Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

Elizabeth

Female 1617 - 1699  (~ 90 years)


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  • Name Elizabeth  
    Born From 1609 to 1617  , , England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Female 
    Died 16 May 1699  Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I2416  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Family 1 John Harmon,   b. 1617, , , England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7/07 Mar 1660/1, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 44 years) 
    Married Abt 1640  of Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. John Harmon,   b. Abt 1641, of Plymouth, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 Feb 1712, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 71 years)
     2. Samuel Harmon,   b. 1643, of Plymouth, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 Sep 1677, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 34 years)
     3. Sarah Harmon,   b. 24/24 Jan 1644/5, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 21 Oct 1740, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 95 years)
     4. Joseph Harmon,   b. 4/04 Jan 1646/7, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Oct 1729, Southfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 82 years)
     5. Elizabeth Harmon,   b. 15 Apr 1649, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 Jul 1652, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 3 years)
     6. Mary Harmon,   b. 12 Nov 1651, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef 29 Nov 1671, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age < 20 years)
     7. Nathaniel Harmon,   b. 13/13 Mar 1653/4, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 2 May 1712, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 58 years)
     8. Ebenezer Harmon,   b. 12 Aug 1657, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 Apr 1660, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 2 years)
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F1193  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Anthony Dorchester,   b. Abt 1620, of Dorchester, Dorset, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Aug 1683, Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 63 years) 
    Married Bef 1664  of Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F255  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. The book "Anthony Dorchester and his Descendants," by Janice P. Dorchester (1998) Janice P. Dorchester, pp. 1-5:
      "FIRST GENERATION
      ANTHONY1 DORCHESTER was born about 1620, probably in Dorchester, Dorsetshire, England. He may have been among the first settlers in this country in Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts, about 1634, before settling in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, with the Dorchester Company. He died 28 August 1683, in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts.
      He married SARAH (last name unknown) about 1643. In the summer of 1649 the family moved up the Connecticut River to Springfield, Massachusetts. Sarah fell ill in July and died 9 November 1649.
      Children born in Windsor by Anthony's first wife, Sarah;
      i JOHN2 B., born 4 November 1644.
      ii. JAMES, born 1646.
      iii. MARY, born about 1648.
      Anthony married MARTHA CHAPMAN KITCHERELL on 2 January 1650. She was the widow of Samuel Kitcherell with two young children, Samuel and Martha. Young Samuel died the next year Martha died 17 December 1662 at the age of 32. Anthony was now left with several children dependent upon him.
      Children born in Springfield by Anthony's second, Martha C. Kitcherell:
      iv. BENJAMIN2, born 9 March 1651.
      v. SARAH, born 16 October 1653.
      vi. HESTER or ESTHER, born 25 October 1656 - died 17 November 1662.
      Anthony purchased land in Windsor from Benjamin Newberry. His land bordered that of the Rev. John Warham and Dr. Bray Rossiter. This lot originally belonged to William Phelps, and in 1649 he made an agreement with Mr. Warham and Dr. Rossiter concerning the fencing of land. He sold this land bounded by Warham, Rossiter, and Job and John Drake, to Robert Howard in 1649.
      Anthony Dorchester, with William Pyncheon, bought land from the Indians in Springfield. He bought approximately 10 acres from Griffith Jones, bounded by Jonathan Tayler, Rice Bedortha and John Matthews. He owned land later across the Greate (Connecticut) River and across the Agawam River and land in other parts of Springfield and the "Chikkupy Plain" as well.
      At this point the issue of witchcraft suddenly emerged. Anthony Dorchester was employed by Hugh Parsons and had a fourth interest in a cow, which was killed and divided. Both wanted the tongue of the animal. Anthony received it but while cooking it in the pot it mysteriously disappeared. It was considered to be the work of a witch. Hugh and Mary Parsons were not friendly people and rather antisocial. Other incidents followed, and subsequently they were condemned for witchcraft and sent to Boston for trial. Mary was found to be mentally deranged and confessed to killing her own child. She was sentenced to be hanged but died of natural causes before the execution could take place. Hugh Parson escaped conviction. He left Boston and was never seen in Springfield again.
      Anthony established a mill in 1652 and became a fence viewer that same year and for many years thereafter. He was named Deputy Constable in 1657. He was also the second man on the list to whom lots were granted in 1654/5 in West Springfield, then called Chicopee Plain.
      Anthony was first assigned a seat in the meeting house (church) in 1659. Where one sat in the congregation depended upon your status in the community. Anthony's seat moved forward in 1662, 1673 and again in 1678. In 1661 he took the freeman's oath. Only church members could vote in the community and they were designated "freemen". The next year he became a Selectman and was re-elected in 1671 and 1676.
      On 16 May 1663 Anthony married ELIZABETH HARMON, the widow of John Harmon, and she had three children: John, Samuel and Joseph. She and Anthony had no children together. Elisabeth died 16 May 1699, at the age of 92.
      Anthony is listed as one of 74 Townsmen in Springfield and listed as Surveyor of Highways in 1664 and 1665. He was fined for neglecting some work on the roads at one time and also fined because he (and 15 others) didn't answer a call to a town meeting. The next year he was fined again for not carrying out the orders of the Court as its deputy constable. In 1668 he was one of 62 men who protested the taking of customs tax. He held various positions in the town and in the church.
      When the youth began misbehaving in the meetinghouse, the Selectman in April 1669 voted Niles Morgan and Jonathan Burt to sit in the galleries to check on the disorderly youth at the time of worship and Anthony Dorchester was to sit in the Grand Seat to watch over the troublesome mischief-makers.
      By 1670 he was operating a ferry on the "Greate" (Connecticut) River just below the Agawam River and he charged 8 pence for horse and rider, 2 pence for people on foot, and 3 pence for a trooper and horse. Going over the Agawam River he charged about half as much.
      He and 15 other men wanted to make a settlement at what is now the town of Suffield. Townsmen were ordered to provide 70 loads of firewood to the preacher and Anthony provided 4 loads. He and Miles Morgan were designated to care for ordering furnishings for the preacher's house.
      In February 1672 he was sent with some others to talk with the local Indians as there was trouble over land ownership. That same year he acquired 30 more acres of land. The names of Anthony Dorchester and four others are mentioned in a deed of land sold by the Indians to them within the limits of the old town of Springfield in 1674. Tracts of land were granted to the Dorchesters several times. For many years Anthony was a Selectman and a tithingman (one who collected the 10% tithe due the church).
      In 1674 he was given two pounds for killing 4 wolves. Anthony was also chosen to be on the committee to build a new meetinghouse in Springfield in that same year. The next year he was granted a military deferment for health reasons (lameness), running the ferry, and keeping an ordinary (tavern) where he sold beer and cider.
      In 1676 Anthony Dorchester was appointed Selectman to fill the vacancy caused by the killing of John Keepe by the Indians at Pacowsick (Pecowsic). That was the year Springfield was burned by the Indians. In 1677 Anthony was fined because he didn't report for jury duty when called. The next year he was paid 8 shillings, 6 pence from the Town treasury for transporting some persons on horseback on his ferry. That is also the year that Anthony and his sons took the Oath of Allegiance to King Charles II.
      Anthony was a miller by occupation and for many years appears to have had charge of a corn mill and the saw mill of William Pyncheon. He also ran the ferry and in 1680 his victualling license was renewed. The exact location of his house is not known, but it was probably near the southern end of Main Street (as it was then known) and on the west side of the street, probably not very far from the present Loring Street,
      Anthony Dorchester was one of 22 men who owed fines to the town in 1681. The fines paid went to pay the taxes of widow Beamons. Amin that year he asked for military deferment, and in 1686 he was given a fine for not attending a town meeting,
      Anthony and his sons, John and James, were granted several portions of land in the Springfield-Chicopee area. In a distribution of land back as early as 1664 he had set aside 30 acres for each of his sons, John and James, and step-sons, John, Samuel and Joseph Harmon, making a total of 150 acres at that time. Son Benjamin was only 12 years old and thus was not on this list. This son predeceased him in 1676.
      When Anthony Dorchester died 28 August 1683, he left 97 acres of land, buildings, guns, swords, a boat and chain, household goods, farm tools and livestock. The inventory was appraised at 278 pounds and 7 shillings. According to records, he had about 18 acres in what is now Chicopee, four in Pascowick and the remainder of over 60 acres in Springfield.
      References:
      Pioneers of Massachusetts by Pope, pg. 142. Genealogical Dictionary of New England by Savage, Vol. II, pp. 60-61, 357, Vol. 111, pg. 33. Wilbraham's Centennial Volume, pp. 193-195. Greene's History of the Town and City of Springfield (1636-1886), pp. 102-109. New England Marriages Prior to 1700, by Torrey, pg. 226, pg. 442. The History & Genealogies of Ancient Windsor, 1635-1891, by Henry R. Stiles, Vol. 1, pp. 146, 154, 179, 827 (Windsor Historical Society). A New History of Old Windsor, Connecticut, by Daniel Howard, 1935, pp, 11-13. The Dorchester Pedigree by Daniel Dorchester III, 1902, pp. 1-3, 7. Directory of Ancestral Heads of New England Families 1620-1700 by Frank R. Holmes, 1964, pg. lxx (Windsor Historical Society). The Settlement of Windsor, CT, by K. Avery and D. Siemiatkoski, pg. 16 (Windsor Historical Society). The Founders of Windsor, CT - Ancestral Heads of Windsor's First Families, pg. 196 (Sept. 1983 The Conn. Nutmegger). Letter from K. Carter, County Librarian, County of Dorset, Dorchester, England, 1971. Dorchester Family Chronicles, 1905, by Earle and Patricia Swanson, pp. 13-24, 66, 72. Windsor, Connecticut, Volume of Deeds. Springfield, Massachusetts, Volume of Birth, Marriage and Death Records. Book of Possessions, Springfield, Massachusetts. The First Century of Springfield by Henry M. Burt."

      2. Per 16 Feb 2002 website <http://www.gencircles.com/users/cherylbills/1/data/10>: Elizabeth (Source footnotes: 6 8)
      Birth: 1609/1617 in,,, England (1 2 3 4 5 6 7)
      Death: 16 May 1699 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts (1 3 6 8 9)
      Father:
      Mother:
      Also Known As: Elizabeth Dorchester
      Text: "Elizabeth's maiden name may have been Potter. While nothing is known of her family, a Mr. Vincent Potter, a freeman in Sandwich in the Plymouth colony in 1644, conceivably could have been a relative but was not old enough to be her father."
      Ancestral File #: PBD5-Q4
      LDS Baptism: 19 Jun 1915
      LDS Endowment: 3 May 1912
      Land Transactions: 12 Mar 1662/1663 Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts (10 6) Changed: 12 Jan 2001 20:28:12
      Marriage: Abt 1640
      Spouses:
      John Harmon (8)
      Anthony Dorchester (11) Marriage: Bef. 1664 in Springfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts.
      Notes: In her husband's will, Elizabeth is described by her companion as "a tender mother." John left everything he had to his wife with no clause about it being hers only until she remarry as so many early wills had. At the time of her husband's death in March 1661; Elizabeth had six unmarried children. John Jr. was 20; Samuel was 18; Sarah, who was to be married in May 1661, was 17; Joseph was 15; Mary was 10; and my ancestor, Nathaniel, was 7 years old. Elizabeth's maiden name does not appear on the Springfield records. She was supposedly born in England. After the death of John, she married Anthony Dorchester, who died in Springfield 28 Aug 1683. She died in Springfield 16 May 1699, aged ninety-one years (according to Massachusetts records). She spent sixteen years as a widow after the death of Anthony. Did she live with her married children? Massachusetts Vital Records: Springfield 1640-1894 Vol I gives birth dates for the six children born in Springfield to John Harmon. See also NEHG Register, Vol 18, Jan-Apr 1864; Vol 19, Jan-July 1865. About two years after John's death, Elizabeth married a neighbor and widower who also had si x living Children. Anthony Dorchester's second wife died in December 1662 and he married Elizabeth sometime in 1663. At that time he had the following children: Benjamin age 12 and Sarah age 10; (he had just buried Hester who was six years old in 1662). These were children of his second wife. By his first wife, he had children: John age 19; Mary age 18; and James age 15. A few years down the road, Elizabeth's daughter, Mary, married Anthony's son, John, and Anthony's daughter, Mary, married Elizabeth's son, John! Judge George Washington Harmon carefully searched out our Harmon ancestors and willed his manuscripts to the town of Suffield, Connecticut which was founded by our Harmon family. It is from his work that Artemus C. Harmon was able to compile his book on The Harmon Genealogy. In Judge Harmon's work he does NOT claim that our John came on the ship Love. He does state, however, "John Harmon 1st born in England 1617; died Mar 3, 1661, in Springfield, Mass; md. in 1640 to Elizabeth (...) b. in England 1617. She md. again before 1664 to Anthony Dorchester. He died Aug 28, 1683 in Springfield. She died May 16, 1699." Of all the sources I have studied on the Harmon family, the one source consistently the most correct seems to be The Harmon Genealogy. I have no dependable source giving the ancestral identity of Elizabeth Harmon. When I published my first book, "My Harmon Heritage – Descendants of John Harmon and Elizabeth Southwell," I had no idea what a Pandora's box I was opening. Upon being challenged for sources of Elizabeth's maiden name of Southwell, I found that my only reply was a naive "This is the way it has always been in my family's records." Since that time I have been trying to discover if Elizabeth could be a Southwell or if she was a Cummings or a Potter or a Sampson as others have suggested. It is not helpful that so much error has been perpetuated through the years. This type of research requires original sources which may not be available at this time. The fact that Elizabeth Cummings and Elizabeth Southwell have been named mothers of our John's children has compounded the error. I will examine some of my findings here: After much careful research and combing of many early researcher's works, I am not at all sure who our Elizabeth Harmon is. We know our John Harmon settled in Springfield, Massachusetts in the early 1640's with his wife, Elizabeth, (surname unproven) and two sons, John and Samuel.
      Possible surnames:
      Cummings: The Ancestral File favorite by far for Elizabeth's surname is Cummings. My research has shown that an Elizabeth Cummings did indeed marry a John Harmon. However, contrary to the Ancestral File, her John was NOT our John Harmon. Artemus Harmon's book, "The Harmon Genealogy, Comprising All Branches in New England," published in 1920 by Gibson Bros. Inc. in Washington D.C. clearly identifies Elizabeth Cummings and distinctly names her children. This information needs to be brought to the attention of those who claim the Cummings surname as that of our Elizabeth. Our Elizabeth is NOT the Elizabeth Cummings listed on the Ancestral File! Quoting Artemus Harmon from "Harmon Genealogy – Comprising All Branches in New England," printed by Gibson Bros., Inc., Washington, D.C., 1920, page 138: "John Harmon was one of the few persons in Saco [Maine] who owned horses in 1674. Carriages were unknown. On July 28, 1674, Richard Cummings, John Harmon, and others with their horses were allowed use of Humphrey Scammon's ferry, near the mouth of Saco River. Elizabeth Harmon, born at Old Orchard, the only daughter of Richard Cummings, married. 1st her cousin, John Foxwell, and after his death she married John Harmon, previous to 1680. Mr. Harmon became the sole heir to that part of the Boynthon Patent which fell to the wife of Cummings. John Harmon and Elizabeth Cummings had an only child named Elizabeth. She married Joseph Banks, of York, to which place Harmon removed before 1690. Banks thus acquired Harmon's right, but in 1714 conveyed one half of it to Peter Weare and others. John Harmon and Thomas Cummings were the administrators of the estate of Richard Cummings, who d. abt 1676. Thomas did not long survive his father. John Harmon was sent by Saco, as Deputy to the Assembly in 1681." The John Harmon who married Elizabeth Cummings is a son of James. This John was born about 1650 and married in 1673 Elizabeth Cummings Foxwell. After the death of Elizabeth Cummings Foxwell Harmon, John married 2nd in York, Maine -abt 1675- Deborah Johnson. He died in York, Maine in 1695. John Harmon and Elizabeth Cummings had Only one child, Elizabeth. A descendant of this daugh ter supplied the information that Artemus Harmon used in his book. For years, genealogists have copied others research and claim that our Elizabeth is this Miss Cummings. That is Wrong, Wrong, Wrong! Elizabeth Cummings is carefully documented and she did not marry our John! Please help me correct this error!
      Southwell: (See Harmon 11) As mentioned previously, I have no documentation to prove the origin of the Southwell Elizabeth as John's wife. Later generations of our Harmon family married into the Southwell family - even a John, but not the Springfield John! According to Savage's Dictionary of First Settlers, Ebenezer Southwell of Northampton is the son of William of Northampton and he married Elizabeth Judd, daughter of Samuel. They had a daughter, Elizabeth born 1721; and Ebenezer removed to Suffield, CT. William Southwell, of Northampton, married on 24 Feb 1687, Sarah Stebbins, daughter of John of Northampton and had: Mary, Enoch, Sarah, Ebenezer, Abigail, Hannah, Enoch, and John. Savage suggests that William immigrated later than 1670. Since our Elizabeth was over 90 in 1699, these Southwells could not be her family. I humbly admit my error in claiming that our Elizabeth is a Southwell. She probably is NOT! Apparently some previous genealogist in my family copied someone else's records without documentation just as I did! (William Southwell's wife, Sarah, had family from Springfield, MA.)
      Sampson: The Ancestral File also has an Elizabeth Sampson, daughter of Henry and Anne Plummer Sampson as another possibility for the wife of our John Harmon. Elizabeth is married (according to the Ancestral File) to John Harmon, son of Francis. Her husband, John, has been given an approximated birth date of 1623 and a death date of 3 Mar 1661, (we have 7 Mar 1661) - both at Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts. If the estimated dates are correct, Elizabeth Sampson would have been born when her father was about 13 years old. I have the following reservations about this Elizabeth: 1. There is a question mark by her name in the Ancestral File. 2. The estimated ages do not seem to be logical. Our Elizabeth was born probably between 160 9 and 1617. She died in 1699 – supposedly 90+ years old. 3. According to the Ancestral File, this John Harmon and Elizabeth Sampson had a daughter, Sarah Jane Harmon, born abt 1651 in Plymouth, MA. Our John was having children in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1651. 4. Sarah Jane married in New Jersey and raised her children there. None of our John's descendants that we know of lived in New Jersey. 5. It appears to me that Elizabeth Sampson and her husband, John Harmon, have been assigned the death dates and place of our John and Elizabeth. In order for this Elizabeth to have been over 90 years old at her death as was the Springfield Elizabeth, she would have been born abt 1609 or before. Elizabeth Sampson's father – according to the Ancestral File was born 1610. Henry Sampson's father has a complete birth date of 24 Jun 1575 – making him 45 years old when Henry was born – not impossible, but somewhat questionable. Could it be possible that Henry was born earlier? If so, then he may be old enough to be the father of a daughter born in 1609. This needs further research. 6. It has been suggested that Elizabeth Sampson might be a second wife of our John. This is not possible because our John's wife outlived him by 38 years. 7. I think the biggest drawback is that Sarah Jane married Captain Samuel Doty. Our John's Sarah married Charles Ferry and her family is well documented. From this information, it seems we can eliminate Elizabeth Sampson as the wife of our John.
      Potter: In the Book, "Goff-Davis Ancestral Lines - The Ancestry of Moulton Babcock Goff and his wife, Agnes Hopkins Davis," Lois B. Goff suggests that Elizabeth may be a Potter – a relative of Vincent Potter. Agnes Hopkins Davis is descended from Sarah Ferry, daughter of Charles Ferry and Sarah Harmon. If any of Elizabeth's children would have left a clue to her identity, there is a strong possibility that her eldest daughter, Sarah, just might. Goff's sources are currently being investigated. His sources include: "The Complete Book of Emigrants 1607-1660," by Peter Wilson Coldham; Baltimore Genealogy Pub., 1987. (Not checked); "Harman-Harmon Genealogy and Biography," by John William Harman; Parsons, WV 1928 (checked); "The Harmon Genealogy," by Artemas C. Harmon, Washington, D.C., Gibson Bros., 1920 (checked); "A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England," by James Savage, Baltimore Genealogy Pub., 1965 (checked); "Records of the Colony of Plymouth in New England," by Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Boston, Wm. White, 1855 (checked); "Springfield Families," by Thomas B. Warren, Springfield, MA, 1934-35 (not checked); "Charles Ferry of Springfield," by Winifred Lovering Holman, American Genealogist, 30(195 4): 21-26. (Not checked). So far, the only slight indication is in Shurtleff's book on page 183 and 184. This is a list of men in Sandwich, Plymouth, New England, who have taken the Oath of Fidelitie. A John Carman is listed on pg. 183 and Mr. Vincent Potter is on pg. 184. It would seem the Mr. indicates someone of status. There are only four Mr. entries in the list. If Carman is a misintrepretation of Harman, then Vincent Potter and John Harman could be placed in the same locality. It seems pretty far fetched to me; however, not impossible and I have continued to search for information about Vincent Potter. I checked the Ancestral File and IGI for Vincent Potter and the IGI has a Vincent Potter born abt. 1614 in England. Thomas Gibbs Crane is listed as his relative. I cannot find anything on Thomas. In the book Pioneers of Massachusetts by Pope on page 370, I find the following about Vincent Potter: "Vincent Potter, gent., ae 21 came in the Elizabeth and Ann in May 1635. Had apprentices, John Johnson, Stephen Barrett, Henry Kenninge, and William Browne, whom he placed with new masters in 1639. He was entertained to serve at the fort in Boston for one year from 13 (8) 1636, at 10 li. wages." On page 174 of the same book, "Thomas Fowle, gent., armiger, merchant 1639. Settled at Boston; adm. church 25 (1) 1643. Wife Margaret adm. church 31 (1) 1640. Ch: Elizabeth b. 14 (1) 1639; John b. 1 (5) 1641; Margaret b. 13 (2) 1643; Marie bapt. 16 (2) 1643 ae. 4 da.; James bapt. 8 (10) 1644 ae 5 da; Martha bapt 25 (8) 1646 ae abt. 7 da." Thomas Fowle was one of the petitioners for citizenship of non-church members in 1645. Has shipping accounts 5 (7) 1645. Thomas Fowle calls Vincent Potter his brother-in-law. Concerning Vincent Potter's apprentices, I found in Pope's book: pg. 35 "Stephen Barrett, Ipswich, placed by Vincent Potter 21 (4) 1639 with Wm. Foster as an apprentice. (pg. 173 - Wm Foster, planter, came in 1634; settled at Ipswich; proprietor in 1634; Took an apprentice 21 (4) 1639). Pg. 266: Henry Kenninge placed as an apprentice with Wm. Parke of Roxbury 21 (4) 1639, by Vincent Potter. Rem. to Salem. Wife, Ann, Salem adm church 24 (6) 1654. Children: John bapt. 10 (7) 1654; Mary bapt. 3 (5) 1659; Sarah, bapt. 29 (4) 1662. Elizabeth, of Sister K. (meaning daughter of) bapt. 1 (3) 1664. Elizabeth also bapt. 12 (3) 1666." Pg. 75: William Brown(e) arrived June 22, 1639, apprentice to Mr. Vincent Potter, who released him to Thomas Joy, carpenter Sept. 24, 1639. (Thomas Joy – pg. 264 – carpenter, Boston; propr. 1636; Built townhouse 1640. Wife Joane Gallop. She d. 1690/91. He d. 1678.) pg. 260 John Johnson, ae 23, came in the Elizabeth Apr. 15, 1635. No more information. I do not know Lois Goff's reasoning that Elizabeth may be a Potter – or a relative of Vincent. I feel this requires more looking into. Vincent is not old enough to be her father, but Lois only says "relative." Vincent placed an apprentice at Roxbury – where John Harmon supposedly lived about the time of his marriage. Is there a piece to a puzzle here: Elizur Holyoke's kinswoman, Mary Mansfield, was married first to John Gove; then John Mansfield. In Pioneers of Massachusetts the possible spellings of Gove include Gobe, Goffe - and could we also suggest Goff? The interest in this lies in the fact that Elizue Holyoke was present when our John Harmon signed his will in Springfield,Massachusetts. John and Elizabeth had a great-great granddaughter who married a Mansfield. Mary Gove gave her full consent for her daughter, Mary, to be adopted by Ralph Mousall and his wife after the death of her husband, John Gove. She also had two sons: John and Edward. The legacy that was to come to these three children included some brass "which is to come out of England by Mr. James Allen." (Charlestown Records; Norf. Files Reg. VII, 170) Elizur Holyoke was among the younger members of the Springfield settlement and a leader in Indian warfare. He was the son of Edward Holyoke of Romney Marsh or Chelsea, Massachusetts. The original Holyoke home had been in Tamworth, Warwickshire, England. About 1640 he married William Pynchon's daughter, Mary. In time he became a large land holder. Mount Holyoke was named after him. He died 5 Feb 1676 while commanding troops fighting the Indians in King Phillip's War. The possibility that Elizabeth Harmon (or her husband John) could be related to Holyoke or Pynchon – or Henry Smith seems strong. Where do Goff's come in?
      Possible Dutch Descent? In the personal history of Diantha Hanchett Gardner sent to me by a descendant, we read: "This town of Erie, Erie Co., Pa., was where our beloved Grandma Diantha Hanchett was born 17 October 1831. Her parents were of Dutch descent. Her father was Martin Hanchett (son of Dianth a Harmon and John Hanchett - grandson of Martin Harmon and Tryphena); her mother's name was Sarah Mecham. Some of her brothers and sisters were born in Kirtland, Ohio and some in MeKean, Erie, PA." In seeking for any possible reference to Dutch ancestry, the only thing I have found is in The Charles Ferry Family In America compiled by Edward M. Ferry in 1978 and printed by the Gazette Printing Company of Northampton, Massachusetts. "That John Harmon was in Springfield before Charles Ferry there can be no doubt, as his name appears on the records as early as 1644 . The origin of the Harmon family is less certain. The name Harmon, Harman, Herman, Hermain is found in the Huguenot Records as early as 1549, and in the Registers of the Norwich and Canterbury Registers at various times, but the country from which they came is uncertain . In some entries one gains the impression that the family was Dutch, while in other places the name appears to be French. A Norwich church entry of 1549 reads as follows: – 'Southward 1549 Strangers being householders Harman Cornelius Members of the Dutch Church.' Other entries show the variation of the name. 'Harman wool comber Flanders 1560 wife and three children born in England.' 'Sept. 19, 1571. Charles Harman and others were warned not to disturb the church or they would be turned out.' 'Cornelius Harman weaver 30 years of age and Catherine his wife 44 years of age. Hollanders having a daughter of 11 years and have been three years here. Came for the cause of religion.' From a state paper we find the following: – "Domestic. Reign of Queen Elizabeth. Returns of Strangers in the suburbs of London 18-20 Dec. 1571 Aleysander Harman of Cologne. Church St . Racheim. Anne Harman his wife of Luke. Same Church. Naturalized inhabitant.' 'Nov 10, 1571. Corn. Cornelius Harmon born in Colleyn Cologne servant. Came into the kingdom about six years ago. Dutchman.' 'Sept 1588. Harmans Dierich, cobbler, A householder, dutchman.' The above quotations were taken from The Wallloons and their Church at Norwich and quoted in the aforementioned Ferry book on page 11. The following are taken from the Registers of the Church of the Strangers at Canterbury.: 'April 22, 1630. Marriages. Jacque Du Miny ... and Marie Hermain daughter of Andrew Hermain also of Canterbury.' 'May 4, 1690. Baptism, - Anne daughter of Pierre Ferre witness. Jaques Herman.' This entry indicates that at least some Ferre and Harmon/Herman families were acquainted in England - even though the date is thirty years after Charles Ferry came to America. The name of Charles Ferry first appears in the records of Springfield as early as 18 Apr 1659 when he purchased land from Joseph Crowfoot. Just when did he come? "If one follows the notation in the Canterbury Church Register when his sister Marie was married 23 Feb 1659/60, that she was the daughter of the 'late Jean Ferret,' the occasion for his departure from England may have been his father's death. His coming to Springfield was perhaps the result of acquaintance with the Harmon (Harman/Herman) family in England. The name Harman is found in the Registers of the Hugenot churches in both Canterbury and Norwich." So - what is Charles Ferry's connection to the Harmons once in Springfield? He married their oldest daughter, Sarah Harmon on 29 March 1661; purchased land of the Widow Harmon and built the first home on the east side on the meadow lands. The possibility of Dutch ancestry has not even been tapped as far as I know. If there is Dutch ancestry, the clues in the Ferry book bear checking out. Since Sarah is the eldest daughter of John and Elizabeth, the chances of her family knowing something about this are very strong.
      In summary, who is Elizabeth Harmon? I don't know. I do know she went into the wilderness with her husband and babies and she made a home for them. She was a tender mother and well loved by her husband. She had nine children and raised several of her second husband's children as well. She braved Indian raids, children dying; a babe drowning in the brook; having her town burned to the ground; dealt with a rebellious teenager who misbehaved in church; dealt with grown, married children fighting over land; lived to a very elderly age – the last sixteen years of which she was without a husband and at a very advanced age.
      Footnote Sources:
      1. Title: Harmon Genealogy. Author: Artemas C. Harmon Publication: Gibson Bros, Inc., Washington DC, 1920. Page: Pg. 159.
      2. Note: John Harmon, 1st, born in England, 1617, d. Mar 3, 1661, in Springfield, Mass, md. Elizabeth ___, (b. England, 1617), in 1640. She m. again before 1664, Anthony Dorchester. She d. May 16, 1699, in Springfield.
      3. Title: The Harmon Genealogy. Author: Artemas C. Harmon. Publication: Gibson Bros, Inc., Washington DC, 1920.
      4. Title: Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England. Author: James Savage. Publication: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1981. Call Number: US/CAN 974 D25 1981 V.4. Page: Harmon 11; pg. 142.
      5. Note: Information on the Southwell family which pretty well eliminates that name as Elizabeth's surname.
      6. Title: Goff-Davis Ancestral Lines; the Ancestry of Moulton Babcock Goff and His Wife Agnes Hopkins Davis. Author: Lois B. Goff. Publication: Gateway Press, Inc., Baltimore, 1993. Call Number: 1697838 Item 3 or US/Can 929.273 G556go. Page: Item 3; pg. 281.
      7. Note: The source she uses for this is Records of the Colony of Plymouth in New England; Boston: Wm White, 1855, by Nathaniel B. Shurtleff.
      8. Title: Charles Ferry Family in America. Author: Ferry, Edward M.
      9. Title: Springfield 1636-1886 History of Town and City. Author: Green, Mason A. Publication: Springfield, Massachusetts, 1888. Call Number: 974.426/si H2g.
      10. Title: Springfield, Massachusetts Land Records. Call Number: Film 844,486. Page: pg. 51A Text: A copy of a deed whereby Widdow Harman of Springfield hath sold certayne lands unto her sonn-in-law, Charles Ferry, with ye acknowledgment thereof: Know all men by these presents that Elizabeth Harman of Springfield, Widdow, hath for and in good considerations moving here hereunto hath given, granted, bargained, and sold unto her Son-in-law, Charles Ferry, of Springfield and to his heirs and assignes forever certayne parcels of land lying in Springfield aforesaid that is to say a little piece of hers the said Widdow's meadow... lyes before the street... little peece lyes at the Easterly end of the said meadow and is ten rod in bredth from the little brook under the hill and holds its bredth quite through it end of ye said meadow lott. Another peece of land hereby sold is a wood lott containing foure acres more or less joyning to that little peece of meadow before mentioned being in bredth Eight rodd and in length extending from ye said little brook... foure rodd Eastward: And both the said little peece of meadow and this said wood lott doe border on ye lands of Widdow Ulaliah Burt on ye North and of Nathaneel Prichard on ye south. Another parcel of land hereby sold is foure acres more or less extending Westward to Agawam and bounded on the North by the land it was bordering Henry Burts, deceased, and in ye South with ye land it was formerly Nathaneel Prichards to have and to hold that little peece of Meadow with four acres of woodlott and four acres... ye River to the said Charles Ferry & to his heirs and assignes forever. And ye said Widdow Harman doth hereby covenant and promise to and with y e said Charles Ferry to save ye Said Charles hamless from all manner of claim right title o t... of any person or persons laying lawful claime to any of ye said land hereby sold, by from or under her ye said Widow or any of heirs. In witness whereof the said Widdow Harman hath hereunto set her hand and seal ye 12th of March 1662/3. Subscribed, Sealed and delivered in ye presence of John Lombard and John Lamb. The mark of Elizabeth Harman. The deed of sale was acknowledged by the Widdow Harman before us, Elizur Holyoke and Samuel Chappin Accompanying a copy of the following acknowledgment of John Harman and Samuell Harman touching the land above mentioned... John Harman and Samuell Harman, sons of the within named Elizabeth Harman doe hereby acknowledge our full and free consent to this deed of Sale whereby the said Elizabeth, our Mother, hath sold certayne parcels of land unto Charles Ferry... and giving up all our right and interest in ye said parcels of unto ye said Ferry and unto his heirs and assigns forever. Witness our hands this three and twentieth day of May Anno Dunno 1665. Witness hereunto are Elizur Holyoak and Samuell Chapin. The mark of John Harman. The mark of Samuell Harman. This acknowledgment was written on ye back side of said deed of Sale and received ye said 23rd day of May Anno Dmi 1665 by me, Elizur Holyoke, Recorder. Title: Genealogical and Family History of Western New York, Vol 2, Call Number: Film 60446620; Page: pg. 981; John005 Text: After the death of John Harmon, she married Anthony Dorchester."

      3. Today's Hampden County of Massachusetts was originally Middlesex County until it was split off in 1662 and named Hampshire County. Hampden County was formed from Hampshire County in 1812.