William Ives (1607-1648)

Captain William Ives (1) is the starting point for this genealogy series. I think the best guess is that William was born in 1607 in Norfolk, England. Some genealogy sites list him as born in 1621. Here is another list that agrees with the 1607 birth date. If the 1621 birth was the case he would have come to Boston on the Truelove in 1635 (documented fact) at age 14 by himself and then gone to be a co-founder and property holder in New Haven at age 17. Not impossible but less likely. Also, there was a William Ives listed as a member of the same London parish, St. Stephens of Coleman Street, as John Davenport, the first minister in New Haven prior to this trip (Caulder, 1936). That Willliam Ives would not have been born in 1621. So I feel more comfortable with with 1607 date reported at several sites. There is no birth record so this is still speculation.

William arrived in the Boston area by himself in 1635 at age 28, on ship Truelove two years before Davenport and the main party of New Haven settlers came to Boston on the Hector.

He first lived in Watertown. MA (it could be in what is now Cambridge, MA). On March 30, 1638 he left Boston to help found a new colony on Long Island Sound. This party became the founders of New Haven on April 15, 1638. In June 4, 1639 they established the first civil government and William Ives is listed in the original New Haven Civil Compact as one of 63 signers of “Fundamental Agreement of Quinnipiac” (now New Haven).

William Ives was allotted a total of 18 acres in several parcels. His house was at 72-160 Congress Street (at the corner with what is now Hill Street) and his occupation is listed as farmer. In 1638 his estate was valued at 25 pds. and grew to 98 pds. at the time of his death in 1648. His immediate neighbor was George Smith. The map dated 1641 by Brockett shows the nine square that were laid out and the sections of William Ives and others.

William Ives married shortly after arriving in New Haven but the identity of his wife is not clear. The Early List of Estates published by the New Haven Church in 1640 lists William Ives with two people in his household with an estate valued at 25 pds. The second person is most likely his wife. Many claim that she was Hannah Dickerman but I feel that there is more evidence against this claim than supporting it as I outlined in a series of posts (see Who was William Ives' Wife?).. William Ives was admitted as a member of the General Court in Dec, 25, 1641 and received the charge of freeman, along with Mr. Malbon. Ives (1928, p.78) quotes that to be designated a “freeman” a man had to “be possessed of thirty pounds proper personal estate, and be of honest and peaceable conversation.” Candidates had to appear in open meeting and were sworn in if found qualified. They were then required to attend all open town meetings and they had to pay two shillings if they could not present an acceptable excuse for being absent.

In the first division of land in 1641, William received 6 ¼ acres in the first division, 1 ¼ acres in the neck, and 2 ¼ acres in the meadow with 9 acres in the second division. See this 1641 map of New Haven. His annual tax for this land was 4 shillings and 9 pence. He is listed in attendance in the general court of July 1, 1644. At the court of Feb. 24, 1644, he and Edward Banister are listed as “viewers for the suburbs” (the suburbs were near his lot - see map of 1641). William also served as a soldier in the Colonial Militia as a Capitan in the New Haven Indian Alarms from 1642 – 1646. In 1644 he was fined 6 pence, along with John Cooper, James Bishop and many others, for not keeping his military equipment up. He and his wife had designated seats in the “meeting house” in 1646. He had seat 69 and she had seat 149 as the men and women sat separately. Around 1646, he purchased 4 ¼ acres of upland from Mr. Rudderford lying on the further side of the West River abutting the west meadow. William and “Goodwife Ives” had five children:

1. Phebe was baptized in New Haven on October 2, 1642. Her first marriage was to Joseph Potter (1635-1669) on 1660. Joseph was the son of William Potter, one of the signers of the 1639 New Haven Covenant. They had at least four children; Joseph (1661), Rebecca (1663-), Phebe (1665-1738), Joseph (1667-1742), her second marriage was to John Rose (-1722) in August, 1670. They had at least five children: Deborah (1671-), Sarah (1673-), Hannah (1676*-), John (1679), Daniel (1782/3), all born in Branford, CT. Phebe died on 1682 in Branford. After Phebe died, John married Elizabeth Curtis (1654-1719), widow of Mercy Moss. John had also married Deborah Usher before Phebe and they had one child, Elizabeth (1668-1690). Phebe’s mother, in her last recorded appearance before the New Haven court of August 5, 1662, apologized to the court for her “sin in meddling with that which did not concern her,” the execution of William Potter, and breaking the fourth commandment. William Potter was the father of Joseph and father-in-law of her first daughter, Phebe, so this may have given her reason to feel connected to the event.

2. John was baptized in New Haven on December 29, 1644, and died in 1682 in Wallingford, CT. He married Hannah Merriam (1651-1703) on Nov. 12, 1668. They had five children: John (1669-1747), Hannah (1672-1715), Joseph (1674-1755), Nathaniel (1677-1711), Gideon (1680-1767). All were born in Wallingford, CT.

3. daughter still born 1645

4. Martha was born in New Haven about 1646 and married Azariah Beach (1646-1696) in New Haven around 1675. They had seven children: Mary (1676-), Richard (1677-), Thomas (1679-1755), Benjamin (1682-1710), Hannah (1685-1769), John (1689-1713), Martha (1690-).

5. Joseph was born in New Haven about 1647, and died in North Haven on November 17, 1694. He married Mary Yale on Jan. 2, 1672 and they had ten children: Joseph (1673-1751), Mary (1674-1675), Mary (1675-1712), Samuel (1677-1726), Martha (1678-1713), Lazarus (1680-1703), Thomas (1683-1767), Abigail (1685), John (1686-1690), Ebenezer (1692-1759).

William Ives died in New Haven in the late spring of 1648 some time after he signed his will on April 3, 1648. Richard Miles and Roger Allen witnessed his will on that date and they also appraised his estate on June 8, 1648 after his death and placed the amount at 98 pounds, 4 shillings. They provided an inventory of the estate on September 22nd. It included the following:

“his wearing cloathes; one bed furniture to it; one trundle bed with bed & bolster; two cheats; one box; 3 pars of sheets; 2 pars pillow covers; 6 napkins; one board cloath; Table; stools & charis; old brass pot; Iron pot; Iron kettle; 2 skillets; 1 bake pan; a mortar & pestile; 1 skimmer; 2 ladels; warming pan; pewter; 2 candle sticks; wooden ware; one hower glass; 1 gridiron; 1 pr of bellowes; 1 pot; hooks, pair of hangers; frying pan, fire shovel & tongs; cookes ware; Muskit & sword; Bondoleers & Sheaff; working tools etc; 2 wheels; 1 sheepe & yeuss. Ye house’ home lot & all upland & meadow; 3 cowes, 2 oxen, 2 horses, 3 swine. Debts Matthew Molthrop owes to ye Estate.”

His will was probated in court on Nov. 7, 1648, later in the same day his widow married Dr. William Bassett. Richard Miles and Roger Allen testified that William Ives “was in a state fit to make this will & did make it.” In the will he designated his wife as the sole executor of his estate to be used to bring up his children until they came of age. When his oldest son. John, became twenty one he was to receive the house and land and when the other children became twenty they were to received one cow or the worth of a cow. In Feb. 6, 1649, William Bassett agreed in court to honor the will of William Ives. It is assumed he and his wife raised the four Ives children along the four they had together (see Bassett family). The family continued to live in the house of William Ives until it was sold in 1652 to the widow of Anthony Thompson. William Bassett placed eleven pounds worth of cattle as security for John Ives’ portion of the property. William Ives’ two sons, John and Joseph, went northward in 1670 and were among the original 39 signers of the Wallingford plantation agreement in 1668.

I will now look at the founding and early history of New Haven before going on to William's son, Joseph.

Comments

[Alfred George Welch Jr.]

Below is my relationship to William Ives..
William Ives
John Ives
Nathaniel Ives
Abel Ives Sr.
Abel Ives Jr.
Amos Ives
Erastus Pharaoh Ives Sr.
Minerva Ives
Kate Cordelia Ives Cook
Agnes Lucille Camp
Alfred George Welch Jr. (self)

[bill Ives]

Alfred
Thanks for this. I think there are mroe descendents of John Ives than my ancestor, his brother Joseph. At least, I have seen more descendents of John active in family history research. You have the compsoer, Charles Ives, on yur side as you likely know. Bill

[patti bradfield]

What a great source you have compiled. I am going to try again and see if my comments get posted.
I hail from William also..through,
John, 1644, John 1669, John, 1694, John, 1729, Joseph, 1768, Titus, 1810, Emory Richmond, 1839, Harley Earl, 1883, June Marguerite, 1915, patricia marguerite, self.

I would love to talk to others you come across whose lines are close. Wondering if there are kin living in Nebraska from great grandfather Emory Richmond who ended up in North Platt Nebraska where my grandfather Harley was born.

This is an amazing site you have put together, congratulations.

[bill Ives]

Patti - Thanks for your comments. Please feel free to add more on your line. Bill

[Greer Morgan]

I am a William, John, John, Lazarus, Christopher, Jacob [ my New York State line began then] descendant-
Always glad to be informed of who I am.

[Bill Ives]

Greer

Thanks for your contribution. Bill

[Valerie Nail-Sain]

I stumbled upon this site after googling John Ives who is in my direct lineage. What a wonderful bit of history this site has compiled.
I believe this to be the same family (through stories, remembrances that I have gleened). I just signed up on Ancestry.com to try to make our family tree. My mother is Norma Ives, daughter of Clarence Frederick Ives son of Claude Dean Ives and on back...researchable...
I would love to be sent geneology info, pictures, stories from those who may have them. vnail@sbcglobal.net

[Bill Ives]

Valerie

Thanks for your comment. As you may have read my ancester was John's brother Joseph. Good luck with your efforts. It was fun putting this together. Bill

[Geoffrey Ives]

My Grandparents did some geneaolgy research long ago (My Grandmother was a librarian) and came up with our first American ancestor as William Ives; Port of Boston in the 1600's. I don't remember the actual year, although I used to think it was 1604 for some reason. After reading some of the posts, 1604 seems closer to the likely year of William's birth (1607).
Interestingly, my Grandfather was William Erwin Ives. Everyone outside of family called him Bill. I believe he was from Walton, NY; but I also know that he resided in Cooperstown or nearby.
My father is John. I almost was John as well, but there was some dispute over the name at the time. My father (John) went with Geoffrey. It was not a family name at the time, my father had studied a bit of Chaucer, and simply liked the unique, older version of the popular name Jeff/Jeffrey.
I remember talk of (and a one time visit with) an "Uncle Abe" in upstate NY. I always assumed Abe was his name or possibly short for Abraham, however, I am not certain that Uncle Abe wasn't short for Abel; I never really knew. He wasn't my Uncle, and I am not even sure if he was my Dad's uncle. I do know that Uncle Abe was considered a close relative of sorts; if not a brother to my Grandfather (noone ever referred to him as that) then maybe his (my Grandfathers) Uncle or possibly even cousin.

[bill Ives]

Geoff - Thanks for all this information. I was named after William Ives, our first American and my grandmother Willie on my mother's side. As I said, 1607 was the most likely birth date but there are no records. I do know sure that he came to Boston in 1635 as he is on the ship's passenger list. I appreciate your addition, that is one of the main reasons I set up this blog. Bill

[Deb H]

I enjoyed reading your information on William Ives. My line goes from William to John...I have the rest at home...several Johns in the middle..a Silas Yale Ives and a Titus...then Edgar VAn Buren Ives and my grandmother, Ethel. This line stayed Wallingford, Meriden. Nice work with the New Haven Records! I really want to do more work on my Ives.....we drove around the New Hsven green on one of our many trips down there and thought of all the folks buried there...but we don't know where William is....I have found my Stockings...but not my first one who was George...and I have found all my Ives, but not William.....would love to flesh out mmore details about his life...

[Deb H]

I enjoyed reading your information on William Ives. My line goes from William to John...I have the rest at home...several Johns in the middle..a Silas Yale Ives and a Titus...then Edgar VAn Buren Ives and my grandmother, Ethel. This line stayed Wallingford, Meriden. Nice work with the New Haven Records! I really want to do more work on my Ives.....we drove around the New Hsven green on one of our many trips down there and thought of all the folks buried there...but we don't know where William is....I have found my Stockings...but not my first one who was George...and I have found all my Ives, but not William.....would love to flesh out mmore details about his life...

[Bill Ives]

Deb - Thansk for your comment. I have been wanting to go to New haven for some time. I was able to determine where William Ives lived through Google Maps but not his grave. I would like to go to the site, although it is part of the hospital complex now and the building is long gone. Bill

[Lauren Pierce]

I am excited to find your blog, I am descended from William, Joseph, Ebenezer,Lazarus, Leverett, Fessenden,Thaddeus Roderick.
Thaddeus daughter Susan Ives was my grandmother married to William Spargo. A cousin long ago started the genealogy, that I began to fill in about 8 years ago. The wife of William Ives began to appear as a question to me the more I found. Sorry to hear we probably will never know who she really was.
Thank you for all the work you have done,it does just get in your blood, doesn't it. You have to keep digging. When ever I have time I pick up to see what else I can find.
Happy New Year,
Lauren Jenkins Pierce

[bill Ives]

Lauren

Thanks for your additions. It is always nice to meet new cousins. Let me know if you learn anything more about William, Joseph or Ebenezer or Williams' wife. Good hunting and Happy New year. Bill

[Sue Wemett]

Bill,
Do you find an Amos Ives, b. 1802 in CT, m. Lucy Hubbard in your genealogy? He is my great-great-great grandfather, father of Edwin Burke Ives of Niles, MI. Regards,
Sue

[bill Ives]

Sue

Thanks for or your comment. I looked ad his is not in my direct line. He is probably found in Ives, Arthur Coons, The Genealogy of the Ives Family, Hungerford-Holdbrook Company, Watertown NY, 1932. Bill