Henry "the Puritan" Way

Henry Way is the Way, Emigrant, who came from England on the good ship "Mary and John", in 1630. Henry was born in 1583 and died in 1667. He married Elizabeth B ........... One record says they had one child, Samuel, and later records say two more, Elizabeth and Richard and also that they had three sons.

Henry Way, at Dorchester in Massachusetts, was a pioneer in the fishing business which later became the economic strength of New England. He is reputed to have saved three shipwrecked men. He also fought off Indians who attacked his boats.

Source: "Way family history" - author - Mary Elizabeth Way, published 1974/76 that is available through interlibrary loan. It is a history of Way's from Nantucket.

"Henry Way, called "The Puritan", is the first of the name to come to Colonial America and become a land owner and homemaker. He came to Dorchester, Massachusetts Bay Colony from Bridport in the Parish of Allington, County Dorset, England, on the Mary and John. The intending emigrants assembled at Plymouth and set sail Saturday, March 20, arriving at Nantasket, May 30, 1630.

Henry Way is listed among the passengers on the Mary and john, with six in his party. In addition to his wife, Elizabeth, he had five others with him. Although their names do not appear on any passenger list, it is assumed the five were his children. Later records indicate these children were in and around Dorchester in the years following. Their identity is also supported by the baptismal records secured from St. Mary's Parish records. Bridport.

Henry Way carried on a fishing business from Dorchester and his boat saved the lives of three shipwrecked men off the coast, July 26, 1631. He was admitted to the church at Dorchester, March 5, 1643."

Book at the DAR library in Washington entitled, The Way Family. "Came from Bristol England with Roger Williams February 8, 1631 to Dorchester, Mass. Henry Way and Elizabeth came to America in 1630 on the MARY AND JOHN, and carried on a fishing business. His boat saved three shipwrecked men off the coast on 26 Jul 1631. Two of his boats were lost in 1643, however, 5 men were killed by Indians and two others by drowning. Henry was from Bridport, Dorsetshire, EN, and his first residence was Dorchester. He was a merchant and was admitted to the second church at Dorchester on 5 May 1643. He could sign his name, and he pledged to support the Dorchester schoolmaster on 7 Feb 1641/2. He held the office of Fieldviewer on 24 Dec 1645. He was probably related in some degree to George Way, who had many business interests in New England and who made a brief visit to Dorchester."

Sources: American Genealogist, V 60 pgs 3-5, and V 61 pgs 241-250; Gen Dict of 1st Settlers of NE, by Savage, V 4 pgs 439-441; Pioneers of MA, by Pope, pg 483; Gen. of Henry R. Way, (LDS); LDS film 0000251; LDS ancestral file; The Way Family, by Mary E. Way; Came Mary and John; The Great Migration Begins, Immigrants to NE 1620-1633, V3 by Robert Charles Anderson

This is the same Way family that followed the Rev. Lord to SC and then went to St. John's Parish in Ga. and started the Midway Congregational church there. Aaron and his family went to SC after they were successful in ridding Salem of the Rev. Parrish who espoused the Witchcraft frenzy.

Family notes

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Way-225

While some claim Henry Way was baptized 10 DEC 1576 in Allington, Bridport, Dorsetshire, England, his age at death translates to a 1583 birth. According to David Greene, he was the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Denslow) Way.[1]

There are conflicting records regarding Henry’s Marriages but it is clear that he probably married twice in England, in 1606 and 1614-15. The dates of the children’s births show a marriage before 1614-15. Daughter Elizabeth was born in 1608. His children were all born in Dorchester.[2]

22 Jan 1614 /1615 Henry Way to Elizabeth Batchelar at Bridport, Dorset [3]

Family

His wife Elizabeth died 23 (4) 1665, aged 84.

Henry Way married at least twice, the first wife being perhaps Elizabeth White, who he married in 1606, mother of the first three or four children; a possible son, Elizabeth, Henry and Aaron. She possibly died by 1614 or 15. No marriage record or death information for Elizabeth White has been found, so the first wife of 1606 is perhaps unknown. If Elizabeth Batchelor died in 1617 after three years of marriage according to the death record, Henry would then have married a third time. No other records have been found so far. And he would have married a third Elizabeth. This record shows the death in 1665 of an Elizabeth Way: Name: Elizabeth Way Event Type: Death Death Date: 23 Apr 1665 Death Place: Dorchester, Massachusetts[23]

Children

• ELYTH,(Elizabeth) bp. Bridport 30 November 1608; baptism record:Elizabeth Way, 30 Nov 1608, Bridport, Dorset, England[14]
• HENRY, bp. Bridport 28 March 1611.
• AARON, bp. Bridport 2 September 1613; m. Joan Sumner, daughter of William and Mary (Swift) Sumner of Dorchester.
• Hannah or Anna, bp. Bridport 3 March 1615[/6]; living in Salem, Mass., 26 Jan. 1701/2 m. by 1636 Bray Wilkins.
• LYDIA, bp. Bridport 23 August 1618; no further record.
• Susanna, bp. Bridport 14 October 1621; m. John Pelton [SLR 24:255].
• RICHARD, bp. Bridport 2 May 1624; deposed 1666 age about 42 (Pope p. 483); d. Boston 23 June 1697 m. (1) Hester Jones, daughter of Thomas and Ellen Jones; m. (2) [[Mayhew-293 Bethia, daughter of Thomas and Jane (Gallion'(Paine) Mayhew ; m. (3) Katharine...d. 28 April 1689, m. (4)1689 Hannah (Townsend) [15]

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"A" List

Our "A" List of those who were CERTAIN or HIGHLY PROBABLE passengers aboard the ship the Mary and John 1630. However, we have attempted to compile a new list of possible passengers and then rate them as follows:

WAY, HENRY a. 47 Bridport, Dorset

Elizabeth Batchelar, second wife a. 43 Bridport, Dorset

Henry Way Jr., son 19 Bridport, Dorset

Aaron Way, son 16 Bridport, Dorset

George Way, son a. 15 Bridport, Dorset

Hanna Way, daughter 15 Bridport, Dorset

Susanna Way, daughter 9 Bridport, Dorset

Richard Way, son 5 Bridport, Dorset

History of the Town of Dorchester, Massachusetts. (2017). Google Books. Retrieved 11 March 2017, from page 91

Henry Way arrived from Bristol in company with Roger Williams, February 8, 1631, in the Lyon, Capt. Pierce. He lost a son overboard on the passage. Was named with the first recorded grantees of land in Dorchester, 1633. His three sons bom in England, George, Richard and Aaron, lived in Dorchester. By the church record it appears he lived where "Capt. Breck's cyder mills" afterwards stood. He died in 1667, aged 84 years. His wife Elizabeth died 23 (4) 1665, aged 84.

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Henry "The Puritan" Way was born in 1583 at Allington, Bridport, (Dorchester), Dorset, , England. He died on March 24, 1667 in Dorchester, Massachusetts at 84 years old.

Birth: Mar. 10, 1583, England
Death: unknown

Thomas Way, born 10 March 1583, Powerstock, Dorset, was tahe son of George and Agnes symes Way. George and Agnes were married 8 Jun 1580 at Powerstock, Dorset.

Thomas' siblings were George born 13 Jun 1581, died 26 April 1587, Peternell, who married 4 July 1605 at Ottery St. Mary Christopher Harding, Phillip born 16 Nov 1585 Powerstock, and Agnis, who married 15 Apr 1611 at Ottery St. Mary

Thomas' wife's name is not known. Their children were Johan born 5 May 1609, John, born 25 Dec 1611, Thomas born 25 Dec 1611, GEORGE born 2 March 1614, all born at Ottery St. Mary Devon. Then Joane born 16 Jan 1616, Ann born 27 Nov 1618 and Christopher born 27 Nov 1618, all born at Powerstock, Dorset.

It is believed that Thomas Way and his son emigrated to America on the ship Lyon in 1631.

Son George was a fisherman along the Maine coast for a number of years and a Thomas Way is mentioned. George eventually settled in Providence, Rhode Island.

Family links:

Children:

 George Way (1614 - ____)*

• Calculated relationship

Burial: Unknown

Created by: Barbara Ferdinand Record added: Jul 22, 2009 Find A Grave Memorial# 39743958