Ives Family History Blog

Cornell University’s Making of America Collection

Cornell University has a portion of their website dedicated to the "Making of America". Eliz Peters says that she has gleamed tons of great information and even illustrations from the online scanned pages. I is not likely that any of MOA's offerings come up in the Google Books search at this point.

Her is an example that shows one of our ancestors. Nathaniel Turner. The link goes to a scanned page of Harper's new monthly magazine, Volume 17, Issue 97, Pub.: Harper & Bros., Pub. Date: June 1858, New York, Pages: 874. Nathaniel Turner is mentioned and it even has an illustration of his sword which is on pg. 3 of the magazine. Thanks to Eliz for this.

New Information on Nathaniel Turner

Eliz. J. "BJ" Peters provided some useful information on Nathaniel Turner's activities regarding trade on the Delaware. I wrote in Nathaniel Turner Part Two, "In the same year he purchased the large tract of land in New Jersey on Delaware Bay along with the current site of Philadelphia in what turned out to be an ill fated venture for the merchants of New Haven due to resistance by the Dutch and Swedish neighbors." Eliz provided a link to a scan of the book, "The Swedish Settlements on the Delaware: Their History and Relation to the Indians, Dutch and English 1638-1664", Vol.1, by Amandus Johnson, PhD, Pub. 1911 by D. Appleton, Agents.

Thanks to Eliz for sharing this. She writes Saurbaten, Tea Time, and Scones. Eliz is related to many of the New Haven families, being descended from two of Christopher Todd's sons through both of her 2nd great grandparents, they being Todd cousins. Her New Haven ancestors include Theophilus Eaton, Nathaniel Turner, Christopher Todd, Thomas Yale, William Ives, David Atwater, John Bishop, and others so we are very related.

Nathaniel Turner (1600 - 1646) Part Three

On Dec. 7, 1647 “Mrs. Turner delivered into court an inventory of the estate left by her deceased husband, Mr. Nathaniel Turner, which was read and delivered to the secretary to be recorded.” (NH Ct. Rds.) The estate totaled 457 pds, including 154 pds. in real estate. The inventory was made by Francis Newman, Richard Miles, Thomas Hall, and William Andrews on Oct. 3, 1647 (NEGHSR, 1929, p.133). She re-married Samuel Goodanhousen who was called in Sept. 4, 1649 to security for the portions of his wife’s children.

He said he paid Mr. Yale (Mary’s husband) 35 pds. which he accepted in full satisfaction for his wife’s portion, and that he offered Thomas Meeks 19 acres of land “for the portion of Rebecca Turner, now his wife.” NH Ct. Rds. On Jan. 13 1661/62 a special court was held to resolve the portions of the children of Nathaniel Turner. This was probably just after the death of Mrs. Turner. Since Nathaniel (Jr.) was deceased without children, the portions were divided between the others. Mr. Yale, Mr. Hudson and Hannah Turner resigned there portions to Issac Turner but Thomas Meekes declared that he expected to receive his due.

Nathaniel and his wife, Margaret Leachland(?), had six children:

1. Mary, born about 1626, died 1704, married Thomas Yale in 1645. They had eight children, all born in New Haven: John (1646-1711), Thomas (1648-1736), Mary (1650-1710), Nathaniel (1652-1730), Martha (1655-1670), Abigail (1660-1708), Hannah (1662-1744), Elizabeth (1650-1710).

2. Rebecca, born about 1629, died June 14, 1731, married Thomas Mix (1624-1691) on Sept. 4, 1649. Thomas is buried in the New Haven green. They had eleven children, all born in New Haven.: John (1649-1711), Nathaniel (1651-1725), Daniel (1653-1720), Thomas (1655-1691), Rebecca (1657-1734), Abigail (1660-), Caleb (1661-1708), Samuel (1663-1730), Hannah (1666-), Esther (1668-1670), Stephen (1672-1738).

3. Abigail, born about 1631, died 1693, married John Hudson (or Hodson) (1616-1690) on Sept. 2, 1651*. They had nine children, all born in New Haven: Abigail (1654-), Sarah (1657-), Mary (1660-died soon), John (1663), Samuel (1664-1673), John (1667-1711), Mary (1670-1671), Anna (1671-1672), Nathaniel (-1701).

4. Nathaniel, born about 1633, died 1662 without children.

5. Hannah, born Nov. 17, 1639 in New Haven, married Samuel Hopkins Dec. 5, 1667*. They had at least two children, both born in New Haven; Wait Samuel (1668-), Hannah (1670-).

6. Issac, born June 7, 1640, died Mar. 27, 1699 in New Haven, married Mary Todd (1647-1676) on Aug. 19, 1668*. He is listed as a Proprietor of New Haven, CT, in the Year 1685 (NEGHSR, vol. 1, pp. 157–8). They had at least four children, all born in New Haven: Nathaniel (twin) (1669-1750), Issac (twin) (1669-1749), Joseph (1672-1759), Mary (1674-1683).

I will now briefly provided the early history of Lynn, Massachusetts where Nathaniel first lived in New England.

Nathaniel Turner (1600 - 1646) Part Two

Nathaniel came to New Haven in 1638 and was one of the original signers of the New Haven Covenant in 1639. The Early List of Estates published by the New Haven Church in 1640 lists Nathaniel Turner with seven people in his household with an estate valued at 800 pds. He was a Captain and ranking officer in the New Haven militia. Capt. Turner acted as the agent of New Haven in July 1640 to purchase all the lands belonging to the Sagamores, represented by Ponus the sagamore of Toquams and Wascusse the sagamore of Shippan, with the exception of a piece of land reserved by Ponus for the tribe to plant on..

The consideration was 12 coats, 12 hoes, 12 hatchets, 12 knives, 2 kettles, and four fathoms of wampum. The liberty of hunting and fishing was reserved by the tribe. This land comprised the Stamford territory. It was bought, in part, to counter the expansion of Connecticut along the Sound. In the same year he purchased the large tract of land in New Jersey on Delaware Bay along with the current site of Philadelphia in what turned out to be an ill fated venture for the merchants of New Haven due to resistance by the Dutch and Swedish neighbors. (more on the Swedes)

In August 23, 1640, the New Haven court of ordered that Captain Turner shall have his choice lot of upland and meadow so that he may attend the service of the town which his place requires. He was chosen a deputy of the court in Aug. 29, 1640. He was chosen Deputy again in Oct. 22, 1645. In the second division of land, the court again ordered that Nathaniel should have his choice of land for his best convenience to best attend the public service of his military office. In 1643, his estate was valued at 800 pds, only ten others had higher valued estates at the time.

In 1646, the merchants of New Haven, in an effort to ensure the independence of the colony sent a ship with a cargo of 5,000 pds. to London to secure a colonial charter from Parliament, the king deposed as a result of the English Civil War. Nathaniel went on the trip but the ship sank in route and Nathaniel died at sea, along with all the others and the cargo was lost. He had kept up relations with many in Lynn so many there mourned his fate, along with those in New Haven. (The story is concluded tomorrow)

Nathaniel Turner (1600 - 1646) Part One

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)