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From "The Churchill Family in America" by Garnder A. Churchill, Nathan Wiley Churchill, Rev. George M. Bodge, circa 1905.
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 January 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, parentage, 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 upland 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 opposite 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 situated. 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 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.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, parentage, 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 upland 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 opposite 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 situated. 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 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 dwellinghouse." 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.
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 followeth.Abigail Clarke, aged twenty three years, or thereabouts, being deposed saith that on Tuesday 24th of December last past before the date hereof, her kinsman, 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 deceased, above expressed in all and every the particulars; the said Will and Testament to stand and remain and continue unalterable and inviolable forever. Plymouth Ss., Oct. 20. 1652, a true copy from the Plymouth Colony Record Book of Wills, Vol. 2d Part second Page 82 m. S. Russell, Keeper of Said Records.
AN INVENTORY OF THE GOODS AND CHATTELS OF JOHN CHURCHILL, LATE DECEASED, APPRAISED BY THOSE UNDERWRITTEN, THE 11 FEBRUARY, AND EXHIBITED TO THE COURT HELD AT PLYMOUTH THE THIRD OF MARCH, ONE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED AND SIXTY THREE AS FOLLOWETH,
£. s. d.
Imp& 4 oxen 16 00 00
Item, 2 cores 05 00 00
" 2 heifers supposed to be with calf 05 00 00
" 2 steers of 2 yro. old and one heifer of 2 yro old 07 00 00
" a Yearling steer 01 00 00
" 2 steer calves 01 10 00
2 Sows & three Piggs 01 10 00
2 feather bed tickes not full 03 10 00
4 Blankets 01 10 00
3 Pair of Sheets 02 00 00
2 pillows and 4 pillow beers 01 00 00
5 napkins and a Tablecloth 00 06 00
his wearing clothes 06 00 00
Stokens and shoes & an home made coat 01 00 00
a hatt 00 08 00
3 Shirts 00 12 00
Bands and handkerchiefs 00 08 00
a great brass Kettle 01 00 00
a Bellmettle skillett 00 02 00
2 great iron Potts 01 10 00
an old Kettle and an iron skillett 00 05 00
Pothooks and pot hangers and an old iron ladle 00 04 00
1 plough share and Coultre 00 08 00
3 Seythes & 3 Sickles 00 10 00
a pair of tongs and a fire shovel 00 02 00
4 pewter platters 00 12 00
2 pewter basons & drinking pot and seven alcomy (Alchymy) spoons 00 05 00
on Earthen Ware 00 08 00
2 Trays, 7 trenchers & some other Wooden vessels 00 04 00
2 hogsheads, 4 Barrells 00 10 00
2 Beer Barrells & a churn & a Washing tubb 00 08 00
a trundle bedstead, 2 chairs &2 old tables 00 10 00
2 axes, a morticing axe & 2 hatchetts 00 08 00
2 pickaxes, 3 hoes 00 06 00
2 Augurs and some other small iron tools 00 03 00
5 Wedges and a beetle-ring 00 05 00
2 guns 05 10 00
a sword and shot pouch, 2 lbs powder 4 lbs shot 00 12 00
2 spring wheels and 3 pair of cards 00 10 00
Meale baggs & sacks & a sifting trough 00 10 00
1 fan, 2 corn sieves, & 2 meal sieves 00 10 00
2 cow bells 00 01 00
a cart & wheels 01 00 00
2 chains, a bolt and shackle 00 08 00
Wainbead yoke, the ring & staple 2 Ring yokes with books and staples 00 10 00
in Books 00. 06. 00 in old Lumber 00. 05. 00 00 11 00
74 14 06
Debts due from the Estate £. s. d.
Item, to Robert Finney 06 00 00
" in other small debts 01 00 00
Plymouth Ss. Oct. 20, 1652.
A true copy from the Book of Wills 2nd. Part Volume 2d, page 83
Attest Wm. E. RUSSELL
Keeper of the P. Colony Record.
The book "Churchill Family in America" (Gardner Aseph & Nathaniel Wiley Churchill, 1904) did not indicate from where John Churchill emigrated to Plymouth Colony in the 1640's. It's supplement in 1968 also posed the unanswered question about the relationship of John's line to that of Winston Churchill.
The Ancestry File of the LDS may be able to answer the former question and offer some insight into the latter. According to the LDS, John Churchill and his ancestors back to his great grandfather William Churchill came from Dorset county on the south coast of England. Muston, a now non-existant town in Dorset, seems to have been the ancestral home of Churchills, according to Burke's Family Index. Based on historical maps, Muston may have been located near the present day town of Winterbourne Kingston.
Regarding any relationship of John's line and that of Winston Churchill, the LDS offers intriguing clues. Winston's ancestor and namesake Sir Winston, father of the famous Duke of Marlborough (also John), was born at Muston in Dorset in 1620. He and the 20th century Winston had an ancestor named William in the 1530's in Muston. As you'll see below, our John of Plymouth also had an ancestor named William in 1530's Dorset. The former William was married to a Mary Cruwys while the latter William was married to a Mary Cruese or Crense. Could Cruwys and Cruese be the same name spelled differently?
Interestingly, there is evidence that the Churchills of Northern Maine are related to Sir Winston via his mother, the American Jennie Jerome.
Why did John emigrate to Plymouth Colony. We may never know, but here are some interesting facts. Between the Mayflower's landing at Plymouth in 1620 and the early 1640's, approximately 25,000 English subjects immigrated to New England. The English Civil War was heating up in the early 1640's, maybe John wanted to get away from that. Interestingly, Sir Winston (mentioned above) was on the royalist side, the losers to Cromwell's roundheads, and lost most of his property. If John was related to his contemporary Winston, maybe he too was on the wrong side and chose New England over remaining in the Lord Protector's England. So, John may have emigrated for any of a number of reasons, political, religious or economic.
John Churchill first appeared in records of Plymouth in 1643. He is listed on a roster of "Men able to bear arms". He came from Dorset County, England and married Hannah Pontus at Plymouth Colony in 1644.
THE ORIGINAL CHURCHILL HOMESTEAD.
From "Old Colony Memorial Deeds," Vol., VIII., p. 111. Memorandum the 18th of August 1645. That Richard Higgins doth acknowledge, 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 Woeberry 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 appurtenances 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.
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