===================================================================== Match: Bowles Source: [email protected] From: [email protected] Subject: Re: [MAWORCES] BOOTH genealogy Subject: Robert Booth Source: One Branch of the Booth Family. ROBERT BOOTH. p.126 Robert1 Booth was born in England about 1602. He died shortly before Oct 26, 1672 at Saco, Maine. His first wife is not known. He m. (2) Deborah _______. She m. (2) Thomas Ladbrook of Portsmouth, about Feb. 21, 1682. Children - probably the first three or four by his first wife. 1. Mary Booth b. Sept 30, 1627. died after May 21, 1683. She m. Walter Penewell (or Pennell) 1647, who died shortly before Nov. 4, 1682. He was a freeman of Saco, Maine in 1653. 2. Ellen or Elinor Booth, b. Feb. 1634. She m. Nicholas Bully, July 1652. He was a fisherman and a Constable of Saco, 1664. 3. Simeon or Simon Booth b. May 10, 1641. 4. Martha Booth b.April 12, 1645; died. 5. Robert Booth b. July 24, 1655. he probably went to Fairfield or Stratford, CT. The inhabitants of Exeter, New Hampshire, who came under the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Colony nearly two years before, addressed a petition to the General Court at Boston, on May 29, 1645, praying that some of their lands might not be divided between Hampton and Dover as they evidently feared was likely to be done. Robert Booth's name appears in colonial history for the first time as one of the signers of this petition. As matters of rank and social standing were as closely observed in colonial days, as they ever had been in the old country, the fact that Robert Booth's name was second among seventeen signatures shows unmistakably that he was a man of high standing and prominence. Exeter, New Hampshire had been settled by the Rev. John Wheel- wright and some of his friends early in the year 1638, after he had been banished from Boston, where his religious views had excited the hostility of the authorities of Church and state. As Robert Booth is not mentioned among the settlers p.127 ROBERT BOOTH. of the first two years of Exeter's history (Bell's Exeter, pp.21 to 40), he could not have gone there with him, and it is doubtful if he lived there but a short time, if at all. When Hampton, N.H. was coerced into joining the Massachusetts Colony in 1639, and Portsmouth and Dover in 1641, Wheelwright saw that as Exeter would be obliged to submit also, he must move again, and buying new territory of the agent of Mason and Gorges, he made, about 1642, the settlement afterward known as Wells. Bourne, in his history of Wells and Kennebunk (Maine) says that Booth accompanied Wheelwright from Exeter there, and he seems to have been Clerk of the plantation. The volume containing his records, however, was lost by the burning of the house of Joseph Bowles in 1657. Wheelwright lived in Wells only about three years, but Booth did not go to Saco, until 1648, where he passed the remainder of his life. It seems probably to the writer that Booth did not come into this country via the Massachusetts settlements, but rather by the Maine settlements and the following brief sketch of the Maine and New Hampshire Grants and settlers is given as possibly throwing some light on this inter- esting question. As early as 1548, the English government passed the first act for the encouragement of the fisheries on the Banks of Newfoundland, after which they became active competitors in this profitable occupation with the Norman, Breton, Basque and Portugese fishermen who had already been visiting the Banks for some years. The mainland south of Newfoundland was claimed at this time by both the English and the French and reports which reached England that the French were fitting out exploring and colonizing expeditions, stimulated the English into sending out, in March, 1605, a thoroughly-built, well-furnished ship - The Archangel, under the command of Captain George Weymouth, on an exploring expedition. He reached first the island of Monhegan and spent a month sailing along the coast and up the Penobscot and Kennebec (Sagadahock) Rivers. His report of the beautiful scenery, fertile soil and promising prospects for fishing, excited deep and wide-spread interest among the English people on his return, and particularly with Sir Ferdinando Gorges, who was governor of the important naval depot at Plymouth. An association of English gentlemen was soon formed to plant colonies in this new-found country. This association was known as the Plymouth Company and King James I gave them a grant of all territory between 34 degrees and 45 degrees north lati- tude. The members were men of high character and standing, Lord John Popham, the chief p.128 BOOTH. Justice, being the president. A vessel was equipped which sailed from Bristol, England, for Sagadahock in 1606, but as England was then at war with Spain, it was captured by a Spanish fleet. The Plymouth Company, before news of this disaster reached them, soon sent out another vessel with additional colonists and fresh supplies, but on reaching the Sagadahock and finding no trace of the first vessel its commander decided to return to England. The next year two more vessels were fitted out by the Plymouth Company, sailing in May, 1607. One was commanded by Captain George Popham, a brother of Lord John, and the other by his nephew, Raleigh Gilbert. They carried out one hundred and twenty colonists with all necessary tools and provisions. After some exploration along the coast, they selected as the site for their plantation, a location near the mouth of the Sagadahock, and called the place Sagadahock Colony. It was organized under the influence of the English nobility, who were fully satisfied with the monarchy of their native land, and the idea of establishing a republican govern- ment they had not even remotely cherished; the company respresented the Crown, and all the laws were enacted and the officers selected by the Company. Capt. George Popham was appointed governor, and the chaplain who accompanied the expedi- tion, was the Reverend Richard Seymour who was a member of the Episcopal Church. A fort, storehouse and fifty log cabins were soon erected, but the succeeding winter was one of unusual severity, and the settlers having made little preparation for it suffered greatly, and as Captain Popham died, as did also two or three of the most prominent men among them, the baser spirits got the upper hand, the Indians became hostile, and the colonizing scheme ended in a miserable failure - those who were left, returning to Eng- land when a ship came over with supplies the next year. This checked the spirit of colonization for several years, but Sir Francis Popham, a son of Lord John, sent a ship to the Maine coast for several years for fishing and traffic. Captain Richard Vines. Sir Ferdinando Gorges did not lose his faith, for he soon came to the conclusion that the folly of the colonists was responsible for the failure, and in 1616 he fitted out a ship which he placed under the command of Captain Richard Vines, who had been educated as a physician. He passed the winter at the mouth of the Saco River in the sheltered basin now called "the Pool", but in early times known as Winter Harbor. In 1620 the landing of the Pilgrims added to the interest that Gorges long had felt, and as the limits of the territory granted by the Crown to the Plymouth Company had never been very clearly defined, he obtained a new patent increasing the powers and privileges of the company. This new Charter was issued November 3, 1620 and forty noblemen, knights, and gentlemen comprised its corporate members. It was not called the Council at Plymouth. This grant covered the whole seacoast between 40 degrees and 48 degrees north latitude, that is, from the latitude of Philadelphia to the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, and extending from sea to sea. p.129 BOOTH. It is well known that France laid claim to a large portion of this territory and had many flourishing trading posts within its limits. Perhaps on this account it was stipu- lated that no Catholics should be permitted to settle there. JOHN OLDHAM. During 1623, Richard Vines and others commenced a permanent settlement at Saco. John Oldham, a gentleman of property and high position, took up his residence there with his servants, and during the next six years he brought over many colonists at his own ex- pense. ARROWSIC ISLAND. SHEEPSCOT, DAMARISCOTTA AND PEMAQUID. By this time there were many settlers on Arrowsic Island, near the mouth of the Saga- dahock, and upon the mainland at the entrance of the river at Sheepscott, at Damaris- cotta, at Pemaquid and at St. George's River. Many were reckless adventurers, runaway seamen, fugitives from justice, and others who, for various reasons, sought security from all civil and religious restraints. This state of affairs caused the Council at Plymouth serious concern, and it determined to adopt vigorous measures to reduce society to some condition of law and order, and to this end, Robert Gorges was sent over as Governor - Francis West as Admiral and the Reverend William Merrill, an Episcopal clergyman, who were invested with full authority to manage public affairs. The management of this settlement was entrusted, in 1623, to his youngest son, Robert Gorges, a young man of rank and superior abilities, and to another young man, Colonel Francis Norton, whose achievements had already won for him considerable reknown. The year before this, Gorges, John Mason and a number of wealthy British merchants had organized the Company of Laconia and the Plymouth Council had made it a grant of the whole territory between Kennebec and the Merrimack - which was called Laconia. Settlements now began to increase rapidly along the coast and to extend inland. The Pilgrims established a trading house on the Penobscot - and another at the mouth of the Sagadahock - near the site of Popham's settlement. PEMAQUID. In 1628, Pemaquid was probably the most busy spot on the New England coast - two British merchants had purchased it on condition that they would, at their own cost, transport colonists and establish a settlement there. Before long, a court was established, and Pemaquid became a center of law and trade, and at that time it was probably a more important port than Quebec, the capital of Canada. A better class of settlers now began to come over than the sailors and adventurers of former years. A brisk trade was carried on with the Pilgrims of Plymouth who sent shallops of corn in exchange for furs. p.130 BOOTH. In 1629, Mason took out a new patent for that portion of Laconia west of the Piscataqua, which he named New Hampshire, leaving the rest with Gorges. About this time, the Council proceeded to make new grants of the eastern part of Laconia, as if no former ones existed. BIDDEFORD. The Biddeford patent to Richard Vines and John Oldham covered a tract on the south side of the Saco River - by sea four miles, and eight miles up into the mainland - or very nearly the present bounds of Biddeford. SACO, MAINE. Another patent of a similar tract on the other side of the river, covering rather more than the present area of SACO, was made to Thomas Lewis and to Captain Richard Bonython. These two grants were dated February 12, 1629, O.S. and Vines took formal possession of his tract on June 25, 1630 - and Lewis of his, June 28, 1631. CASCO, MAINE. About the time of these grants, the Council made one called the Plough Patent and which later formed the Province of Lygonia. It was intended to embrace a territory forty miles square but fell short of it, for it was bounded on the east by Cape Elizabeth - or, Casco, and on the west by Cape Porpoise, a distance of thirty miles on the sea coast, and extending forty miles into the interior. It will be noticed that this grant includes territory granted about the same time to Vines and Lewis - but as the Plough patentees made no attempt to take immediate possession, the trouble over conflicting titles did not develop until over a dozen years later. SPURWINK RIVER. Two other grants in this vicinity were also made in 1631 - one of fiften hundred acres between Spurwink and Black Point, of which Captain Thomas Cammock was the sole patentee: he was a nephew of the Earl of Warwick. The second one was a grant to Robert Trelawney and Moses Goodyear in 1631 - of a tract extending from the mouth of Spurwink River, between Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth - fifteen miles into the interior, thence crossing eastwardly to Presumpscot river and down to the sea. It included the present site of Portland. PEMAQUID GRANT. ROBERT ALDWORTH AND GILES ELBRIDGE OF BRISTOL. Several grants were also made about this time to the eastward - one of them of 12,000 acres, known as the Pemaquid Grant, to the two British merchants already referred to, Robert Aldworth and Giles Elbridge of Bristol. Some of these grants were later the cause of long and angry contention, owing, in part, to the indefinite terms used in describing their limits, due largely to the ignorance in England of the geography of this country, and also, to the neglect of some of the early propriertors to enter upon and mark out the bounds of their lands. So intimate, and indeed allied in business affairs were Mason and Georges, that it is difficult to distinguish their separate ownership in the two districts of Maine and New Hampshire. surveys were few and inexact, and the bounds of their granted monopolies very indistinct. Consequently, the patents and Charters which they sold or gave away, soon conflicted with one another and were for a century after a cause of litigation and appeal to the English Crown. [skipping along to p.134:] SIR ALEXANDER RIGBY. p.134 ROBERT BOOTH. It is also worthy of note that the Maine settlers were for the most part from the south- western part of England - and differed widely from the Massachusetts Bay settlers - who were mainly from the eastern and southeastern coast - not only in their Royalist and Episcopal sympathies, but also in many of their habits and opinions. When Sir Alexander Rigby's claim to the Plough Patent had been established in 1646, and his deputy-presi- dent, George Cleaves, had organized his government of the Province of Lygonia, Robert Booth was one of the Assistants (Collection of the Maine Historical Society, Vol. I, p.99). ROBERT BOOTH. Records of only three courts held by Cleaves are now to be found, and these are very imperfect. The frequent changes in government, the confusion of the times, but most of all, the desolation spread over the whole eastern country by Indian hostilities - have been fatal to the preservation of any perfect records either of the Courts or Towns. The style of the court was the General Assembly of the Province of Lygonia. The proceedings of the Assembly in September, 1648, are subscribed by George Cleaves, Deputy-President, William Royal, Henry Watts, John Cossons, Peter Hill and ROBERT BOOTH. It is probable that the affairs of the Province were correctly administered, and con- ducted without confusion or interruption, until the death of Sir Alexander Rigby in August, 1650. ROBERT BOOTH. His property interests descended to his son, Edward Rigby but he did nothing for the Maine colony - and on July 19, 1652, he addressed an indignant letter to ten of the most prominent men of Lygonia - of whom ROBERT BOOTH was one, accusing them of working against the interest of the Rigby family. The only basis for this charge seems to be that Robert Booth and the others who were associated in public affairs, had reached the conclusion that the logic of events pointed so strongly to their absorption by the Massachusetts Bay Colony - that it would be folly to resist it any longer. Saco did, in fact consent soon after and other towns before very long. Edward Rigby then files a petitition with the authorities in England in April, 1654 - asking for the con- firmation of his Province in New England, which had been granted, he said, by patent from the King, to his father. This petition was put aside for a couple of years, but as by that time, there seemed to be some prospect of action being taken upon it, a counter petition was circulated for signatures among the towns of Saco, Porpoise, Wells, York and Kittery. Seventy-one signatures were obtained - ROBERT BOOTH'S again being the second signature. The Petition was circulated by Edward Rishworth, who was for many years very prominent in public affairs. OLIVER CROMWELL. The Petition was dated August 12, 1656 - and was addressed "To His Highness, Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland." p.136 BOOTH It recited that they were enjoying a more stable government under Massachusetts rule than they had experienced for many years - and they deprecated any change as being prejudicial to the best interests of the Maine settlements. p.137 In reviewing what little we can learn of the life of Robert Booth from the fragmentary records and taking into account the political situation as it existed for some years after, we first learn of him in this country - it seems to the writer that there is a strong probability that he was a friend to Sir Ferdinando Gorges and was persuaded by him to come over in the carrying out of his plans as has already been outlined. ROBERT BOOTH - HIS ASSURED SOCIAL POSITION. Gorges, as we have seen, was Lord Proprietor of Maine - with all the power that the title implies - and ROBERT BOOTH'S prominence in Maine History can only be explained by the supposition that he was a person of assured social position in England, the mother country. ROBERT BOOTH. There is good reason for belief that he was a descendant of an armigerous family, "a gentleman well bred and of good name." BOOTH FAMILY GENEALOGY. p.138 SECOND GENERATION Simeon Booth, b. May 10, 1641; died Feb 28, 1703 at Hartford. He m. (1) Rebecca Frost (Daniel1) January 5, 1664. b. 1640 - died Dec. 25, 1688 at Enfield. He m. (2) Elizabeth the widow of Samuel Elmer (Edward1), December 8, 1693. b. 1654. Died January 26, 1727 at Hartford. Simeon Booth inherited his father's Mill but as the Maine settlements suffered severely during King Philips' War - he was obliged to leave - as did many others. He is mentioned on March 10, 1679, when the Salem Church records show that "Simeon Booth and Mary Penni- wel from ye Eastward" were received into the church at that place. He was prominent among those who had Grants of land in Enfield in 1680 - but it is supposed that he was in Fairfield, Connecticut, for a short time and possibly in Hartford, CT also. His trade was that of a weaver. He was Constable and Selectman in Enfield, Ct. CHILDREN OF SIMEON & REBECCA BOOTH I. William Booth b. about 1664. Died Aug 1, 1753. m. Hannah Burroughs (John2, Robert1) August 30, 1693. Born about 1658; died Sept 8, 1729, AEt. 71 yrs. II. Zachariah Booth b. about 1666. III. Elizabeth Booth b. about 1668. Died January 8, 1722; m. Jonathan Pease (John2, Robert1) October 11, 1693, b. Jan. 2, 1669 at Salem. Died April 7, 1721 AEt. 53 yrs. IV. Mary Booth b. abt. 1670 - died Sept. 3, 1724; m. Ebenezer Spencer (Obadiah2., Sgt. Thomas1), Feb. 28, 1699. She died before April 12, 1741. He m. (2) Patience French (Ephraim2, Thomas1) the widow of James Fairman (John1) March 8, 1726. d. Dec 4, 1750 at Coventry. She m. (3) Ephraim Colman of Coventry, October 25, 1749. V. Bridget Booth b. 1670. Died Sept 5, 1714 at Enfield; m. John Allen (John2, Samuel1) on May 3, 1694. b. Sept 30, 1670 at Northampton; d. Nov 3, 1739 at Enfield. He m. (2) Elizabeth Gardiner (John4, John3, David2, Lionel1) of Gardiner's island. Died Feb 27, 1759 at Enfield, Children of Simeon and Elizabeth: VI. Sarah b. December 11, 1695. m. Daniel Perry (Arthur2, Arthur1) of Stratford b. April 14, 1692. VII. Phoebe b. 1697 d. Dec 25, 1756. p.138 BOOTH THIRD GENERATION. Sergeant Zachariah Booth b. about 1666 in Maine; died May 28, 1741 at Enfield, CT. He m. (1) Mary Warriner on July 15, 1691, b. Nov 17, 1669; died April 12, 1692. He m. (2) Mary Harmon on May 26, 1696, b. Oct. 23, 1671 at Springfield. Sergeant Zachariah Booth was a prominent man in the Enfield life of his day. His name often occurs in the town records in connection with various offices of trust; when the first bank was organized he was one of the trustees; he was Constable in 1692, and a Selectman several times. He was the 3rd Town Clerk, serving from 1723 to 1729; he was a Sergeant of the Train Band and Deputy in 1731 and 1732. The children of Zachariah & Mary (Warriner) Booth: 1. Robert Booth b. April 22, 1692; died Dec. 21, 1714. Children Of Zachariah Booth and Mary Harmon: II. John Booth b. Feb. 17, 1697; d. may 7, 1778; m. Lydia Chandler on Dec 6, 1727, b. Nov 27, 1699; died Feb 4, 1780. III. Mary Booth b. Feb 9, 1699; died ____; m. Abraham Pease (Isaac3; John2; Robert1) December 3, 1719, b. Nov. 2, 1695 at Enfield; died June 2, 1750 at Enfield. He m. (2) Abigail Warriner the widow of Samuel Warner (Samuel3, Isaac2, Andrew1) Aug. 28, 1733. b. october 12, 1705. Died Dec 9, 1763. IV. Benjamin Booth b. Feb 10, 1701; died Dec 9, 1703. V. Sarah Booth b. May 10, 1703; died July 18, 1792. Married Israel4 Pease (Isaac3, John2, Robert1) January 6, 1726; b. May 22, 1702 at Enfield; died June 14, 1771. VI. Elizabeth Booth b. Aug 19, 1705; d. Sept. 10, 1751 at East Windsor, CT.; m. Samuel Allen (Samuel3, John2, Samuel1) January 27, 1728, b. March 16, 1702 at Enfield. Died Dec 20, 1771 at East Windsor, Ct. VII. Jemima Booth B. mAY 18, 1708; Died Sept 23, 1772. m. Pelatiah4 Pease (Jonathan3, John2, Robert1) Dec 16, 1736. b. Aug 16, 1709 at Enfield; died July 6, 1769 at Enfield. VIII. Joseph Booth b. April 10, 1710. IX. Benjamin Booth b. April 10, 1710; died March 6, 1712. X. Abigail Booth b. Jan. 13, 1713; d. May 14, 1791.; m. Joseph Markham (Daniel2, Deacon Daniel1) January 15, 1741, born Dec 8, 1717; died April 3, 1761. BOOTH. This report continues with the 4th generation, et al. Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth. _http://books.google.com/books?id=6kxQo0HK8UAC&pg=PA136&dq=Robert+Booth,+Saco, +Maine&lr=&i_ (http://books.google.com/books?id=6kxQo0HK8UAC&pg=PA136&dq=Robert+Booth,+Saco,+Maine&lr=&i) e=ISO-8859-1#PPA140,M1