Evidence re: origins of Mary Bird's husband, John North of CT
This message is cross-posted from the North family forum.
I have recently examined the probate record of John North, Jr., the son of John North and Mary Bird (dau. of Thomas Bird of Hartford, CT).John North, Jr. died on August 6, 1682, in Wethersfield, CT.The record is found on page 341 of "Digest of Early Connecticut Probate Records" by Manwaring. "John Kilbourn" and "Thomas Wright" are listed as having taken the inventory of John North, Jr., whose estate was inventoried on 5 September 1682.
It has been my experience with wills and inventories probated in colonial CT (during the 1600's and 1700's) that the individuals taking the inventory of the deceased were nearly always close relatives, in-laws, personal friends or business associates. The significant fact in this case is that John Kilbourn[e] took the inventory of John North, Jr. This is the same John Kilbourne that was baptised in Wood Ditton, Cambridgshire, on 29 September 1624 (NEHGR, vol. 18, p. 226; TAG, v. 38, 1962). He was from a prominent family of that parish, which is located adjacent to Kirtling, Camb. (home of the baronial North family).
I have posted earlier (on the North forum) extensive comments about John North of Kirtling, Camb. and his possible identification with John North of Farmington, CT. I have also identified (on the Bird forum) the possible connection of Simon Bird of Billerica, MA, who came on the same ship with John North and Richard Saltonstall in 1635, to Simon Bird of Wood Ditton, Camb. (Simon is an unusual name in the Bird family of that era.) The "Great Migration" series has suggested that Simon Bird of Billerica may be identical with Simon Bird of Wood Ditton (b. 1615).
Thomas Wright (the other person taking the inventory) was a descendant of the Wrights of Kelvedon Hatch, Essex, another prominent family that has clear associations with the Bird/Byrd family. The Elizabethan composer William Byrd, who was a neighbor to the Wrights of K.H., had a brother named "Symond" (as I said, an unusual name for the family and the era). There is some evidence to show that this "Symond" Bird may be the ancestor of Simon Bird of Billerica, MA.
Every objection that I have seen to the identification of John North of Farmington, CT, with John North of Kirtling, is based on John North of CT's age (from the passenger manifest of the "Susan and Ellen," dated 1635), which was given as 20 years old at the time of his traveling to the New World . Considering the lack of reliability of these manifests (see messages nos. 1090 and 1241 on the North family forum), this single piece of evidence cannot, in my view, be used as the ONLY objection to this identification.
I have seen assertions that John North of Kirtling did not leave England, and I would certainly welcome proof of the "null hypothesis." Is anyone able to prove, based on reliable, verifiable information, that John North of Kirtling, Camb. did NOT leave England? For example, a parish record or will showing his death date and location, or the name of his second (and/or third) wife?