HISTORY & MYTHS

• from John Harvard's Brewery & Ale House

The legend began in 1601 at a winter wedding held at St. Saviour’s Church in Southwark, England between Kathryn Roberts, daughter of Southwark’s Master Ale Taster, and Robert Harvard, an impressive young man introduced to the family through William Shakespeare, a childhood friend of the bride’s father. ...

• (mostly) from Wikipedia

On April 8, 1605, Robert Harvard was remarried to Katherine Rogers (1584-1635) of Stratford-on-Avon, the thirteenth child of Thomas Rogers, a cattle dealer and alderman.

John Harvard was born and raised in Southwark, England, the fourth of nine children of Robert Harvard (1562–1625), a butcher and tavern owner, and his wife Katherine Rogers, a native of Stratford-upon-Avon whose father Thomas Rogers (1540–1611) was an associate of Shakespeare's father both serving on the borough corporation's council. He was baptised in the parish church of St Saviour's (now Southwark Cathedral) and attended St Saviour's Grammar School, where his father was a member of the governing body as being also a Warden of the Parish Church.

In 1625 the plague reduced the immediate family to only John, his brother Thomas, and their mother. Katherine was soon remarried—firstly in 1626 to John Elletson (1580–1626), who died within a few months, then (1627) to Richard Yearwood (1580–1632). She died in 1635, Thomas in 1637.

Left with some property, Harvard's mother was able to send him to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he earned his B.A. in 1632 and M.A. in 1635, and was subsequently ordained a dissenting minister. (n.b. No ordination record)

8 children:

1. Robert (1602, d. infant)
2. Robert (1606-1625)
3. John (1607-1638). Married Ann Sadler.
4. Thomas (1609-1637). Married Elizabeth King.
5. William (1610-1625)
6. Katherine (1612-1625)
7. Anne (1613-1625)
8. Peter (1615-1625)

Notes

• John Harvard's mother, Katherine died in 1636 and left him the Queen's Head Tavern in Southwark, £250 and a half share (with his brother Thomas) in houses in Barking left to her by her second husband. Her will refers to him as 'John Harvard, clerk', implying that he had been ordained. Harvard House & a Brief History of  John Harvard of  Stratford-upon-Avon

Links

• http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~hwbradley/aqwg429.htm#8165

Citations

1. Seversmith, Herbert Furman, The Seversmith Manuscripts (Brooklyn, New York: H. Stryker-Rodda, 1968.), Notebook #6, #10, Los Angeles Public Library, NR 929.2 S4987-1.
2. Waters, Henry F., "John Harvard and His Ancestry," NEHGR 40:4 (Oct 1886) (New England Historic, Genealogical Society.), p. 362, Los Angeles Public Library.
3. Williams, Isaac Newton, Genealogy of William Rogers: Correction and Addenda.
4. Waters, Henry Fitz-Gilbert, Genealogical Gleanings in England (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1969.), 1:130, Los Angeles Public Library, 929.242 W329 1969.
5. Pope, Charles Henry, The Pioneers of Massachusetts (Boston: C.H. Pope, 1900.), p. 216, Los Angeles Public Library, Gen 974.4 P826-1.
6. Waters, H. F., Genealogical Gleanings in England, 1:130.
7. Waters, H., NEHGR 40:4, p. 363.

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1. "The Ancestry of John Harvard" Genealogical Gleanings in England, Volume 2. By Henry Fitz-Gilbert Waters, New England Historic Genealogical Society.  Page vi, Preface.  "in July, 1635, Katherine (Harvard) (Elletson) Yearwood made her will and died, leaving her property, which had been derived from her three husbands, the butcher, the cooper, and the grocer, to her two sons, John and Thomas Harvard ..."
2. Harvard family. The John Harvard family collection, 1577, 1622, and 1828-2007. HUG 1447, Harvard University Archives..