Published: 05 Dec 2014
Updated: 204 Mar 2020
Researchers: Dr. Andrew Millard, Teresa Rust
Editors: Teresa Rust

Henry Magoon, #49 on “The Dunbar Prisoners” List

IMPORTANT UPDATE! (July 2018)
According to Christopher Gerrard, Pam Graves, Andrew Millard, Richard Annis, and Anwen Caffell, Lost Lives, New Voices: Unlocking the Stories of the Scottish Soldiers at the Battle of Dunbar 1650, (England: Oxbow Books, 2018), on page 250, Henry is categorized as:

Probable [that he is a Dunbar prisoner transported on the Unity]

Magoon/Magoun/[McGowan?], Henry. Residences: Exeter, ME. Dover NH. Appears: 1656. D.1684. Worked for Nicolas Lissen. [Exiles; DR; SPOWS; Ch.7 & 8]

For explanations of the category, abbreviations and references see List of Dunbar prisoners from Lost Lives, New Voices.

SPOW DNA Study: Group 1-B, Haplogroups R-Z343, R-M269, R-U106, R-CTS417

Scottish Surname:
Black, George Fraser, 1866-1948. The Surnames of Scotland, Their Origin Meaning and History, (New York : New York Public Library & Readex Books, 1962), First published in 1946. Page 505.: MacGowan, MacGoun, MacGown, MacGoune in Scotland.

First Generation in the New World

1. HENRY¹ MAGOON, was born in Scotland about 1625 and died in New Hampshire between 25 Aug 1684 and 1701. He married, first, at Dover, New Hampshire before 21 Oct 1658, ELIZABETH LISSEN, the daughter of NICHOLAS LISSEN. He married, second, between 1 Aug 1677 and 19 Nov 1681, AGNES (MOODY) KENNISTON, wife of John Kenniston.

Biographical Notes:
“Henrey Magoune” was living in Cochechae, New Hampshire in the Dover Town Records by 17 May 1657, along with fellow Scotsmen, Ed Patterson and James Grant.¹

CHILDREN of HENRY and ELIZABETH (LISSEN) MAGOON:
2. i. JOHN² MAGOON, b. at Exeter, New Hampshire on 21 Oct 1658, d. abt 1710
2. ii. ALEXANDER² MAGOON, b. 6 Sep 1661, d. bef. 15 Sep 1731
2. iii. MARY² MAGOON, b. 9 Aug 1666, d. abt 1692
2. iv. ELIZABETH² MAGOON, b. 29 Sep 1670, d. unk

Second Generation

2. i. JOHN² MAGOON, (Henry¹), was born at Exeter, NH on 21 Oct 1658² and died about 1710. He married at Exeter by 1701/1706, MARTHA ASH.

CHILDREN of JOHN and MARTHA (ASH) MAGOON:

2. ii. ALEXANDER² MAGOON, (Henry¹), was born on 6 Sep 1661 and died before 15 Sep 1731. He married, in New Hampshire on 7 Dec 1682, SARAH BLAKE.

2. iii. MARY² MAGOON, (Henry¹), was born at Exeter, NH on 9 Aug 1666 and died about 1692. She married at Dover, NH on 6 Sep 1686, JONATHAN CLARK. (New Hampshire: Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937. (From microfilmed records. Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014.)

2. iv. ELIZABETH² MAGOON, (Henry¹), was born at Exeter on 29 Sep 1670 and died at Exeter on 14 Jun3 1675. Died young.

Third Generation

3. JOHN MAGOON, m., HANNAH CLATTERDAY.

4. HANNAH MAGOON, b. at Exeter in 1749; m. at Exeter in 1773, JOSEPH GILMAN. SEE: A Puritan Family’s Journey…page 138.

SOURCES AND NOTES:

Bill Clark shared: “According to my genealogy research, John Clark had a son and a daughter that married children of other Scottish POW:
JONATHAN CLARK was born in 1661. He married Mary MAGOON, daughter of Henry MAGOON and Elizabeth LISSON on 06 Sep 1686 in Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire. She was born on 09 Aug 1666 in Exeter, Rockingham, New Hampshire.
SARAH CLARK was born on 14 Dec 1668 in Wenham, Essex, Massachusetts. She died in 1711 in Exeter, Rockingham, New Hampshire. She married Ingram “Clement” MOODY, son of Ingraham MOODY about 1701 in USA. He was born in 1661 in Essex, Massachusetts.”

Battles, Carolyn St John Elliott and James Bruce Battles. A Puritan Family’s Journey:From Hingham to Hingham and onto Sanbornton, New Hampshire The Ancestors of Marion Gilman Elliott. (Lulu.com, Dec 30, 2013) – Biography & Autobiography – 402 pages A Google Book.

Electric Scotland – Henry Magoon (MacGoone)

(see Exeter History Minute)

Susan Buckingham says:
February 25, 2016 at 3:13 am
I am a 9th great granddaughter of Henry Magoon. I understand that Magoon was probably McGowan (from the Gow clan meaning Smith). I also know that Henry’s brother John was on the ship to America with him, but I wondered what happened to his brother William. There is a passenger on that ship names William McGowan (#38 – alias Smith)…perhaps he was their brother. …just wondering.
HENRY MAGOON, was born in Scotland about 1635 Scotland; m. (1) Elizabeth LISSEN (Listen, Lisson), b. abt 1637 and d. 14 Jun 1675, daughter of Nicholas LISSEN bef. 8 Oct 1661 m. (2) Agnes MOODY bet. 1 Aug 1677 & 19 Nov 1681. He d. bet. 25 Aug. 1684 – 1701. Henry had land in both Dover and Exeter N.H. , Henry was credited military service in 1677 for service during King Phillip’s war. Henry and Elizabeth had the following children:
John, b. 21 Oct 1658, d. abt 1710
Alexander, b. 6 Sep 1661, d. bef. 15 Sep 1731
Mary, b. 9 Aug 1666, d. abt 1692
Elizabeth, b. 29 Sep 1670, d. unk
Notes:
Henry is believed to have come to America as an indentured servant after being captured at the Battle of Dunbar, Scotland on 3 September 1650 by Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War. He is listed as one of 150 men consigned for New England aboard the ship Unity. His indenture was purchased by Nicholas Lissen and Henry eventually married his second daughter Elizabeth. Henry’s burial place is unknown and he probably lived in an area where most of the Scots lived in west Exeter an area called Pick Pocket woods near the Lissen mill, which may have been located near the falls on the Squamscott River. This distance from the center of town allowed the Scots some freedom from the religious convictions of the day.

Submitted by: Scott Magoon on 25 Oct 2013:
Henry Magoon[1] , was born about 1635 in Scotland. He married first, Elizabeth Lissen (Listen/Lisson), the daughter of Nicholas Lissen[2], before 8 Oct 1661[3]. Elizabeth was born about 1637 and died14 Jun 1675. Henry married second, Agnes Moody sometime before 1 Aug 1677 and 19 Nov 1681. Henry died[4] between 25 Aug 1684 – 1701[5]. Henry had land in both Dover and Exeter New Hampshire[6]. He was credited for military service in 1677, for service during King Phillip’s War.[8]
Children of Henry Magoon and Elizabeth Lissen:[9]
John, born 21 Oct 1658 and died about 1710
Alexander, born 6 Sep 1661 and died before 15 Sep 1731
Mary, born 9 Aug 1666 and died about 1692
Elizabeth, born 29 Sep 1670 and died unknown

Notes:
Henry is believed to have come to America as an indentured servant after being captured at the Battle of Dunbar, Scotland on 3 September 1650 by Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War. On 10 Sept 1650 the Council of State directed “To write Sir Arth. Hesilrigge that Council have referred the disposing of the prisoners to a committee, from which he will speedily receive some order; and that it is left to him to dispose of so many as he conceives he may to the work of the coal mines.”[10] The Council of State on 19 Sep 1650 directed “To write Sir Arthur Hesilrigge to deliver to Samuel Clarke, for transportation to Virginia, 900 Scotch prisoners, and 150 men for New England, to be sent there by Joshua Foot and John Bex, but they are to be such as are well and sound, and are free from wounds; letters to be prepared to Sir Arthur Hesilrigge according to such desires as shall be made by any who will carry them to plantations not in enmity with the commonwealth.”[11] On 23 Oct 1650 the Council of State stated “The Admiralty Committee to examine whether the Scotch prisoners now come and coming into the river are carried to places where they may be made use of against the commonwealth, and stay to be made of all, until assurance be given of their not being carried where they may be dangerous; the proportion for New England to be shipped away forewith, as their ship is ready, and the place is without danger.”[12] On 11 Nov. 1650 the Council of State, “To write Sir Arthur Hesilrigge to deliver 150 Scotch Prisoners to Augustine Walker, master of the Unity, to be transported to New England.”[13] He is listed as one of 150 men consigned for New England aboard the ship Unity. [14] On 3 Feb 1652 “Ordered, that the Council of State do take into Consideration, what prisoners of the Scottish Nation have been taken during these Wars, either in England or Scotland; and to make an exact List of them, and how they have been disposed of, and where they now are; and report the same to Parliament with all Speed: And likewise that the Council do take Order, that a fit Provision and Relief be given to such of them as are in Prison, and in Necessity, according to the Rules formerly given.”[15] His indenture was purchased by Nicholas Lissen and Henry eventually married his second daughter Elizabeth. [16] Henry’s burial place is unknown and he probably lived in an area where most of the Scots lived in west Exeter an area called Pick Pocket woods near the Lissen mill, which may have been located near the falls on the Squamscott River. This distance from the center of town allowed the Scots some freedom from the religious convictions of the day[17].

Footnotes:

1. Vital Records from The NEHGS Register. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (Compiled from articles originally published in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register.) https://www.americanancestors.org/DB522/i/21068/248/45649272 [↩]
2. New Hampshire: Births, Deaths and Marriages, 1654-1969. (From microfilmed records. Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014.) https://www.americanancestors.org/DB516/rd/13805/822/246286108 [↩]