FIRST AMERICAN GENERATION
A number of settlers sailed from Southampton, England on 26 Mar. 1634 in the ship MARY and JOHN. They arrived in Boston, Ma., in May and then sailed to Ipswich, Ma. (then called Agawam). Their pastor, Rev. Thomas Parker, came with them. He had been driven away from Oxford because his father, Rev. Robert Parker, was in non-conformity with the forms of the Church of England. In May 1635 the group decided to relocate by the nearby Quascacunguen River, which they renamed Parker River in honor of their pastor. Legend says that they landed about 100 rods below the spot where the present bridge stands. The area was named Newbury in honor of Rev. Parker who had preached for some time in Newbury, England, which is on the River Kennet, about 56 miles west of London, and about 36 miles north of Romsey.
The character of this area was well known. Fishermen had been there for some time and there were rough maps of the topography. Descriptions of the lands had been published in London, and in 1634 William Wood printed a pamphlet entitled "New England's Prospects", which listed the abundance of fish such as "sturgeon, sammon and basse", and "flesh of fowles and beasts."
Another group of families, living In Romsey in nearby Wiltshire County, decided to emigrate to America. The group was under the Influence of Rev. Joseph Avery, who was vicar of Romsey from 1626-1634, when he sailed for New England. He was drowned on a voyage from Newbury to Marblehead, Ma., in 1635. See Whittier's poem "Swan Song of Parson" which was based upon this event. JOHN KNIGHT and his brother RICHARD and their families were with this second group of emigrants. They sailed from Southampton on 5 Apr. 1635, with passengers and cattle, in the ship "JAMES" of 220 tons, and came to anchor off Boston, Ma., on 3 June 1635. The ship then sailed to Newbury and joined the group from Ipswich who were already there.
"PASSENGERS AND SHIPS ARRIVING IN BOSTON, MA. 1635"
(Name. home in England. and destination)
JAMES, of London, William Cooper, Master, three hundred tons.
She sailed from Southampton April 5 and arrived June 3 with passengers and cattle. Winthrop calls her master 'Mr. Graves' and says that he "had come every year for these seven years."
AUGUSTINE CLEMENT of Reading, county Berks, painter . To Boston
Mrs. Elizabeth Clement, Samuel Clement, Elizabeth Clement and Thomas Wheeler, servant.
THOMAS BROWNE of Malford, county Wilts, weaver. To Newbury
HERCULES WOODMAN of Malford, county Wilts, mercer. To Newbury
JOHN EVERED als WEBB of Marlborough, county Wilts, husbandman. To Boston.
STEPHEN EVERED als WEBB of Marlborough, county Wilts. To Boston
Giles Butler, Gearge Cousins Thomas Colman, Thomas Goddard, and John Pithouse, of Marlborough, county Wilts, laborers
ANTHONY MORSE age 29 of Marlborough, county Wilts, shoemaker. To Newbury. Mrs. Mary Morse.
WILLIAM MORSE of Marlborough, county Wilts, shoemaker. To Newbury
JOHN PARKER of Marlborough, carpenter. To Brookline
Mrs. Jane Parker, John Parker, Margaret Parker and Sarah Parker
John Hyde of Marlborough, tailor
Richard Walker of Marlborough, shoemaker
Maudit Ingles of Marlborough, fuller
THOMAS DAVIS of Marlborough, sawyer.
Mrs. Christian Davis, Thomas Carpenter of Amesbury, county Wilts, Carpenter
WILLIAM PADDY of London, skinner. To Plymouth
EDMUND HAWES of London, cutler. To Plymouth
EDMUND BATTER of Salisbury, county Wilts, maltster Mrs. Sarah Batter and John Small, servant
THOMAS ANTRUM of Salisbury, county Wilts, weaver
Thomas Browne, servant
JOSHUA VEREN of Salisbury, county Wilts, roper. To Salem Mrs. Jane Veren, Hilliard Veren and Dorcas Veren
PHILIP VEREN of Salisbury, county Wilts, roper. To Salem
Mrs. Dorcas Veren, Philip Veren, Nathaniel Veren and Joshua Veren. MICHAEL SHAFFLIN, age 30. To Charlestown
George Smyth, tailor.
JOHN GREEN, surgeon.
ZACCHEUS CURTIS of Downton, county Wilts. To Topsfield
HENRY POSE of Plaitford, county Wilts, laborer
"PASSENGERS AND SHIPS ARRIVING IN BOSTON. MA. 1635"
(Name. home in England. and destination. cont.)
NICHOLAS BATT of Devizes, county Wilts, linen weaver. To Newbury. Mrs. Lucy Batt and Anne Batt.
JOHN PIKE of Langford, county Wilts. To Newbury.
Mrs. . . Pike, John Pike, Dorothy Pike, Israel Pike and Anne Pike
THOMAS SCOATES of Salisbury, county Wilts, laborer
JOHN MUSSELWHITE of Langford, county Wilts, laborer
SAMPSON SALTER of Caversham, county Oxford, Newport, fisherman
HENRY KING of Brenchley, county Kent, laborer
WILLIAM ANDREWS of Hampsworth county York, shire (?). To Salem
JOHN KNIGHT of Romsey, county Hants, tailor
RICHARD KNIGHT of Romsey, county Hants, tailor
THOMAS SMITH of Romsey, county Hants, weaver Ipswich
NICHOLAS HOLT, 27 of Romsey, county Hants, tanner. To Newbury
ROBERT FIELD of "Yealing" (probably Eling), county Hants. To Boston
ANTHONY THATCHER of Salisbury, county Wilts, tailor. To Yarmouth Mrs. Mary Thatcher, Peter Higoon, servant
James Browne 17 of Southampton, Lawrence Seager, 17 of Southampton
HENRY LEVERAGE of Salisbury, county Wilts, tailor
WILLIAM PARSONS of Salisbury, county Wilts, tailor
JOHN EMERY, 34 of Romsey, county Rants, carpenter. To Newbury Mrs. Frances Emery, James Emery.
WILLIAM KEMP servant to Anthony Emery. To Duxbury
The destination of the majority of the passengers was Newbury, Ma., however about a dozen person were settling elsewhere' e. g. Salem, Plymouth, Boston and nearby towns.
It appears that most of the Newbury-bound emigrants had a trade which would be helpful in establishing a new colony. There was a carpenter, a roper, a molster (for making beer), a tanner, two shoemakers, a fisherman and several laborers. There were six Tailors, including John and Richard Knight, which would seem to be a surplus for a small group; also there was a surgeon, apparently the best educated of the company.
Strangely, there was no one bound for Newbury who was classified as a farmer, and It was obvious that some of the other members would have to spend a good deal of their time helping with the raising of crops, in order to have enough food for everyone.
The listing of the ship JAMES notes its arrival on June 3 (1635) "with passengers and cattle". It does not itemize the types and number of cattle. However an examination of the records of other ships arriving in Boston from England during that period indicate that it was usual to have on board, besides passengers, a few cows, pigs, horses and poultry. Very likely, this procedure was followed on the JAMES.
© Mark A. Knight 1998