William “Pontus” Churchill, Sr.

Biography

William Churchill was born in 1656 in Plymouth, Massachusetts to parents John Churchill and Hannah Pontus (who both immigrated prior to 1642).

Marriage

He married Lydia Bryant on 17 Jan 1683 in Plymouth, Massachusetts.[1]

Issue:

1. William Churchill
2. Samuel Churchill
3. James Churchill
4. Isaac Churchill
5. Benjamin Churchill Sr
6. Lydia (Churchill) Lovell
7. Josiah Churchill
8. Mehitable (Churchill) Shaw

In 1690, his mother, Hannah Rickard gifted her right to 1/4 part of land to William.[2]

Death

He died on 5 Oct 1722 in Plympton, Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay.[3]

William Churchill lived his entire married life in Plympton, Massachusetts. He was the progenitor of The Plympton Branch. They were members of the church in Plymouth. He became a landowner in Punkatussett (now Plympton), by some accounts one of the first settlers of Plympton, Massachusetts.

Will of Capt. Thomas Southworth: "Item I giue vnto William Churchill a sheep to be deliuered to him the next Springe following the date heerof That lott and halfe of Land which is att the Eelriuer which was exchanged by mr William Bradford deceased: with Iohn Faunce for a Lott att Ionses Riuer I doe yeild vp all my Interest in the said Lott of Land & halfe To Thomas Faunce and his heires 1689 - PCR; page 203 - Received & admitted as Freeman at y' General Court held at Plymouth the first Tuesday of June 1689, these underwritten. William Churchill. 1703 - Plymouth Towne Records - description of his land along the Kings Highway."

Probate

His will is dated 27 March 1722 and proved on 19 December 1722 in Plymouth. He mentions his wife Lydia, and his sons, William, James, Isaac, Benjamin, Josiah, Lydia, and Mehitabel.[4]

References

1. The Churchhill Family in America. Page 5. < Archive.Org >; (document attached); Page 8 < Archive.Org >; (document attached).
2. William married Lydia Byrant in Plymouth, MA on 01/17/1683.
3. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Churchill-374 cites
   1. "Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910," database, FamilySearch : 9 February 2018), William Churchill and Liddiah Briant, 17 Jan 1683; citing reference p154; FHL microfilm 416,334. [1]
   2. "Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9Z7-PHRZ : 22 May 2014), Plymouth > Deeds 1664-1711 vol 1-5 > image 174 of 652; county courthouses and offices, Massachusetts.
   3. Vital records of Plympton, Massachusetts, to the year 1850.pg 458
   4. "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-897D-FJHG : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1717-1724 and 1854-1862 vol 4-4Q > image 226 of 485; State Archives, Boston.
   5. Find A Grave: Memorial #35954814
   6. Churchill Family in America by Gardner Asaph Churchill, Library of Congress, Camden, Maine. pg 9
   7. American Genealogical Biographical Index
   8. Massachusetts Marriages
   9. Massachusetts Town and Vital Records
   10. North America Family Histories
   11. New England Historical and Genealogical Register
4. Vital records of Plympton, Massachusetts to the year 1850, Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1923
   1. Andrew Mills and his descendants, with genealogies of related families
   2. Taylor, Eva Mills (Lee),. Andrew Mills and his descendants, with genealogies of related families. Bethesda, Maryland
   3. History and genealogy of the Mayflower planters and first comers to ye olde colonie, Washington, D.C.: Hills Pub. Co., c1936-c1941
   4. Representative men and old families of southeastern Massachusetts : containing historical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and genealogical records of many. Includes Bristol, Plymouth and Barnstable Counties.
5. US New England Marriages Prior to 1700