David Atwater was the son of John Atwater (1567 - 1636). He was born and baptized in Royton in Lenham, Kent, England, on Sunday, October 8, 1615, and died in Cedar Hill, New Haven, on October 5, 1692 and is buried in the Cedar Hill Cemetery in North Haven. There is much written about him so I will divide this into two parts. He outlived most of the other original planters in new Haven. The immigration of David and his siblings, Joshua and Ann Atwater, to America was partially the result of the religious persecutions and illegal "taxation" by King Charles I in England. In addition, their parents had just died, as had their uncles. From David's birth thru 1633, George Abbott was the Archbishop of Canterbury.
During this period, the Puritans in his own Diocese of Canterbury were largely protected from the persecutions of Charles I by his personal authority. Archbishop Abbott permitted the French and Dutch churches to continue to worship according to their Presbyterian form in Maidstone, Sandwich, and Canterbury. One of these congregations worshiped according to that form in his own Cathedral Church of Canterbury as had been done from the time of Queen Elizabeth. [Abbott was employed on the authorized translation of the Bible under King James I.]
However, another Archbishop, Laud, gained unlimited sway over the mind of Charles I and convinced him that the Puritans should no longer be afforded asylum in England. When Archbishop Abbott died in 1633, persecution of the separatists became much more active. On Christmas Day, 1636, Laud wrote to the king that even though the ringleaders of the Brownists and other separatists from the Church of England had been imprisoned, the movements continued. "Neither do I see remedy like to be, unless some of their seducers be driven to abjure the Kingdom, which must be done by the judges at the common law, but is not within our power." Charles I responded with the memorandum: "C. R. Informe me of the particulars and I shall command the Judges to make them Abjure." Six months later, on June 26, 1637, Joshua, David, and Ann Atwater arrived in Boston on the Hector.
In addition to these ecclesiastical troubles, the forced loans and illegal extractions, resulting from the attempt of King Charles I to govern without a parliament, were severely felt. Each person was required to pay a fixed proportion of his property in land or goods. Those who refused were impressed to serve in the navy, others were imprisoned, "committed by special command of his majesty."
The financial implications on David, Joshua, and Ann Atwater were significant. According to the custom of gavelkind of the time, David, the youngest son, would retain the homestead and remain at Royton when his father died. Joshua had received the rest of the estate and was a mercer (merchant in fabrics) in Ashton, about seven miles from Royton. Both had received much from the estates of their uncles George and David, and from that of Ann, George's wife. Therefore, to leave for America on short notice likely meant selling all of their lands and possessions at a considerable disadvantage.
David Atwater was 22 years old when he arrived in New England in 1637. If he was one of those who accompanied Mr. Eaton to Quinnipiack in the autumn of that year, he returned to Boston, for only seven of the company, including his brother Joshua, remained at Quinnipiack through the winter. It is likely that David and his sister Ann stayed in Boston for the winter and sailed with the company for their new home in the spring of 1638. He signed the plantation covenant on June 4, 1639, the day of the constituent assembly in Mr. Newman's barn.
David was unmarried thru 1643 when his name appears on the list of 21 planters with a valuation upon their estates of £500 or more, "according to which he will pay his proportion in all Rates and Public charges from time to time to be accessed for civil uses, and expect Lands in all divisions which shall generally be made to the planters". (Barber's History and Antiquities of New Haven, edition 1831.)
I am a descendant of David Atwater and have been several times to lenham, Kent, England and to the church he was baptized in and to Royton Manor which still stands.
Posted by: Richard Naiss | August 27, 2007 at 07:34 PM
Richard -Thanks for your comment. Can you share a bit from your trips. Bill
Posted by: bill Ives | August 27, 2007 at 09:49 PM