Mary Turner married Thomas Yale in 1645 (see Yale family for their life together) and their daughter, Mary (1650-1710), married Joseph Ives in 1672. Mary was born in England in 1624 and died in North Haven on October 15, 1704. Her father Nathaniel was one of the signers of the original New Haven agreement in 1639. There is much writtten about him. Here is his story in three parts.
Nathaniel Turner was born about 1600 in England. He came to Boston with Gov. Winthrop in 1630 and lived in Lynn, MA. Winthrop brought about 1000 people on six ships. Nathaniel lived in Nahant Street and owned all of Sagamore Hill (loosely meaning “Hill of Kings” in the local Indian language). The first settlers in Lynn were in 1629. The population was greatly augmented in 1630 by the arrival of Governor Winthrop and his group. The first church in Lynn was established on June 8, 1632, the fifth in the state after Salem (1629), Dorchester (1630), Charlestown (1630 – moved to Boston), and Watertown (1630). The area was originally called Saugus and its freemen were admitted to the General Court in 1630.
The name Lynn was first used in Nov. 20, 1637 after the home town, Lynn, Norfolk, England, of the one of the first ministers, Samuel Whiting. Nathaniel applied to be admitted on Oct. 19, 1630 and took the oath on July 3, 1632. He was a representative to the first seven sessions of General Court of Massachusetts and he also was appointed Constable of the settlement (called Saugus then) in 1632. In 1632, the General Court also ordered that Sarah Morley be made an apprentice to Nathaniel for nine years for which time he was to provide her meat, drink, and clothing. During 1632, he was part of a committee that settled a boundary dispute between Cambridge and Charlestown. In 1636, he was appointed by the Court, along with John Humphrey, to lay out the bounds of Ipswich.
He was also a member of the first County Court of Salem in 1636. This court was established that year to be held quarterly for the benefit of Salem and adjacent towns because the Boston court could not handle the increased case load with the increase in population. The judges consisted of a magistrate and several freemen from the towns, one being Nathaniel Turner. The first session was held on June 27, 1636. Nathaniel is recorded attending the session of 1636 and 1638. He is missing from the 1637 sessions, likely because he was involved with the Pequot Wars. This reason is more probable as he was not fined for his absence as others were.
Nathaniel was also appointed to a valuation committee raised to assist in levying taxes on several plantations. Nathaniel was appointed Captain of the militia in 1633. In 1634, he took his company on training day to hunt wolves in Nahant. He commanded several expeditions against the Pequot in 1636 and 1637 while in Lynn. Attacks were made in what is now Block Island, RI and New London after several of the settlers were killed by the Pequet.
In June 1638, the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, still in existence, was formed and Nathaniel Turner was one of the first members. In 1633 he also gave ten pounds toward the sea fort built in defense of Boston harbor. In 1637 Nathaniel’s house burned down and he lost all contents with only the people escaping. At the same time he heard about the favorable possibilities in New Haven and he joined this group with the idea of assuming the military command based on his experience in the Pequot Wars.
He sold his land on Sagamore Hill to Edward Holyoke before going to New Haven. Edward’s son, Elizur was to later move to Springfield and become the step father of Thomas Day (see upcoming posts on Day family and Early Springfield, Massachusetts). Edward Holyoke was from Tamworth, Warwickshire, England where he married, 18 June, 1612, Prudence, daughter of Rev. John Stockton, rector of Kinkolt. Edward’s name is remembered through Holyoke Street in Lynn near his land on Sagamore Hill. When Edward died the value of his estate was 681 pds. A farm at Lynn, 400 pds ; 3 acres at Nahant, 6 pds ; a farm at Bever dam near Reading, 150 pds; two oxen, 12 pds ; four cows, 16 pds; and his books, 20 pds; are the principal items. (continued tomorrow)
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