John Humphrey, Deputy Governor of Massachusetts

Biography

Updated 24 December 2022

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Humphrey-667

John Humphrey was the son of Michael Humphrey of Chalding Herring, Dorset, and Dorothy (Bawler) Humphrey. He was born about 1596 or 1597 "(aged 25 in 1621, 26 in 1623)."[1][2][3][4]

Education

He first enrolled at Trinity College, Cambridge on Easter in 1613. He was a distinguished academic in 1614 but then left the school before graduation. He was a student at Lincoln's Inn, London in 1615,[5]an institution for the study of law.[6]

1st Marriage

John Humphrey's first wife was Isabel Williams, daughter of Bruen and Elizabeth (Churchill) Williams.[5]

There does not appear to be children from this marriage.

2nd Marriage

John married (2nd) Elizabeth Pelham[3]on 4 September 1621 at St. Thomas, Salisbury, Wiltshire.[1][2][7][8]

Elizabeth Pelham was born at Hellingly, 27 April 1604. She was the daughter of Herbert Pelham and Elizabeth West. Elizabeth West was the daughter of Lady Anne Knollys and Thomas West, Knt. 2nd Lord De La Warre.[1][2][7] Elizabeth Pelham Humphrey died November 1, 1628.[1][2]at Dorchester, Dorsetshire.[9]

Three children were born to John Humphrey and Elizabeth Pelham at Fordington, Dorsetshire:[9]

1. John Humphrey[1][2]was baptised Aug 11, 1622 at St. Georges Church, Fordington, Dorset.[10] He immigrated to New England with his father and joined the Artillery Company in 1641.[11](page 105) He was named administrator of his father's estate on June 4, 1653.
2. Elizabeth Humphrey[1][2] She was baptised on 23 Nov 1623 at St. Georges Church, Fordington, Dorset.[10]. Taylor concludes that she "almost certainly" was married to Adam Ottley around 1641.
3. Anne Humphrey.[1][2][12]She was baptised on 21 Aug 1625 at St. Georges Church, Fordington, Dorset.[10]She married (1st) William Palmes, Esq. about 1642. She married (2nd) Rev. John Myles in England or Wales. Anne and Rev John Myles immigrated to Swansea with their family by 1662. On January 15, 1680, as the only surviving child of John Humphrey, Ann appointed her son-in-law Griffin Edwards of Boston, merchant, as administrator of the estate of John Humphrey in the colony of Massachusetts Bay. The letter of attorney mentions both of Ann's husbands, William Palmes and John Myles.[9] After immigrating, Rev John Miles was a Baptist Minister in Swansea, and at Boston. Anne and John had one son together, Samuel Myles. Rev. John Myles died at Swansea on 3 Feb 1682. Anne died at Swansea on 17 Dec 1693. [1][2]

3rd Marriage

In about 1632,[5]John Humphrey married (3rd) Susan Clinton "(otherwise Fiennes)", daughter of Thomas Clinton (Fiennes), Earl of Lincoln,[1][2]and sister of Arbella (Fiennes) Johnson, wife of Isaac Johnson, by whom he had several children, including:[9]

1. Dorcus Humphrey[1][2][12]was born about 1633 in England (minimum 9 yrs on June 14, 1642). The Rev. Timothy Dalton of Hampton requested to adopt her since she was the only child of John Humfrey still in Lynn.
2. Sarah Humphrey[1][2][12] was born about 1635 in England.
3. Theophilus Humphrey.[1][2]He was baptized at Salem Jan 24, 1636/7.[9]named for the 4th Earl[13]
4. Joseph Humphrey.[1][2] He was baptized at Salem on 5 Apr 1640.[13] He made his will on 3 July 1663 while in route for England. He left to Mrs. Elizabeth Pelham all my right & title of my farm at Lyn. This was presented in court on 9 Oct 1672 and proved on 23 Oct 1672. A David Anderson, testified he was in Lisbon 3 yrs prior when Joseph Humphrey was killed and he helped inter his body.[14] Two other children by John & Susan Clinton are not listed by Richardson but sourced elsewhere.
5. Thomas, baptized in 26 Aug 1638 at Salem.[9][13]
6. Lydia was born just before Jan 28, 1640/1; She was baptized on 25 Apr 1641 at Salem.[13]

Early Interest in New England

In 1624 while living at Fordington, on the fringes of Dorchester, in the 1620s, Humphrey was treasurer of the Dorchester Merchants, also known as the Company of Adventurers or The Dorchester Company. Their objective was to form fishing settlements on the coast of Massachusetts. By 1626 the endeavor at Cape Ann failed due to illness and poor leadership in Cape Ann.[15]
Humphrey and the leading minister, John White, and others formed a new plan in 1627-28. It began as the New England Company, and finally as the Company of Massachusetts Bay. King Charles I confirmed the patent on 4 Mar 1629.[11]By April 1629, 6 ships were ready to sail. John Endecott was put in charge of the endeavor and arrived at Salem on 20 June 1629. They carried 80 women, 26 children, & 200 men along with 140 head of cattle, 40 goats, victuals, arms, tools, and wearing apparel.[16]

That same year both he and John Winthrop, the future governor of Massachusetts, declined their post as attorneys in the court of wards.
On October 20, 1629, Winthrop was elected Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony and John Humfrey Deputy (assistant) Governor. Humphrey, still in England, was discharged and Mr. Thomas Dudley was chosen Deputy in his place.[9]

Winthrop led another mission in 1631 which greatly expanded the colony.[15] Humphrey thought it would have been better to settle further south, on "a good river and in a less cold and snowy place." While in England, Humphrey worked for the success of Massachusetts Bay Colony and through letters, kept in close contact with John Winthrop, Jr.[5]

In 1632, along with other members of the Massachusetts Bay Company in England, Humphrey, Sir Richard Saltonstall, and Mr. Cradock came before a committee of the privy council. Serious charges of disloyalty to the crown and the church were levied against the Massachusetts Bay Colony in letters written by Sir Christopher Gardiner and Thomas Morton who supported an assault on the colony's charter by Sir Ferdinando Gorges.[5] Three days of hearings resulted in the charges being dismissed with a favorable order for their encouragement.[15]

Migration to New England

John Humphrey, apparently intended to migrate shortly after Winthrop, however, he did not actually come to the colony until 1634.[9][11][17] He probably sailed in The Planter, with him he brought his 3rd wife, Lady Susan Clinton, daughter of Thomas Clinton, 3rd Earl of Lincoln and his children, Anne, Dorcas, and Sarah. He also brought money, goods, and cattle for the Colony.[13][18]it was recorded "Mr. John Humfreys with his wife, the lady Susan Fines, set sail,"[9] immigrating to New England. They departed from Weymouth on April 27, 1634, and arrived at Boston in July.[17]

Massachusetts Bay Colony

The family settled at Lynn,[1]called "Saugus" at the time of his arrival. Robert Charles Anderson in his "Great Migration Newsletter" says that unlike most other early New England towns that were settled by middle class families, Saugus (Lynn) "consisted of a few wealthy men... with male servants. The town residents suffered greatly when Isaac Johnson died and when John Humphrey delayed his coming. Quoting Anderson, "When he [John Humphrey] finally did come, he immediately filled a position in Saugus like that held by Nowell in Charlestown, and Endicott in Salem, thus elevating the status of the settlement by his very presence."[19]

He became a freeman on May 25, 1636, becoming eligible to be a freeman before church membership since he had been an officer of the Massachusetts Bay Company in England.[9]. He became member of the Salem church in 16 January of 1638,[11]

He was a Magistrate of Essex,[9]assisting the governor in the colony and worked with both John Winthrop and Sir Henry Vane to establish Harvard College.[5]

He was admitted to the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in 1640 and became sergeant major general on June 2, 1641.[11]

Three men were chosen on November 7, 1632 to "set out a proportion of land in Saugus for John Humfry, Esq." He gained additional land (500 acres) on May 6, 1635 and on March 12, 1637 two farms were laid out for him one at the pond & Stone Meadow and the other about Marblehead. Although he had lands in Salem, Anderson in "Great Migration" says he was never a resident of Salem.[9]

By 1638 Humphrey was plagued with financial difficulties. "Hugh Peter, minister at Salem, petitioned the General Court on September 10, 1638 that some money was to be given to Humphrey. Hugh Peter feared Humfrey's losses would diminish the colony's standing in England", so says Moore in her book "Abandoning America...". By the time the minister made his petition to the court, John Humphrey was already "now bound for England with his sonne only [John Jr] with him . . . purposing to return in the Spring, having left his family and estate in Godly mens hands." At some point in time, Humphrey himself petitioned the court for funds and was contentiously given L250.[5]
He returned to New England by April 1639 and repented before the Salem church for his "cariadges of rashnes and hastiness," so reported John Endecott to John Winthrop.

Caribbean Settlement of Providence

There were attempts between 1635 and 1660 to remove NE people to other places. Between 1620 and 1640 immigration was constant and the colony prospered. Immigration fell of during the contest between Charles I and parliament causing prices to fall and NE faced ruin. Leaders attempted to suppress any exodus. Lord Say and Lord Sele encouraged movement to the Providence Island off the Mosquito coast. Cromwell concurred. Winthrop wrote to his lordship that Lord Say labored to divert men coming to us and draw them to the West Indies. John Humphrey was the leader of this movement in NE and he labored to get recruits. By 1639 Endicott and Winthrop were disturbed by this as the material conditions in NE were very bad. Humphrey and others were thwarted in efforts to get a boat, so went to England.[20]
Early in 1641 John Humphrey was encouraged to relocate to the Caribbean island of Providence with the promise he would be the new governor upon arrival. In the Calendar of State Papers, four meetings are mentioned beginning in 25 Feb 1641, appointing Capt. John Humphreys, Governor of Providence. Three further meetings at Warwick House took place through 9 March where in minutes of a Court for Providence. They dated a commission on 1 Mar 1641 for Humphreys to be Governor of the island when he arrives. An article of agreement between the Company of Provience Island and Emanuel Truebody for providing the ships "Sparrow" and "Salutation" to be employed in transporting Mr. Humphrey and others to Provience was signed 28 June 1641. [12]

Endecott, however, did not trust Humphrey because he had become interested in the Caribbean settlement of Providence. Although well aware that a settlement in the West Indies was beneficial to England, the Massachusetts Bay courts and Winthrop himself, believed Humphrey was speaking disparagingly of New England in the process. Humphrey worked to encourage people from New England to move to Providence and through the Providence Island's Company, promised free transportation. The group he gathered however, did not leave the winter of 1640 as had been expected. In 1641 a small group set sail under Captain William Pierce only to find that Providence had been over-run by the Spanish. Turning around, they arrived back in Boston on September 3, 1641.[5]

Abuse of Sara and Dorcas

By October 26, 1641 Humphrey was returning once again to England; once more leaving his family behind. Soon afterward, Winthrop wrote in his journal, one of Humphrey's daughters "ran mad and two other[s] . . . being under ten years of age, were discovered to have been often abused by divers lewd persons, and filthiness in his family." Winthrop continued that Humphrey "much neglected his children, leaving them among . . . rude servants." Daniel Fairfield, Jenkin Davis of Lynn (a schoolmaster), and John Hudson (a servant) were found guilty of abusing Dorcas and Sarah. [21] Dorcas also claimed two of her brothers had molested her. The minister at Lynn on January 13, 1643/4 proposed that the request of Timothy Dalton to adopt Dorcas Humphrey be accepted. It was Dalton's way of paying back a debt to John Humphrey from years previous. By the time of the adoption, Dorcas "the defiled child" was the only one of the children still in New England.[5]

Permanently Back to England

John Humphrey and his family permanently returned to England in 1641;[1][9] Humphrey soon joined the "Adventurers for Ireland," where he was sergeant major of land forces. They achieved little and Humphrey returned to London in September 1642.[5]

When Charles I of England was put on trial in 1649, "John Humphrey carried the sword of state in the ceremonial procession..." He and Hugh Peter were "among the eleven trustees appointed by parliament in July 1649 to list and value Charles I's goods and personal estate, and sell everything - including the king's priceless art collection."[5]

Will, Death

John died prior to the recording of a Noncupative Will dated 16 Dec 1651[22] [23] Humphrey then of Westminster, Middlesex co.

The will was proved 23 March 1651/2

On April 20, 1652, Roger Williams wrote from London to John Winthrop Jr.: "[o]ur old friend Col. Humphries is gone"[24]

Humphrey left his estate to his son John to be used by him for the education and maintenance of John Sr's younger children. John, the son, was appointed administrator, 4 June 1653;[22]it was probated on June 4, 1653.[5]

25 June 1661, administration of the estate of in New England was given to Mr. Joseph Humphries, his son. An inventory was taken 13 Dec 1661, which contained two small pieces of land and some debts.[25]

Research Notes

After returning to England, John is supposed to have married a 4th time to a "Mary". When John Humphrey's estate was being administered, his son, John was involved in a lawsuit with his stepmother.[26][9] Douglas Richardson, in "Magna Carta Ancestry," says she was his 4th wife and that she was alive at the time of his will, which was dated 16 December 1651 at Westminster, Middlesex and proved 23 March 1651/2. Mary was living on March 23, 1651/2.[1] in an online discussion, Richardson goes further and claims Mary was mentioned in the will. [27] Examination of an image of the original will includes no mention of any wife.

Neither Robert Charles Anderson in "Great Migration" nor Susan Hardman Moore in "Abandoning America..." include the 4th marriage to Mary ____.[5]

Notes

John Humphrey was born about 1596 at Chaldron, Dorset, England.  He died either before 23 Mar 1651 in prob. England: alternately 1661 in England. Lived in London, but also had a house in Sandwich, Kent Co., England.

His parents are not known: perhaps John Humfrey.

He was married four times and his second wife was Elizabeth Pelham, mother of Anne.  The name of his first wife is unknown to us.  His third wife was Susan Clinton.  His fourth wife was named Mary [surname unknown].

He arrived in Salem, MA in 1634. He returned to England for good on 26 Oct 1641, in the same boat with the Rev. John Phillips.

John Humfrey went back to England after a falling out with Governor Winthrop. He was offered the Governorship of a new colony to be established in the West Indies, called Providence. He, left his children behind in New England at the time of this trip. He never returned to New England, becoming caught up in the Civil War. He carried the sword at the time of the trial of King Charles.

After he left for England, a scandalous trial occurred in New England involving his children, when it came to light that two of his daughters, age about 10 and 12 had had inappropriate contact with several of their father's servants and other men in the community, as well as with at least two of their brothers. As part of the settlement of this affair, the judge awarded custody and the raising of those children involved to various responsible members of the community. Thomas was probably one of the brothers involved, since they were described as being prepubescent. Certainly the older of the two daughters involved was still living with the family of the Rev. William Walton in Lynn, MA, some years after this, since another minister wrote saying that he would be willing to take her into his household if Rev. Walton moved to Long Island. The argument seemed to be that it wouldn't be responsible to take her off into the unsettled territory into which Rev. Walton planned to move.

Not much is known of John Humphrey’s life after his return to England, as there is no further mention of him in connection with public affairs.  The letters and other personal documents that survive reveal a man burdened with anxiety for his family and encumbered with debts.   Various sources suggest that he died in England in either 1651 or 1661. 

Notes

From Hylbom Family Ancestry Project

Frederick Humphreys discusses my ancestor, John Humphrey, but did not trace his descendants, due to the fact that he settled only briefly in Massachusetts, from about 1635-1641, before returning to England, apparently leaving a couple of daughters behind in the care of others, but he left no sons of the Humphrey name in America.
Beginning with a document dated 31 Dec 1600, the name of John Humphrey (probably the father of the man born in 1596) is mentioned in records relating to the East India Company[1].  Queen Elizabeth’s patent for the East Indies (i.e. the Charter of Incorporation of the East India Company) fills a number of pages and commences thus:

A privilege for fifteen years granted by Her Majesty to certain adventurers for the discovery of the trade for the East Indies; that is to say to Geo. Earl of Cumberland, and two hundred and fifteen knights, aldermen and merchants.  [In the list of names that follows is John. Humphrey].

We do not know why John Humphrey did not sail with the charter, but apparently he was unavoidably detained.  He did not reach New England until about 1634-5, along with his wife, Lady Susan Clinton (daughter to Thomas, Earl of Lincoln) and his children: Ann, Dorcas, Sarah and possibly John.  After his arrival, the family settled at Saugus (now Lynn), about 12 miles from Boston.  Upon an invitation from Lord Say, he intended in the year 1640 to have removed to the Bahama islands; but the island of Providence being taken by the Spaniards, he gave over that design.  Soon after, having met with great losses by fire and his estate being much impaired, he sold his plantation to Lady Moody[11] and returned to England.

References

• [11] Lady Moody’s activities in New England and New York are discussed under the heading of our maternal 9th great grandfather, William Thorne (1617-1657).
• [12] Alonzo Lewis (“The Lynn Bard”). The History of Lynn, including Nahant (Boston, Massachusetts: Samuel N. Dickinson, 1844) p. 116.
• [13] James Savage. Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, showing three generations of those who came before May 1692 on the basis of Farmer’s Register (published with two supplements in 4 volumes, 1860-1862).
• THE GROTON AVERY CLAN, Vol. I, by Elroy McKendree Avery and Catherine Hitchcock (Tilden) Avery, Cleveland, 1912. p. 114
• The Magna Charta Sureties, 1215: The Barons Named in the Magna Charta, 1215, and Some of Their Descendants who Settled in America During the Early Colonial Years (Google eBook) Frederick Lewis Weis, Walter Lee Sheppard, William Ryland Beall Genealogical Publishing Com, 1999 - Reference - 214 pages.  Page 91. Died 1661.
• The Magna Charta Sureties, 1215: The Barons Named in the Magna Charta, 1215, and Some of Their Descendants who Settled in America During the Early Colonial Years (Google eBook) Frederick Lewis Weis, Walter Lee Sheppard, William Ryland Beall Genealogical Publishing Com, 1999 - Reference - 214 pages.  Page 99.  "17. Elizabeth Pelham, b Hellingly, 27 Apr 1604, d 1 Nov 1628; m Salisbury, 4 Sept 1621, Col. John Humphrey, gent., of Chaldon (ae 25 years in 1621), who m (3), 1630/4, Susan Fiennes (57-18), q.v. (NEHGR, 33:288)
• http://web.archive.org/web/20041112185437/http:/home.earthlink.net/...
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Humphrey-667 cites

1. Richardson, Douglas: Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd edn. (2011), 4 vols. See also WikiTree's source page for Magna Carta Ancestry.
2. Richardson, Douglas. Royal Ancestry: A Study In Colonial And Medieval Families, in 5 vols. (Salt Lake City, Utah, 2013), Vol. V. page 358.See also WikiTree's source page for Magna Carta Ancestry.
3. Visitation of the County of Dorset Taken in the Year 1623. Publication of the Harleian Society, Vol. 20 (London 1885),Pedigree Charts, p 57 & 75. Page 57, Humphrie: < GoogleBooks >; page 75, Pelham < GoogleBooks >
4. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Boston: NEHGS, Vol. 65 (1911),Page 86.John Humphrey notes on 86.
5. Moore, Susan Hardman. Abandoning America, Life-Stories From Early New England. Boydell Press, New York (2013). p. 150-153.
6. Lincoln's Inn (Wikipedia)
7. Chester, Joseph Lemuel. Herbert Pelham, His Ancestors and Descendants. 1879. Boston, Massachusetts. Pages 3-4.Elizabeth Pelham pedigree
8. Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre; Chippenham, Wiltshire, England; Reference Number: 1900/5 by subscription at: < AncestryImage >
9. Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume III, G-H; Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003. . p. 462-468.sketch of John Humphrey, < AmericanAncestors >
10. St. Georges Church, Fordington, Dorset.[1]
11. Roberts, Oliver Ayer. History of the Military Company of the Massachusetts now called The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts. Vol. 1. 1637-1738. page 104-105.[2]
12. Humphrey, Frederick. Humphreys Family in America. 1883. Humphrey's Print. New York.Pages 66-91
13. Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of The First Settlers of New England. Vol. II. 1860. Little, Brown & Co. Boston, Ma. Pages-495-496.[3]
14. Essex Institute. The Probate Records of Essex County Massachusetts, Vol. II. 1665-1674. Salem, Mass. 1917. Palge 301-302.Will of Joseph Humphrey.
15. Winthrop's Journal Vol. 1. Page 100
16. Perley, Sidney. The History of Salem, Massachusetts. Vol. I. 1626-1637. Pages 102-108.[4]
17. Winthrop's Journal, "History of New England", 1630-1639.Hosmer, James Kendall, ed. Vol. 1. pub. 1908, Charles Scribner's Sons, N.Y. pages 79-335.
18. Robert Charles Anderson. The Great Migration Directory, Immigrants to New England 1620-1640, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA. (2015) p. 174.
19. Great Migration Newsletter, V.1-20.(Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2018.) Vol 1, p. 19.subscriber$
20. Frank Strong, "A Forgotten Danger to the New England Colonies," in Annual Report of the American Historical Association for 1898. Government Printing Office: 1899; .[5]
21. Records of The Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay of New England Vol. II 1642-1649. 1853. Press of William White, Boston, Mass., Pages 12-13
22. Anderson: citing Prerogative Court of Canterbury 297 Brent
23. PROB 11/230/213 Description: Will of John Humfrey, Colonel of City of Westminster, Middlesex Date: 04 June 1653 https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D820204
24. Winthrop Papers, Series 4, Vol 6, p 286
25. Probate Records of Essex County Massachusetts. Vol. I. 1635-1664. 1916. Published by the Essex Institute, Salem, Mass. Pages 345-347.[6]
26. Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts. Vol. XIV. Transactions 1911-1913. Published by the Society. 1913. Boston, Mass. Page 120-21.John's 4th wife Mary
27. Richardson, Douglas. Response soc.genealogy.medieval Google Group discussion "The will is dated 16 Dec. 1651 and proved 23 March 1651/2 [Reference: PCC, Year: 1653, folio 297].... A full transcript of the will can be found in one of the volumes of the Mary and John Clearinghouse published by Burton Spear."
28. See also: Massachusetts Bay Colony at Wikipedia[7]
29. John Humphrey, Esq. at Wikipedia[8]
30. Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Vol VI. Fourth Series. 1863. Printed for the Society, Boston, Ma. Pages 1-19.Letters written by john Humphrey
31. Avery, Elroy M. John Humfrey, Massachusetts Magistrate: did he marry a daughter of the Earl of Lincoln? Cleveland, 1912.link
32. Nathaniel Lane Taylor, "The Mackworths of Shropshire: Royal Ancestry and Colonial Descendants," The Genealogist, Vol. 35, No. 1, 100–126; No. 2, 157–191