Shaking the Richard YORK tree of Dover, New Hampshire
I am currently in doubt about the father-son relationship of immigrant Richard York of Dover, NH and Samuel York who died in Gloucester, MA.
I come from a line of York descendants which trace back to the Samuel York family who resided at N. Yarmouth and Falmouth, Maine and died in Gloucester, Ma.
Many "circa 1800s publications" have been printed and suggest that Samuel was the son of Richard. Virtually all "100%" of genealogy trees say the same.
Richard York was living in Dover, NH by 1648. He left an unsigned will in 1672 and died before June of 1674. His will mentions only the following children: Sons John and Benjamin and daughters Elizabeth, Grace (who were not yet married) and daughter Rachele Halley (who obviously married a Halley before her father's will was made). He also mentioned grandchildren Richard and Benjamin York who were obviously the sons of either John or Benjamin. John was named first in the will and was also named as administrator along with Richard's widow Elizabeth. So, an assumption can be made that John was the oldest son of Richard. It may also be assumed that the grandchildren mentioned by Richard were sons of John, since Benjamin was not taxed in NH until 1677 so he was likely not even married at the time of his father's death.
THE BIG PROBLEM is that Samuel York is not mentioned in Richard's will. I personally think that it would be safe to assume that Samuel was not a son of Richard's.
Richard's widow, Elizabeth married second to William Graves and had at least one known child by the name of William about 1675.
Ruth Graves, the daughter of William and his first wife married John York, the son of Richard and Elizabeth.
In the meantime, in Maine, a John York and a Samuel York are living in or near Fort Casco at Falmouth.They are attacked in 1690. A John York is said to have been killed in the raid in May of that year. At the same time, a Samuel York was taken captive to Canada who testified about his captivity in court 10 years later.
Another John York, presumably the son of the John who was killed was taken captive to Norridgewock (up the Kennebec where Father Rasle was slain many years later). It is said that this John, a younger boy, was killed there possibly because he couldn't sustain himself and became a burden on the indians who took him captive.
Stepping back in time to 1670, Samuel York purchased land from indians in the amount of 600 acres along Merrymeeting Bay. When the indians attacked, it is said that he removed to Gloucester, Mass, and that it was his son Samuel who was taken captive. It is believed that Samuel (the elder) was the one who died in Gloucester and left a will on 3/18/1718. And, according to Babson "History of Gloucester" he died at the age of 73, putting his dob at about 1645.
Again, the assumption has been that the two Yorks, who were taken into captivity, were brothers. If this is the case, then neither this John nor this Samuel were the sons of Richard York of Dover.
If Samuel was a son of immigrant Richard, he would surely have been named in his will, but he was not.
Further, his widow married second to the widower William Graves and supposedly had a son William about 1675. The big question is, how can a woman have a child in 1645 and have another in 1675?
The claim on virtually 100% of the York genealogies claim that eldest son John was born about 1642. That would mean that Elizabeth would have been born no later than 1625 and more than likely she would have been born closer to 1620. This would put her age at about 55 when she supposedly had a son named William with her new husband William Graves.
Maybe I am alone in my thoughts about this, but it does not add up well to me. There seems to be big problems with the information that is out there about the Dover, NH immigrant Richard York, where he came from, who he married and when. I have seen absolutely no debate on the subject matter and many simply site earlier writings and seem to be content with them.
I have some questions which I'm hoping someone might be able to help me with:
1. Does anyone know where immigrant Richard came from which might be more specific than England?
2. Does anyone have a transcription of the will of Samuel York who died in Gloucester in 1718?
3. Does anyone have any theories as to why Samuel was excluded from his supposed father Richard's will?
I have a genealogy document written by my great-grandfather in probably the late 1800's which states that, "In his will made in 1672, he mentions his wife and several children of whom is Samuel, born 1645. Richard died in 1674, leaving a widow Eizabeth; and Savage thinks he was the father of Benjamin, Edward, and John...James, Samuel and Thomas York (July 22, 1670) purchased of the Indians a large tract of land....James and Thomas York were unquestionably his brothers making six in the family of Richard and possibly more."
The genealogy of my great-grandfather is, without a doubt, a valuable source for me and my family. but, I was astonished when I finally read the will of Richard York and found that Samuel was NOT mentioned in it. I am almost sure that my great grandfather never adtually saw the will, but likely read about it from some other book like maybe the Maine/NH Gen. Dict. or Babson in "History of Gloucester".
I don't know where it came from, but it is erroneous. I have also read about the land purchase of the indians and found that the land was purchased by Samuel York and James Thomas. James Thomas was the name of Samuel's partner. And, if it was read as "James Thomas and Samuel York", I can see how it could be incorrectly interpreted.
Savage mentioned that Richard had a son Edward. Does anyone know anything about an Edward York? He was definitely not a son of Richard, so Savage had to be wrong about that. I have looked everywhere for details on an Edward and have come up short on any info with any teeth.
Emma Lewis Coleman who wrote "New England Captives Carrid to Canada Between 1677 and 1760 during the French and Indian Wars" published in 1925 had this to say on page 209 about John York:
"John was probably son of John and Ruth (Graves). John Sr., was killed in the attack as John, Jr., was said to have been, but Mrs. Swarton wrote that when the captives were separated she and "One John York" were the only two at Norridgewock, and that they "were both, almost starved for want.... and accordingly John York, growing weak by his wants, they killed him."
Maybe immigrant Richard York was, as everybody says, the father of Samuel York, but can anyone give me any convincing arguments to the validity and why he would not have been named in his will?
Hope to hear from anyone on the topic.
thanks,
M. Y. R.
More Replies:
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Re: Shaking the Richard YORK tree of Dover, New Hampshire
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Re: Shaking the Richard YORK tree of Dover, New Hampshire
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Amy York 1/31/06
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