1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
2compiled by Lucius M. Boltwood, History and Genealogy of the Family of Thomas Noble, printed privately. " "Thomas Noble was the emigrant ancestor of the largest family in the US bearing the name of Noble. ... His exact origin and early history are involved in obscurity, the place of his birth, the names of his parents, and the year in which he came to this country, being alike unknown. He was, without doubt, here in 1653, and was the man mentioned by Drake, (History of Boston, p. 331) as admitted, on the 5th of January of that year, an inhabitant of Boston. The same year, he removed to Springfield, MA and opened an account at the store of John Pynchon. Though not one of the founders, he may be considered as one of the early settlers of that ancient town, the first settlement having been made in 1636, only 17 years before. A few years after removing to Springfield, he visited England, as appears from an account book of Mr Pynchon. On the 1st of Sep 1657, he was indebted to Pynchon to the amount of 32 pounds in which account is this item: "To what I pd. for your passage to and fro Engld., and for yo charges (beside what I give you) as in my pocket booke, 16 pounds"
"In 1664, in connection with several of his townsmen, he had liberty granted him to erect a sawmill on the west side of the Connecticut,.. (a note quoted in the reference giving specifics)."
"Mr. Noble, though a man of activity and industry, seems to have early fallen into a habit (which it is to be hoped that his descendants will carefully avoid) of living "beyond his means," and as a natural result, soon found himself in debt. To secure the sums due to Henry Smith and John Pynchon, he was obliged, in 1667, to make over to Pynchon his house in Springfield, and all his land, except a grant towards Windsor. In the hope of improving his condition, and providing for the wants of a large and growing family, he was therefore ready to join those who were beginning a settlement at Westfield. The precise time of his removal to that place is not known. The lands there granted to him, July 1666, on condition that he settled upon them before the last of May 1667 having been forfeited by non-settlement, the grant was renewed, Jan 9, 1668, and the time of settlement extended to Nov 10, 1668. At all events, he was there as early as Jan 21, 1669, for at a meeting at Warronoco (Westfield), at that date it was "voted that Ja. Cornish, Geo. Phelps, Thomas Dewey and Thomas Noble shall go to Springfield the first Tuesday in Feb next, at a town meeting, to propound to the town for the settlement of our place and affayres, in particular to determine wherethe lyne shall run betwixt Springfield and us, and to appoynt persons to lay out the bounds granted us by the honored Gen Court, and to allow us to be a township by o'selves and signify the same to the honored Gen Court."
"In his historical sketch of Westfield, Rev. Dr. Emerson Davis states, that Mr. Noble's residence in Westfield was about 2 and a half miles east of the present center of the town, on the farm where his son, Dea. Thomas Noble, afterwards resided, and which remained in the family until after the death in 1791 of his great grandson, Lt. Stephen Noble, when it passed into the possession of Ambrose Day. There, he doubtless lived in peace and quiet, until the commencement of "King Philip's" War, in 1675. In this war, says Rev. Dr. Davis,
"Mr. Noble was much exposed. One night during family prayers, GrayLock (an old Indian) stepped up and pulled the string and let the doorswing open, and as soon as all was quiet, he would pull the string again. Mr. Noble was persuaded by his friends to move into town. Gray Lock said he had several opportunities of killing most of his children... but did not want scalps as much as captives. "
"Having been chosen constable of Westfield, the records of the Hampshire county court show, that on the 7th April 1674, he "was sworne to discharge ye s office," which in those days was one of honor and trust. He took the oath of allegiance to his Majesty, Jan 23, 1678; joined Westfield church, Feb 20, 1681; was made a freeman, Oct 12, 1681, and at the Hampshire county court, Sept 26, 1682, took the freeman's oath."
"The Hampshire county records show that about this time he suffered the penalty of the law for travelling on Fast day"... had to pay 5 shillings.
"In 1684, his name is with the most influential of his townsmen, upon the jury of inquest on the body of Eliezer Weller of Westfield..." (names include John Maudsly, Samuel Loomis, Sen, Isaac Phelps, Thomas Noble, John Root, John Sacket, John Ponder, Josiah Dewey, Ramuel Root, Jacob Phelps, John Williams, and Thomas Dewey.... inquest signed by John Pynchon.
"The town of Westfield, on 6 Sep 1685, granted to him, in connection with Isaac Phelps, Nathaniel Weller, and David Ashley, liberty to erect a sawmill "on the NE side of the river" and at the same date, together with GEORGE SEXTON, he was chosen to" join with the Selectmen to prize buildings." (Details later about being chosen to settle difference between towns of Westfield and Suffield over boundary). He was later chosen as county surveyor. (1696)
"Agriculture, necessarily the main pursuit of every one in the early history of a country, was his principal employment, although while at Springfield, during the winter, he worked a portion of the time as a tailor."
"At Westfield, he was so much prospered in his labors, as not only to bring up a large family of children well, but also to leave them at his death a respectable estate. " (Copy of his will is included in the reference)." as quoted in PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002 from Wayne Olsen.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
2Ruth Lincoln Kaye, Thomas Lincoln of Taunton and Joseph Kellogg of Hadley and 144 Related Colonial Families, Professional Printing Co., Washington D.C., 1973. as quoted in PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002 from Wayne Olsen. " Family origin is a charming hamlet on the Thames near London, Bovenay, Burnham, Buckinghamshire. The allied families of the Montague family also came from there. Allens, Cottons, and Malthouses... Though their coats of arms are identical, there is no proven connection to the noble lineage of Montagues.
Richard, spelling his name Mountague, came about 1638 or earlier and married 1642c Abigail Downing in the little Salem church. Their many moves are traced thru his devout wife's transfers from church to church. They were in Boston 1646, where their second child was born, then helped to colonize Wells, Maine. Soon they came back to Boston and moved on to Marblehead, where Richard took the oath of freeman 1650. They left soon for Wethersfield, CT where in 1651 the town granted him land, and finally settled in 1659-60 in Hadley, MA where they are regarded as founders. Richard Montague performed his civic duties faithfully, was twice selectman of Hadley, 1681 clerk of writs, hayward (receiving so manyshillings fr rounding up lost or strayed animals for the pound). He had a sideline as a grave digger, getting 4 shillings for an adult and 2 for a child under ten. But for burying Gov. John Webster he received a whopping 15 shillings. When not burying the dead, he was a baker, and in 1680 had a flour bolting mill which Abigail continued after his death. Richard was called a famous Indian fighter up and down the valley, but by the time of King Philip's War in 1675-6 was too old to take active part, although his horse was commandeered, but baked bread for soldiers who fought nearby.
Richard built a sturdy little house in Hadley which stood for 150 years. Described as having had very small panes of glass, 6 x 8 inches, it had a very large chimney fortified on the outside by large bricks,undoubtedly as a shield against Indians who were such a threat that Richard carried a rifle always to work in the fields or to worship in the church. All Montague men were tall and were said to build their doorposts higher than common so that a "Montague might walk in with his hat on". A reproduction of a miniature painted in England when Richard was 18 or so may be found in the Smith book (in refs) and another in the Montague book (as well as a sketch of his house). Richard was very handsome with black hair, dark eyes, and an alert, bright expression.
Abigail lived with her son John after Richard's death, outlasting her husband by 13 years. A great-great-grandson gave the land for the meetinghouse and common at Granby, CT. Richard's inventory was valued at 277 pounds."
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.
2Mudge, Alfred, Memorials: Being a Genealogical, Biographical and Historical Account of the Name of Mudge, Boston 1868, p. 34, Personal files of Dianne Z. Stevens, 1301 Reetz Road, Madison, WI 53711. "Order from the General Courte of Boston, dated May 24, 1682
The Towne Book of Squakeheag orNorthfield, Where in is Recorded the names of ye petitioners for the PlantationWith the Grants and Acts of the General Court about . . . . With the Deeds from the Indions and the orders of the Comitey with the consent of the Proprietors Which Have taken upp Land there With the Grants and rerescript of every mans Land.
The names of those that presented their Names to Major Pinchon to bee presented to the Honored Gen Couret who engaged to doe yr indeuer to atend the conditions of ye grant
Elder John Strong Isark Shelden
Joseph Parsons Sen'r Matthewe Clessen
Samuel Wright Sen'r Joshuah Pummery
Joseph Dirkinson John Alexander
George Alexander Cornelius Merry
Thomas Bascomb William Smead
Robert Liman Richard Weller
Thomas Roote Sen'r John Kilburne of Wethersfield
William Jeanes John Hilleor
William Hubbard Micah Mudg
Nathaniel Phelps Sen'r Ralph Hutchison
William Miller Sen'r."."
1Olsen, Wayne, PAF file: Boslow_Anc_Stevens.paf, rec'd via EMail 0n 14 APR 2002.