Benjamin Jones' Ancestors |
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Note: Before 1752 the year began on March 25th. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year, not the beginning. PLEASE NOTE: Much of the information on this page is from David L. Greene’s article, The English Origin of Richard1 North and His Daughter, Susanna2 (North) Martin, Executed for Witchcraft in 1692, printed in The American Genealogist, Volume 68, Number 2 in April 1993. |
Thomas Jones was born about 1598 in the United Kingdom, probably in England. Some say that John Jones and Ann Vassal of England were his parents or grandparents, but no proof exists. If this is his line it goes back to Normandy, France. Others say his father may have been another Thomas, son of John and Ann. Again, no proof exists. In his book The History and Genealogy of the Ancestors and Descendants of Captain Israel Jones, Asahel Wellington Jones says “History affirms that Thomas Jones, of Gloucester was Welsh; but whether by birth, or descent, has not been ascertained. There is no doubt but his arrival in America antedates any record given here, and in all probability will forever remain a mystery, as records will show in the text of the work further on.” It should be noted that no proof exists that Thomas was Welsh, and that A.W. Jones’ statement is simply his unwarranted conclusion. According to several Jones’ family stories and Frederick Adams Virkus’ book Immigrant Ancestors: a list of 2,500 immigrants to America before 1750, Thomas came over on the second voyage of The Mayflower in 1629; settled in Gloucester (then called Cape Ann), Essex County, Massachusetts. Again there is no documentation to support his arrival in 1629. It is more likely he came about 1640, as Robert Charles Anderson states in The Great Migration Directory. Sometime prior to 1638/9, Thomas married Mary (Marie) North who was about 14 years younger than him, most likely in England. They had nine children together; see Mary’s bio below for more on the children. Charles Henry Pope writes in his book The Pioneers of Massachusetts that “Thomas, Gloucester, freed by the Court from the service of Wm. Richardson 2 (3) 1642. Propr 1643.” (Abbreviation for Proprietor.) This is interesting because his Great-Great Granddaughter, ancestor Ann Jones marries a Richardson. About 1651, Thomas went to New London, Connecticut, as many were doing at the time. He never applied for a settler's grant there and returned to make the family home in Gloucester, where Thomas was admitted as a Freeman in 1653. A.W. Jones says “Thomas Jones' name, or rather his mark, is affixed to a covenant entered into by the inhabitants of Gloucester, with their pastor, Rev. John Emerson, granting him certain privileges because of his erecting a grist mill, in May, 1664 He does not seem to have gone on record as a dealer in lands, as they were probably town grants, and he held them intact, dividing them in his will between his sons . . .” Pope goes on to write about Thomas, “He deposed in 1665, ae. 67 years, regarding the first laying out of the marsh of the long cove in Squam.” Eugene Cole Zubrinsky, FASG, has informed me he has found that on January 6, 1654/5, Thomas “was named to attend to stray cattle and (unyoked) pigs and collect fines from their owners; that is, in 1655, he was Gloucester’s field driver.” Zubrinsky also states “records refer to him as Goodman Jones, indicating that by 1652 he was considered a yeoman (rather than simply a husbandman).”
“Estate Of Thomas Jones Of Gloucester. I Thomas Joanes of G[lou]cestor in the County of Essex in New England being (by Gods providence) cast upon my Bed of Sickenesse & weakenesse & not knowing how neare the time of my departure may be at hand yet knowing that all men are borne to dye & depart out of this world doe therefore make knowne & declare this my last will and Testament in manner & forme folowing ffirst I doe Commit & Commend my Soule into the hands of God the Father of Spirits and my body to the Grave to be decently buried by my Surviving Friends And for my Goodes ffirst it is my will & I doe give & bequeath unto my deare & loving wife all the Goods & Cattell with the halfe of the Ground meadow & upland where now I Live (on this side of the River commonly called Annasequam) with halfe the House also Standing upon the Sayd Land the same to injoy during her natural! Life after my decease. Item I give & bequeath unto my Sonne Beniamine Jones & to his Heires the other halfe of the House & Land where now I live on this Side of the River abovesayd the Same to injoy & possesse after my decease as also the other halfe of the Sayd House & Land after the decease of his sayd mother viz the whole Living to have & inioy as his owne proper Right after the decease of his mother if shee Surviveth my selfe As also all my Tackling for the Teame yoakes & Chaynes plough & plough Irons with all other Tooles & Implements which are mine for the Carrying on of Such workes & Imployments as we have usually beene occupied in or about. The Sayd Tooles and Implements for worke It is my will & meaning that my Sayd Sonne Shall have & inioy as well as the halfe of the house & Land abovesayd presently upon my decease Item I give & bequeath unto my Sonne Thomas Joanes my Land with the orchyard the Sayd Land containing about three Acres more or lesse & being Situate on the other Side of the River abovesayd viz on the southeast side of the River right over agaynst my House where I now Live and Six Acres of Land upon the Lower Necke where Goodman Harradden liveth and my will & meaning is that my Sonne Thomas shall have & injoy the Sayd Lands presently upon my decease only it is my will & I doe hereby declare that my wife Shall have the thirds of the Sayd Land during her naturall Life. Item I give & bequeath unto my Daughter Winslow of Salisbury one Shilling Item I give & bequeath unto my Daughter Ruth Haward of Salem one pounde ten shillings to be payd in Goods or Cattell as they goe betweene man & man Viz at the Common price Item I give unto my Daughter Remember Jones twenty Shillings to be payd in Goods or cattell at the common price Item I give & bequeath unto my Sonne Thomas Jones five Pounds to be payd in Goodes or Cattell at the Common price by my Sonne Benjamin after the decease of my wife Item I give & bequeath unto my Sonne Samuel Jones one Shilling Item I give & bequeath unto my Sonne North Jones twenty Shillings at the decease of my wife to be payd by my Sonne Benjamin if he comes in his owne person to" demand the Same Item I give & bequeath to my daughter Remember one Iron pot after my decease Item I give & bequeath unto my Grandchild John Jackson one Ewe Sheepe at my decease. Item I give to my Sonne Thomas my longest Muskett & my Sonne Benjamin the other Muskett And for my Household Goodes & Cattell it is my will & meaning that my wife shall have & injoy them as her proper Right after my decease only to pay all Such Debts (as doe appeare that I owe to any man) out of them, except Such Legacys abovesayd which I have appoynted unto my Sonne Benjamin to pay And to the end that this my will may be duely & truely performed I doe Constitute appoynt & ordayne my deare & loving wife Sole executrix & doe intreat & desire my well beloved and Respected Friends Mr John Emerson Mr Walker & Phillip Staynwood Senior to be the overseers In wittnesse whereof I have hereunto Set my hand & Seale the Seaventh day of this present month of August Anno Dom one thousand Six hundred and Seaventy one. Thomas (his O mark) Jones. Witness: John Emerson, Henry walker, Philip Staynwood.”
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Mary North was baptized on October 4, 1612 in Olney, Buckinghamshire. She was eldest child of seven born to Richard North and Joan (or Johane) Bartram. Her mother died in England when she was about 9 years-old and her father remarried. By 1639, Mary had married Thomas Jones and settled in Gloucester, Essex County, Massachusetts. During their marriage they had at least nine children, all but the first two children are recorded as born in Gloucester, Massachusetts – Susanna born about 1638/9, probably in England (see note below), married John Jackson in Gloucester on July 12, 1659; Mary born about 1638/9 married Nathaniel Winsly on October 14, 1661 in Salisbury; Thomas on March 15, 1640, who in his will did not mention a wife nor children is believed to have died unmarried on November 25, 1672, at 32 years-old; twins Ruth and North (aka Nathaniel) were born on February 22, 1644/5, Ruth married Thomas Howard in Lynn on November 15, 1667, and it is said that North, left home and never came back to the family, not even to get his inheritance; Samuel on August 31, 1647, who probably never married; Ephraim on April 1, 1649, who is believed to have died in his early 20’s; ancestor Benjamin; and Remember on August 1, 1653, who married Nathaniell Hadlock on May 1, 1673 in Gloucester. Babson's History of Gloucester states that Thomas Jones had another daughter, name unknown, who married a man with the last name of Kent, but no proof exists for this. It should be noted that there is a St Bride's, Fleet Street, London baptism record dated February 15, 1638[/9], for a Susana Jones with parents Thomas and Mary Jones, which could be Mary’s daughter Susanna. After the death of her stepmother, Ursula, Mary joined her sister Susanna in a court case against Mary’s daughter Mary’s husband, Nathaniel Winslow, trying to get the money and land they claimed was promised to them twenty years prior by their father Richard, upon the death of his second wife. The sisters’ stance was that they were the only surviving children of Richard North and should inherit his estate. It seems stepmother Ursula assigned her grandson-in-law Nathaniel Winslow as her Sole Executrix and he did not give them what they said was promised. They lost the case.
“Will of Mary Jones. Indorsed: 'Not Probated.' IONS aged a bout Threescore
Inventory of the estate of Mary Jones dec'd. beding & other lumber, £2.2s.
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Richard came to America with his second wife, Ursula, and surviving children. According to the Genealogical Guide to Early Settlers of America, in 1640, he was considered one of the first proprietors of Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts and was admitted as a freeman in 1641. Some say his occupation while in Salisbury was blacksmith. In Joseph Merrill’s book The History of Amesbury: including the first seventeen years of Salisbury, Richard is mentioned several places. His name was included for those who received house lots in the “first division” of land called “the green. . . . of the circular road. On the north of this road, commencing at the west.” In 1641 he was “appointed to mend the roads, with power to order men to work or, if refusing, to take their goods.” In 1642, he was appointed to the committee to “take account of pipe-staves to be transported ‘yat no man exceed his p*portion.’” and he was chosen “to enforce work on the highway.” In 1643 he was “chosen ‘cryer’ for the ensuing year” and “chosen Howard to impound the cattle and have 2 d. each, and, also, to see to all fences. In modern language he was field-driver and fence viewer.” On February 20, 1644 he “was granted ten acres east of Powow, in lieu of twenty acres granted previously west of Powow river.” In 1647 he was allowed “fivetie shillings for ringing the bell two yeare & a half past and twenty shillings to ring it one yeare more.” Richard wrote his will on January 26, 1648, in Salisbury and died there nineteen years later on March 1, 1667. In the will he mentioned all of his surviving children and some grandchildren. It is printed in The Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts: 1665-1674, Volume 2 as follows: “Estate Of Richard North Of Salisbury. In the name of God Amen: The 26th day of January 1648 I Richard North of the towne of Salisbury in ye County of Norfolke, massechusets in Newengland husbandman being weake in body butt of sound & pfect memory (prayse bee giune to God for the same) and knowing the vncertenty of this life on earth, and being desierous to settle things in Order doe make this my last will & Testament in manner & forme following: That is to say first & principally I comend my Soule to Allmighty God my Creator assueredly beleiuing that I shall receiue full pardon & free remission of all my Sinns, & bee saved by ye prsious death & meritts of my blessed Savior & Redeemer Christ Jesus, & my body to ye earth from whence it was taken to bee buried in such decent, & Christian manner as to my Executrix herafter named shalbee thought meet & convenient And as touching such worldly estate as ye Lord in mercy hath lent mee, my will & meaning is the same shalbee imployed, & bestowed as here after by this my will is expressed: And first I doe revoke renounce frustrate, & make void all wills by mee formerly made or declared by w------ writing & declare, & appoint this my last will & Testament & none other: ffirst I will that all those debts & duties as I owe in right, & Conscience to any manner of pson or psons whatsoever shalbee well & truly contented & payd, or ordeined to bee payd wthin convenient tyme after my decease by my Executrix: Item I giue & bequeath to my daughter Mary Jones, the wyfe of Thomas Jones fiue pound: & to my grand childe Ann Bates the childe of my daughter Sarah Old[a]m fiue pound pvided shee bee aliue att my decease: Item I giue & bequeath vnto my daugh[ter] Susana Martyn ye wyfe of George Martyn twenty shillings & the tenn pound wch hir husband the said George Martyn doth owe vnto mee for cattle wch hee receiued of mee: Item I giue & bequeath the residue of all my goods Chattells lands howsings debts bills bonds wth all other Rights and privilidges to mee any wayes appertaining or belonging: (after my debts pay'd my funerall expences performed & these my Legasies conteined in this my prsent Testament fullfilled) vnto my deare & welbeeloued wyfe Vrsula North whom I doe make & ordeine my sole Executrix: Also I doe make & Ordeine my trustie and welbeeloued ffriends Mr Tho. Bradbury & Richard Wells both of Salisbury Overseers of this my Will & Testament and for their care & paynes therin I bequeath to each of them tenn shillings as a token of my love: And In witness that this is ye Act & deed of mee the said Richard North I haue hervnto sett my hand & seale the daye & yeare aboue written. Richard (his ) mark) North (seal)
The inventory of the estate of Richard North was taken on March 16, 1667-8, by Richard Wells, Henry Browne and Sammuel Fellows. Richard’s widow Ursula attested to it in the Salisbury court on “14: 2: 1668.” It reads: “houses, landes, midoes and preveliges belonging there vnto, 40li.; debtes due, 75li. 17s. 9d.; 2 cows and there calfes, 8li.; one yeare old calfe, Hi.; corne, 14s.; puter and brase, 2li. 10s.; iron potes, in old iron, Hi.; books, 12s.; waring does linon and wollon and shoes, 7li.; mony, 6s.; the trunke and linnon in it, 5li; a bed and beding, 5li.; a trunelbed, tabell and other wodden hould goodes, 2li.; prouission in the house, Hi. 10s.; erthen vesselles and all othe small thinges, 5s.” |
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Joan Bartram’s date and place of birth and parents are unknown. She married Richard North on November 29, 1610, in Olney, Buckinghamshire, England. They had seven children, all baptized on the dates shown in Olney – ancestor Mary; John on March 28, 1616, was buried there in 1617; son Martyn also was buried there in 1617; Hester on April 12, 1618, who died, probably in England, before her father ; Sarah in 1619, who probably stayed in England, married a man with the last name of Oldham, had a daughter Ann, and died before her father; another John on January 16, 1619/20; and Susanna on September 30, 1621, who is discussed in the next paragraphs.
More than 400 people were accused during the Salem witchcraft hysteria. Of those convicted, twenty were executed and four died in prison. In May, 1693, all of the remaining accused that had been arrested were released, but only after their families had paid jail and court costs. In 1709, a petition was submitted requesting reversal of the convictions of 22 individuals. In October, 1711, this petition was approved by the General Court and in December, the Governor authorized monetary compensation to these individuals or their heirs. Susanna North Martin's family did not sign this petition (her siblings, husband and some of her children were dead by this time) and she, along with others, were not included in this resolution. In 1957, an Act was passed pronouncing the innocence of “One Ann Pudeator and certain other persons.” It was not until 2001 that an Act was passed amending the 1957 wording to include the names, “Ann Pudeator, Bridget Bishop, Susannah Martin, Alice Parker, Margaret Scott and Wilmot Redd.” Joan Bartram North died about 162122 in England. It should be noted that a St Andrew By The Wardrobe, London burial record dated July 5, 1622, exists for a Joane North. This may or may not be our Joan. |
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Ursula is included in this ancestry because she raised Mary, having an affect on her life. Some researchers have confused our Ursula with the daughter of Henry (Skott) Scott and Martha Whatlock (Whotlock) who was baptized on February 5, 1598, in Romsey, Hampshire, England. But that Ursula married Richard Kembold. Unfortunately there is no documentation to give us Ursula’s maiden name. Ursula married Richard North in England, probably soon after his first wife died in about 1621. What we do know is that Ursula came to America with her husband, Richard North, and his surviving two daughters.
“Estate Of Mrs. Ursula North Of Salisbury. In the name of G Amen The 19th day of may 1668 I Ursula North of the towne of Sallisbury in the Counti of Norfolke Massechusets in neweingland widdow being weck in bodi but of Sound and parfect memory prase be giueen to god for the Same And knowing the unsertanti of this life one arth and being desierous to settle things in order doe make this my last will and Tesstament in maner and forme folowing That is to Say first and principally I commend my soule to allmyti god my Creator Aseuredly beleiuing that I shall receiue full pardon and free remiscion of all my sinnes and be Saved by the pressius death and meritts of my blessed Saviour and redemmer Christ Jesus and my bodi to the earth from whence it was tacken to be buried in shouch desent and Christian manner as my executrix here after naimed shall bee thought meet and Convenient: and as touching such worldly esstate as the lord in marci haith lent me my will and meneing is the Same shall be employed and bestowed as hereafter is expresed by this my will and first I doe revock renounce frustrate and mack voyd all wills by me formerly maid or deClared by word or ritting and deeClare this my last will and testament and none Other: first I wil that all those debts and duties as I owe in rite and Conscience to ani maner of parsonn or parsonns whatsoever shall be wel and treuly Contented and payed or ordained to be payed wethin Conveniant time after my decease by my executrix It I giue and bequeath vnto my gran child Mare Winslo the wife of Nathaniel winslo my dwelling house and lands and meedo and Commennidg that beloingeth ther vntow lying and being in Salsbury for hor naterall life and vntow hor dafter hephzibah after hor mothers decease It I giue vntow Mary Jones the wife of Thomas Jones forti shilings It I giue vntow Susanah Martin the wife of gorge martin forti shillings It I giue and bequeath hephzibah winslo the daughter of Nathaniell winslo tenn pownd to be improufed for the vouse of the Child vntel it Come to eage: It. I doe mack and ordaine my grann Child mary winslo the wife of Nathaniel Winslo my Sole executrix also I do mack and or daine Richard wells and william buswell both of Sallisbury Overseers of this my will and tesstament and for there Care and paines there in I beequeathe to each of them ten shillings as a token of my love and in wittnes that this is the act: and deed of mee the Saide Ursula North I haue here vnto sett my hand and Seale the day and yere aboue ritten. Ursula (her O mark) north (seal)
Allso vpon forrther Consederacion. I giue and bequeath vnto william buckly of the towne of Ipswitch in the Counti of essex: tenn pound: which is dew to me from the Said buckley in that bond of thirti pound: wittnes my hand sete the 24 of June 69. Ursula (her O mark) North (seal) Witness-: Richard Wells, William buswell. The inventory taken on March 15, 1670/1 by Richard Wells, Samuel Fellos and William Buswel reads as follows: “two Cowes and Calfes and one tow yere ould and a yering, 10li . 5s.; in bras, pewter, Irone, 2li. 10s.; housing, land, meedo and Commonedg, 40li.; bookes, 10s.; beadds and bedding, 4li. 10s.; herr wareing paril and linons, 6li. 10s.; other houssal lumber, Hi. 10s.; in detts upon bills, 50li.; a det dew upon a Count, 6li. Attested in Salisbury court 11: 2m: 1671 by Mary Winslow, the executrix.
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John North died and was buried on November 4, 1619, in Olney, he was only 49 years-old. His will was executed by his father and the burial record lists him as “John North householder.” Unfortunately his probate record has not been found. |
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Annis Hodell was born about 1570, probably in Olney, Buckinghamshire, England to unknown parents. We assume her maiden name to be Hodell because in her will written on June 5, 1633, she named her "loving Brother Thomas Hodell" as one of the overseers. Although this is not proof of her maiden name, as her sister could have married Thomas Hodell, it’s a good possibility. Annis married John North in Olney about 1590 and had eight children there, whose names come from her will – Thomas about 1593, who married Alice Hooton and mentions his brothers and sisters in his will; ancestor Richard; William about 1596, who was living in London when he renounced his mother’s will in 1633; John about 1599, who was a shoemaker in London in 1633; Elizabeth about 1602, married William Balswell on August 8, 1621 in Olney; Mary about 1605, whose married name was Knight, probably died before 1640, as she is not mentioned in her brother Thomas’ will; Christopher about 1610, was called youngest son in his mother’s will; and Jane, baptized on June 17, 1614, was called youngest daughter in her mother’s will and married a man with the surname of Basse between 1633 and 1640. Annis’ son William, renounced executorship of her will on July 15, 1633, which means she died between June 5 and July 15th of that year. Her will is printed in Greene’s article published in The American Genealogist Vol: 68, no. 2, as follows: Anis North of Olney, 5 June 1633. Sick in body. To be buried in churchyard of Olney. To Jane North my youngest daughter, my bed in the hall and all things belonging to it, two cupboards, one coffer at the beds feet, one table, a frame or form, five pieces of pewter, one candlestick, one bason, one flour kimnel, two tubs, three kettles, one porridge pot, one pothanger, and the [stock?] in the [bow?], two chairs and all the linnen & £4 to be paid one year after my death, & all my dishes and spoons, one frying pan, one gridiron, two cushions, one pair of bellows, and one pair of [cupboard?] spits, and three stoles and my gown. To Christofer my youngest son, one pan and 40s six months after my death, one little black coffer, and 16s. which my son Thomas North shall pay one year after my death. To John North one of my sons, 10s. to be paid one year after my death. [?] to William North, one of my sons To Richard North one of my sons, 6d. To Marye Knight one of my daughters 6d., and to Elizabeth Boussill one of my daughters, 6d., to be paid to either of them one year after my death. Executor: my son William North. Overseers; my loving Brother Thomas Hodell and Thomas Tripp. Witnesses: Thomas North; Thomas Tripp. Proved 20 July 1633; “Whereas Ann North, late of Alney in the County of Buck. widow deceased in & by her will did [lymitye?] & appoint her sonn William North to be her full executor As by the will may appear And whereas the said William Alney [sic] in Respect of his urgent affairs and business lately befallen him w[i]thin the Citty of London is not p[er]mitted to come downe into the County to prove the said will accordinge as he ought to doe & therefore is most willing to renounce the executorshipp and not intermedle w[i]th the same or any legacy or other bequest [gevien?] by the same And thereupon he doth by these p[rese]nts Constitute nom[ina]te & appointe his Loving brother John North of the Citty of London etc, shoemaker to be his lawful substitute in his behalfe….” 15 July 1633. (Arch. of Bucks. D/A/wf 29/256 [orig.], Reg. Wills 34 [1633]:86) |
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Thomas’ will was written on January 20, 1597/8 and did not mention his wife, so researchers believed she had died previously. His will was proved on June 21, 1602, in Olney, which means he died prior to that date. An abstract of the will is printed in Greene’s article published in The American Genealogist Vol. 68, as follows: Thomas North of Olney, Bucks, husbandman, 20 Jan 1597/[8?]. “sick and diseased.” To be buried in churchyard of Olney. To my son John Northe, farm where I now [dwell?] with the appurtenances, during the tearme of yeares yet to come in the sayd farme. To my son-in-law John Abram, two quarters of barley within two years after my decease. To my daughter Margaret Abraha[m], £4 within two years after my decease; yf she departe this lyfe before then it shall remayne unto her children. To her four children, 20s. a piece and to her youngest child, 13s 4d. at 21 years of age. To my daughter Annys Webb, £5 & two sheep. To Ellen her daughter, 20s., and to Richard her son, 13s. 4d. within one year after my decease. To Thomas, the son of John North my son, 20s. To poor people of Olney, 10s. to be paid within one week after my decease. Toward the repair of Olney church, 3s. 4d., and toward the maintenance of the bells, 20d. To my two servants 12d a piece; to Thomas Carington, 4d.; to Richard Gale, 4d. Residue to son John North, whom I make whole executor. Overseers Willia[m] Pearch and John Abraha[m] my son-in-law, to each of them [10?]s. for remembrance. Witnesses: Richard Coles, John [Freeman?] the elder, Richard Ashborne, John Freeman the younger, Martyn Purrier. Proved 21 June 1602. (Arch. of Bucks. Reg. Wills, 23 [1597-98]: 107b-108a) |
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Richard North was born before 1590 in Olney, Buckinghamshire, England. According to David L. Greene’s article on Richard North, referenced above, his parents were John North and Annis/Ann (possibly) Hodell. Richard married Joan Bartram in Olney, on November 29, 1610, and they had at least seven children together. Joan died in England and he married a women named Ursula in about 1621 there. See both Joan and Ursula below for more details. 
Susanna came to America, married George Martin a blacksmith on August 11, 1646, and had eight children. She was involved with a law suit over her father’s will; was put on trial twice for witchcraft; and on July 19, 1692, at the age of 71, was hung as a witch, along with four other women, and placed in a shallow unmarked grave. One of the other women executed that day was Sarah (Averill) Wildes, the second wife of ancestor John Wildes, who raised his young children including ancestor Elizabeth. Descriptions of Susanna say that she was short, slightly plump, active, and “of remarkable personal neatness.” She was also said to be very outspoken, contemptuous of authority, and defiant in the face of the slander that had followed her for years. Reverend Cotton Mather said about Susanna, “This woman was one of the most impudent, scurrilous, wicked creatures of this world; and she did now throughout her whole trial discover herself to be such a one. Yet when she was asked what she had to say for herself, her chief plea was that she had led a most virtuous and holy life.” Joseph Merrill, in his book History of Amesbury described Susanna much differently, “The idea of snatching this hardworking, honest woman from her home to be tried for her life by those who never knew her, and witnesses who were prejudiced against her....is almost too much for belief. ...Allowed no counsel, she was her own lawyer, and her answers are remarkable for independence and clearness. She showed herself to be a woman of more than ordinary talent and resolution.”
John North was born about 1570 most likely in Olney, Buckinghamshire, England to the unnamed wife of Thomas North. Some researchers say he was born on August 3, 1570, but do not give any supporting documentation. John married Annis (Ann/Agnes) Hodell about 1590 in Olney, and they had at least eight children together. See Annis’ bio for more on them. Not much is known about their lives. Some researchers mistakenly claim he came to America in 1635 and settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts. In-depth research found that the John Norths who came in 1635 were all too young to be him.
Thomas North was born about 1540 in Olney, Buckinghamshire, England, to possibly Margaret Daleand John North. (There isn’t any documented proof of this.) He married about 1563 in Olney and had at least three children by an unnamed wife (some say her name was Dorothy) – daughters Margaret in 1567 and Annis in 1569; and ancestor John. Most likely all the children were born in Olney, but there are no records to document these births.