Robert Tuck was born in Gorlston, Suffolk county, England, but the date of his nativity is not known. He was a tailor by trade, but does not seem to have followed that occupation after coming to America. In 1636 or a little earlier he left England and came to Massachusetts. For a while lie lived in Watertown, near Boston, and in Salem. In 1638 he was one of those who petitioned the general court at Boston for leave to settle at Winnacunnet (now Hampton). The petition was granted, and tradition says that Robert Tuck was one of those who made settlement there in the fall of the same year, September 7, 1639. He was made freeman about 1640, and the town granted him lands which were located as early as 1644. The records show ten acres of upland granted him for a house lot ; thirty acres of upland granted to him ; twenty acres of upland granted him ; five acres of meadow granted unto him. In 1646 the common and undivided lands were divided into one hundred and forty-seven equal parts, called shares, of which Robert Tuck had three. His house was near the meeting house, the social and business centre of the settlement, and was conveniently situated for a public house, and was for many years kept as such, it being the earliest public house ia the town. Here he kept what was known as an ordinary, and was allowed to sell by retail to travelers and strangers, beer, wine and "strong waters." He was required to furnish food and lodging for travelers, and stabling for horses at reasonable prices, and in Hampton (then a half shire town) entertainment for the court and juries, and clients attending court.

After residing in Hampton fifteen years or longer, Goodman Tuck had occasion to visit England on business, to be gone a year or longer, and during his absence his ordinary was closed On his return he reopened his ordinary without a license, and thereby unwittingly violated the law, for which violation he was fined by the law court five pounds, whkh the general court reduced to three pounds and required him to pay. He kept the ordinary from this time till the close of his life.

He also acted as chirurgeon, that is, a healer of diseases by manual operations, instruments, or external applications. There is an entry in the old town records under date of May 15, 1658, in reference to a stranger mentioned as a "seaman lying in Town under God m (Goodman) Tucks hands at surgerie." Another record is of his recovery of ten pounds and costs of court from Thomas Davis and Stephen Kent for the cure of an Indian.

Robert Tuck was selectman in 1648-49- 52-57; March 16, 1647, he was appointed town clerk and held that office till May 15, 1650, "2: Mo.: 1649," he was appointed "ye clerke of ye writts for the town of Hampton" ; that is, clerk of the commissioners for small causes (that board being' a court of record).

Goodman Tuck died intestate October 7, 1664. and administration on his estate was granted to Joanna, his widow, and John Sanborne, his son-in-law. The inventory of the estate amounts to three hundred and eighty-five pounds, seventeen shillings, two pence. Robert Tuck was married and had a child before his emigration. The name of his wife, who survived him and died " "14 : 12 Mo. : 1673." " was Joanna, or as variously spelled in the records, Joanah. Johana, Johannah. They had four children, the dates of whose births are not known ; their names are : Robert, Elizabeth, Mary, and Edward

Links

• http://www.cyberancestors.com/cummins/ps02/ps02_076.htm
• http://www.treetreetree.org.uk/Tucke.htm#Robert

Sources

1. 51. Frederick Clifton Pierce, Batchelder, Batcheller Genealogy, Rev. Stephen Bachiler of England, Heritage Books Inc., 1992
2. Coffin, Joshua, "Early Settlers of Essex and Old Norfolk," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 6, 1852, 205-208, 243-254, 339-346; 7, 1853, 83 - , 357 - 360; 8, 1854, p. 49 - 54.
3. Dow, George Francis, Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Essex Institute, 1911 - 1975.
4. Paige, Lucius, R., "List of Freemen, " New England Historical and Genealogical Register 3, 1849, 89-96, 187-194, 239-246, 345-352.
5. Quint, Alonzo H. "Oaths of Freemen, Allegiance, &c. in Old Norfolk County, New England Historical and Genealogical Register 6, 1852, 201-204.

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I Robert Tuck was born in Gorlston Suffolk county England but the date of his nativity is not known He was a tailor by trade but does not seem to have followed that occupation after coming to America In 1636 or a little earlier he left England and came to Massachusetts For a while lie lived in Watertown near Boston and in Salem In 1638 he was one of those who petitioned the general court at Boston for leave to settle at Win nacunnet now Hampton The petition was granted and tradition says that Robert Tuck was one of those who made settlement there in the fall of the same year September 7 1639 He was made freeman about 1640 and the town granted him lands which were located as early as 1644 The records show ten acres of upland granted him for a house lot thirty acres of upland granted to him twenty acres of upland granted him five acres of meadow granted unto him In 1646 the common and undivided lands were divided into one hundred and forty seven equal parts called shares of which Robert Tuck had three His house was near the meeting house the social and business centre of the settlement and was conveniently situated for a public house and was for many years kept as such it being the earliest public house ia the town Here he kept what was known as an ordinary and was allowed to sell by retail to travelers and strangers beer wine and strong waters He was required to furnish food and lodging for travelers and stabling for horses at reasonable prices and in Hampton then a half shire town entertainment for the court and juries and clients attending court After residing in Hampton fifteen years or longer Goodman Tuck had occasion to visit England on business to be gone a year or longer and during his absence his ordinary was closed On his return he reopened his ordinary without a license and thereby unwittingly violated the law for which violation he was fined by the law court five pounds whkh the general court reduced to three pounds and required him to pay He kept the ordinary from this time till the close of his life He also acted as chirurgeon that is a healer of diseases by manual operations instruments or external applications There is an entry in the old town records under date of May 15 1658 in reference to a stranger mentioned as a seaman lying in Town under God m Goodman Tucks hands at recovery of ten pounds and costs of court from Thomas Davis and Stephen Kent for the cure of an Indian Robert Tuck was selectman in 1648 49 52 57 March 16 1647 he was appointed town clerk and held that office till May 15 1650 2 Mo 1649 he was appointed ye clerke of ye writts for the town of Hampton that is clerk of the commissioners for small causes that board being a court of record Goodman Tuck died intestate October 7 1664 and administration on his estate was granted to Joanna his widow and John San borne his son in law The inventory of the estate amounts to three hundred and eighty five pounds pence was married and had a child before his emigration The name of his wife who survived him and died 14 12 Mo 1673 was Joanna or as variously spelled in the records Joanah Johana Johannah They had four children the dates of whose births are not known their names are Robert Elizabeth Mary and Edward whose sketch next follows

Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation By Ezra S. Stearns, William Frederick Whitcher, Edward Everett Parker, Lewis publishing company, Chicago, Lewis Publishing Company, Lewis Publishing Company</a> -------------------- "Robert Tuck came to New England from Gorlston, Suffolk Co., England in 1636, or a little earlier. He lived a short time in Watertown, and probably, also, in Salem; was one of the grantees and first settlers of Hampton, NH; lived on Rand's hill and kept the "ordinary";

(An ordinary was an Inn or a Public house, for the accomodation of travelers, with lodging and refreshments at established prices. The first ordinary in Hampton was opened at a very early period, by Robert Tuck, in accordance with the expressed wish of the town. His house was on the corner at the junction of the two roads, near Rand's Hill, about forty rods northwest of the site of the first meeting-houses. He continued to keep an ordinary there until he had occassion to visit England about the year 1654)

He was selectman four years and town clerk three years. He died Oct. 4, 1664. His wife Joanna died Feb. 14, 1674. Their children, Robert, Elizabeth, Mary and Edward were all born in England."

Quoted from History of the town of Hampton, New Hampshire, by Joseph Dow, published in 1894.