| Battle: | Battle of Worcester in Worcester, Worcestershire, England |
| Ship/Arrival: | |
| Prisoner and List: | |
| Name Variations: | |
| Residences: | |
| Other SPOW Associations: |
Published: 04 Dec 2014
Updated: 09 Jan 2019
Page contributors: Mary Gordon, Andrew Millard, Teresa Rust
Individual Contract with Master John Cloise
“Gordon had been captured during the Battle of Worcester in 1652 [1651] and sent to Tothill Field, near London, to await deportation. While there, he agreed to go to Massachusetts with Cloise…”
Facebook: House of Gordon DNA
Website: Gordons of Maine Owned by John Wesley Gordon
Gordon Surname DNA Project: House of Gordon DNA Project
Alexander Gordon at Ancestry.com family tree
First Generation in the New World
1. ALEXANDER¹ GORDON was born at Aberdeen (St Nicholas Parish), Aberdeenshire, Scotland on 04 Aug 1635 . He died at Exeter, Rockingham, New Hampshire in Aug 1697. He married at Exeter, Rockingham, New Hampshire, in 1663, MARY LISSEN, the daughter of NICHOLAS LISSEN and ALICE JANE. She was born about 1639 at Exeter, Rockingham, New Hampshire and died at Exeter.
Children of Alexander and Mary (Lissen) Gordon:
2. i. ELIZABETH² GORDON b. at Exeter on 23 Feb 1664
2. ii. NICHOLAS² GORDON b. on 22 Mar 16661, d. at Exeter in 1748, m. SARAH HALE SEWALL.
2. iii. MARY² GORDON was born on 22 May 1668. She died in 1737. She married in 1695, NICHOLAS SMITH.
2. iv. JOHN GORDON, was born at Exeter on 26 Oct 1670 and died at Exeter in Apr 1746. He married on 23 Dec 1697, SARAH ALLEN, daughter of Capt. JOHN ALLEN and MARY PIKE. She was born at Salisbury, Massachussetts on 09 Feb 1676/77. She died in 1770 at Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire, USA.
2. v. JAMES GORDON, was born at Exeter on 23 Jul 1673. He died in 1717. He married, ABEIL REDMAN.
2. vi. ALEXANDER GORDON, was born at Exeter on 01 Dec 1675. He died at Exeter in 1730. He married, SARAH SEWALL.
2. vii. THOMAS GORDON, was born at Exeter, Rockingham, New Hampshire, in 16782. He died in 1762. He married (1) ELIZABETH HARRIMAN. He married (2) REBECCA HEARD.
2. viii. DANIEL GORDON, was born at Exeter, Rockingham, New Hampshire, in 16823. He died at York, Maine, before Apr 1743. He married, MARGARET HARRIMAN.
Second Generation
2. i. ELIZABETH² GORDON, (Alexander¹), was born at Exeter on 23 Feb 1664.
2. ii. NICHOLAS GORDON, (Alexander¹), was born on 22 Mar 1666 and died at Exeter in 1748. He married, SARAH HALE SEWALL.
Children of Nicholas and Sarah Hale (Sewall) Gordon:
3. i. PATIENCE GORDON, was born in 1690. She married, SAMUEL STEVENS.
3. ii. LYDIA GORDON, was born in 1692. She married, THOMAS DOLHOFF.
3. iii. ELIZABETH GORDON, was born in 1694. She married, NICHOLAS DUDLEY.
3. iv. MARY GORDON, She married, SAMUEL COLCORD.
3. v. “FEMALE” GORDON, She married, UNKNOWN ROBINSON.
2. iii. MARY² GORDON, (Alexander¹), was born on 22 May 1668. She died in 1737. She married in 1695, NICHOLAS SMITH.
Children of Nicholas and Mary (Gordon) Smith:
3. i. RICHARD SMITH,
3. ii. NATHANIEL SMITH,
3. iii. DANIEL (CAPT) SMITH,
3. iv. NICHOLAS SMITH,
3. v. BENJAMIN SMITH,
3. vi. EDWARD SMITH,
3. vii. JOHN (CAPT) SMITH,
3. viii. ANN SMITH,
3. ix. MARY SMITH,
3. x. ELIZABETH SMITH,
3. xi. PATIENCE SMITH,
3. xii. COMFORT SMITH,
3. xiii. ABIGAIL SMITH,
2. iv. JOHN GORDON, (Alexander¹), was born at Exeter on 26 Oct 1670 and died at Exeter in Apr 1746. He married on 23 Dec 1697, SARAH ALLEN, daughter of Capt. JOHN ALLEN and MARY PIKE. She was born at Salisbury, Massachussetts on 09 Feb 1676/77. She died at Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire.
Children of John and Sarah (Allen) Gordon:
3. i. JOHN³ GORDON, (John², Alexander¹), was born at Exeter in 1697. He married at Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts on 16 Jan 1697, HANNAH WILLET.
3. ii. ALLEN³ GORDON, (John², Alexander¹), was born at Exeter in 1701.
3. iii. JOSEPH GORDON, was born at Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts, in 1705 (9). He died at Biddeford, York, Maine, in 1784. He married, MERCY (_____). She was born in Maine, in 1705.
2. v. JAMES² GORDON, (Alexander¹), was born at Exeter on 23 Jul 1673. He died in 1717. He married, ABEIL REDMAN.
Children of James and Abeil (Redman) Gordon:
3. i. JONATHAN³ GORDON, (James², Alexander¹), was born in 1701. He married LYDIA DOLLOFF.
3. ii. JAMES³ GORDON, (James², Alexander¹), was born in 1704.
3. iii. NICHOLAS³ GORDON, (James², Alexander¹), was born in 1706.
3. iv. JOHN³ GORDON, (James², Alexander¹), was born in 1708. He married, REBECCA (_____).
3. v. JOSEPH³ GORDON, (James², Alexander¹), was born in 1711.
2. vi. ALEXANDER GORDON, (Alexander¹), was born at Exeter on 01 Dec 1675. He died at Exeter in 1730. He married, SARAH SEWALL.
Children of Alexander and Sarah (Sewall) Gordon
3. i. ANNA³ GORDON, (Alexander², Alexander¹), was born at Exeter on 13 Jul 1715. She married, DAVID LAWRENCE.
3. ii. SUSANNA GORDON, (Alexander², Alexander¹),
3. iii. SARAH GORDON, (Alexander², Alexander¹),
3. iv. MARY GORDON, (Alexander², Alexander¹),
3. v. LYDIA GORDON, (Alexander², Alexander¹),
3. vi. ELIZABETH GORDON, (Alexander², Alexander¹),
3. vii. DEBORAH GORDON, (Alexander², Alexander¹),
2. vii. THOMAS GORDON, (Alexander¹), was born at Exeter in 1678 and died in 1762. He married, first, ELIZABETH HARRIMAN. He married, second, REBECCA HEARD.
Children of Thomas and Elizabeth (Harriman) Gordon:
3. i. TIMOTHY³ GORDON, (Thomas², Alexander¹),was born in 1700. He died in 1700.
3. ii. THOMAS³ GORDON, (Thomas², Alexander¹), was born at Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts on 24 Aug 1701 and died at Brentwood, Hew Hampshire on 27 Aug 1772. He married, MARY SCRIBNER.
3. iii. DIANA³ GORDON, (Thomas², Alexander¹), was born in 1703. She married, BENJAMIN MAGOON (probable SPOW desc.). He was born at Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts.
3. iv. DANIEL GORDON, (Thomas², Alexander¹), was born on 01 Dec 1704.
3. v. ABIGAIL GORDON, (Thomas², Alexander¹), was born on 28 May 1707. She married, JOHN ROBERTS.
3. vi. BENONI GORDON, (Thomas², Alexander¹), was born in 1709.
3. vii. TIMOTHY GORDON, (Thomas², Alexander¹), was born on 22 Mar 1716.
3. viii. JAMES GORDON, (Thomas², Alexander¹), .
3. ix. HANNAH GORDON, (Thomas², Alexander¹), She married, ITHIEL SMITH.
Children of Thomas and Rebecca (Heard) Gordon:
3. x. NATHANIEL GORDON, (Thomas², Alexander¹), was born on 25 Mar 1728.
3. xi. BENJAMIN GORDON, (Thomas², Alexander¹),
2. viii. DANIEL² GORDON, (Alexander¹), was born at Exeter in 1682 and died in York County, Maine before Apr 1743. He married, MARGARET HARRIMAN.
Children of Daniel and Margaret (Harriman) Gordon:
3. i. ELIZABETH³ GORDON, (Daniel², Alexander¹), was born on 28 Jan 1709.
3. ii. MARY GORDON, (Daniel², Alexander¹), was born on 20 Feb 1711. She married, NATHANIEL MERRILL.
3. iii. ABNER K GORDON, (Daniel², Alexander¹), was born on 24 Nov 1712 and died at New Hampton, New Hampshire. He married, ELIZABETH STRAW. She was born at Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts on 19 Apr 1719. She died at Henniker, Hillsborough, New Hampshire in 1790.
3. iv. MARGARET GORDON, (Daniel², Alexander¹), was born in 1714.
3. v. ALEXANDER GORDON, (Daniel², Alexander¹), was born on 29 Jan 17164.
3. vi. MARGARET GORDON, (Daniel², Alexander¹), She married, SAMUEL BRADSTREET. He was born in Suncook, New Hampshire.
Sources:
CHA88
FamilySearch Colonial county court papers, 1648-1798 Court papers – Folios 1-26 1648-1661 Image 114 https://www.familysearch.org/…/3:1:3Q9M-CS3Q-C417-D…
HISTORY OF EXETER: PART II FAMILY REGISTER, FROM THE EXETER RECORDS, Pg 21-22
History of Exeter: Bell History of Exeter (Pg 58, 59)
Hol79
Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/
New England Marriages Prior to 1700
Page 57 of Social and Economic Networks in Early Massachusetts: Atlantic Connections by Marsha L. Hamilton:
TAG14
Miscellaneous Notes: (Everyone must verify the information on this page themselves.)
Andrew Millard wrote, on 09 Jan 2019:
“Andrew Millard I found the court case, which was in January 1653/54 (11 month 1653). Here is Alexander’s testimony. FamilySearch Colonial county court papers, 1648-1798 Court papers – Folios 1-26 1648-1661 Image 114 https://www.familysearch.org/…/3:1:3Q9M-CS3Q-C417-D…
Cloyse’s response and the outcome of the case are not recorded in those files. Alexander Gordon explicitly says he was at Tothill Fields, which would imply capture at Worcester. The ship is not named.
Banks in his 1926 account of the Scots (https://www.jstor.org/stable/25080212) on p.26 dates this to 1663 which is clearly an error but has led to others making interpretations based on over 10 years’ servitude. Apart from the date, Banks’ transcript appears to be accurate, though I haven’t checked every word. He also cites Alexander Gordon’s indenture, but I haven’t checked that yet.”
and here is his indenture to Samuel Stratton, enrolled in the Middlesex Deeds. It is dated 15 October 1652, and was enrolled 25 June 1653 (“25.4.1653”) [Middlesex Deeds Vol.1, Page 61]. John Cloys is a witness.
“Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/
“Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/
Generation 3:
PATIENCE³ GORDON (Nicholas², Alexander¹) was born in 1690. She married SAMUEL STEVENS. Samuel Stevens and Patience Gordon had the following children: i.SAMUEL4 STEVENS; ii. HEALY STEVENS; iii. EDWARD STEVENS; iv. NATHANIEL STEVENS; v. SARAH STEVENS; She married JOHN GILMAN; vi. MEHITABEL STEVENS, she married SAMUEL COLCORD; vii. PATIENCE STEVENS, she married EBENEZER COLCORD;
JOHN3 GORDON (John², Alexander¹) was born in 1697 in Exeter, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA5. He married Hannah Willet on 16 Jan 1697 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts, USA. John Gordon and Hannah Willet had the following children: i. BETTY4 GORDON was born in 1730 (not sure according to notes (if Betty is correct)); ii. HANNAH GORDON was born on 31 Mar 1734; iii. DUDLEY GORDON was born on 01 Apr 17376. iv. JOHN GORDON was born on 08 Mar 17417.
JOSEPH3 GORDON (John², Alexander¹) was born in 1705 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts, USA (9). He died in 1784 in Biddeford, York, Maine, USA. He married MERCY. She was born in 1705 in , , Maine, USA. Joseph Gordon and Mercy had the following children: i. JOSEPH4 GORDON was born in 1723 in Biddeford, York, Maine, USA. He died in 1746; ii. PIKE GORDON was born in 1725 in Biddeford, York, Maine, USA. He died in 1746; iii. JOHN GORDON was born in 1727 in Biddeford, York, Maine, USA. He died in 1746; iv. ANDREW GORDON was born on 04 Aug 1730 in Biddeford, York, Maine, USA (26). He died in 1811 in Little Falls, Cumberland, Maine, USA. He married Martha Whitten, daughter of John Whitten and Ruth Merryl, on 03 Dec 1757 in Biddeford, York, Maine, USA. She was born in 1736 in Maine. She died in 1769; v. MERCY GORDON was born in 1735 in Biddeford, York, Maine.; vi. ZEBULON GORDON was born in 1737 in Biddeford, York, Maine. He died in 1810; vii. AMOS GORDON was born in 1743 in Biddeford, York, Maine, USA. He died in 1803.
JONATHAN3 GORDON, (James², Alexander¹) was born in 17018. He married LYDIA (GORDON) DOLLOFF.
Jonathan Gordon and Lydia Gordon Dolloff had the following child: i. JAMES4 GORDON was born on 05 Jul 1725 in Exeter, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA9. He married (1) ELIZABETH GILLMAN. She died in 1753. He married (2) ELIZABETH DOLLOFF. She died in 1803.
JAMES3 GORDON, (James², Alexander¹) was born in 170410. James Gordon had the following children: i. JAMES4 GORDON was born in 173711. He died in Sidney, Maine. He married (1) JUDITH BROWN. She was born in Salsbury. He married (2) REBECCA BUTTERFIELD. She was born in Haowel Maine; ii. ELIZABETH GORDON; iii. SARAH GORDON.
THOMAS3 GORDON, (Thomas², Alexander¹) was born on 24 Aug 1701 in Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts, USA12. He died on 27 Aug 1772 in Brentwood, Hew Hampshire. He married, MARY SCRIBNER. Thomas Gordon and Mary Scribner had the following children: i. DANIEL4 GORDON was born in 1732 in Brentwood, New Hampshire13. He married ABIGAIL JUDKINS; ii. LOVE GORDON was born in 1734. She married ENOCH BEAN (probable SPOW Desc.); iii. MARY GORDON was born in 1736; iv. ELIZABETH GORDON was born in 1738; v. THOMAS GORDON was born in 174014; vi. SCRIBNER GORDON was born in 174415.
ABNER K3 GORDON, (Daniel², Alexander¹) was born on 24 Nov 171216. He died in New Hampton, New Hampshire. He married ELIZABETH STRAW. She was born on 19 Apr 1719 in Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts. She died in 1790 in Henniker, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, United States. Children of Abner K. and Elizabeth (Straw) Gordon: i. SAMUEL4 GORDON was born in 1751. He died in 1764; ii. HANNAH GORDON was born in 1753; iii. AMOOS GORDON was born on 01 Oct 175517. iv. JONATHAN GORDON was born on 31 Oct 1756 in South Hampton or Hopkinton18; v. DANIEL GORDON was born in 1758; vi. ABEL GORDON was born on 18 Jan 176219. He died on 08 Mar 1837 in Henniker, Merrimack, New Hampshire, United States. He married Hannah George on 16 Jan 1787 in Hopkins. She was born on 23 Jun 1768 in Concord, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. She died on 16 Apr 1828 in Henniker, Merrimack, New Hampshire, United States; vii. ABEL GORDON was born on 18 Jan 176219. He died on 08 Mar 1837 in Henniker, Merrimack, New Hampshire, United States. He married Hannah George on 16 Jan 1787 in Hopkins. She was born on 23 Jun 1768 in Concord, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. She died on 16 Apr 1828 in Henniker, Merrimack, New Hampshire, United States; viii. MIRIAM GORDON; ix. MARY GORDON.
Written and Submitted by Mary Gordon:
Alexander Gordon 1635-1697
As a young Scotchman, Alexander Gordon was a soldier in General Monk’s army. General Monk was defeated at the battle of Worcester, Sept 3, 1651 and his army captured. Alexander thus became a prisoner of war and with several thousand of his countrymen was held in a makeshift prison camp at Tuthill Fields, Westminster, London, near St. Margaret’s church.[Cha] There he spent the winter of 1651-52. The next season he was redeemed by Daniel Stone of Cambridge and deported to America under verbal agreement to John Cloyes to work his passage under Captain John Allen. According to the book Dudley and Allied Families, John Allen was a resident of Cambridge, Massachusetts and Captain of the ship;”Liberty”[Dud]]. For a year or more he remained with John Cloyes, a boatswain, dwelling in Cambridge on the then road to Watertown. After a year of ill treatment and no pay, he appealed to the court of Massachusetts to be released from his contract and block his sale to Samuel Stratton. 15 Oct 1652. A second appeal was filed and granted in Feb 1653-4 (Mass Hist Soc. Proc. 61.25) His history unknown for 10 yrs. [Syb39]. Though this information says he was released from his contract, I have found another entry on some of the notesfrom passenger lists from the John and Sara that state an Alexander Gorthing was sold to Samuel Stratton of Watertown. Could this be a reference to the same Alexander Gordon? In the book New World Immigrants, the text does state they consider Alexander Gordon and Alexander Gorthing to be the same person. The spelling difference could be attributed to pronunciation, as I have seen the name spelled similarly in other documents. Following is an excerpt from the book New World Immigrants which goes into a bit more detail:“It is not to be supposed that those who engaged in this traffic, euphemistically hidden with the label of “apprenticeships,” should hesitate to drive their helpless servants to the point of ill treatment, although it is not believed that this was a general situation. However, on May 23, 1655, a number of them complained of this inevitable outgrowth of bondage and petitioned the General Court of Massachusetts for freedome, but their request was refused in the following terms: In answer to the petition of several Scotshmen [who desire to be freed from their masters, the Court, seeing] no proofe nor probabilitye appearing of what the petitioners affirme, the Court sees no cause to graunt theire request.Samuel Stratton of Watertown bought one of these Scotchmen and the documents in the case are here shown. It is, of course, an open question whether these men, unable to sign their names, could read the indentures by which they were bound and in this particular case it is clear that Alexander Gordon, the party of the second part,was a victim of ill treatment. His original indenture was as follows:This indenture witnesseth that I, Allexander Gorthing Scotchman, Latley being arrived the coasts of New England, do covenant agree and promise to Serve Goodman Stratton, Planter of Watertowne the full space of six years, wherein I do promise to do him true and faithfull service not to absent myself day or night out of his family during the time of Apprentiship aforesaid without his Licence or consent, that I will not entangle or engage myself in any way of Contracts of marriage during the aforesaid time, all his Lawfull demands and injunctions I do promise to fulfill to my uttermost power and abilities, all this I the aforesaid Allexander do likewise promise, bynd and ingage myself to serve my full time to some of his sonnes untill it be fully expired if providence should take away my present master by death, witness my handAllexander GorthingHis marke & a seale.Mass. Col Rec, IV. Pt. I, 232 The same entry differently worded, is in lb., III. Pt. II, from which the words in brackets are taken. Middlesex Deeds, 1.61. Oct. 15 1652Witness, Goodman Blois, Richard Blois, Richard Norcras. Delivered by Alexander as his act and deed in the presence of us underwritten to his master Goodman Stratton. Richard Norcross, John Cloys Wee consent to the turning over of this Servant to Samuel Stratton the 19th of the 8 mo: 1652 Increase Nowell, William Hibbins. Recorded 25:4: 1653 By me Tho Danforth RecorderThis may be regarded as a typical case of the less fortunate bondservants. It would seem that after he had finished his service with his first master, or possibly before he was redeemed through the benevolence of a resident of Cambridge, even in his freedom Stratton (perhaps a typo, I believe they are referring to Gordon here)became the victim of mistreatment at the hands of a subsequent employer. The following is a statement of his subsequent difficulties addressed to the County Court at Charlestown, as well as a confirmation of the story of his travels after the Battle of Worcester:To the honored the Deputy Governor with the rest of the magistrates assembled in the County Court now held at Charlestowne this 3d of the 11th mo. 1653.
The Petition of Alexander Gorden Scotchman.
Humbly Showeth Whereas by the wise providence of the Almighty God your poare petitioner (with many others of his countrymen) was taken a prisoner in the late English wars with Scotland, and with many more prisoners brought into Tottell fields, where and frome whence your poare petitioner was redeemed by monies payd by Mr. Daniel Stone of Cambridge, who hath, as appears by his bill given under his hand, freely given your poare petitioner the same, and also whereas Jno Cloise of Watertowne at the same time moved your petitioner to go along with him by sea to this place without any agreement for time or wages, only his promise to be as a father in all love and kindness to your poare petitioner, and also whereas your poare petitioner obtained his passage by his labour without any charge to the said Cloise as Mr. Jno Allen the m[aste]r of the said Ship hath under his hand given, manifesting also his willingness your poare petitioner should have the benefit of the same, also whereas the said Jno. Cloise hath (after faythfull service for about a years space performed by your petitioner and hard usage by the wife of the said Cloise) now should your poare petitioner for seventeen pounds without any recompense or consideration of his promise made to your petitioner, or the petitioners labor in the ship or on shoare whereby your poare petitioner apprehendeth himself to be much wronged, yet being a poare exile and friendless hath been willing to suffer, your petitioner do therefore now humbly Comend the Consideration of the premises to this Honored Court having no other refuge; and your petitioner shall be ready to prove the perticulars above named, and doe Humbly intreate this Honored Court to vousafe the Consideration thereof that so far as justice and equity, according to the laws of God and this Cominwealth, will tend to the relief of your petitioner, your poare petitioner may receive some help therefrome, And your petitioner shall set down well payd with the determination of this Honored Court and shall continue humbly to pray etc. Alexander Gorden [Mic79]
Little is known of Alexander once this court case was settled until 10 years later when he shows in the town of Exeter, New Hampshire. According to the write up on John Sinclair, Alexander Gordon was purchased along with 6 of his countrymen by Nicholas Lissen to work in Saw Mills owned by Mr. Lissen on the Little River in Exeter, New Hampshire. According to the book New England Marriages Prior to 1700[Cla85] Alexander married Mary Lissen, daughter of Nicholas Lissen before October 1664. He lived the rest of his life in the town of Exeter. Following are excerpts from History of Exeter: Bell History of Exeter (Pg 58, 59)
Number and Names of Inhabitants
The population made a very gradual increase, as was to be expected, for there was little in the frontier settlement to attract new comers. It was those who were content to endure had work and hard fare, in the faith of securing better things in the future, who were the bone and sinew of Exeter. Yet there was a gain in numbers.On the twelfth of October, 1669, the General Court appointed John Gilman lieutenant of the military company, at the same time declaring that there were “about sixty soldiers in Exeter.” This, if the usual ratio holds good, would imply that there were about three hundred inhabitants of all classes. A fair proportion of the early settlers had passed their lives in the town, and were succeeded by their children. Others had come in, some for a temporary, others for a permanent residence. The new names that appear upon the town records between 1640 and 1680 will be given here, together with others derived from other sources. No complete list is to be found, onthe books of the town, or elsewhere, and it is probably that the fullest that can now be gathered is quite imperfect.
NAMES FIRST ON THE TOWN BOOKS BETWEEN 1640 – 1680
John Barber April 1, 1678
John Bean January 21, 1660-1
Thomas Biggs September 5, 1643
Nathaniel Bolter May 6, 1645
Robert Booth February 10, 1647-8
Richard Bray October 10, 1664
William Bromfield December 1, 1664
John Bursley September 5, 1643
Philip Cartee March 29, 1668
Phillip Chesley January 21, 1664-5
John Clark August 29, 1661
Jeremy Connor October 10, 1664
Thomas Cornish January 21, 1648-9
Christian Dolloff March 30, 1668
Abraham Drake June 10, 1644
Nathaniel Drake April 22, 1649
Teague Drisco October 10, 1664
Riley Dudley April 1, 1678
Samuel Dudley May 13, 1673-4
Theophilus Dudley December 1, 1664
Eleazor Elkins March 3, 1673-4
Ephraim Folsom April 1, 1678
Israel Folsom October 10, 1664
John Folsom November 4, 1647
John Folsom, Jr. September 28, 1668
Nathaniel Folsom October 10, 1664
Peter Folsom March 30, 1670
Samuel Folsom October 10, 1664
John Garland August 26, 1650
Charles Gilman September 28, 1668
Edward Gilman, Sr. May 10, 1652
Edward Gilman, Jr. November 4, 1647
John Gilman January 12, 1648-9
John Gilman, Jr. November 4, 1647
Moses Gilman February 10, 1647-8
Charles Glidden March 30, 1674
James Godfrey March 16, 1660-1
Alexander Gordon October 10, 1664
Samuel Greenfield May 19, 1664
William Hacket October 10, 1664
Joseph Hall October 10, 1664
Samuel Hall March 11, 1678-9
Robert Hathersay (Hersey) August 5, 1644
Edmond Johnson August 26, 1650
Thomas Jones August 5, 1644
Joel Judkins April 2, 1675
Duny (?) Kelley October 10, 1664
James Kidd March 11, 1678-8
John Kimming October 10, 1664
Thomas King January 16, 1644-5
Nathaniel Ladd February 18, 1678-9
Cornelius Lary October 10, 1664
David Lawrence March 30, 1674
Jeremy Leavitt March 30, 1674
Moses Leavitt October 10, 1664
Samuel Leavitt September 28, 1668
John Legat October 20, 1642
Nicholas Liston January 12, 1648-9
Henry Magoon April 2, 1664
Richard Morgan March 29, 1668
Nicholas Norris August 30, 1671
George Person (Pearson) March 18 (about), 1679
Thomas Pettit, Jr. May 20, 1652
Robert Powell October 10, 1664
Thomas Rashleigh May 6, 1643
John Robinson April 20, 1652
Jonathan Robinson March 3, 1673-4
Jonathan Rollins October 10, 1664
Thomas Rollins March 30, 1670
John Saunders January 16, 1644-5
Edward Sewall April 2, 1675
Jonathan Sewall April 1, 1678
Robert Seward April 1, 1678
John Sinclair October 10, 1664
John Smart January 16, 1644-5
John Smart, Jr April 22, 1649
Robert Smart April 22, 1649
Edward Smith March 30, 1670
Nicholas Smith March 4, 1638-9
Francis Swain March 31, 1645
Nicholas Swain December16, 1646
Richard Swain November 4, 1647
James Taylor March 4, 1658-9
William Taylor June 26, 1650
John Todd November 4, 1647
Johnathan Thing January 22, 1659-60
Johnathan Thing, Jr. March 30, 1670
Thomas Tyler May 20, 1652
Robert Wadleigh March 15, 1667-8
John Warren April 22, 1649
Thomas Warren October 10, 1664
John Wedgewood March 3, 1673-4
William Whitridge April, 3, 1649
Gowen Wilson November 24, 1650
Humphrey Wilson June 17, 1644
John Young March 30, 1670
Page 133:
At the last name date is the first of the appointment of lot layers: John Cram and John Legat.On the same day “It was agreed that 500 acres of land next the two great lots above mentioned shall be laid for a common field, to be fenced by the town, planting ground for every man to have his equal share, that are householders.”It was also agreed “that the remainder of that [plain] before mentioned to the corner of John Cram’s lot or Bell Willix’s and so unto the fresh river, shall be [laid] out for an ox common, for working cattle and steers and horses, for every man to have his equal share, provided he do his portional share of fencing by the last day of May next, and those who do not fence are to have no right in said common.”The following grants were made in 1649: Nicholas Listen 10, “to cut firewood;”The following grants were made in 1650: Nicholas Listen 20
Pg 134:
The following grants were made in 1652: Nicholas Listen 40
Pg 134:
The following grants were made from 1654 to 1661, inclusive:1654, February 15, Nicholas Listen, 20 acres, conditionally.The following grants were made in 1664:Alexander Gordon 20; Nicholas Listen 40Pg 136The following grants were made from 1665s to 1669 inclusive:
Niccholas Listen and Robert Wadleigh 10 acres.The following grants were made from 1674 to 1678 inclusive:[Nicholas] Listen 300
Pg 138:
The following land grants were made in 1698:Alexander Gordon 60: James Gordon 60: John Gordon 20: Nicholas Gordon 30
Pg 148:
List of Town Officers
Selectmen
Nicholas Listen 1654,5,7, 62,6
Pg 320:
Encouraged by this example, a number of the more enterprising inhabitants made application to the town for mill sites……On the same April 22, 1649, liberty to set up a saw-mill was given to Edward Hilton, James wall, John and Robert Smart and Thomas Biggs, on Pascassic river; and to George Barlow, Nicholas Listen,* Francis Swain, Nicholas Swain and John Warren, at the falls at Lamprey river “a little above the wigwams.” Both these localities were probably in the present town of Newmarket.
Pg 322:
May 1652.On the same day Thomas Pettit, Nicholas Listen, Thomas Cornish, John Warreen and Francis Swain received from the town a privilege for a saw-mill at Lamprey river “on the net great fall above the fall that some of them have already taken possession of, paying five pounds a year for the privilege, beginning presently after next Michaelmas.” This fall was tin the present town of Newmarket.Pg 324The mill referred to must have been that on Little river, afterwards known as Gordon’s, and still later as Giddings’s and Rowland’s.
Pg 393:
The ancestor of the Gordon family appeared in Exeter within the first half century after its settlement. He had a mill upon the Little river. His descendants occupied lands in the southwestern part of the town, and were generally farmers, except one or two who had the control of mills at King’s falls. One, of the later generation, George William Gordon, was appointed consul at Rio Janeiro, and was afterwards postmaster of Boston. Nathaniel Gordon, a present resident of the town, was a lawyer by profession, and has been president of the state SenateAppendix IIIBicentennial Address of Hon. Jeremiah SmithExcerpt pg 456Among the persons who united their fortunes to ours during the first century (for I must confine myself for obvious reasons chiefly to that period), and whose names are still “familiar to our ears as household words,” – the men who bore the heat and burden of the day, and to whom this day must be devoted; — among these men we find the names of Gilman, Folsom, Hilton, Colcord, Thing, Gordon, Magoon, Conner, Robinson, Pearson, Lawrence, King, Odiorne, Lamson, Tilton, Philbrick, Poor, Perryman, Emery and many others. The descendantsof these respectable men still dwell among us. Time would fail me even briefly to mention the good things our records abundantly testify concerning them; — how acceptably they filled the municipal and public offices conferred upon them. But I cannot deny myself the pleasure of a brief notice of two or three.
HISTORY OF EXETER: PART II FAMILY REGISTER
FROM THE EXETER RECORDS, Pg 21-22
Alexander Gordon, said to be Scotch soldier of Charles II, taken prisoner by Parlimentarians, sent to America 1651, md. 1663 Mary Listen, dau. Of Nicholas Listen of Exeter.
Their children:
Elizabeth, b 23 Feb 1664
Nicholas, b 23 March 1665-6
Mary, b 22 May 1668
John, b 26 Oct 1670
James, b 22 July 1673
Alexander, b 1 Dec 1675
Thomas, b 1678
Daniel, b 1882
On November 30, 1677 Alexnder took the oath of allegiance to King Charles II. He served on various scouting parties against the Indians in King William’s war. [Hol79]
Alexander Gordon, Sr. died. Exeter 1697
The Alexander Gordon line is the earliest known Gordon family in the New World according to the House of Gordon DNA Project, and descends from Adam de Gordoun through Sir William Gordon 1265 Laird of Strathbogie (now Huntly). According to the site Sir William Gordon is the progenitor for the Southern or Lowland Gordons of Lochinvar and Kenmure.[TAG14]
Alexander Gordon entered into a contractual agreement with John Cloise while still at Tothill Fields near London.
Page 57 of Social and Economic Networks in Early Massachusetts: Atlantic Connections by Marsha L. Hamilton:
“Non-Puritan servants also arrived in Massachusetts in the 1650s under individual contracts. ALEXANDER GORDON, for example, petitioned the Middlesex County court in 1653 to stop the sale of his labor by his master, John Cloise. Gordon had been captured during the Battle of Worcester in 1652 [1651] and sent to Tothill Field, near London, to await deportation. While there, he agreed to go to Massachusetts with Cloise “without any agreement for time or wages, only his promise to be as a father in all love and kindness” Gordon paid for his passage by working on the ship and then worked for Cloise for a year without pay, receiving only room and board. Cloise later sold him for seventeen pounds, prompting Gordon’s complaint.”