Category: Dunbar: ME

Maxwell, Alexander

Home»Dunbar: ME
Battle:Battle of Dunbar in Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland
Ship/Arrival:Unity, Dec 1650
Prisoner and List:
Name Variations:
Residences:
Other SPOW Associations:
Every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy; please independently verify all data.

Published: 06 Dec 2014, Updated: 09 May 2019
Page contributors: Rosann Beauvais, Dr. Andrew Millard, Teresa Rust

59. Alexander Maxwell on George S. Stewart’s Captured at Dunbar list1
Surname Variations: Maxwell, Maxell, Maxsell

IMPORTANT UPDATE!
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),2 on page 251, Alexander is categorized as:

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

Maxwell/Maxsell, Alexander/Elexander. Residences: South Berwick, York ME. Appears: 1654. D.1707. Servant to George Leader at the Great Works. [Exiles; Banks; DR; SPOWS; Ch.7 & 8; App.B]345167

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

First Generation in the New World

1. ALEXANDER¹ MAXWELL, was presumably born in Scotland and died in York County, Maine between 27 June 1707 and 8 Oct 1707. His Will was dated 15 May 1707 and probate was 8 Oct 1707. (SEE IMAGE ON PAGE 2)8 9  He married (1) by 6 Sept 1671 to ANNIS/ANNES/ANNIE (FROST),10  who died between 3 Aug 1704 and 15 May 1707, dau. of  John (son of George) and Rose (______) Frost; and (2) in 1707 to SARAH (PENNEWELL), married by Capt. Preble.  11 

Biographical Notes:
Alexander Maxwell first appears as a servant to George Leader at the Great Works in York County, Maine in 1654. “Maxwell was flogged in court in 1654 “for his grosse offence in his exorbitant and abusive carages towards his master, Mr George Leader.”1213 The order by the County Court of York, dated 29 June 1654, reads “Itt is ordered that Allexander Maxell for his grosse offence in his exorbitant & abusive carages towards his Maister Mr. George Leader & his Mistresse…as by evidence doth appeare shall bee…publiquely brought forth to the Whipping Post whereunto hee…shall bee…fastened till 30 lashes bee…given him upon the bare skine. The sayd Maxell is here by injoyned to give full satisfaction to his aforesd Maister for the expence of tyme & dyett dureing the tyme of his imprisonment with other charges amounting to the valew of seaven pounds, 10s, And in case that Maxell do att any tyme for the future misbehave him selfe towards his Maister George Leader that then his sayd Maister hath full Lyberty to make sayle of the sayd Maxell to Virginia, Barbadoes, or any other of the English Plantations.”14

Later it is noted, “When Leader left Great Works, in 1655, his Scotch employees or apprentices, received grants of land from the town. The following had grants in 1656, James Warren … John Taylor, and Alexander Maxwell.”12 He buys land from Thomas Moulton/Molton on 20 Jan 1657. The land is described as “10 acres of meadow on the northwest branch, of Thomas Moulton.” He also owed 70 acres (perhaps the land he was granted in 1656) “up the river of York adjoining to a parcel of Arthur Bragdons…”15 On 7 Sept 1662, Nathan Lord purchased from John Neale/Neal “twenty-five acres of land and a house, on the northeast side of the Piscataqua river, one-half of the estate bought of Alexander Maxwell of York, by the said Neal and lying near Whites marsh.”16 His land is also mentioned in Old Kittery and her families, “Alexander Maxell received his grant of land the same day as Warren [SPOW James Warren]. Maxell settled in York and sold this grant to John Neal, who in 1662 sold twenty-five acres of it to Nathan Lord.”17 Alexander Maxwell “made a deed of gift to his brother in law, John Frost, 2 Nov. 1678, of certain land in York. With wife Annis sold land 24 March, 1680-1.”18

On 3 Aug 1704, Alexander Maxwell and his wife, Annis, in York, signed a deed of exchange. “In consideration of a certain piece or parcel of Salt Marsh And point of upland Lying on the Southwest branch of York river Secured to said Maxell by Peter Nowell of the Town and County aforesaid by a Deed bearing Date this day… near the head of the North west branch of York river and is well known by the name of Mauls fresh Marsh. And is by Estimation five Acres be it more or less And is bounded by Said Nowells Land and John Linscots land on the Southeast and Southward Sides And by James Grants Marsh on the Southwestward… (note that in this document Alexander Maxwell’s name is also written as Maxell and his wife’s name is given as Annis and Annes.)19 At the date of deed, 3 Aug 1704, Alexander Maxwell’s wife Annis/Annes was living. 

On 27 June 1707, Alexander Maxwell [spelled Maxell] and his second wife, Sarah (Pennewell) signed a deed of sale transferring land to John Mackentier [McIntire, maybe a son of Micum], farmer, of York. The parcel of land is described as “lying between the high way that goeth from York to Barwick by Estimation three Acres and is bounded by the lands of John Mackentier on the Southwest and on the Southeast by the orchard or garden of said Maxell where the Garrison now stands and as that fence now runs And is bounded Northerly by the high way or woods aboved And on the Norwest by the land known by the name of Clarks Farm this land thus bounded…”19 This document has been signed by Sarah Maxell who uses a totally different mark than his previous wife, Annis/Annes.

In his Will, dated 15 May 1707, he bequeaths all his land and belongings to his wife named as Sarah until her death. One can assume that the death date for Annis/Anne was between 3 Aug 1704 and 15 May 1707. Alexander Maxwell’s date of death would fall between the date of this deed being signed on 27 June 1707 and the date of his Will probate on 8 Oct 1707. He bequeathed the land and marshes after the death of his wife Sarah, for a Mr. Moody to have 1/2 and the church the use of the other 1/2. He and his first wife, Annis/Annes may have had  surviving children even though they were not mentioned in his Will and there has been other no source documentation.2021 

Children of ALEXANDER¹ and ANNIS/ANNES (FROST) MAXWELL:
Sources unknown to this author.

  1. Stewart, George Sawin. The Bartlett Collection. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts. /george-sawin-stewart-documents/ [↩] [↩]
  2. Gerrard, Christopher M.., et al. Lost Lives, New Voices: Unlocking the Stories of the Scottish Soldiers at the Battle of Dunbar 1650. Oxbow Books, 2018, p. 251. [↩]
  3. Stackpole, Everett Schermerhorn. Scotch Exiles in New England. 1922. Coll. 733 & 831, Collections of the Maine Historical Society, Portland ME. [↩]
  4. Banks, C.E. 1927. ‘Scotch Prisoners deported to New England by Cromwell 1651-2’. Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society 61, 4-30. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25080212 [↩]
  5. Rapaport, Diane. Working List of Early New England Scots. 2015. [↩]
  6. “Dunbar Prisoners of War Profiles.” The Scottish Prisoners of War Society, Teresa Rust, 18 Feb. 2019, scottishprisonersofwar.com/battle_of_dunbar_pows_america/. [↩]
  7. Gerrard, Christopher M.., et al. Lost Lives, New Voices: Unlocking the Stories of the Scottish Soldiers at the Battle of Dunbar 1650. Oxbow Books, 2018. Ch. 7, 8, Appendix B, p. 257-284. [↩]
  8. Sargent, William M. Maine Wills : 1640-1760 / Comp. and Ed. with Notes by William … Sargent, William M., 1848-1891. Portland [Me.] : Brown, Thurston & Company, 1887, Hathi Trust Digital Library, babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo1.ark:/13960/t6h13m781;view=1up;seq=6. [↩]
  9. Pope, Charles Henry. The Pioneers of Maine and New Hampshire, 1623 to 1660; a Descriptive List, Drawn from Records of the Colonies, Towns, Churches, Courts and Other Contemporary Sources. Boston, Mass. : C.H. Pope, 1908, pg 137, Internet Archives, archive.org/details/cu31924028808743/page/n6. [↩]
  10. New England Marriages to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB1568/i/21175/1017/426896010 [↩]
  11. Stackpole, Everett Schermerhorn. Old Kittery and Her Families. Lewiston, Me. : Press of Lewiston Journal Company, 1903, pg. 424-425, Internet Archives, archive.org/details/oldkitteryherfam00staciala/ [↩]
  12. “The First Permanent Settlement in Maine, c. 1926 – Everett S. Stackpole.” Old Berwick Historical Society, The Old Berwick Historical Society, May, 1968, www.oldberwick.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=375%3Athe-first-permanent-settlement-in-maine-c-1926-everett-s-stackpole&Itemid=126. [↩] [↩]
  13. Noyes, Sibyl, et al. Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2012, 421. [↩]
  14. Charles Thornton Libby, Robert E. Moody, and Neal W. Allen Jr., eds., Province and Court Records of Maine, 6 vols. (Portland: Maine Historical Society, 1928-75), 2:28. [↩]
  15. Pope, Charles Henry. The Pioneers of Maine and New Hampshire, 1623 to 1660; a Descriptive List, Drawn from Records of the Colonies, Towns, Churches, Courts and Other Contemporary Sources. Boston, Mass. : C.H. Pope, 1908, pg 137, 145, Internet Archives, archive.org/details/cu31924028808743/page/n6. [↩]
  16. Lord, Charles Chase. A History of the Descendants of Nathan Lord of Ancient Kittery, Me. Concord, N.H., Rumford Press, 1912., pg.2,  Internet Archives, https://archive.org/details/historyofdescend00lord/page/n10 [↩]
  17. Stackpole, Everett Schermerhorn. Old Kittery and Her Families. Lewiston, Me. : Press of Lewiston Journal Company, 1903, pg. 126, Internet Archives, archive.org/details/oldkitteryherfam00staciala/ [↩]
  18. Pope, Charles Henry. The Pioneers of Maine and New Hampshire, 1623 to 1660; a Descriptive List, Drawn from Records of the Colonies, Towns, Churches, Courts and Other Contemporary Sources. Boston, Mass. : C.H. Pope, 1908, pg 137, 145, Internet Archives, archive.org/details/cu31924028808743/page/n6. [↩]
  19. York County (Me.). Register of Deeds. York Deeds, Book VII, 1703-1713. Portland : Brown Thurston Company, 1892, Internet Archives, archive.org/details/yorkdeeds17031713main/page/n6. [↩] [↩]
  20. Sargent, William M. Maine Wills : 1640-1760 / Comp. and Ed. with Notes by William … Sargent, William M., 1848-1891. Portland [Me.] : Brown, Thurston & Company, 1887, Hathi Trust Digital Library, babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo1.ark:/13960/t6h13m781;view=1up;seq=6. [↩]
  21. Pope, Charles Henry. The Pioneers of Maine and New Hampshire, 1623 to 1660; a Descriptive List, Drawn from Records of the Colonies, Towns, Churches, Courts and Other Contemporary Sources. Boston, Mass. : C.H. Pope, 1908, pg 137, Internet Archives, archive.org/details/cu31924028808743/page/n6. [↩]
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Magoon, Henry

Home»Dunbar: ME
Battle:Battle of Dunbar in Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland on 03 Sep 1650
Ship/Arrival:Unity; Dec 1650
Prisoner and List:Henry Magoon; George S. Stewart’s list
Name Variations:Magoon, Magoun, Magoune, McGowan?, McGoon
Residences:Dover, New Hampshire
Other SPOW Associations:Ed Patterson and James Grant
Every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy; please independently verify all data.

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.

The Magoon Family by Leonard Ellinwood, c1960, Washington, DC. Shared by Jana Paterson Magoon

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.”

Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015.
Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015.

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] Henry, Exeter, a Scot, had a Dover gr. in 1656, taxed there 1657-8. In Oct. 1661 he bot from Thos. King the land in Ex. on which his ho. already stood, and the same day had land from his fa.-in-law with remainder to his s. John, then to his 2d son. He d. betw. 25 Aug. 1684-1701. Lists 356abc, 376b(1664), 380, 381, 383, 52, (****94). His 1st w. Elizabeth (Lisson 2), d. 14 June 1675 and he appar. m. 2d betw. 1 Aug. 1677–19 Nov. 1681 Agnes, wid. of John Kenniston(5). Ch. rec. Exeter: John, b. 21 Oct. 1658. Alexander, b. 6 Sept. 1661. Mary, b. 9 Aug. 1666, m. Jonathan Clark(26). Elizabeth, b. 29 Sept. 1670. (GDMNH, p. 452)

[2] Lissen,Listen. Liston a par. in Essex. Nicholas (aut.),millman, Exeter, ±60 in 1678, ±80 in 1694. Salem and Marbleh. 1637; of Glouc. 10 Oct. 1648 bot Geo. Barlow’s two houses and lands in Ex.; town gr. 12 Jan. 1648-9, the first of many, incl. mill privileges. One of three to collect town rent for sawmills 1653; Selectm. 1654-56, 1662, 1666; Commit. on Dover-Ex. bounds 1671-2. He bot ho. and land at the waterside 1654, int. in various new sawmills, and in May 1667 from Robt. Wadleigh half his 320 a. on Lamprill Riv., from which both had been disposs. and Mr. Saml. Symonds put in, bef. 30 Oct. 1668. For litigation in which Wadleigh held on, he didn’t, see Dover Hist. Memo. pp. 402-4. Lists 376b, 379, 380, 377, 383, 52. Two wives in sight once each, Alice 1666, Jane m. in Ex. 14 Dec. 1682. He spent his last yrs. with Nich. and Mary (Gordon) Smith; and d. when their s. Richard was 8 or 9 yrs. old. Called decd. in deed 20 May 1697. Adm. 8 Dec. 1714 to gr. sons Alex. Magoon and Nich. Gordon; late div. to three daus. or repres.: Hannah, eldest, m. John Bean (2). Elizabeth, 2d dau., m. by 1661 Henry Magoon. Mary, 3d dau., m. Alexander Gordon(1).

[3] [Henry & 1/wf Elizabeth LESSEN (-1675); by 8 Oct 1661; Dover, NH/Exeter, NH {Essex Ant. 3:43-4, 5:15, 10:78, 11:23; Magoun Supp. 2; GDMNH 436, 452}, (NE marriage prior to 1700, p. 484)

[4] MAGOON, Henry & 2/wf Agnes (_____) KENNISTON, w John; betw 1 Aug 1677 & 19 Nov 1681 (NE marriage prior to 1700, p. 483)

[5] See note 1

[6] Thomas KIng of Exeter for 3 (pounds) and 6 days work, conveyed to Henry Magoone of Exeter 2 1/2 acres of upland upon which his dwelling-house standeth, being formally of Willi: Whitred of Ipswich and before of Nichlas Lissen, Oct 7, 1661 (The Essex Antiquarian, Vol. 3, pgs. 43-44)

[7] “The river lots, from St. Alban’s cove to Quamphegan, were granted in 1656, and ranged as follows: … Henry Magoun…. (History of Dover N.H., p. 179).

[8] Later Credits for Military Service, Exeter, October 24, 1676, Henry Magoon, 00 [pounds] 01 [shillings] 08 [d] (Soldiers of King Phillip’s War, pgs 448-9)

[9] Exeter, Vital Records, Vol. 1, 1657-1848, Microfilm roll #99, pg. 5

[10] Great Britain Calendar of State Papers Domestic Series 1650, Vol. XI, p. 334; available on Google Books

[11] Great Britain Calendar of State Papers Domestic Series 1650, Vol. XI, p. 346; available on Google Books

[12] Great Britain Calendar of State Papers Domestic Series 1650, Vol. XI, p. 397; available on Google Books

[13] Great Britain Calendar of State Papers Domestic Series 1650, Vol. XI, p. 423; available on Google Books

[14] Elizabeth French Papers, Bartlett Collection, R. Stanton Avery Special Collection NEHGS, Boston

[15] House of Commons Journal, Vol. 7 (1651-1660), 3 Feb 1653, pub. 1802, p. 253-4

[16] See note 2

[17] Barbara Rimkunas Exeter N.H. Historical Society unpublished email correspondence

  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 [↩]

Gray, George

Home»Dunbar: ME
Battle:Battle of Dunbar at Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland on 3 Sep 1650
Ship/Arrival:The ketch Unity; late Dec 1650, MA Bay Colony
Prisoner and List:George Gray, #37 on George S. Stewart’s Captured at Dunbar list1
Name Variations:Greay
Residences:Upper Kittery, Maine
Other SPOW Associations:Alexander Cooper
Every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy; please independently verify all data.

Published: 04 Dec 2014, Updated: 24 Sep 2020
Page contributors: John Demos, Ray Dusek, Dr. Andrew Millard, Nancy Riley, Teresa Rust
Editor: Teresa Rust

First Generation in the New World

1. GEORGE¹ GRAY, was born, presumably in Scotland, about 1625-30* and died in Maine on 25 July 1693. He is buried at South Berwick, Maine. He married, at Kittery, York County, Maine in July 1672, SARAH (_____), New England Marriages to 1700. [POSSIBLY COOPER2, the daughter of ALEXANDER COOPER, Sarah Cooper was born at Kittery in 1656 and died at Kittery in 1726.] Sarah (_____) Gray, married, second, after 30 Aug 1693 and before 4 Jan 1697/8, FRANCIS HARLOW. “HARLOW, Francis & [Sarah GRAY], w George; aft 30 Aug 1693, by 1698; Kittery, ME {Kittery 475; GDMNH 284, 300}”3 On 04 Jan 1697/8 Court Sessions at York, Maine: “We present ffrancis Herloe for swearing he would cut his wiues throat.”4
THERE IS NO PRIMARY SOURCE FOR SARAH being a COOPER.

Biographical Notes:
1. According to, Christopher Gerrard, Pam Graves, Andrew Millard, Richard Annis, and Anwen Caffell, in, Lost Lives, New Voices: Unlocking the Stories of the Scottish Soldiers at the Battle of Dunbar 1650, (England: Oxbow Books, 2018),5 on page 250, George is categorized as: Probable [that he is a Dunbar prisoner transported on the Unity] Gray, George. Residences: Upper Kittery ME. Appears: 1659. D.1693. Acquires land in Kittery at about the same time as Scots likely to have been prisoners, and is closely associated with them. [Exiles; Banks; DR; SPOWS; Ch.7 & 8; App.B]67891011For explanations of the category, abbreviations and references see List of Dunbar prisoners from Lost Lives, New Voices.
2. While we have yet to find a PRIMARY record of the surname of Sarah, the wife of George Gray, I am reluctant to remove her from this page until we know more.
3. PDF of George Grant Research completed by Diane Rappaport.
4. SPOW DNA Study: Group 1-B, Haplogroup R-M269

Timeline:
1659: 21 Oct, George Gray witnessed a deed to Peter Grant, Scottish prisoner of war.
1672: Jul, George marries Sarah in Kittery, Maine
1692: 31 Mar, Date on George’s will.
1693: 25 Jul, Death of George Gray
1693: 30 Aug, George’s will is probated.

Children of GEORGE¹ and SARAH (COOPER) GRAY:
2. i. ROBERT² GRAY, (George¹) b. prob at Berwick, Maine in 1680; d. in 1771; m. (1) in 1706, ELIZABETH FREETHY, daughter of James Freethy and Mary Milbury; m. (2) 12 Jun 1701, ELIZABETH GOODWIN, daughter of William Goodwin and Deliverance Taylor.12
2. ii. GEORGE² GRAY, (George¹), b. in Maine in 1675; d. in 1723. “… in captivity in 1692 at Montreal, Canada. Chose to remain in Montreal “for love of religion” He was deceased without heirs in 1723.”1213
2. iii. ALEXANDER² GRAY, (George¹) b. at Berwick in 1680; d. at Berwick in 1725: m. ELIZABETH HARLOW, dau. of Francis Harlow.12
2. iv. JAMES² GRAY, (George¹), b. at Berwick in 1688; d. in 1726; m. (1) abt 1709, (_____) HARLOW, a daughter of Francis Harlow; m. (2) 30 Aug 1711, MARTHA GOODWIN, dau. of Moses Goodwin and Abigail Taylor (who was dau. of John and Martha (___) Taylor.1412
2. v. SARAH² GRAY, (George¹), m., 1st, JOSEPH JELLISON; m., 2nd, NICHOLAS CANE. Not in father’s will.12

The Gray Family of Hancock, Maine contributed by Teresa Rust.
Maine: Early Wills and Deeds, 1640-1760. CD-ROM. Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2006. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009.)
https://www.americanancestors.org/DB84/i/12362/33/138195228  

Second and Third Generations

2. i. ROBERT² GRAY, (George¹), was born probably at Berwick, Maine in 1680 and died probably at Kittery in 1771 at age 91.* He married, (1) at Berwick, Maine on 12 Jun 1701, ELIZABETH GOODWIN, daughter of WILLIAM GOODWIN and DELIVERANCE TAYLOR. He married (2) in 1706, ELIZABETH FREETHY, daughter of JAMES FREETHY and MARY MILBURY.

Biographical Notes:
1709, 29 Nov: York, Maine Deeds; Rob’t and Eliza. have land transaction with James Gray. Book VII, Folio 130-131.
1717/8, 14 Mar: York, ME Deeds, Rob’t Gray deed of sale
1718/9, 10 Feb: York, ME Deeds, Rob’t Gray, Book IX, Folio 122

Children of Robert and Elizabeth (Goodwin) Gray:
3. i. SARAH³ GRAY, (Robert², George¹), 1702-1716
3. ii. GEORGE³ GRAY, (Robert², George¹), 1703-1737, There is a George Gray who marries at York on 26 May 1725, MARY JOY, the daughter of, EPHRAIM JOY. They have five children between Mar 1725/6 and Dec 1736.15

POSSIBLE Children of George Gray and Mary Joy: NEED VERIFICATION!
4. EPHRAIM GRAY, b. at York on 07 Mar 1725/6.
4. GEORGE GRAY, b. at York on 28 Dec 1727.
4. ROBERT GRAY, b. at York on 16 Dec 1730.
4. ______ GRAY, b. at York on 22 Nov 1734.
4. JOSHUA GRAY, b. at York on 13 Dec 1736.16

3. iii. JAMES³ GRAY, (Robert², George¹), 1705-1737

Children of Robert and Elizabeth (Freethy) Gray:
3. iv. JOHN GRAY, (Robert², George¹), 1707-1788
3. v. RUTH GRAY, (Robert², George¹), 1710
3. vi. JOSEPH GRAY, (Robert², George¹), 1712
3. vii. JOSHUA GRAY, (Robert², George¹), b. at York in Nov 1714; d. after 30 Oct 1781; he married, JENNAT ELIOTT. See, The Gray Family of Hancock, Maine by Almon A. Gray and Walter A. Adelbert, c1976. Boston Public Library. Available for a free two week loan from Archive.org.

Children of Joshua and Jennat (Elliot) Gray:
4. i. ANDREW GRAY, b. at Brunswick, ME on 05 Nov 1738; d. at Deer Isle, ME in 1810/12.
4. ii. JOHN GRAY, b. at Brunswick on 14 Jul 1740; d. at prob. Sedgwick, ME in 1790/1.
4. iii. REUBEN GRAY, b. at Brunswick on 07 May 1743; d. on 11 Mar 1832.
4. iv. JAMES GRAY, b. in 1745; d. at Brooksville, ME on 01 Apr 1821.
4. v. SAMUEL GRAY,
4. vi. JOSHUA GRAY, JR.,
4. vii. FRANCIS GRAY, male, died young.
4. viii. MARY GRAY,
4. ix. DAUGHTER GRAY, died young.
4. x. DAUGHTER GRAY, died young.

3. viii. MERCY GRAY, (Robert², George¹), b. 29 Nov 1718; d. 1760; m., JONATHAN SARGENT.

2. ii. GEORGE² GRAY, (George¹), was born in Maine in 1675 and died in 1723 without heirs. “… in captivity in 1692 at Montreal, Canada [age 17]. Chose to remain in Montreal “for love of religion” He was deceased without heirs in 1723.”1213”George, in captiv. when his fa.’s will made, was to receive his mo.’s half at her death or mar. if he ret. Remaining in Montreal ‘for love of religion,’ 1702; dead s. p. in 1723.” From Family Search “George Gray Research“

2. iii. ALEXANDER² GRAY, (George¹), was born at Berwick in 1680 and died at Berwick in 1725. He married, ELIZABETH HARLOW, daughter of, FRANCIS HARLOW.

Biographical Notes:
Joanna the daughter listed as the first child is not Alexander’s. Elizabeth had 2 children out of wedlock – Ebenezer whose father was Mainwaring Hilton and Joanna whose father was Thomas Ball. Also there are 3 listing for a Nehemiah. Even if the 1st child died and they named a second the same, the dates look really off. thanks

Children of Alexander and Elizabeth (Harlow) Gray:
3. i. JOANNA GRAY, 1701-?
3. ii. NEHIMIAH GRAY, 1705-1721
3. iii. JOHN GRAY, 1708-1758
3. iv. NEHEMIAH GRAY, 1711-1777
3. v. ALEXANDER GRAY, 1712- ?
3. vi. TIMOTHY GRAY, 1712-?
3. vii. ABIGAIL GRAY, 1714-1763
3. viii. ANN GRAY, 1717-1777
3. ix. LYDIA GRAY, 1719
3. x. NEHEMIAH GRAY, 1721-1763
3. xi. DANIEL GRAY, 1726-1825

2. iv. JAMES² GRAY, (George¹), was born at Berwick in 1688. He married, first, about 1709, (_____) HARLOW, a daughter of, FRANCIS HARLOW. He married, second, at Kittery on 30 Aug 1711, MARTHA GOODWIN, daughter of, MOSES GOODWIN and ABIGAIL TAYLOR (the dau. of John and Martha (___) Taylor.14 “Marriages solemnized by Rev. Jeremiah Wise.” SEE: Berwick Marriages, page 310: 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.)

Children of James and (_____) (Harlow) Gray:
3. i. FRANCIS GRAY, (James², George¹), b. c 1709. In will.

Children of James and Martha (Goodwin) Gray:
3. MOSES GRAY, (James², George¹), in will.
3. JAMES GRAY, (James², George¹), in will.
3. TAYLOR GRAY, (James², George¹), in will.
3. ALEXANDER GRAY, (James², George¹), in will.
3. MARY GRAY, (James², George¹), before 1726. In will.

Maine: Early Wills and Deeds, 1640-1760. CD-ROM. Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2006. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009.)
https://www.americanancestors.org/DB84/i/12362/179/24163196
Maine: Early Wills and Deeds, 1640-1760. CD-ROM. Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2006. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009.)
https://www.americanancestors.org/DB84/i/12362/179/24163196  
Maine: Early Wills and Deeds, 1640-1760. CD-ROM. Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2006. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009.)
https://www.americanancestors.org/DB84/i/12362/179/24163196

2. v. SARAH² GRAY, (George¹), m., 1st, JOSEPH JELLISON; m., 2nd, NICHOLAS CANE. Not in father’s will.
– END OF GENERATION LIST

Additional Information:

SPECIAL NOTICE!
March 2018 from John Demos of South Berwick, Maine:
“To all Gray descendants,
I have been trying to verify the grave site I have sent photos of on Witchtrot Road as George and family. It has become clear that this is not likely the site. I have discovered several old deeds that put George’s “old homestall” to the east of Alexander Cooper’s original grant. These graves are to the west of Coopers and, I believe, are likely a Goodwin plot. Those photos should be removed from this site. But the good news is that we (meaning the Old Berwick Historical Society) now have a good idea where George’s land must have been. I will continue to nail down the proof and, once the snow is gone, we will make a search of the newly identified area to see if we can find any remaining traces of his last resting place. I will keep you updated.Please send me an email to and I can provide copies of the deeds I have found and answer any questions.”
John Demos

The Gray Family of Hancock, Maine by Almon A. Gray and Walter A. Adelbert, c1976. Boston Public Library. Available for a free two week loan from Archive.org.

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/14257/287/264712144

1. Will of George Gray listing his children as Robert, George, Alex and James, no mention of daughter Sarah in this will in 1693.
2. From Doreen Gray today (9 May 2016): “Also, still working on birthplace for George Gray. However, I do have a copy of a birth registry from the Scottish General Register Office. Records: George Gray, April 14,1620, parents Robert Gray and Mrgaret Maddr. Godfathers-Thomas Gray and Thomas Maddr. This George was shown to be from Lanark or the former Lanarkshire (Glasgow). He was shown to be christened at the Glasgow High Church. Still not 100% positive this is our 8x great grandfather. He fits the profile age for the army conscripts of Leslie’s Army-between ages 19-30. Still working on verification.”
3. “GRAY, George (-1693) & Sarah (_____), m/2 Francis HARLOW by 1698; Jul 1672; Kittery, ME (Berwick) {GDMNH 283, 310; Kittery 475}” From: Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. PAGE 650
4. From: Alexander Cooper on Rootsweb:”A few years later, Cooper’s daughter Sarah married Scotsman George Gray, who paid his young wife’s fine “for breach of sabboth & for strikeing of Patience Everington.” ~ ” Scots for Sale: Scottish Prisoners in Seventeenth Century Maine and New Hampshire– Diane Rapaport, in “New England Ancestory”- Vol. 5, No.5/6, p. 26″
5. From: Robert Brown~
George and Sarah and possibly one or more of their children are buried behind a farmhouse off of Witchtrot Road where it intersects with Bennett Road. There are head and foot markers where they lay.

Submitted on 13 Feb 2017, by John Demos at :
Hannah Murry/Austin, M: 6/13/1791
Elizabeth (Marr) Worchester/Worester, M: 3/17/1767; D: 10/29/1790, DP: Berwick, ME
Thresa Emery, B: 1784, P: Berwick, ME; M: 8/29/1816; D: 7/6/1859, DP: S. Berwick, ME*
Sarah Cooper, B:1656, P: Kittery, ME; M: 1672; D:1726, DP: Kittery, ME
Martha M. Hamilton/Hambleton, B:1721 or 8/27/1724, P: Berwick, ME; M: 1/1746; D: 1755, DP: Berwick, ME
Martha Goodwin, B: 6/22/1695, P: Berwick, ME; M: 8/30/1711, D: 1759, DP: York, ME
Mary Berry, B: 8/11/1850, P: Portland, ME; M: 8/24/1888, D: 7/04/1924, DP: Farmington, NH
Catherine Roberts, B: 1751; M:9/07/1774
George Gray, B: © 1625, P: E. Lothian, Scotland, A: 1651; D:7/25/1693, DP: Berwick, ME
James Gray, B:1685, P: Berwick, ME, D: 6/18/1726, DP: Berwick, ME
James Gray, B: 9/1724, P: Berwick, ME; D: 2/27/1813, DP: York, ME
Jonathan Gray, B: 1751, P: Berwick, ME; D: 1821, DP: China, ME
George Gray, B: 6/14/1786, P: Berwick, ME; D: 6/14/1838, DP: S. Berwick, ME*
1 Roxanna Goodwin, B: 1838, P: Lebanon, ME; M: 6/09/1858; D: 7/06/1876, DP: S. Berwick, ME*
Mary Libby, B:10/28/1831, P: Buxton, ME; M: 3/18/1878, D: 5/17/1887, DP: Bur. Hollis, ME
Temperance Winn, B: 11/23/1828, P: York, ME; M: 7/17/1847; D: 5/18/1857, DP: S. Berwick, ME*
John Gray, B: 8/3/1825, P: S. Berwick, ME; D: 10/05/1905, DP: S Berwick, ME*

Key:
A: arrived in U.S.
B: date born
P: birthplace
M: marriage date
D: date of death
DP: place of death

Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015.
Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015.

“George Gray married the daughter of Alexander Cooper. He was 47 and she was about 16 or 17.” ~ Paula Cummings
George Gray had four sons and one daughter: Robert, George, Alexander, James and Sarah.
“George Gray is my 8th great -grandfather. There is plenty of documentation that shows him arriving at the colonies on the Unity as a Scottish POW from the battle of Dunbar. His life in Scotland however, has proved to be much harder to find. Some researchers believe George was born April 14 1620 to Robert Gray & Margret Madirr. Others believe his father was James Gray. Documentation is scarce and difficult to find for that time period. Visited Scotland’s People Center and Historical Society of Edinburgh with one OPR to support the birth date of 4/14/1620 with a Robert and Margret M. listed as parents. Have hired a genealogist from Scotland to help in search. Resent report looks like links to the Grays of Broxmouth, which was within the Dunbar town boundaries. Estate was taken by Cromwell and used as headquarters before the battle. The battlefield is literally across the road and up a hill from the estate.” ~ Doreen and Gail Gray

George Gray can be found at the Old Berwick Historical Society online site:

“When these young and impoverished prisoners eventually obtained their freedom they stayed, joining the English founding families of a tiny settlement. Among these displaced Scotsmen were said to be Niven Agnew, James Barry, Alexander Cooper, Daniel Ferguson, William Furbush, William Gowen, Peter Grant, George Gray, David Hamilton, Thomas Holme, John Key, Alexander Maxwell, John Neal, John Reed, John Ross, John Taylor, William Thomson, and James Warren (from Downeast Ancestry, Vol. 9, No. 3).”

On 10 September 2016, M. H. Maggelet wrote:
“I haven’t been able to find anything linking our George Gray to a Glasgow birth (purportedly Robert Gray and Margaret Madir), much less any of the nobility of Scotland. I’m a descendent of George via my grandmother Grace Hurley, and her grandmother Nettie Philena Gray (daughter of Loring S. Gray and Philena S. Gray).
While there are tons of documents on the Gray’s of Scotland in online archives and Google Books, linking them specifically to George has proven to be problematic. There are numerous Robert Gray’s, James Gray’s, etc., in the historical records and listings ranging from parish birth and marriage records to legal proceedings (not to mention peerage).
There is evidence in early documents from Maine that he could read and write (in Scots English), while his last will and testament shows his mark.
So, the search for documentation continues. If indeed he has noble lineage, it would be quite fascinating.”

The following is from John Demos on 09 Jan 2018:
A couple corrections.
The pictures of George Gray’s possible grave site is on Witchtrot Rd. near the location of the original George Gray homestead. It is not near my land, which is several miles away, up river. My house and land once belonged to George’s grandson, James and his decedents. Also my research on locating George’s homestead has proven to be much more complicated. The pictures of the graves may belong to Goodwins. I have been through deeds and many maps and cannot nail down where his house was on Witchtrot.
Still working on it.

From Nancy Riley on 18 Nov 2018:
I have Alexander marrying Elizabeth Thompson but I think the children need to be re-visited – Joanna the daughter listed as the first child is not Alexander’s. Elizabeth had 2 children out of wedlock – Ebenezer whose father was Mainwaring Hilton and Joanna whose father was Thomas Ball. Also there are 3 listing for a Nehemiah. Even if the 1st child died and they named a second the same, the dates look really off. thanks

Submitted by Ray Dusek on 19 Oct 2018:
George Gray
1620–1692
Birth 14 APR 1620
Death 31 MAR 1692 • Berwick, York, Maine
Children
Alexander Gray son of George Gray
1680–1725
Birth 1680 • Berwick, York, Maine, United States
Death 1725 • Berwick, York, Maine,
Spouse
Elizabeth Thompson 1681-1777
Children
Joanna Gray 1701-?
Nehemiah Gray 1705-1721
John Gray 1708-1758
Nehemiah Gray 1711-1777
Alexander Gray 1712- ?
Timothy Gray 1712-?
Abigail Gray 1714-1763
Ann Gray 1717-1777
Lydia Gray 1719
Nehemiah Gray 1721-1763
Daniel Gray 1726-1825
Robert Gray son of George Gray
1680–1771
Birth JUL 1680 • Berwick, York, Maine, United States
Death 30 JAN 1771 • Kittery, York, Maine,
1st Spouse
Elizabeth (Gray) Goodwin 1684-1706
Children
Sarah Gray 1702-1716
George Gray 1703-1737
James Gray 1705-1737
2nd Spouse
Elizabeth Freethy 1699-1754
Children
John Gray 1707-1788
Ruth Gray 1710
Joseph Gray 1712
Joshua Gray 1714-1781
Mercy Gray 1718-1760
George Gray son of George Gray
1682–1723
Birth 1682 • Berwick, York, Maine, United States
Death 08 MAY 1723 • Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Spouse
Bridget Horrell 1680-1736
Children
George Gray 1703-?
Sarah Gray daughter of George Gray
1692–1767
Birth 1692 • Berwick, York, Maine, United States
Death 31 AUG 1767 • Berwick, York, Maine
Spouse
Joseph Jellison 1686-1753
Children
Job Jellison 1718-1790
Benjamin Jellison 1720-1790
Harmony Jellison 1721-?
Joseph Jellison 1722-?
Mariam Jellisonn 1723-1800
Alexander Jillison ?
Jane Jellison ?
Thomas Jellison ?
Samuel Jellison ?
Thankful Jellison 1727-1780
Nathaniel 1727-?
Elizabeth 1730-?

  1. Stewart, George Sawin. The Bartlett Collection. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts. /george-sawin-stewart-documents/ [↩]
  2. Scots for Sale, Part II, by Diane Rappaport, New England Ancestors, Holiday 2004, page 27 [↩]
  3. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB1568/rd/21175/700/426889067 [↩]
  4. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB84/i/7503/283/6011560 [↩]
  5. Gerrard, Christopher M.., et al. Lost Lives, New Voices: Unlocking the Stories of the Scottish Soldiers at the Battle of Dunbar 1650. Oxbow Books, 2018, p. 250. [↩]
  6. Stackpole, Everett Schermerhorn. Scotch Exiles in New England. 1922. Coll. 733 & 831, Collections of the Maine Historical Society, Portland ME. [↩]
  7. Banks, C.E. 1927. ‘Scotch Prisoners deported to New England by Cromwell 1651-2’. Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society 61, 4-30. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25080212 [↩]
  8. Rapaport, Diane. Working List of Early New England Scots. 2015. [↩]
  9. Stewart, George Sawin. The Bartlett Collection. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts. /george-sawin-stewart-documents/ [↩]
  10. “Dunbar Prisoners of War Profiles.” The Scottish Prisoners of War Society, Teresa Rust, 18 Feb. 2019, scottishprisonersofwar.com/battle_of_dunbar_pows_america/. [↩]
  11. Gerrard, Christopher M.., et al. Lost Lives, New Voices: Unlocking the Stories of the Scottish Soldiers at the Battle of Dunbar 1650. Oxbow Books, 2018. Ch. 7, 8, Appendix B, p. 257-284. [↩]
  12. The Gray Family of Hancock, Maine contributed by Teresa Rust [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩]
  13. Coleman, Emma. New England Captives Carried to Canada Between 1677 and 1760 During the French and Indian Wars. Heritage Books, 2008. [↩] [↩]
  14. Goodwin, John Samuel. The Goodwins of Kittery, York County, Maine. Chicago : O. S. Goodwin, 1898, Internet Archives, archive.org/details/goodwinsofkitter00good/page/n6. [↩] [↩]
  15. 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/14261/47/26472146 [↩]
  16. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB522/i/14257/287/264712144 [↩]

Thompson, William

Home»Dunbar: ME
Battle:Battle of Dunbar in Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland
Ship/Arrival:Unity, Dec 1650
Prisoner and List:
Name Variations:
Residences:
Other SPOW Associations:
Every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy; please independently verify all data.

Published: 04 Dec 2014, Updated: 4 Apr 2019
Page contributors: Andrew Millard, Teresa Rust

William Thompson, #105 on George S. Stewart’s Captured at Dunbar list1
Surname variations: Thompson (common in England), Thomson (common in Scotland)

IMPORTANT UPDATE! (Jul 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),2 on page 252, William is categorized as:

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

Thompson/Thomson/Tompson/Tomson, William. Residences: Dover NH, Kittery ME. Appears: 1656. D.1676. Granted land at the same time as Scots who worked at the Great Works. However, a Thompson family was already living in the area, so he may not be a Scot. [Exiles; Banks; DR; SPOWS; Ch.7 & 8]345167

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

First Generation in the New World

1. WILLIAM¹ THOMPSON, was born, presumably in Scotland about 1635 and died at Kittery, York, Maine in 1676. He married at Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire, in 1658, UNKNOWN WHITE, daughter of JOHN WHITE.

Biographical Notes:
In Charles Edward Banks Scotch Prisoners Deported to New England by Cromwell, 1651-1652, William is listed as being from the Battle of Dunbar and working at the Great Works Saw Mill managed by Richard Leader, who fled to Barbados in 1656 after getting into a bit of trouble with ruling politics between Maine and Massachusetts. He left the SPOWs destitute and it is unclear if he set them free at that time. However, grants of land for these men began appearing in court records at that time.
A few years after 1650 – William Thompson is in the town of South Berwick…SEE: Clayton, W. Woodford. The History of York County, Maine (Philadelphia: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck, 1880) page 315:

William Thompson was a farmer by trade at the time of the birth of his son John. There does seem to be a lot of confusing information on William Thompson on the Internet. More documentation is needed!

Children of William and Unknown (White) Thompson:
2. i. JOHN² THOMPSON, born at Dover, New Hampshire about 1657*.
2. ii. WILLIAM² THOMPSON, born at Dover about 1661
2. iii. ROBERT² THOMPSON, born at Kittery about 1664
2. iv. JAMES² THOMPSON, born at Kittery about 1666
2. v. ALEXANDER² THOMPSON, born at Kittery about 1671
2. vi. JUDITH² THOMPSON, born at Kittery about 1675

Second Generation

2. i. JOHN² THOMPSON (William¹), born at Dover, New Hampshire about 1657. He married, SARAH WOODMAN.

Biographical Notes:
John Thompson was a carpenter by trade at the birth of his son, John.

Children of John and Sarah (Woodman) Thompson:
3. i. JOHN³ THOMPSON, (John², William¹), born at Oyster River, Durham, New Hampshire before 1680.

2. ii. WILLIAM² THOMPSON (William¹)
2. iii. ROBERT² THOMPSON (William¹)
2. iv. JAMES² THOMPSON (William¹)
2. v. ALEXANDER² THOMPSON (William¹) born at Kittery, York, Maine about 1671.

Children of Alexander and Unknown (_____) Thompson:
3. SAMUEL³ THOMPSON

2. vi. JUDITH² THOMPSON (William¹)

Scotch Prisoners deported to New England by Cromwell, 1651-1652 (Banks 1927) Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society 61, 4-30. Available on JSTOR.

The History of York County, Maine, c1880. Page 315.
The History of York County, Maine, c1880. Page 315.

Torrey's New England Marriages to 1700 (3)
Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. Page 1511.

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 769.:
Screen Shot 2016-09-06 at 5.29.54 PM 2Screen Shot 2016-09-06 at 5.30.12 PM

SPOW DNA Study:
Group 1-B, Haplogroup R-Z288

SOURCES and NOTES:

26 Nov 2016, Sandra Burke wrote, I am a descendant of William Thompson’ son James.
James Thompson 1666
James Thompson 1707-1791
Elizabeth Thompson Weed 1733-1766
Lydia Weed Welch 1758-1805
Ezekiel Welch 1794-1863
Julia Welch Godfrey 1819-1877
Frederick Godfrey 1859-1939
Cecil Godfrey 1903-1987
Annette Godfrey Dugans 1930-2010″
~ Sandra

“He married, “about 1678″, Sarah Woodman. Both were of Oyster River at the time, which was then a part of Dover and is now Durham, NH.” ~ Wayne, 7th great-grandson of William Thompson

“Just a small correction to William Thompson’s page: His wife was certainly a daughter of John White, but her given name is unknown. It could not have been Mary, because John White’s daughter Mary was unmarried in 1665 when she bore an illegitimate child. Source: Noyes, et al., /Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire/.” ~ Wayne Mitchell

New Hampshire- Births to 1901, Deaths and Marriages to 1937

Jackie Thompson wrote and submitted the following:
William Thompson is #105 on the George S. Stewart list for “The Dunbar Prisoners.”
In Charles Edward Banks Scotch Prisoners Deported to New England by Cromwell, 1651-1652, William is listed as being from the Battle of Dunbar and working at the Great Works Saw Mill managed by Richard Leader, who fled to Barbados in 1656 after getting into a bit of trouble with ruling politics between Maine and Massachusetts. He left the SPOWs destitute and it is unclear if he set them free at that time. However, grants of land for these men began appearing in court records at that time.

1656 – William received a grant of land in Dover, NH. This was laid out, March 17, 1658/1659 “beyond Cocheco Logg Swamp.” On November 8, 1715 William’s son John Thompson, Sr. of Dover, conveyed to John Tuttle fifty acres of land which “were granted to my father, William Thompson, by the town of Dover.” It lay beyond Cocheco Log Swamp, “bounded on the south by Bellamy Bank River.” There is no evidence that William Thompson ever lived on this grant.

October 15, 1656 – Kittery Records – 23 acres were assigned to “William Thompson and his heirs forever at a town meeting in Kittery, Maine by John White” (William’s future father in law). It was located a short way below Sturgeon Creek.

1658 – William married a daughter of John White – Mary Elizabeth White (born 1639 in Kittery, Maine).

1659 – William Thompson was presented at York Court “for rebellion against his father and mother-in-law” He bound himself to the court in a bond of 20 Pounds “that hee will be of good behavior towards all men, especially towards his father and mother.” (State copy of Court Records, Vol. I page 331.)

1676 – William died at Kittery, York, Maine and his estate was appraised, June 22 of that year, at 52 Pounds and 18 Shillings. He left twenty-three acres of land, a house and orchard at Kittery, Maine, and fifty acres in Dover, NH, which he gave to his sons. His wife had died before 1676. He left children, whose ages were given in 1677 as follows:
i. JOHN THOMPSON, aged 18 (Born 1658)
ii. WILLIAM THOMPSON, aged 16 (Born 1661)
iii. ROBERT THOMPSON, aged 13 (Born 1664)
iv. JAMES THOMPSON, aged 11 (Born 1666)
v. ALEXANDER THOMPSON, aged 6 (Born 1671)
vi. JUDITH THOMPSON, aged 2 (Born 1675)

I am descended from Alexander Thompson. – Jackie

For additional help, please go to the Facebook Group.
(Our small website team is unable to help with further research.)

  1. Stewart, George Sawin. The Bartlett Collection. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts. /george-sawin-stewart-documents/ [↩] [↩]
  2. Gerrard, Christopher M.., et al. Lost Lives, New Voices: Unlocking the Stories of the Scottish Soldiers at the Battle of Dunbar 1650. Oxbow Books, 2018, p. 252. [↩]
  3. Stackpole, Everett Schermerhorn. Scotch Exiles in New England. 1922. Coll. 733 & 831, Collections of the Maine Historical Society, Portland ME. [↩]
  4. Banks, C.E. 1927. ‘Scotch Prisoners deported to New England by Cromwell 1651-2’. Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society 61, 4-30. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25080212 [↩]
  5. Rapaport, Diane. Working List of Early New England Scots. 2015. [↩]
  6. “Dunbar Prisoners of War Profiles.” The Scottish Prisoners of War Society, Teresa Rust, 18 Feb. 2019, scottishprisonersofwar.com/battle_of_dunbar_pows_america/. [↩]
  7. Gerrard, Christopher M.., et al. Lost Lives, New Voices: Unlocking the Stories of the Scottish Soldiers at the Battle of Dunbar 1650. Oxbow Books, 2018. Ch. 7, 8. [↩]

Grant, James (2)

Home»Dunbar: ME
Battle:3 Sep 1650, Battle of Dunbar, at Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland
Ship/Arrival:Unity; Dec 1650, MA Bay Colony
Prisoner and List:
James Grant/Graunt (2), #34 on George S. Stewart’s Captured at Dunbar list
Name Variations:Grant, Graunt,
Residences:Kittery and York, Maine
Other SPOW Associations:Peter Grant
Every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy; please independently verify all data.

Published: 03 Dec 2016, Updated: 5 Sep 2020
Page contributors: Dr. Andrew Millard, Teresa Rust
Editor: Teresa Rust

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 249, James is categorized as:

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

Appears: 1660. D.1663. Associated with Peter Grant. Indicted for not returning home to his wife in Scotland. [Exiles; DR; BCS; SPOWS; Ch.7 & 8]

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

First Generation in the New World

1. JAMES¹ GRANT (2), “the Scotchman,” died 1663. He married at York County, Maine about 1660, JOAN/[JOANNA] (_____). (She later married Peter Grant in 1664.)

Biographical Notes:
“James Grant signed a petition from York in 1660. He and Peter Grant were presented at court in 1661 for not going home to their wives.” See more: Stackpole, Everett S., Old Kittery and Her Families. (Kittery, Maine: Press of Lewiston journal Company, 1903), page 471.

Children of James and Joan/Joanna (_____) Grant:
2. ELIZABETH GRANT, born probably at Kittery between 1658 and 1663. She married, WILLIAM EARL, Sr., of Berwick.

Sources and Notes:
A founding member of the Scots Charitable Society on 6 Jan 1657 [OS].
SOURCE: Scots Charitable Society, ed., The Constitution and By-laws, of the Scots Charitable Society of Boston, (Boston: Farrington Printing Co., 1896), 10.

On 24 Jul 2013 Paula Sieple, wrote, “The Unity” James Grant, locally known in Maine as “The Scotchman”, was in Maine with Peter Grant (from “The Unity” and Lynn Iron Works). James, married to someone named Joan and with a daughter Elizabeth, died in 1663 in Maine Peter Grant married the widow Joan 28 Nov 1664 in Old Kittery, Maine. Peter is my 7x maternal great grandfather. James, Peter, and Alexander Grant were founding members of the Scots Charitable Society of Boston in 1657. Reference OLD KITTERY AND HER FAMILIES, Everett Stackpole Pg. 471ff: “James Grant is said in an old manuscript to have been ‘taken in arms for Charles I’ and to have been banished by Cromwell. He is called in old records The Scotchman.”

Cooper, Alexander

Home»Dunbar: ME
Battle:Battle of Dunbar at Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland on 3 Sep 1650
Ship/Arrival:The ketch Unity, late Dec 1650, MA Bay Colony
Prisoner and List:
Alexander Cooper, #15 on George S. Stewart’s Captured at Dunbar list1
Name Variations:Cooper, Copper, Coupar, Couper, Cowper, Alexander, Allexander, Sander2
Residences:South Berwick, Maine
Other SPOW Associations:Peter Grant, George Gray, John Taylor, James Warren
Every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy; please independently verify all data.

Published: 3 Dec 2014, Updated: 24 Sep 2020
Page contributors: Rosann Beauvais, Andrew Millard, Teresa Rust, Marcia Armstrong.
Editor: Teresa Rust

According to Christopher Gerrard, Pam Graves, Andrew Millard, Richard Annis, and Anwen Caffell, in, Lost Lives, New Voices: Unlocking the Stories of the Scottish Soldiers at the Battle of Dunbar 1650, (England: Oxbow Books, 2018),3 on page 249, Alexander is categorized as: Probable [that he is a Dunbar prisoner transported on the Unity] Cooper/Copper, Alexander/Allexander/Sander. Residences: South Berwick ME. Appears: 1662. D.1684. Associated with other Scots from the Kittery sawmills. [Exiles; Banks; DR; SPOWS; Ch.7 & 8]456789 For explanations of the category, abbreviations and references see List of Dunbar prisoners from Lost Lives, New Voices.

First Generation in the New World

1. ALEXANDER¹ COOPER, aka SANDER COOPER, was born probably about 1625, in Scotland and died at Berwick, Maine between 9 Feb 1683 (date of will) and 28 Feb 1684, probate (suggested date of 11 Nov 1683)10 He married at Berwick, Maine, by 1654, (_____).1112

Biographical Notes:
Alexander¹ Cooper worked as an indentured servant at the sawmills in Kittery, Maine and is referred to as “Sander Cooper” in Court records in 1662. “His family should be carefully distinguished from that of “Phillip Cooper the Walloon,” who had a grant of land in York, in 1673.”13 Alexander¹ was an acquaintance and friend of SPOWs: James Warren, George Gray and Peter Grant, which is shown by their mention in Alexander¹ Cooper’s Will and his leaving the care of his only son, John² Cooper, “…unto my Loueing freinds…” (SEE IMAGE ON PAGE 2)14 On 9 July 1662, John Neale, a SPOW from the Town of Kittery, sold land (a portion of which he had previously bought 15 July 1656 from another SPOW, Alexander Maxwell, that just so happened to lay on the Northside of James Warren’s lot), to Alexander¹ Cooper, also of the Town of Kittery. The 25 acres were located on the Northeast side of Pischataqua River, “…being neare a place Commanly Called by the name of Whittes Marsh…”15 Later, it is recorded, “that the selectmen and inhabitants of the parish of Unity, on the 13th of April, 1671, granted sixty acres of land to Alexander Cooper, and as many more to George Gray, by virtue of a general act of the town, made the 24th of June last past.”16 Alexander¹ Cooper’s land grant location was on the brook coming out of Wilcox pond in Berwick. There is also indications that these Scots did not adapt to the norms and values of the mainstream inhabitants. “In 1669, the York County Court admonished Sander [Alexander] and his wife, as well as John Taylor and several other Scotsmen, [Including SPOW James Warren] “for using profane speeches” and referring to the “divell” in their “common talk.” A few years later, Sander’s daughter Sarah married Scotsman George Gray, who paid his young wife’s fine “for breach of sabboth & for strikeing of Patience Everington.””17

Children of Alexander and (_____) Cooper:
2. i. SARAH² COOPER, (Alexander), born at Kittery/Berwick about 1656 and died at Kittery in 1726. She may have married, first, at Kittery in July 1672, GEORGE GRAY., and may have married, second, after 30 Aug 1693 and before 1697/8, FRANCIS HARLOW. 4 Jan 1697/8 Court Sessions at York, Maine: “We present ffrancis Herloe for swearing he would cut his wiues throat.”18
2. ii. JOHN² COOPER, b. at Berwick before 9 Feb 1667; Will d. 13 May 1759 in Berwick; m. in Kittery 13 Dec 1692 SARAH LORD.

Second and Third Generations

2. SARAH² COOPER (Alexander¹) was born at Kittery/Berwick, Maine about 1656. She may have married, first, at Kittery, in July 1672, GEORGE GRAY.19. She married, second, after 30 Aug 1693, FRANCIS HARLOW. Both were still living 1726. (SEE IMAGE ON PAGE 2)20

Biographical Notes:

Children of SARAH² (COOPER) and GEORGE GRAY:

3. i. GEORGE³ GRAY (Sarah², Alexander¹), b. in Maine in 1675; d. in 1723. “… in captivity in 1692 at Montreal, Canada [age 17]. Chose to remain in Montreal “for love of religion” He was deceased without heirs in 1723.”2122
3. ii. ROBERT³ GRAY (Sarah², Alexander¹), b. prob. at Berwick, Maine in 1680; d. in 1771; m. (1) 12 Jun 1701, ELIZABETH GOODWIN, daughter of William Goodwin and Deliverance Taylor; m. (2) in 1706, ELIZABETH FREETHY, daughter of James Freethy and Mary Milbury.20
3. iii. ALEXANDER³ GRAY (Sarah², Alexander¹), b. at Berwick in 1680; d. at Berwick in 1725: m. ELIZABETH HARLOW, dau. of Francis Harlow (Frances Harlow m. Sarah² Cooper, Alexander Gray’s widowed mother).20
3. iv. JAMES³ GRAY (Sarah², Alexander¹), b. at Berwick in 1688; d. in 1726; m. (1) abt 1709, (_____) HARLOW, a dau. of Francis Harlow (Frances Harlow m. Sarah² Cooper, James Gray’s widowed mother), m. (2) at Kittery, 30 Aug 1711 MARTHA GOODWIN, dau. of Moses Goodwin and Abigail Taylor (who was dau. of John and Martha (___) Taylor.2320
3. v. SARAH³ GRAY (Sarah², Alexander¹), b. abt 1692, m. (1) JOSEPH JELLISON; m. (2) NICHOLAS CANE. Not in father’s will.24

Children of SARAH² (COOPER) and FRANCIS HARLOW:
UNKNOWN TO THIS AUTHOR

2. JOHN² COOPER (Alexander¹) was born at Berwick before 9 Feb 1667. He married at Berwick on 13 Dec 1692, SARAH LORD, daughter of Nathan Lord and Martha Everett.1125)262728

Biographical Notes:
In Alexander¹ Cooper’s Will, he states that John² was his ONLY SON, aged sixteen years at the writing of the will on 9 Feb 1683. John’s own Will was dated 13 May 1759.14 John is listed amongst others affected by the “…ravages of the Indians in the first year of Queen Anne’s War…” There was a petition sent to General Court requesting an abatement of the 1704 taxes because the people just could not raise the money. “The Court resolved, “that the Sum of Thirty-eight pounds be abated to the poor of the town of Kittery.”” The individual amounts were to be determined by the Kittery Selectmen based upon them knowing who “…have met with most sufferings by the Heathen.” John Cooper received an abatement in the amount of 7 s. It is worth noting that his mother-in-law, referred to on this list as “Widdow Martha Lord,” received an abatement in the amount of 8 s.29

Children of JOHN² and SARAH (LORD) COOPER:
3. i. ALEXANDER³ COOPER (John², Alexander¹), b. in Kittery, 28 Dec 1697.25)2630
3. ii. JOHN³ COOPER, Jr (John², Alexander¹), b. in Kittery, 7 Oct 1702; d. in Berwick, Apr 1792; m. MARY (GOODWIN) LORD, widow of Richard Lord Jr., Mary was dau. of Thomas Sr. and Mehitable (Plaisted) Goodwin. b. 23 Nov 1708; d.c. 1735. Mary Goodwin’s mother, Mehitable Plaisted, dau. of Lieut. Roger Plaisted was taken captive in 1689 and “She was kept a captive for five years and then returned to Berwick.”3125)263230
3. iii. SARAH³ COOPER (John², Alexander¹), b. in Kittery, 29 Jan 1703/4; m. in Kittery 30 Oct 1740 NOAH EMERY, son of Daniel Emery and Margaret Gowen. He was “King’s Attorney” for the Province of Maine and a militia captain.25)2630
3. iv. ELEANOR³ COOPER (John², Alexander¹), bapt. in Kittery 3 May 1707/8; m. JOHN HORNE Jr of Dover. (No Sources)

  1. Stewart, George Sawin. The Bartlett Collection. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts. /george-sawin-stewart-documents/ [↩]
  2. Black, George Fraser. The Surnames of Scotland, Their Origin Meaning and History. New York : New York Public Library & Readex Books, 1962, Hathi Trust Digital Library, babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015011274175;view=1up;seq=257. [↩]
  3. Gerrard, Christopher M.., et al. Lost Lives, New Voices: Unlocking the Stories of the Scottish Soldiers at the Battle of Dunbar 1650. Oxbow Books, 2018, p. 249. [↩]
  4. Stackpole, Everett Schermerhorn. Scotch Exiles in New England. 1922. Coll. 733 & 831, Collections of the Maine Historical Society, Portland ME. [↩]
  5. Banks, C.E. 1927. ‘Scotch Prisoners deported to New England by Cromwell 1651-2’. Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society 61, 4-30. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25080212 [↩]
  6. Rapaport, Diane. Working List of Early New England Scots. 2015. [↩]
  7. Stewart, George Sawin. The Bartlett Collection. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts. /george-sawin-stewart-documents/ [↩]
  8. “Dunbar Prisoners of War Profiles.” The Scottish Prisoners of War Society, Teresa Rust, 18 Feb. 2019, scottishprisonersofwar.com/battle_of_dunbar_pows_america/. [↩]
  9. Gerrard, Christopher M.., et al. Lost Lives, New Voices: Unlocking the Stories of the Scottish Soldiers at the Battle of Dunbar 1650. Oxbow Books, 2018. Ch. 7, 8, Appendix B, p. 257-284. [↩]
  10. See R1b Lineage 54 at https://www.familytreedna.com/public/Cooper?iframe=yresults [↩]
  11. Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. [↩] [↩]
  12. “John Cooper.” Edited by Elizabeth Hyatt, WikiTree: Where Genealogists Collaborate, 6 May 2016, www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cooper-12993. [↩]
  13. “The First Permanent Settlement in Maine, c. 1926 – Everett S. Stackpole.” Old Berwick Historical Society, May, 1968, www.oldberwick.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=375%3Athe-first-permanent-settlement-in-maine-c-1926-everett-s-stackpole&Itemid=126. [↩]
  14. Maine: Early Wills and Deeds, 1640-1760. CD-ROM. Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2006. (Online database.AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009.) https://www.americanancestors.org/DB84/i/12362/54/138195349 [↩] [↩]
  15. Maine: Early Wills and Deeds, 1640-1760. CD-ROM. Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2006. (Online database.AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009.)https://www.americanancestors.org/DB84/i/7516/59/22206577 [↩]
  16. Maine: Early Wills and Deeds, 1640-1760. CD-ROM. Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2006. (Online database.AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009.)https://www.americanancestors.org/DB84/i/7516/7/22206590 [↩]
  17. Scots for Sale: Scottish Prisoners in Seventeenth Century Maine and New Hampshire– Diane Rapaport, in “New England Ancestors”- Vol. 5, No.5, p. 26 [↩]
  18. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB84/i/7503/283/6011560 [↩]
  19. Maine: Early Wills and Deeds, 1640-1760. CD-ROM. Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2006. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009.)
    https://www.americanancestors.org/DB84/i/12362/33/24163050 [↩]
  20. The Gray Family of Hancock, Maine by Almon A. Gray and Walter A. Adelbert, c1976. Boston Public Library. Internet Archives, https://archive.org/details/grayfamilyofhanc00gray. Image provided by Teresa Rust. [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩]
  21. The Gray Family of Hancock, Maine contributed by Teresa Rust [↩]
  22. Coleman, Emma. New England Captives Carried to Canada Between 1677 and 1760 During the French and Indian Wars. Heritage Books, 2008. [↩]
  23. Goodwin, John Samuel. The Goodwins of Kittery, York County, Maine. Chicago : O. S. Goodwin, 1898, Internet Archives, archive.org/details/goodwinsofkitter00good/page/n6. [↩]
  24. The Gray Family of Hancock, Maine by Almon A. Gray and Walter A. Adelbert, c1976. Boston Public Library. Internet Archives, https://archive.org/details/grayfamilyofhanc00gray. Image provided by Teresa Rust. [↩]
  25. The Descendants of Nathan Lord of Kittery and Berwick– Priscilla Eaton, The Maine Genealogist, Maine Genealogical Society- Vol. 33, pp. 82-4 (May 2011 [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩]
  26. Lord, Charles Chase. A History of the Descendants of Nathan Lord of Ancient Kittery, Me. Concord, N.H., Rumford Press, 1912., Internet Archives, https://archive.org/details/historyofdescend00lord/page/n10. [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩]
  27. Stackpole, Everett Schermerhorn. Old Kittery and Her Families. Lewiston, Me. : Press of Lewiston Journal Company, 1903, PG. 586-588, Internet Archives, archive.org/details/oldkitteryherfam00staciala/page/586. [↩]
  28. Scales, John, editor. Piscataqua Pioneers, 1623-1775; Register of Members and Ancestors. Dover, N.H., [Press of C.F. Whitehouse], 1919, pg. 130, Internet Archives, https://archive.org/details/piscataquapionee00pisc/page/130. [↩]
  29. Stackpole, Everett Schermerhorn. Old Kittery and Her Families. Lewiston, Me. : Press of Lewiston Journal Company, 1903, Internet Archives, archive.org/details/oldkitteryherfam00staciala/page/174. [↩]
  30. Stackpole, Everett Schermerhorn. Old Kittery and Her Families. Lewiston, Me. : Press of Lewiston Journal Company, 1903, Internet Archives, archive.org/details/oldkitteryherfam00staciala/page/328. [↩] [↩] [↩]
  31. Goodwin, John Samuel. The Goodwins of Kittery, York County, Maine. Chicago : O. S. Goodwin, 1898, pg. 32-33, Internet Archives, archive.org/details/goodwinsofkitter00good/page/n6. [↩]
  32. “John Cooper.” Edited by Elizabeth Hyatt, WikiTree: Where Genealogists Collaborate, 27 Jan. 2012, www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cooper-3074. [↩]
Pages: 1 2

Agnew, Niven

Home»Dunbar: ME
Battle:3 Sep 1650, Battle of Dunbar, at Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland
Ship/Arrival:Unity; Dec 1650, Massachusetts Bay Colony
Prisoner and List:Niven Agnew, #2 on George S. Stewart’s Captured at Dunbar list
Name Variations:Nyven Agnew, Niven Agneau, “Nivin the Scot”
Residences:Dover, New Hampshire and Kittery, Maine
Other SPOW Associations:John/James Barry, Peter Grant, John Taylor
Every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy; please independently verify all data.

Published: 02 December 2014
Updated: 05 Sep 2020
Researchers: Andrew Millard, Teresa Rust, and B. Craig Stinson
Editor: Teresa Rust

Contributed by Dr. Andrew Millard in July 2018:
According to, Christopher Gerrard, Pam Graves, Andrew Millard, Richard Annis, and Anwen Caffell, in, Lost Lives, New Voices: Unlocking the Stories of the Scottish Soldiers at the Battle of Dunbar 1650, (England: Oxbow Books, 2018), on page 248, Niven is categorized as: Probable [that he is a Dunbar prisoner transported on the Unity] Agnew/Agneau, Niven/Nyven/Nivin. Residences: Dover NH, Kittery ME. Appears: 1659. D.1687. Childless. Left Left bequests to the daughter of Peter Grant and the daughter of John Taylor. [Exiles; Banks; DR; BCS; SPOWS; Ch.7 & 8; App.B] For explanations of the category, abbreviations and references see List of Dunbar prisoners from Lost Lives, New Voices.

First Generation in the New World

1. NIVEN¹ AGNEW, was born, presumably in Scotland and died at Kittery, Maine in 1687. He married, MRS. (_____) BARRY, the widow of, JOHN [JAMES] BARRY, a fellow Scot. Died childless.

Biographical Notes:
Read the report below by B. Craig Stinson:

From: B. Craig Stinson:

“After earning his freedom in 1659, Niven Agnew (Niven the Scot) (Unity prisoner #2 on “The Dunbar Prisoners” list) moved upriver to Salmon Falls, where he worked at one of John Wincoll’s mills. Wincoll may have had financial troubles; in 1671 Agnew sued him for back pay amounting to the large sum of £40. His friend and fellow Scot John Barry was killed in the Indian attack of 1675; Agnew administered the estate and not only took possession of Barry’s farm below the Great Works, he also married John Barry’s widow. When Agnew died childless about 1687, his will granted all of his property to two daughters of Scottish neighbors John Taylor and Peter Grant.”

1659: Dover Tax List
1676: Managed estate in South Berwick, Maine
1687:
16 Sep – Agnew’s Will
Maine Probate

“Kittery, Maine – Probate 16 Sep 1687,” Dobson, David. Scottish Emigration to Colonial America, 1607-1785, (Athens: Georgia University Press, 1994; paperback version 2004), 36.

“A study of these Scotchmen clears up a lot of mystery heretofore connected with certain names that appear in early tax lists of Dover and in court records. Let us see who they were. Nyven Agnew, called also Niven Agneau, is called “Nivin the Scot” in the Dover tax-list of 1659, shortly after he got his freedom. He administered the estate of James Barry, another Scotchman of South Berwick, Maine, about 1676, and lived on the land that Kittery had granted to Barry. Agnew’s will, 16 September 1687, mentions debts due to him from James Barry, his predecessor. He divides his property between Peter Grant and John Taylor, two other Scotchmen. In the inventory of his estate is this item, “To a sword that Peter Grant did say he would give ten shillings for.” Neither Barry nor Agnew married.” FROM: History of the Town of Durham, New Hampshire, (Oyster River Plantation), by Everett S. Stackpole and Lucien Thompson, Published by vote of the Town, ©1913; pgs 75-83 from the Chapter “Exiles from Scotland”

Nyven Agnew, also called Nivin Agneau, is called “Nivin the Scot” in the Dover tax-list of 1659, shortly after he got his freedom. He administered the estate of James Barry, another Scotchman of South Berwick, Me., about 1676, and lived on the land that Kittery had granted to Barry. Agnew’s will, 16 September 1687, mentions debts due him from James Barry, his predecessor. He divides his property between Peter Grant and John Taylor, two other Scotchmen. In the inventory of his estate is this item, “To a sword that Peter Grant did say he would give ten shillings for.” Neither Barry nor Agnew married. Everett S. Stackpole and Lucien Thompson, History of the Town of Durham, New Hampshire (Oyster River Plantation) (Published by vote of the Town, 1913), 1:76.

July 1, 1703, John Key senior, aged about 70 years, deposed that James Barry, Niven Agnue and John Taylor owned in succession a farm in upper Kittery, now South Berwick. Stackpole, History of the Town of Durham, 1:81.

Probably worked at sawmills in Kittery, Maine, “on the Asbenbedick, now Great Works, River in which Becx and Co. of London had an interest” under Richard Leader, former manager of ironworks. In the same year when Leader left, “grants of land were made to some of them [the Scots exiles] in 1656, indicating that they had been released.” Others in this group included Niven Agnew, Alexander Cooper, William Furbush, Daniel Ferguson, Peter Grant, George Gray, William Gowen, David Hamilton, Thomas Holme, John Key, Alexander Maxwell, John Neal, John Ross, John Taylor, William Thomson, and James Warren.” Charles Banks, “Scotch Prisoners Deported to New England by Cromwell, 1651-1652,” Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society 61 (1927): 15.

BARROW, Barry, 1 James, Berwick. He had grants in Kit. 1662, 1673. Lists 25, 298. Wm. Gowen had James Barrow at his house and cured him of scurvy. K. by Ind in. 16 Oct. 1675. Adm. 4 Apr. 1676 to Niven Agnew, who mar. his wid. and liv. on his farm, next north of those shown in Stackp. Kittery, p. 133. No ch. Agnew=s will, calling him >my predecessor,= devised his lands. Sybil Noyes, et al., Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire (Portland, Me.: Southworth-Anthoensen Press, 1928-39), p. 78.

At court in Wells, April 4, 1676: Lyberty granted to Nivine Nignow to Improve James Barrows Land untill the Court take further order, hee allowing for the uss of It such a Consideration as is meete.

At court in Wells, July 4, 1676: Pouer of Administration granted unto Nivine Nignow of the Estate of James Barrow deceased, who is Injoyned to bring in a true Inventory thereof & to bring in security sufficient to respond that estate unto the next Court of Assotiates houlden for this County on the 2und Tusday of September next Insewing. Ibid., 2:315.

See: Diane Rapaport, “Scots for Sale, Part II: Scottish Prisoners in Seventeenth-Century Maine and New Hampshire,” New England Ancestors (Holiday 2004), 27, which discussed James Barry and his close friend, Niven Agnew: One of Agnew’s closest friends, Scotsman James Barry, died during an Indian 5 attack in 1675. Agnew administered the estate, not only taking possession of Barry’s farm below the Great Works, but also marrying his friend’s widow. When Agnew died childless, about 1687, his will granted all of his property to two daughters of Scottish neighbors John Taylor and Peter Grant.

Grant, Peter

Home»Dunbar: ME
Battle:Battle of Dunbar at Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland on 3 Sep 1650
Ship/Arrival:The ketch Unity; late Dec 1650, MA Bay Colony
Prisoner and List:Peter Grant, #11 on the “Scots at Lynn, 1653, Iron Works Inventory”1
Name Variations:
Residences:Oyster River/Dover, New Hampshire, Kittery, Maine
Other SPOW Associations:The Scots at the Iron Works Inventory in Lynn, 1653. John Mackey/Key
Every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy; please independently verify all data.

Published: 02 Jul 2014, Updated: 7 Mar 2019
Page contributors: Andrew Millard, Teresa Rust, B. Craig Stinson, Justin Swanstrom, Rosann Beauvais
Editor: Teresa Rust

First Generation in the New World

1. PETER¹ GRANT, was born in Scotland about 1631 and died at Berwick, York County, Maine about 1712. He married, first, in Scotland, before Sep 1650 [see Sources below], UNKNOWN (_____). He married, second, at Kittery, on 28 Nov 1664, JOHANNA/JOAN (_____) GRANT, widow of, JAMES (2) GRANT, a SPOW. She was born at Salem, Essex Co., Mass. about 1644 and died in Maine about 1710.

Biographical Notes:
1. According to, Christopher Gerrard, Pam Graves, Andrew Millard, Richard Annis, and Anwen Caffell, in, Lost Lives, New Voices: Unlocking the Stories of the Scottish Soldiers at the Battle of Dunbar 1650, (England: Oxbow Books, 2018),2 on page 247, Peter is categorized as: Definite [that he is a Dunbar prisoner transported on the Unity] Grant, Peter. Residences: Oyster River NH, Kittery ME. Appears: 1653. B.c.1631. D.1712. A founder of the SCS. Indicted for not returning home to his wife in Scotland. Married the widow of James (2) Grant. [Exiles; Banks; DR; BCS; SPOWS; Ch.7 & 8; App.B]3456178 For explanations of the category, abbreviations and references see List of Dunbar prisoners from Lost Lives, New Voices.
2. “James Grant signed a petition from York in 1660. He and Peter Grant were presented at court in 1661 for not going home to their wives.”9
3. “In July 1661 Peter was indicted together with James Grant, almost certainly a relative and perhaps his brother, for ‘not returning home to his wife’; that is the wife he had left behind in Scotland a decade earlier. Dunbar wives back in Scotland were being advised that they should not marry unless they had clear evidence of their husband’s deaths or the sentence of a civil judge. However, in July 1664 Peter was back in court again for living with a young widow named Joane, ‘hee owneing of her as his wife and they being not married’. This was probably his sister-in-law, his brother’s ‘widow’ – James having being declared deceased.”10
4. He was mentioned again later in connection to the mill at Great Works, “About 1665 [Eliakim] Hutchinson rented the mill to Thomas Doughty, and James Grant of York, Peter Grant and John Taylor became Doughty’s bondsmen. The bond was dated 1 June, 1665.”11
5. “The name, Peter Grant, was found in the Bartlett Collection documents on a list compiled by George S. Stewart. The list was labeled “35 Scots at Lynn 1653. Iron Works Invt.” He is also mentioned on the Old Berwick Historical Society website along with other Scottish prisoners of war, see: “The Scottish Prisoners of 1650” at the Old Berwick Historical Society. List of names given as also being Scottish prisoners of war: Niven Agnew, James Barry, Alexander Cooper, Daniel Ferguson, William Furbush, William Gowen, Peter Grant, George Gray, David Hamilton, Thomas Holme, John Key, Alexander Maxwell, John Neal, John Reed, John Ross, John Taylor, William Thomson, and James Warren. Peter’s name also pops up at the Geni.com site “Scots Prisoners and their Relocation to the Colonies, 1650-1654,” where the list of the Iron Works shows up again as well as a mention of a Unity parish in Kittery, Maine, presumably founded by some or all of the 15 Scottish prisoners of war that worked in the sawmills there. On 6 Jan 1657, Peter Grant went on the record books for making a donation to Scots Charitable Society.”
6. DNA Studies:
Scottish POW DNA Study: Group 1-A, Haplogroup R-BY2668
Grant DNA Project: Kit #21340

Children of Peter and Johanna/Joan (_____) Grant:
2. i. JAMES² GRANT+, (Peter¹), b. at Kittery on 23 Mar 1669/70; d. at Berwick before 16 Apr 1742; m. (1) MARY NASON; m. (2) RACHEL STONE.
2. ii. WILLIAM² GRANT, b. at Kittery about 1671; d. at Berwick about 1722; M., 1st, JANE WARREN, daughter of JAMES WARREN (Probable Dunbar Prisoner), m. 2nd, MARTHA NELSON.
2. iii. GRIZELL² GRANT, b. between 1670-1680; m., JOHN KEY.
2. iv. MARY² GRANT, b. at Berwick about 1676; m., JOSEPH PRAY.
2. v. HANNAH² GRANT, b. Bet. 1670 – 1680.
2. vi. PETER² GRANT, b. Bet. 1670 – 1680; m., MARY THOMAS; b. 4.
2. vii. ALEXANDER² GRANT, b. Abt. 1674; d. Aft. 17375.

Second and Third Generations

2. i. JAMES² GRANT (Peter¹), was born at Kittery on 23 March 1669/70 and died at Berwick before 16 April 1742. He married, first, at Kittery on 9 Oct. 1693, MARY NASON, daughter of JONATHAN and SARAH (JENKINS) NASON. He married, second, before 1709, RACHEL STONE, daughter of DANIEL and PATIENCE (GOODWIN) STONE.

Biographical Notes:
Berwick, Me. HR 1718, 25, 27M, 27N, 32; selectman 1713-17, 19, 22-24, 28-35; moderator 1729-34; capt. 1727; M Mary Nason (1672-b1709) in 1693 and Rachel Stone (1680-a1722) in c1709, 6/6 ch; farmer; will. In the 1718 HR, he was primarily interested in pressing a town petition setting its boundaries, probably because of his lumber lands. In later legislatures, he was less active, but he did have four committees in 1727N.12)

Children of James and Mary (Nason) Grant:
3. i. JAMES GRANT, (James², Peter¹), was born on 8 Oct 1694 and died on 15 Feb 1701. Died Young.
3. ii. PETER GRANT, (James², Peter¹), was born on 14 Dec 1696. He married, LYDIA FOST. (FROST?)
3. iii. MARY GRANT, (James², Peter¹), was born on 12 Feb 1699. She married, ANDREW WALKER.
3. iv. SARAH GRANT, (James², Peter¹), was born on 12 Sep 1701. She married, JOSEPH AUSTIN.
3. v. JAMES GRANT, (James², Peter¹), was born on 8 Dec 1703. He married, SARAH JOY.

Children of James and Rachel (Stone) Grant:
3. vi. DANIEL GRANT, (James², Peter¹).
3. vii. ELIAS GRANT, (James², Peter¹), was baptized on 8 Jun 1713. He married, MARGARET GOODWIN, a descendant of John/James Taylor (Definite Dunbar Prisoner, #32 on the Lynn Iron Works Inventory)
3. viii. JOSHUA GRANT, (James², Peter¹), was baptized on 10 Apr 1715.
3. ix. RACHEL GRANT, (James², Peter¹), baptized on 13 Jun 1717.
3. x. ELISHA GRANT, (James², Peter¹), bap. 25 Oct 1719.
3. xi. ELIJAH GRANT, (James², Peter¹), bap. 15 Jul 1722.

2. ii. WILLIAM² GRANT, (Peter¹), was born at Kittery about 1671 and died at Berwick about 1722. He married* (1) at Kittery* on 4 Aug. 1690*, JANE WARREN*, daughter of JAMES WARREN (Probable Dunbar Prisoner) and Margaret (_____). He married* (2) at Kittery* on 26 Dec 1695*, MARTHA NELSON*, the daughter of CHARLES NELSON.

Children of William and Jane (Warren) Grant:
3. i. JANE GRANT, was born at Kittery in 1692.

Children of William and Martha (Nelson) Grant:
3. ii. WILLIAM GRANT, (William², Peter¹), was born at Kittery in 1696. He married ABIGAIL KENNARD.
3. iii. ALEXANDER GRANT, (William², Peter¹), was born at Kittery in 1699.
3. iv. MARY GRANT, (William², Peter¹), was born at Kittery in 1701.
3. v. MARTHA GRANT, (William², Peter¹), was born at Kittery in 1704. She married, EPHRAIM WENTWORTH?.
3. vi. CHARLES GRANT, (William², Peter¹), was born at Kittery in 1719. He married KEZIAH (_____).

2. iii. GRIZELL² GRANT, (Peter¹), was born probably at Kittery, between 1670-1680. She married, JOHN KEY, a descendant of SPOW, JOHN MACKEY/KEY.

2. iv. MARY² GRANT, (Peter¹), was born at Berwick about 1676. She married, JOSEPH PRAY. (Joseph’s sister DOROTHY PRAY married DANIEL FURBUSH, also a SPOW)

Children of Joseph and Mary (Grant) Pray:
3. i. JOHN PRAY, (Mary², Peter¹),
3. ii. SAMUEL PRAY, (Mary², Peter¹),
3. iii. PETER PRAY, (Mary², Peter¹),
3. iv. JOANNA PRAY, (Mary², Peter¹),
3. v. MARY PRAY, (Mary², Peter¹),
3. vi. MARTHA PRAY, (Mary², Peter¹),
3. vii. MIRIAM PRAY, (Mary², Peter¹),
3. viii. ELIZABETH PRAY, (Mary², Peter¹),

2. v. HANNAH² GRANT, (Peter¹), was born between 1670 – 1680.

2. vi. PETER² GRANT+, (Peter¹), was born between 1670 – 1680. He married, at Newcastle, New Hampshire, by 1701, MARY THOMAS.

2. vii. ALEXANDER² GRANT, (Peter¹), was born about 1674 and died after 1737.
– END OF GENERATION LIST

Scots at Oyster River, Peter Grant (abt 1631-1712) By B. Craig Stinson
5 August 2016

Screen Shot 2016-08-23 at 9.44.30 AM 2

Peter Grant, was born about 1631. His original indenture was at the Lynn Iron Works, so he was not one of Valentine Hill’s Scots. As a free man in 1661, he was indicted “for not returning home to his wife.” In 1664 he was in court for living as husband and wife with a young widow named Joan Grant. Her husband James Grant had apparently died, and she was “bigg with Child”. Peter, whose first wife was supposed to still be alive (presumably in Scotland), was sentenced to £10 or 10 lashes on the bare skin, and ordered to “mantayne the Child of the sd Joane Grant soe soone as shee is delivered.” After a prescribed period of separation, the couple was allowed to marry. Peter and Joan Grant eventually raised eight children together on their farm along the Newichawannock about two miles upriver from our William Furbish. But although the oldest child, Elizabeth, was probably raised in the household, Peter Grant always insisted that he was not her father, and explicitly did not name Elizabeth in his will. However, Elizabeth was named in the will of childless Niven Agnew, and also in the will of a man named James Grant, who died at Kittery in 1683.

An excellent summary with citations can be found at http://petergrantthescot.com/peter-grant-generation-report/
born about 1631 [GDMNH 282]Originally at Lynn Iron Works [#11 Iron Works Inventory] [HTDNH 79]21 Oct 1659 – bought land from James Emery
1659 – taxed at Dover, New Hampshire
2 July 1661 – indicted by a York County (Maine) grand jury “for not returneing home to his wife.”
[2:156] Inquest July 2: 1661 “Wee present Peter Grant a Scotchman for not returneing home to his wife. Wee present James Grant a Scotchman for not returneing home to his wife.”
5 July 1664 – indicted a second time, this time for living with Joan Grant unlawfully as husband and wife:
[2:2-2] Wee present Peter Grant & Joane Grant the wife of James Grant deseased for liveing In one house togeather, hee owneing of her as his wife & they being not married. Witness Richard Abbutt

Whereas Itt appears by Peter Grants acknowledgement of his keepeing Company with Joane Grant In soe familiar manner as If they had been lawfully married which they never were nor Could bee, because the Grants wife is yett alive for any thing that is known to the Contrary, & the sd Joane Grant being now bigg with Child, It is ordered by the Court as followeth:
In reference to Peter Grants presentment for his offence herein shall either pay tenn pounds In to the Treasury or to have tenn lashes given him on the bare skine.

Peter Grant appeales from this sentence to the next Court houlden for this County. Peter Grant & Tho. Doughty do Ingage them salves In a bond of 201i that the sd Grant shall prosecute his appeale to the next County Court & the sd Grant & Doughty do Ingege In a bond of 201i that further Peter Grant shall take meete care to mantayne the Child of the sd Joane Grant soe soone as shee is delivered.

13 Sep 1664 – a remedy is offered:
Att a Court of Assotiats September 13: 1664: Itt is further ordered by this Court, for preventing any further evill betweene the sd Peter and Joane Grant by there frequent unlawfull Comeing together, that hereby theere shall bee and is an Act of seperation made betweene them, after publication whereof it they shall bee at any tyme found frequently or unseasonably togeather, &* that It do Legally appeare, each person shall either forfitt tenn pounds to the County Treasury or bee lyable to such other Censure as the Law in such Cases doth provide.

28 Nov 1664 – Peter Grant and Joan, the widow of James Grant, were married at Kittery. [GDMNH 282] The child the bride was ‘big with’ became Elizabeth. This Elizabeth was made chief heir as “Elizabeth Grant, daughter of Joane wife of Peter Grant” in the 1679 will of James Grant [#2]. Peter Grant’s will named his seven children, “them seven’ – Elizabeth was not listed.

1674 – grant of 120 acres near York Pond [OKAHF 472]1680 – Peter Grant was fined “for lying drunke in the high way,”
1683 – Peter Grant was trustee Alexander Cooper’s will
1686 – Niven Agnew’s will mentions his sword that Peter Grant had said he would pay 10 shillings for.
1691 – Peter Grant was fined in for profaning the Sabbath, when he and some other Scots killed a deer and frightened their neighbors, who feared that the gunshots signaled an Indian attack. [source: “Scottish Prisoners in Seventeenth-Century Maine and New Hampshire” by Diane Rapaport]1693 – was a surveyor of highways and fences
19 Oct 1709 – will made; “being aged & Creasey in body but of good Memory Praise be to God for it” [MW 212-213]abt February 1712-13 – Peter Grant died
2 March 1712-13 – inventory; valued £216: 10: 0.
His land is marked on the map of OKAHF 133.
In the will, wife Johanah receives all movables
Son William receives the 50 acres granted by Town of Kittery
Son James granted 10 acres for his young orchard
Son Alexander to receive ½ of homestead and house after death of their mother
Son Daniel to receive the other ½
“My children William James Alexander Daniel Grizzell mary and Hannah to them Seven” each receives 1/7 of meadows and outlands.

8 children are named in various lists, not counting Elizabeth:
Elizabeth, b. 1664
Peter (Jr) [OKAHF 472] (Note: did he die before father’s will, therefore before 1709?)
William born about 1670
James born 23 Mar 1671
Alexander born 1674
Grizzel (married John Key Jr),
Mary (Pray) born about 1676
Daniel born about 1680
Hannah

Notes about Elizabeth Grant (1664-1731) [see GDMNH 281]Born 1664
Was always repudiated by Peter Grant
James Grant [#2]’s 1679 will calls her the “daughter of Joane, the wife of Peter Grant”
Niven Agnew’s 1687 will calls Elizabeth Peter Grant’s daughter.
Peter Grant’s 1709 will does not claim her; only “them seven” children he had with Joan.
Married 1) James Landers, about 1685
James Landers born about 1653, leased Niven Agnew land 1688, died 23 June 1693
Married 2) John Turner, 28 Nov 1694 at Berwick, ME. 1 child, Mary
Married 3) William Hearl, 1709; His will 1718, probated 1730, names beloved wife Elizabeth [MW 311-313]Died 1731
Sources:
GDMNH Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire, Noyes, Libby, and Davis, Portland, Maine: The Southworth-Anthoensen Press, 1928-1939, pp281, 282.
OKAHF Old Kittery and Her Families, Everett S. Stackpole, Lewiston, Maine: Press of the Lewiston Journal Company, 1903, pp133, 472.
HTDNH History of the Town of Durham, New Hampshire, vol. 1, Everett S. Stackpole and Lucien Thompson, 1913, pp79-80.
MW Maine Wills 1640-1760, William M. Sargent, Portland: Brown Thurston and Co., 1887, pp78-79, 104-105, 212-213, 311-313.
/petergrantthescot.com/peter-grant-generation-report/
New World Immigrants – Volume I, edited by Michael Tepper, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1979
Province and Court Records of Maine, Vol II, Robert E. Moody, ed., Portland: Maine Historical Society, 1947
“Scottish Prisoners in Seventeenth-Century Maine and New Hampshire” by Diane Rapaport
Suff. Court Files 137175

B. Craig Stinson
August 5, 2016
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Torrey's New England Marriages to 1700 (19)
Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015.
Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015.
Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015.
Colonial Soldiers and Officers in New England, 1620-1775. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2013).
Colonial Soldiers and Officers in New England, 1620-1775. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2013).

Additional References:

  1. Leola Grant Bushman, Peter Grant, Scotch exile : Kittery and Berwick, Maine (1971). Unfortunately out of print, although I have a photocopy. I corresponded with Leola in the 1970s and 1980s. She, perhaps more than anyone else, pioneered the research on the Grant family and on Peter Grant in particular. ~Justin Swanstrom
  2. Here is the WorldCat entry for Leola’s book: https://www.worldcat.org/title/peter-grant-scotch-exile-kittery-and-berwick-maine/oclc/10026738
  3. Peter Grant Generation Report at Grant Genealogy | Descendants of Peter Grant The Scot Exile at WordPress
  4. Peter Grant by Justin Swanstrom at his Swan Knight WordPress Page
  5. Peter Grant at Geni.com, managed by Justin Swanstrom
  1. Stewart, George Sawin. The Bartlett Collection. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts. /george-sawin-stewart-documents/ [↩] [↩]
  2. Gerrard, Christopher M.., et al. Lost Lives, New Voices: Unlocking the Stories of the Scottish Soldiers at the Battle of Dunbar 1650. Oxbow Books, 2018, p.247. [↩]
  3. Stackpole, Everett Schermerhorn. Scotch Exiles in New England. 1922. Coll. 733 & 831, Collections of the Maine Historical Society, Portland ME. [↩]
  4. Banks, C.E. 1927. ‘Scotch Prisoners deported to New England by Cromwell 1651-2’. Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society 61, 4-30. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25080212 [↩]
  5. Rapaport, Diane. Working List of Early New England Scots. 2015. [↩]
  6. Stinson, B. Craig. “‘Oyster River Scots.’” The Scottish Prisoners of War Society, Teresa Rust, 3 June 2018, scottishprisonersofwar.com/oyster-river-scots-by-b-craig-stinson/. [↩]
  7. “Dunbar Prisoners of War Profiles.” The Scottish Prisoners of War Society, Teresa Rust, 18 Feb. 2019, scottishprisonersofwar.com/battle_of_dunbar_pows_america/. [↩]
  8. Gerrard, Christopher M.., et al. Lost Lives, New Voices: Unlocking the Stories of the Scottish Soldiers at the Battle of Dunbar 1650. Oxbow Books, 2018. Ch. 7, 8, Appendix B, p. 257-284. [↩]
  9. Stackpole, Everett Schermerhorn. Old Kittery and Her Families. Lewiston, Me. : Press of Lewiston Journal Company, 1903, Internet Archives, archive.org/details/oldkitteryherfam00staciala/ [↩]
  10. Gerrard, Chris; Graves, Pam; Millard, Andrew; Annis, Richard. Lost Lives, New Voices: Unlocking the Stories of the Scottish Soldiers at the Battle of Dunbar 1650 (Kindle Locations 4884-4889). Oxbow Books. Kindle Edition. [↩]
  11. “The First Permanent Settlement in Maine, c. 1926 – Everett S. Stackpole.” Old Berwick Historical Society, May, 1968, www.oldberwick.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=375%3Athe-first-permanent-settlement-in-maine-c-1926-everett-s-stackpole&Itemid=126. [↩]
  12. Legislators of Massachusetts General Court, 1691-1780 (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2002), (Orig. Pub. by Northeastern University Press , Boston, MA. John A. Schutz, Legislators of the Massachusetts General Court 1691–1780 A Biographical Dictionary, 1997. [↩]