FIRST
GENERATION-
___________1. JOHN CHURCHILL, the emigrant ancestor of the
Plymouth branch of the family in America, was born in England and first appeared
at Plymouth in Massachusetts, in 1643, and died there Jan. 1, 1662/3. It is a
matter of regret that up to the completion of this volume nothing has been found
to give even a clue to the birthplace, par-entage, previous residence, or occupation
of this emigrant ancestor of such a large posterity. He was not in the tax-lists
of Plymouth in 1632, but appears in 1643 in the list of the male inhabitants between
sixteen and sixty years old, who are "able to bear arms." Diligent research
through many ways and for many years has failed to add any authentic information
to the bare fact that he was at Plymouth in 1643. In addition we have the following
items: He married Hannah Pontus, Dec. 18, 1644; bought a farm of Richard Higgins,
Aug. 18, 1645; was propounded freeman, June 4, 1650, and admitted June 5, 1651.
He bought, Oct. 20, 1652, of Nathaniel Masterson, then of Manchester, in Massachusetts,
ten acres of up-land lying at Wellingsley, in the township of Plymouth. In this
deed Mr. Churchill is called "Planter." Mr. William T. Davis, in "Ancient
Landmarks of Plymouth," page 331, has the following pertinent reference,
which we quote verbatim:John Churchill, the progenitor of the Churchill family,
who appeared in Plymouth in 1643, settled at Hobsbole. His land was on the easterly
side of the street, and extended from the southerly line of the field oppo-site
to "Jabez Corner" to a point thirty feet distant from the southerly
line of the estate of Branch Blackmer. Here he lived and died, but no tradition
exists concerning the precise spot on which his house was situ-ated. There are
some indications, however, in the records, that the old house owned by Thomas
B. Sears and Amos Leshure, which was built by Elkanah Churchill, the grandson
of John, occupies the site of the ancient dwelling. After the death of Mr. Churchill,
the estate fell into the hands of his son Eleazer. In Mr. Churchill's will, given
below, we note that he had acquired, by grant or purchase, quite a large land
property. At his death, his 2 eldest son, Joseph, was about sixteen years old.
The widow, with her six children, lived, evidently, in the "new house,"
which he mentions as designed for Joseph, after the mother's death, while if Joseph
marries before that event he is to have "the old dwelling-house." The
widow was left the use of his whole property during her life. It is proper here
to give some account of this wife and mother. HANNAH (PONTUS) CHURCHILL was the
daughter of William Pontus, who was at Plymouth as early as 1633, and was born
in Holland or England in 1623. Very little appears in the records of Plymouth
concerning William Pontus, although he was a land-owner and a citizen of some
prominence and influence in the colony, and a member of the Court 1636-1638 inclusive.
It is therefore gratifying to the editor of this volume to be able to add something
to the sum of our knowledge of the parents of Hannah Pontus, the ancestress of
the numerous lines of this Plymouth branch of the Churchills. In the notes of
Mr. Charles B. Richardson, gathered in his researches in the Records at Leyden,
and published in the "Historical Magazine," London and New York, December,
1859, Vol. III., page 358 -- lists of the names and occupations of some of the
company of the Pilgrims who did not embark in the "Mayflower" are found.
Among these are John Robinson, minister, from England; William Pautes (Pontus),
fustian-worker, from Dover. On page 263 of same volume William Brewster is mentioned
a witness on behalf of "William Pautes, fustian-worker, from near Dover on
his marriage with Wybra Hanson,, maid, on the 4 December, 1610." Now Mary
Pontus, the sister of Hannah, married, Oct. 31, 1645, James Glass, and in the
Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. VIII., page 7, is found the birth of Wybra Glass,
daughter of James and Mary, born Aug. 9, 1649. This name Wybra, so uncommon, would
seem to indicate a close relation between Wybra (Hanson) Pautes (Pontus), of Leyden,
and this granddaughter of William Pontus. The wife of Mr. Pontus was living in
1633, but she is mentioned as "Good-wife Pontus." See "Mayflower
Descendants," Vol. I., page 160. They lived, probably, near the southwestern
limits of the "Mile and a half tract," as by maps of 1701. He died Feb.
9, 1653, leaving his small estate by will of 1650 to his two daughters. Mrs. Hannah
(Pontus) Churchill married, June 25, 1669, Mr. Giles Rickard, as his third wife,
and survived him six years. She died at Hobb's Hole, Dec. 22, 1690, "in her
sixty-seventh year." 3
THE ORIGINAL CHURCHILL HOMESTEAD.From "Old
Colony Memorial Deeds," Vol., VIII., p. 111. Memorandum the 18th of August
1645. That Richard Higgins doth acknowl-edge, that for and in consideration of
the sum of twelve pounds, to be payd in manner and forme following by John Churchwell,
That is to say, five pounds the first of March next, fourty shillings that tyme
twelve months, and fourty shillings the first of March 1647, and the remayning
three pounds the first of March in the year of our Lord, 1648, all which payments
are to be made in corne or cattell or other current payment of the country as
they will then passe from man to man at the said time of payment, - Hath freely
and absolutely bargained and sold unto the said John Churchwell, all that his
dwelling-house, out-houses and buildings, with the garden and orchard situate
neere Browne's Rock, together with the uplands thereunto adjoining, and all his
lands at Woe-berry together with his meddow at South Ponds and at Colebrook meddowes
towards Agawam, and all the fencing in and about any part of the premises, and
all his Right title and Interest of and into the said premises with their ap-purtenances
and every part and parcell thereof, - To have and to hold, etc., etc. . . .
Provided that it shall be lawful for the said Richard Higgins to take away the
bords that lyne the inward roome, and the bedstead and boards overhead, and some
fruit trees in the said orchard, so that he leave the said John thirty good fruit
trees in the said orchard, and the forsaid payments to be made at Plymouth.
October 29, 1649.
Received by me, Richard Higgins full satisfaction from John
Churchwell upon all accounts from the beginning to the present.RICHARD HIGGINS.
THE WILL OF JOHN CHURCHILL. The Will nuncupative of John Churchill Senr., late
deceased, exhibited before the Court held at Plymouth the 3d of March 1662 attested
upon oath as fol-loweth.
Abigail Clarke, aged twenty three years, or thereabouts,
being deposed saith that on Tuesday 24th of December last past before the date
hereof, her kins-man, viz. John Churchill Senr., being ill at .... but of perfect
memory, did express himself in manner as followeth, that, his mind and will was
that his son Joseph Churchill and his son Eliezer Churchill shall have and enjoy
all his lands both uplands and meadows within the township of Plymouth excepting
only fifty acres of land granted to him by the Towne, lying at Mannonnett ponds,
which he gave them unto John Churchill his son, moreover that his will was that
his son William shall have his purchase land at Punckatusett, viz. his share towne's
land there; further that he did express himself that his son Joseph shall have
his new house at his wife's death and for the use of all the lands aforesaid that
they shall bee for the use and improvement of his wife as long as she lives and
that he also said that in case Joseph should marry or bee for himself, that then
he should have the use of the old dwelling house and some land to make use of.
And as for his estate remaining he said that he knew not whether there would be
anything left when his children were brought up or not, but if his wife could
spare it, then that Joseph should have a yoake of oxen, and Eliezer a yoake of
oxen, and Hannah a cow if not two; and in case anything should be left at his
wife's decease, that then such of his children as have nothing in particular as
above given them should have what is left, in equable proportion, to equallize
what is given them forenamed as far as it will goe.
The oath of Abigail Clarke
taken in the Court held at Plymouth the third day of March 1662 Attested pr me
Nathaniel Morton
Att the Court of his Majtee, held at Plymouth in New England
on the 2nd day of March anno Domini 1668, Joseph Churchill came before the said
Court and allowed approved Rattifyed & confirmed the Will of his father John
Churchill
...587.
HARRISON CHURCHILL (ASA, DANIEL, JOSEPH, JOHN, ELIEZER,
JOHN). Born at Moose River, May 2, 1841.
Mr. Churchill was living at Dewey,
Mont., April, 1901. Married, at New Diggings, Wis., March 12, 1886, DORA OLIVER.
-Children- WARREN O., b. Oct. 30, 1887, RUSSELL H., b. April
6, 1889, MILDRED H., b. Feb. 15, 1891.MARJORIE M., b. April 27, 1893.
8-WARREN-1887-1963? +
MYRTLE FARMER ( - )
