwin Davis (1885-1966): A Reprinting, in Alphabetical Order by Surname, of the Sixteen Multi-ancestor Compendia (plus Thomas Haley of Winter Harbor and His Descendants) Compiled by Maine's Famous Genealogist, 1916-1963. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical, 1996. 

Robert Charles Anderson. Great Migration Begins Index: Immigrants to New England, 1620-33 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000.