It was exciting for me to stumble across a great article in the New England Ancestors Fall 2008 issue about my 11th great-grandmother, Dionis Stevens Coffin.
As I read the article and dug deeper, I discovered that Mary Coffyn (later Coffin) Starbuck, her daughter and my 10th great-grandaunt, born in 1645 in Massachusetts, had an impressive education. Despite living in the 1600s, she had a strong Puritan work ethic and was literate and proficient in Latin and Greek, which was unusual for a woman at that time. Mary was also well-versed in the scriptures. Her ability to read and write the classical languages was mostly only a skill obtained by young men studying the ministry at Harvard College.
At sixteen, she was engaged to Nathaniel Starbuck, her father’s business partner, in a marriage probably arranged by her parents. Their wedding in 1661 was the first in New England on the island of Nantucket, and their daughter was the first white child born there. Mary’s brother had already married Nathaniel’s sister, so she knew Nathaniel as a family friend.
Women of Petticoat Row ca.1895. Courtesy of Nantucket Historical Association.
With her education, Mary confidently expressed her knowledge of the world around her and actively participated in town meetings. She and her husband hosted many town meetings in their home, which became known locally as the “Parliament House.” Mary started a trading post or “country store” attached to their house shortly after their marriage. One of their primary customers was the Algonquian Indians. Mary’s account books, owned by the Nantucket Historical Association, date from 1683 to 1757 and reveal that they traded goods and labor in the store. The account books indicate that as many as 200 Indians, mainly involved in cod-fishing, fowling, routine manual work, and later whaling, received necessary tools, cloth, and supplies for their efforts.
Mary found her religious freedom and was allowed to sell items as she pleased. She was truly a free woman. Mary became a leader in introducing Quaker practices in Nantucket. She became a minister in the Society, as were several of her children. She was consulted on all matters of public importance because her judgment was superior, and she was well-acknowledged as a great woman.
The first Meeting House on Nantucket was built in 1711; however, Mary did not live to see the official Nantucket Monthly Meeting established. Mary Coffin Starbuck passed away on Nantucket Island on November 13, 1717, at the age of seventy-two. Her body was buried in the Friends’ burial ground next to the new meetinghouse, which was constructed on land donated by her son and the Nantucket proprietors.
Mary Coffyn Starbuck’s remarkable life serves as a testament to the strength, intellect, and determination of women in early American history. Her contributions to her community, her role in introducing Quaker practices to Nantucket, and her ability to navigate both the public and private spheres with grace and authority make her a figure worth remembering. As we reflect on her legacy, we are reminded of the power of education, faith, and resilience in shaping the course of history. Mary’s story is not just one of personal achievement but also one of enduring influence, leaving a lasting impact on the island of Nantucket and beyond.
Gavin, A. M. (2008, January 9). A Tale of Two Women: Seventeenth Century Coffin and Starbuck Matriarchs. Fall 2008 New England Ancestors, 9(4), 21-24.
So, witches run in my family. Why doesn’t that surprise me?
Susanna (née Clark) was the wife of Josiah Rootes (1613-1683). Josiah Rootes, originally from Great Chart, Kent, England, was a passenger on the Hercules of Sandwich, under the command of Captain John Witherley. The ship was bound for “the plantation called New England in America” in the spring of 1634/5. Josiah, along with his mother and brother, migrated to America and was instrumental in founding the Beverly Church.
Josiah had taken the oath of allegiance and supremacy at Great Chart and received his certificate from Robert Gorsham, curator of Great Chart, on 20 March 1634/35. The Hercules of Sandwich is probably the same as the Hercules of Dover mentioned by Winthrop as being here in the summer. ~~Samuel G. Drake, Result of Some Researches Among the British Archives for Information Relative to the Founders of New England: Made in the Years 1858, 1859 and 1860 (n.p.: H.W. Dutton and Son, Printers, Transcript Office, 1860; reprint Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1963), 84.
On June 25, 1678, Josiah made a sworn accusation of thievery against William and Elizabeth Hoar. He claimed the family had stolen (clothing, apples, wood, and hay) from him for nearly twenty years, and he had only just discovered proof – in the form of Goody Hoar’s apron.
When several neighbors came under suspicion of receiving stolen goods from Mr. Hale’s maid, Margaret Lord, Josiah Rootes complained to the court in a written statement that “for neare twenty years together we haue ben Aflicted by hauing owr goods stollen At sundri time And we not Abell To make due profe haue ben forsed To sufer owr seuellfes To be wrownged in estat And name: And god by his prouidens hauing latlie discouered sum of Theas wokes of darknes wee Judg yt. To be owre duty To speake in vindicasion of Truth and Conuictccion of sine…. He deposed in Salem Court that same month, aged about 65, and again, aged about 60, as did his wife “Susanah Roots, aged about forty-eight years…”
Their son, Jonathan Rootes, aged about thirteen years, affirmed…” Among those who testified were Abigell Stone, Jr., Abigall Ston, Jr., John Lovet, Jr., and Bethiah Lovet (Sussanah’s daughter).”
That same day, Susanna first appears on record: Susanah Roots, aged about fifty-three years, Mary, wife of Heugh Woodbery, aged about forty-eight years, and Sarah Roots, aged about twenty-four years, deposed that about two months ago they saw Mary, wife of Samuell Harres and Tabitha Slew carry a parcel of small linen into Samuell Harris’ house.
Five years later, in the spring of 1683, Josiah Rootes passed away. He named Susanna as the executrix of his will and stipulated, “…my loveing wife Susanna [have] the use & improvement of all my small estate, what ever untill such time, as my son Jonathan cometh to the age…” and if she did not remarry, “[Jonathan] shall pay unto her, his said mother eight pounds, [yearly] duerring the terme of her widdowhood, or her natural life, and let her have the use of the west end of my now dwellinghouse, of a bed, beding, her firewood brought to the doare [door].”
For the period, this is an appropriate provision for a wife who worked land, maintained a household, bore and nurtured six children. Josiah’s specification that Susanna have the sunny west-facing room with cozy bed and fire burning is lovely and fitting after 40 years of toil at his side. –Poor Irish & Pilgrims. New World Shoots from Old World Roots.
Inventory of the estate of Josiah Roots of Beverly, who deceased June 3, 1683, taken by Samuel Corning, sr., and Andrew Elliott: one coverlaide, lOs.; 1 bed ticking, iSs.; coverlaide, ili.; 4 yards of red Cloth at 6s. per yard, 21i. 4s.; 7 yards of Lining Cloth, ili. 8s.; 4 yards of Dowless, 8s.; 4 yards and 1-2 of kerzey, ili. 6d.; New England money, 71i. 8s.; old England money, 16s., 81i. 4s.; 2 yards of broad Cloth, ili. 2s.; 1 yard & 1-2 of broad Cloth, 18s.; 2 yards and 1 quarter of Red Cloth, 155.; 1 Carpet, lOs.; 11 yards of sarge, 21i. 4s.; 7 yards of white Cotten, 14s.; 1 Chest, 2s. and his woolling wearing Cloths, 51i. 5s.; and his wearing Linning, ili. lOs.; 61i. 17s.; 6 yards of kerzey, ili. 16s.; 4 yards and a quarter of kerzie, 31i. is. 6d.; 3 yards of Lining Cloth, 55. & 1 hatt, 45. 9s.; 8 pair of sheets for beding, 41i.; bed and its belongings, 41i. lOs.; 1 bed and 2 bed steads with other furniture, 5 li.; 1 bed with its furniture, 21i. lOs., and other Lumber, 31i.; 3 chests, ili. 2s.; 1 Table and 3 Joint stooles, 1 Table, 18s.; Cushions, 6s.; 1 Little Table, 4s. 21i. lOs.; 2 Chairs, 3s.; pewter, 21i.; brass & Iron, ili. 13s., 31i. 13s.; I Cart & wheels, plowghs & plowgh tackell, 41i.; 1 sled & 4 axes, 6s.; 3 hoes, 3s. 9s.; barrell, Tubs and other Lumber, 12s.; 3 other Tubs, 2s. & 2 spades, 55. 7s.; 1 horse, 2li. lOs.; parcel of shingles, ili. 55., 31i. 155.; 10 thousand of shingle nailes, ili. 105.; 2 oxen, 71i. & 4 Cows at 121i., 19 Ii., 2 Steeres, 41i. los.; 19 Sheep & Lambs at 3 Ii. 19s., 81i. 9s.; houses, land and orchard, 2601i.; 6 Acres of meadow, 301i.; 5 swine, lOs. per, 21i. lOs.; total, 3841i. 19s. Several debts, 191i. 8s. 3d.
In his will dated 15 May 1683, Josiah Rootes, “of the town of Beverly,” leaves his entire estate to his son Jonathan, after settling legacies for his other children, Bethiah, John, and Thomas. He entrusts the management of his estate to his wife Susanna, whom he appoints as executrix until Jonathan reaches adulthood. After Jonathan comes of age, he is responsible for his mother’s support as long as she remains unmarried.~~ George Francis Dow, Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, IX: 66. 67.
On June 26, 1683, Susanna Roots, now a widow, renounced her role as the executor of her husband’s will in a Salem court. She stated that she had “many weaknesses and infirmities of old age” and, therefore, could not serve as executor.
The court appointed John Hill and Nehemiah Grover to bring in an inventory as soon as possible, and the inventory was sworn to on 6 July 1683. (Andrew Elliot, who would, in 1692, accuse Susanna Rootes of witchcraft, was one of the appraisers).~~ George Francis Dow, Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, VIII: 66, 6
Nine years later, as she approached her 70th year, she found herself being taken to Boston and thrown into jail with irons on a charge of witchcraft, which carried a sentence of death.
Accusing neighbors of theft in a close-knit community is a serious matter. It’s possible that friends of William and Mary Hoars, Mary Harres, and Tabitha Slew held a grudge against the Rootes family, or they might have been jealous of the Rootes’ wealth, leading to the accusations.
(Warrant for Arrest of Susannah Roots )
Salem May 21-1692
To the Constables of Beverly.
Whereas Complaint hath been this day made before us, by Sergent Thomas Puttnam and John Puttnam: both of Salem village yeomen against Susannah Roots of Beverly widdow for sundry acts of witchcrafft by her Commited on the bodys of Mary wallcott Abigal williams Marcy Lewis Ann Puttnam and others.
You are therfore in their Majesties names hereby Required to apprehend and forthwith bring before us Susannah Roots of Beverly widdow, who stands charged with Committing Sundry acts of witchcraft as aboves’d to the wrong and Injury of the bodys of the above-named Persons, in order to her Examination Relateing to the aboves’d Premises faile not Dated Salem May the 21’st 1692
John Hathorne
Jonathan. Corwin
[Pbar ]r order of the Govener & Councell
To the Marshall of Essex or his Deputy vera Copia attest
May 21 — 1692
*Geor: Herrick Marshall of Essex
I doe apoint mr Jonathan Biles to bee my Lawffull Deputy to serve this warrant
*Geo: Herrick Marshall of Essex
(Reverse) I have prosecutted the within written warant and have apprehended the person of the within mentioned Suzannah Roots and Brought her befour awthority. 23: may 1692
An information if it might be any help in the examination of the person before you goode Roots I being in the house of Mr Laurence Denni’s some time since she was suspected for what shee is now before you & there was Likewise Leonard Austen of our Town of Beverly s’d Austen then s’d that he thought she was a bad woman, his reason was that he Living in the house with s’d Roots not Long since and when he went to prayer at any time with his wife & thought s’d Roots would acompany them in s’d Duty but Did not at any time but would withdraw & absent herselfe: & further when my self were gone to bed & she unto her bed. she would rise in the night & we Could hear her talk in the roome below I lying in the Chamber over s’d roome as if there #[there] were: 5: or six persons with her more s’d Austen might speak if caled thereunto as far as know more concer[n]ing Roots
Susannah was eventually released, but while she was in prison, her grandson John Lovett III visited her and gave the following deposition about his conversation with Dorcas Hoar, another prisoner:
The depersision of John Lovet aged about 25 years this deponant tetifieth & say that he the s’d deponant sume time in June last past went into the prisan to see my gran mother then goodee hore asked me the s’d. deponant whether I knew of any witnesses that would Come in or be brought in against hear.&.I the s’d deponant told her I did not know of any and then the s’d. hore asked me whether goodman witreg would not Come in against her about his Cow I the s’d debonant tould the s’d whore I did believe he Would the s’d whore replyed she did not know that he had ara Cow, furder saith not
Supposedly Susannah was released due to insufficient evidence but died less than a month later. Susannah ended up in the care of Ambrose Gale after Josiah died since she had no known family members who survived her. However, the arrangement was not without a business-like aspect. In June of 1684, the court ordered that Susannah’s inheritance should be given to Gale to reimburse him for expenses. It was agreed that with the transfer of her assets, Gale would care for her for the rest of her life. (Note: Susannah was the mother of Ambrose Gale’s deceased son-in-law, Thomas Rootes, husband of Elizabeth Gale. Not much is known about how she died. Maybe her decline in health and the conditions in jail made her too weak.
A student essay submitted in the UK states an interesting theory:
“Some of the witches like Susannah Roots were also accused for entertaining people late at night or adultery, but just because they did those kinds of things did not mean they were looking for power or attention from the whole town, but from the people they did it with. What we know now that did not know then is that the accused must have had been sick in some way or form. We can conclude this with the fact that the symptoms of witchery are the same symptoms as the Encephalitis Epidemic that accrued in the early 1900s to the mid-1900s.” https://www.ukessays.com/essays/history/salem-witch-craft-hysteria-history-essay.php
I recently covered information about the Bean family while researching William Bean on the Logan side a few weeks ago. For example, our Bean immigrant was a Scottish Prisoner of War and was sold as an indentured servant.
John MacBean (my 9th great-grandfather) came from Scotland as a POW. He was one of 272 prisoners from the Battle of Worcester on the ship John and Sarah in 1651 that traveled to Boston (the Mac was dropped in Boston).
There is *no* documentary evidence giving John Bean of Exeter's parents/grandparent's names, or origins. We can confirm that he was most likely born in Scotland, was taken prisoner in England at the Battle of Worcester, and was one of the 'Scottish Prisoners' transported to New Hampshire on the ship "Sarah and John"; but that's it for anything prior to his arrival in America. Both the US and UK branches of the Clan MacBean Inc. Genealogy Department have been trying to locate _any_ additional information *without* success. The _suggested_ names for John's father/grandfather first appear during the mid-20th century and have no basis in fact. If anyone has *documented* evidence - with solid provenance - of his ancestry and origins, we would be overjoyed to receive it; but if your information comes from family trees without sources or provenance, or family 'legend' handed down without anything to back it up, then please do *not* treat it as gospel, or base any further research on it. --Allan MacBain MBCS Associate Genealogist (UK and Europe), Clan MacBean Inc.
John Bean and six others were indentured to Nicholas Lissen, owner of sawmills on the Exeter and Oyster Rivers. Usually, these servants had to serve six to eight years for their master, but John married his master’s daughter within THREE years! Nicolas’ other two daughters married John’s friends and fellow POWs. Interestingly, the Lissens were also from Scotland.
John MacBean was born about 1634 in Strathdearn, Inverness, Scotland. As with the Clan Logan Visits Scotland, the MacBeans also belong to a Clan. From clanmacbean.org:
Our Gaelic name is MacBheathain, meaning “Son of the Lively One.” It is pronounced MacBain in Scotland. The “bh” in the Gaelic has a “bv” sound. The “ea” has the harsh “a.” The “th” has an h sound. The “ai” has the harsh “e” sound. This becomes “Macbvaheen.” This is why there are so many spellings of the sound. For a long time, everything was spelled phonetically. There was no set way. You can find one family member that spelled his name one way, and his brothers spelled it another way. Many records show the names spelled the way the recorder spelled it, not the way the family spelled it.
The Prefix of “Mac” means “Son of.” As time passed, many people dropped the a and put a line underneath the “Mc” with two dots to show that the a was suppose to be there. Later the lines and dots were dropped altogether. Some times you will find M’ which means the same as Mac. Mack is also accepted.
Kinchyle is the Cry that the clan warriors would yell as they began to engage in battle. It was meant to unite them as one force. Kinchyle (kin-hile) was the land owned by the Clan which stretched around 2 miles along Lock Ness. This was located approximately where the town of Dores (due-ers) is today.
Clan Motto: Touch not a catt bot a targe! This motto, which is written on our badge, means, don’t mess with this cat unless you have a shield for protection against it!
This monument to Clan MacBean is inside the McBain Memorial Park, created by Hughston McBain of McBain, the 21st chief. It lies above Kinchyle near Dores on the south shore of Loch Ness. The site was opened in 1961.
In the spring of 1650, when Oliver Cromwell threatened to invade Scotland, many Scottish highlanders enlisted to defend their homeland. The Scots lost the Battle of Dunbar on 3 September 1650, but a year later, a reorganized Scottish army prepared to fight Cromwell at the Battle of Worcester. When no ammunition was provided, the Scots resorted to clubs, stones, and the butts of their muskets until they were finally overpowered, and Scotland lost her independence. The surviving Scottish soldiers were taken as prisoners of war. From Volume I, Descendants of John Bean of Exeter (2019 edition)
On April 18, 1654, John married Hannah, the daughter of Lissen. Shortly after, he became a partner in the sawmills, a business that continued until Hannah’s death and John’s subsequent remarriage. In addition to his work in the sawmills, John Bean was also a land developer. Between 1660 and 1708, he acquired nearly 20 acres of land, cleared it of timber, and transformed it into working farms, preparing them for sale to new settlers. Furthermore, he was involved in farming and crafted boots for settlers as well as shoes for trade with Native Americans.
John Bean was Presbyterian, and Margaret, his second wife, was a member of the Hampton church in 1671 but was dismissed from that church in 1698 to join the church in Exeter. They chose to worship at the Congregational Church because there was no Presbyterian Church in Exeter, though John remained a Presbyterian until his death.
His first wife, Hannah, was born around 1635 in Scotland. She passed away at the age of 24 in 1659 during the birth of their third child in Exeter, New Hampshire. She was buried at Old Gathering House Churchyard in Belknap, New Hampshire. Hannah Lissen had two sisters: Elizabeth Lissen, who married Henry Magoon, and Mary Lissen, who married Alexander Gordon. Both men were with John Bean on the ship John and Sara.
John Bean and Margarett Rees married before 16 November 1660 in Exeter, Massachusetts Bay. Margarett Rees was born around 1635 in Wales. She passed away in 1714 at 79 in Exeter, New Hampshire, and was laid to rest at the Old Meeting House Churchyard in Belknap, New Hampshire.
John’s eleventh son, James, is my ancestor. He was born on December 17, 1672, in Exeter, Massachusetts Bay. James became a significant landowner in his own right. In February 1698, he purchased 30 acres from the town of Exeter, which he added to the land he inherited from his father. James was a trapper and a hunter, and he actively participated in the Indian Wars, fighting against Indigenous peoples until they withdrew from New Hampshire around 1710. In July of that same year, James successfully thwarted an attempted kidnapping of his three nieces by Indians who intended to take them to Canada.
James Bean married his first wife, Sarah Coleman, in 1692 in Exeter. Sarah was baptized in 1673, indicating she was born around that same year. She passed away in 1696.
James’ first son, John, is my ancestor. He was born in 1693 in Brentwood, New Hampshire, and married Sarah Sinkler in 1718 in Exeter, New Hampshire, which was part of British America at the time. John passed away in 1747 in Brentwood, New Hampshire. It is said that he was his grandfather’s favorite and was rather spoiled by him, ultimately acquiring land through his will.
Their sons were very influential in Exeter, New Hampshire. In fact, Nathaniel was one of the delegates who ratified the Constitution of the United States. However, my ancestor is their first son, Joshua.
Joshua was born in 1719 in Brentwood, New Hampshire. He was a Quaker and had a remarkable family, with a total of 22 children—eleven from his first wife and eleven from his second wife. It’s no wonder there are so many Beans across North America! Around 1781, their daughter Hannah and her husband relocated to Gilmanton, Strafford, New Hampshire. Hannah was the first white woman to settle in Gilmanton, and their child was the first white child born there.
In 1781, Joshua and his first wife, Lydia Brown, moved to Gilmanton. They traveled on horseback, carrying their three small children in the saddles. Four of Joshua’s sons attended Dartmouth College, and five of his grandsons also graduated from Dartmouth. Additionally, two of his grandsons graduated from Harvard.
Because Joshua was a Quaker, he was unable to serve in the Revolutionary War or sign the Association Test Act of 1776. He and his sons were part of a group of thirty-five individuals who sent a letter expressing their support for the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted on July 4th.
My ancestor, John, was the sixteenth child of Joshua and Hannah Robinson. He was born on September 4, 1746, in Brentwood, New Hampshire. John married Abigail Fowler in 1767, also in Brentwood. Abigail was born on June 14, 1747, in Brentwood. Unfortunately, not much more information is available about John.
I have conducted most of my research for this blog using Volume I: Descendants of John Bean of Exeter from the clanmacbean.org website. However, this source did not provide information about the rest of my family line, so I reached out to them to inquire about adding my family line to their research.
John and Abigail’s seventh son, also named John, was born on April 20, 1781, in Gilmanton, Strafford, New Hampshire. He married Abiah Chase on January 11, 1803. In 1814, they moved to Warsaw, New Hampshire, and in 1834, they relocated to Sparta, Pennsylvania. John served in the military in 1813.
Company Number: 33rd U.S. Infantry
Enlistment Date: 10 May 1813
Comments: Mustered Out June 30, 1813
Eye Color: Blue
Height: 5′ 7″
Hair Color: Light
Complexion: Light
John and Abiah had eight children. Their third child, Louise, is my Bean ancestor. She was born on February 9, 1809, in Gilmanton, Belknap, New Hampshire. She married Lemuel H. Logan in May 1828 in Warsaw, Genesee, New York. Lemuel’s will stated he left money to each of his children, while all his real estate went to his “youngest son, Ryland.” It is believed that Louise died giving birth to Ryland.
According to the 1865 IRS Tax Assessment Lists, Lemuel was a “Retail Dealer” for a Farmer’s Market, and he paid taxes on the profit. Lemuel purchased 100 acres of land near the Catholic Cemetery in Corry, Pennsylvania. My 2nd great-grandfather, Silas H. Logan, was born on March 10, 1833, in Batavia, Genesee, New York, to Louise and Lemuel.
Silas was a farmer and then worked on the railroad; you can read more about him at
My Eighth Great-Grandfather: Once Again, We Find the Wescott’s on the Shoreline
Many researchers have studied the Wescott name, but the exact origins of our lineage remain uncertain. Most findings are based on deductions rather than definitive records.
The earliest known record of our lineage traces back to John Wescott, who lived in Accomack County (now Northampton), Virginia. Much of the information about him comes from “The Miles Files,” a valuable research collection compiled by M.K. Miles. These files, generously donated to the Virginia Eastern Shore Public Library, contain over 83,000 names from the Eastern Shore counties of Accomack and Northampton, Virginia; Somerset, Worcester, and Wicomico in Maryland; and Sussex County, Delaware. This collection documents the Westcott family along with “hundreds of families from the Eastern Shore, from Charlemagne to the early 1900s.”
It is believed that John Wescott I was born in Accomack County, Virginia, in 1659. Although unproven, his father may have been William Wescott, one of three brothers from England and a nephew of Stukely Wescott.
John’s age was recorded in November 1684 in Northampton County, Virginia, as “Jno Wescott, 25.”
John married Elizabeth Clarke, daughter of George Clarke II and Elizabeth (maiden name unknown), before June 28, 1690, in Northampton County, Virginia.
The Elizabeths in this lineage can be confusing. In an email, M.K. Miles suggested that “George Clarke II’s first wife, Elizabeth, likely died after their children were born, and he then married a second wife named Elizabeth, who was young enough to be the mother of John Wescott’s children.”
John and Elizabeth frequently appeared in court records. One notable mention is a court order from June 28, 1690, in Northampton County, Virginia. On that date, “upon the petition of Wm. Sterlinge against John Wescott as marrying Elizabeth, the widow of George Clarke deceased, the court ordered Wescott to provide an account of Clarke’s estate at the next court session.” Sterlinge was Elizabeth’s first husband.
John was mentioned again in a court order on February 2, 1691, in Northampton County, Virginia. The record states that “John Wescott, having married Elizabeth Clarke, administrator of George Clarke’s estate, petitioned for a valuation of certain cattle on Hogg Island belonging to the deceased’s estate and for a division of the livestock between himself and Clarke’s children.”
John also witnessed a will before October 28, 1698, in Northampton County, Virginia. On this date, he, along with William Kendall and Robert Browne, witnessed the will of William Sterlinge, whose wife was named Elizabeth.
Another intriguing court case involved Elizabeth and Ellenor Carter, a freewoman, and revolved around 17th-century cloth. The dispute ultimately resulted in John Wescott paying a fine to Ellenor’s husband, Thomas Carter.
17th-Century Cloth and Its Importance
Dowlas was one of the most common linens of the period. Another widely used imported fabric was “ozenbrig,” a tough, coarse linen woven in Osnabruck, Westphalia. This fabric was used for making breeches, entire suits, sheets, table covers, and carpetbags.
In 1706, records indicate land transactions involving John Wescott. George Clarke sold several parcels on Hog Island, Northampton County, Virginia: 100 acres to William Harmanson, 200 acres to John Westcote, 100 acres to Edward Joynes, and 200 acres to Jonathan Bell.
On March 12, 1728, John was named in the settlement of his son’s estate. The court ordered John Wescott, as heir-at-law, to appear and explain why Simon Elliott should not be granted administration of the estate of Littleton Wescott, John’s deceased son.
John Wescott’s Will
John made his will on June 16, 1728, in Northampton County, Virginia. In it, he bequeathed:
100 acres on the south side of his land to his son John for life, then to his grandson John Wescott.
The remaining 100 acres, including his house and plantation, to his grandson Littleton Jarman.
The remainder of his estate (except for his mill) to be divided among his three children: John Wescott, Elclanah Barker, and Francis Ellit.
His mill to be shared between the two plantations.
Executors: His son John and son-in-law Simon Elliot.
Witnesses: Matthew Floyd, John Satchell, and John Esdell.
John Wescott passed away before July 9, 1728, when his will was proved in court.
Children of John and Elizabeth Wescott
John and Elizabeth had five children:
John Wescott II (c. 1692–before November 13, 1733) – Our ancestor
Elclanah Wescott (c. 1698–unknown)
Frances Wescott (c. 1700–unknown)
Littleton Wescott (c. 1702–before March 12, 1728)
A daughter (name unknown, c. 1704–before June 16, 1728)
Wescott Family Origins
Wescott Family Origins
Many believe that all Westcott, Wescoat, and Wescott families descend from Stukely Wescott. However, it is unclear whether our direct ancestor was Stukely, his brother, or his nephew. The exact lineage remains uncertain.
The name “Wes” is thought to derive from “Wessex,” while “Cot” may refer to a cottage or protected home.
The story of John Wescott and his descendants highlights the challenges of early American colonial life. Through court records, land transactions, and family connections, we gain a glimpse into the resilience and legacy of our ancestors. Though many details remain uncertain, the Wescott family played a vital role in shaping the communities of the Eastern Shore. As we continue our research, we honor their journey and preserve their history for future generations.
William R.M. Houston M.D. & Jean M. Mihalyka, Colonial Residents of Virginia’s Eastern Shore (Whose Ages Were Proved Before Court Officials of Accomack and Northampton Counties), p. 114. Albert Mack Sterling, The Sterling Genealogy, Volume One, p. 230 (William Sterling of Hungar’s Parish, Northampton County, Virginia). Frank V. Walcyzk, Northampton Co, VA, Bk 13, Orders & Wills, 1689-1698, Vol 1 (1689-1694), p. 154 (origin page number) (a division of the estate of George Clarke). James Handley Marshall, Northampton Co, VA, Abstracts of Wills & Administrations, 1632-1802, p. 161 (will of William Sterling, wife Elizabeth). Ralph T. Whitelaw, Virginia’s Eastern Shore (A History of Northampton and Accomack Counties), p. 369 (tract N62). James Handley Marshall, Northampton Co, VA, Abstracts of Wills & Administrations, 1632-1802, p. 264 (will of John Westcott).
John Loggan and his twin brother James were born in Voluntown, Connecticut, on 30 June 1731. Their father, John, was 32, and their mother, Margaret, was 28.
James stayed in Connecticut and served in the Revolutionary War.
John’s brother Hugh was born in Voluntown, Connecticut, on September 14, 1736, when John was 5 years old. Hugh passed away on September 15, 1755, in Washington, Connecticut, when John was 24 and Hugh was 19.
His sister Mary died on March 27, 1739, at the age of 14, when John was 7 years old, in Voluntown, Connecticut.
John’s brothers Robert and Samuel were born in Plainfield, Connecticut, on July 12, 1739, when John was 8 years old. Robert fought in the French and Indian War, and Samuel fought in the Civil War.
His brother Mathew was born in Washington, Connecticut, on December 15, 1742, when John was 11 years old. Mathew fought in the Revolutionary War.
John married Azubah Royce in Madison, Connecticut, on 15 November 1753, when he was 22. Azubah’s father, John Royce, was married to John’s father’s second wife, Dorcas. John Royce was Dorcas’ first husband and my sixth great-grandfather.
John had a daughter named Mary, born in 1754 in Woodbury. He also had a son named Daniel, born in 1762 in Woodbury. Another daughter, Rhoda, was born in 1767 in Woodbury but passed away at age nine. John’s mother Margaret died in 1770 in Washington when she was 67. John also had daughters named Anna and Elizabeth. Anna was born in 1770 in Woodbury, and Elizabeth was born around 1773 in Rupert, Vermont.
John Jr. was living in the 13 colonies at one of the most important turning points in American history—the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Death of Daughter
John Jr. lived in Voluntown, Connecticut, during the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. During this same year, John’s nine-year-old daughter, Rhoda, was accidentally shot by her brother while he was playing with a gun in the yard, saying he was going to shoot Tories. Rhoda had teased her brother about his ability to shoot and told him to shoot her if he could. Tragically, she was killed.
The 1777 Battle of Ridgefield was fought in the state of Connecticut, where John Logan Jr. was living at the time. His father died later that year, on 2 December 1777, in Washington, Connecticut, at the age of 78.
During the Revolutionary War, James served in Connecticut.
John Logan Jr. also lived in Vermont when it became the 14th state on 4 March 1791. After the Revolutionary War, the second “g” was dropped from our last name, and, from what I’ve discovered so far, it has been spelled “Logan” ever since.
His wife Azubah died on 27 August 1796, at the age of 59, in Rupert, Vermont. They had been married for 42 years.
John died on 17 September 1809 in Rupert, Vermont, at the age of 78.
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