Selected Families and Individuals
Notes
Rebecca SHELLEY
Rebecca died in Cambridge prison. Though no records have been found it is generally believed she was awaiting trial for witchcraft. This was at a time of witch hysteria in many areas of New England besides Salem. The fact that her husband was an upstanding important person in society, rather than casting doubt on the charge of witchcraft, gave more credence to it. Richard Weisman in "Witchcraft, Magic and Religion in 17th Century Massachusetts" explains that many of the people accused and executed for witchcraft were of high standing in the community. This fact supposedly made their evil deeds all the more powerful.
The Heritage Quest Magazine, September/October 2002,
Volume 18, Number 5, Issue 101 contains an article by
Kory L. Meyerink, AG, MLS, FUGA, entitled "Witches in
Colonial America." Page 18 gives the following
listing:
"Chamberlain, Rebecca, (Shelley) born bn-dd (c.
1625-92) Locale (Billerica, MA) Year (1692)
Outcome (Died in Prison)"
This article lists all those accused, convicted, and
executed.
From WikiTree:
"Biography
Rebecca died in prison in Cambridge having been placed there on a charge of "mischief", a term which generally meant harming someone's property, but could have been a euphemism for witchcraft since this happened in 1692.
Vital Records of Billerica does state that Rebecca, wife of William Chamberlain Sr., died 26 Sep 1692, in the prison at Cambridge.
The will of Sarah Shelley, signed 21 Apr 1686, offers proof that Sarah was a sister to Rebecca but gives no hints to their parentage. It is apparent from the will that Sarah had no children of her own, nor does she seemed to have been a landowner. She is referred to in records as both "Mrs." Sarah Shelley and "Spinster", either one of which could denote a single woman or a widow in this time period. The Will names Brother William Chamberlin, and "my sister his wife" were forgiven a debt of 6 pounds. Rebecca and her "three daughters" and cousin [nephew] John Chamberlin's wife, all wearing apparel & household goods except for three pewter dishes to cousin [niece] Sarah Shed's children. Remainder of estate to sister Chamberlin's eight sons except cousins [nephews] John & Clement Chamberlain to have 20sh over and above the others. Also to cousins John & Thomas Chamberlin and cousin Sarah Shed's children now living 10sh. Kinsman Isaac Addington to the sole Executor.
Sources
Catlin 2 Jan 2003
James D. True, manuscript "William & Rebecca Chamberlain", updated 17 Nov 1999
Vital Records of Billerica, MA to 1850. (1908: NEGHS, Boston)
The Jaquith Family in America. Jaquith, George Oakes; Walker, Georgetta Jaquith. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Mass., 1982
The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .)"
Joseph GILLSON
From WikiTree
Biography
Joseph Gilson was born about 1637, probably in Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
He was married in Chelmsford, Middlesex County, to Mary Cooper (Caper) on November 10, 1661. [1] [5]
They had relocated to Groton by March, 1665/6, where he was listed as one of the original proprietors, and lived there until about 1675, when Indian troubles in Groton caused them to return to Concord. [3] [4]
Joseph died in Concord in April 1676. [2] [3]
'
Sources
[1] Massachusetts Town & Vital Records 1620-1988; Chelmsford Marriages, page 34
[2] Middlesex County Probate Index; # 9167, Inventory, 1676
[3] North American Famly Histories: Genealogy of the Gillson and Jillson Families, Joseph Gilson Chapter
[4] History of the Town of Groton
[5] NEHGC Register, volume 057 (1897); Chelmsford Marriages, page 308
Vital Records of Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Timothy COOPER
From WikiTree:
Timothy Cooper arrived in North America in 1638 and first settled in Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts [1] [2]
He was married to Elizabeth Unknown prior to 1644. [3]
He later removed to Groton, Middlesex County, and was killed by Indians there March 2, 1675 [2]
Sources
[1] Robert Charles Anderson: "The Great Migration Directory", page 78
[2] Charles Henry Pope; "Pioneers of Massachusetts", page 118
GROTON DURING THE INDIAN WARS
By Samuel Abbott Green, M.D., GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
1883.
Harvard College Library
Bequest of
FRANCIS PARKMAN
17 January 1894
Cambridge:
Printed by John Wilson and Son,
University Press.
p.26 GROTON DURING THE INDIAN WARS.
Richard Sawtell, the first Town Clerk of Groton, was living on this site at that time and
his house would have been a convenient rallying point for the neighbors. He probably was
the Richard Sawtell who was a member of Major Appleton's Company in this war.
TIMOTHY COOPER OF GROTON
It is recorded in the Inventory of his estate, on file in the Middlesex Probate Office at
East Cambridge, that Timothy Cooper of Groton, was "Slain by the Indians, the Second day
of March 1675-6." Cooper was an Englishman by birth, and lived, probably, somewhere be-
tween the present site of the Baptist Meeting-House and the beginning of Farmer's Row.
It is not known that there was other loss of life at this time, but the affair was seri-
ous enough to alarm the inhabitants.
They sought refuge in the garrison-houses, as the Indians were lurking in the vicinity. On
March 9, the savages again threatened the beleaguered town and, by a cunningly contrived
ambush, managed to entrap four men at work, of whom one was killed and one captured, while
the other two escaped. This second assault must have produced great alarm and consterna-
tion among the people of Groton. The final and principal attack, however, came on the 13th
when the enemy appeared in full body - thought to be not less than four hundred in number.
The inhabitants at this time all were gathered into the several garrison-houses for pro-
tection. During the previous night the savages scattered throughout the neighborhood, and
the first volley of shot on the morning of the 13th was the signal for the general burning
of the town. And in this conflagration, the first meeting-house of Groton, was destroyed,
together with about forty dwelling-houses. This building, erected at the cost of many and
great privations, was the pride of the inhabitants. With its thatched roof, it must have
burned quickly; and in a very short time nothing was left but a heap of smoking embers.
footnotes: 1. John Cooper of Weston Hall, England, in his Will, written November 21,
1654, and proved the next year, mentions his "brother Timothy Cooper, now in "New
England," with children. The Will is on file in the Registry of Probate, London.
Elizabeth
This person is dead.
John GURNEY
From WikiTree
Biography
John Gurney was born in England in about 1603. His birthdate is estimated from a deposition he gave in 1653 (in the case of Wilson vs. Faxon), stating his age as 50.[1] Sprague notes that the records of the parish of Stewkley, Co. Bucks, England, list the baptism of a John, son of John Gurney, on Feb. 21, 1602/3, making him "just the right age to be the John Gurney who came to Braintree."[2]
He emigrated to New England, where he was in Braintree (Massachusetts) before May 1645, when he signed a petition for a new plantation. He was a tenant farmer on Capt. William Tyng's estates in Braintree. Tyng's inventory, taken May 25, 1653, included "45 acres at Braintree, upland & marsh in the possession of John Gurney". In 1651-2 John Gurney received a land grant at Weymouth, but apparently he did not settle there, as the property was later granted to others.[3]
Death: 1663