Anthony Dorchester

Origins

Nothing is know about the beginnings of Anthony Dorchester.

1683: 28 Aug Death of Anthony Dorchester. Anthony was survived by his wife, Elizabeth to whom he had been married about twenty years or more; his sons, John Dorchester and James Dorchester; and his daughters Mary Dorchester Harmon and Sarah Dorchester Stebbins; and a step-daughter, Martha Kritchwell Wright.

He was preceded in death by two wives, Sarah who died in 1649; Martha who died in 1662; and three children: Benjamin died in 1675; Hester died in 1662; and a step-son, Samuel Kritchwell who died in 1651.

Notes

From The Dorchester family chronicles by Swanson, Earle S. (Earle Swen), 1928-; Swanson, Patricia (Patricia Maskrey), 1928-

"Anthony Dorchester, employed by Parsons, had a one-fourth interest in a
cow which when killed was divided, his employer owning another one-fourth. Both wanted the tongue of the animal, but it fell to Dorchester, and subsequently when cooking it , it mysteriously disappeared from the pot. It was the work of a witch of course."

After a series of unexplainable incidents, the Parsons were charged with witchcraft and tried by a jury in Boston. Mrs. Parsons, (who was apparently mentally deranged by this time) pleaded guilty to the murder of their child. The jury found her guilty of murder but innocent of witchcraft. The General Court confirmed the verdict and she was sentenced to be hanged. However, by this time she was in poor health and died of natural causes before the sentence could be carried out. The witchcraft trial of Hugh Parsons ended in conviction but the General Court refused to confirm the verdict so he escaped execution. Following his trial, Hugh Parsons left Boston and probably Massachusetts, and was never seen in Springfield again.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/112538506/anthony-dorchester

Anthony arrived Springfield 1649, resided in Springfield 34 years until he died 1683.

• Born 1619 Dorchester, Dorset, England
• Died 1682/3 Aug 28 Springfield, MA
• Father Anthony Dorcester 1562-1602
• Mother Sarah 1580-1649

Anthony Dorchester and his wife, Sarah, came here from Windsor and brought three children John, James and Mary.

First Marriage

• Sarah Stebbins
• Born 1622 England
• His wife died Springfield November 9, 1649
• Children John, James, Mary

Second Marriage January 2, 1651

• Married Widow Martha KRITCHWELL (Martha Chapman)
• Martha's first marriage, Samuel Ketcherel 1619-1650
• Born 1616 Apr 7 Tring, Hertfordshire, England
• She died December 17, 1662 Springfield, MA
• Father Simon Chapman 1583-1616
• Mother Marye Heath 1594-1629
• Children with Samuel Kitcherell-Samuel, Martha, Hannah
• Children with Anthony Dorchester-Benjamin, Sarah, Hester

Third Marriage

• Widow Elizabeth Harmon
• (Widow of John HARMON) d 1699
• His widow, Elizabeth died May 16, 1699
• aged 92
• Burial Old Burying Ground/Springfield Cemetery
• FAG 113336896

Children with Sarah:

John

• b. at Windsor, November 5, 1644
• d 1705 )ct 5 Springfield, MA
• Burial Old Burying Ground/Springfield Cemetery
• *FAG 112545127
• m. Mary HARMON
• Burial Old Burying Ground/Springfield Cemetery
• *FAG 113337444

James Dorchester

• b. 1646 Windsor, CT
• d. 1732 Nov 10 Springfield, MA
• Burial Old Burying Ground/Springfield Cemetery
• *FAG 1125452552
• m. Sarah PARSONS
• Burial Old Burying Ground/Springfield Cemetery
• *FAG 113338161

Mary, b. ____ m. John HARMON

Children with Martha:

Benjamin Dorcester

• b. October 9, 1651 Springfield, MA
• d. 1676 Mar 29 Springfield, MA
• m. 1675 Apr 22
• Sarah Burt Dorchester HITCHCOCK
• b. 1656 Sep 4 Springfield, MA
• d 1746 Nov 9 Springfield, MA
• Father Jonathan Burt 1624-1718
• Mother Elizabeth Lobdell 1631-1684
• after Benjamin Dorchester died she married 1676 Feb 14 Capt. Luke Hitchcock

Sarah Dorcester STEBBINS

• b. October 16, 1653 Springfield, MA
• d. 1746 Aug 18 Springfield, MA
• Age 92
• m. Joseph STEBBINS
• b. 1652 Oct 24
• d. 1728 Oct 15 Springfield, MA
• Father Lt. Thomas Stebbins
• Mother Hannah Wright

Hester Dorcester

• b. October 25, 1656 Springfield, MA
• d. November 17, 1662 Springfield, MA

SOURCES Inventory of Anthony's estate was presented in 1683 by his son, John. An agreement was made between sons John and James; grandchildren: Benjamin; daughter, Mary, wife of John Harmon; daughter Sarah, wife of Joseph Stebbins; and his step-daughter Martha, who was the daughter of his second wife, Martha Kitchell and married to Abel Wright--who claimed something for what her mother, the widow of Samuel Kitchell (Kitcherell) once of Hartford, brought to the late Anthony Dorchester.

1685: May 2. An acquittance of John Harmon (Jr.)--husband of Mary Dorchester, to her brothers, John and James Dorchester stating that he had already received the forty pounds due him upon the death of Anthony Dorchester who died intestate: These gentlemen testify by oath that whereas Anthony Dorchester, deceased [died intestate] under which consideration the ... Corte [held in Springfield the 3rd of September Anno Dom 1684] made a distribution of the estate of the deceased Anthony Dorchester [awarding to his surviving children] according to law, and made his two sons, John Dorchester and James Dorchester administrators of the said estate of which estate the said Corte gave to me, John Harmon of Springfield and son-in-law to the said Dorchester deceased] forty pounds, which forty pounds I have already received of John and James Dorchester to my full satisfaction; therefore, I, John Harmon, do by these presents for myself, my heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns acquit and forever discharge the said John and James Dorchester, their heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns of all legacies, ... .... or ... due to me or my ... from the said estate. Witness my hand. John Herman X (his mark) In the presence of us: John Richards Thomas Vigers (his mark)

John Herman above subscribing his mark came personally and acknowledged the same that he was fully paid and did discharge and acquit John and James Dorchester formal payments as above said and make acknowledgment whereof and of this, his full acquittance, Sept. 18th, 1685. Before John Pynchon

The above acquittance entered into the records on October 9, 1685 by John Holyoke. 1683: 28 Aug

Death of Anthony Dorchester. Anthony was survived by his wife, Elizabeth to whom he had been married about twenty years or more; his sons, John Dorchester and James Dorchester; and his daughters Mary Dorchester Harmon and Sarah Dorchester Stebbins; and a step-daughter, Martha Kritchwell Wright. He was preceded in death by two wives, Sarah who died in 1649; Martha who died in 1662; and three children: Benjamin died in 1675; Hester died in 1662; and a step-son, Samuel Kritchwell who died in 1651.

Elizabeth Cummins in the U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900

• Name: Elizabeth Cummins
• Gender: Female
• Birth Year: 1607
• Spouse Name: John Harmon
• Spouse Birth Year: 1617
• Marriage
• Year: 1640
• Marriage State: MA

Elizabeth Dorchester in the U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700

• Name: Elizabeth Dorchester
• Maiden Name: Harmon
• Gender: Female
• Marriage Date: Dec 1664
• Marriage Place: New England, USA
• Spouse: Anthony Dorchester

Anthony Dorchester in the American Marriages Before 1699

• Name: Anthony Dorchester
• Spouse: Martha Kitcherell (Widow)
• Marriage Date: 2 Jan 1651
• Marriage Place: Hartford, Connecticut

References

• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Dorchester-13
• http://sherrysharp.com/gentree/getperson.php?personID=I5378&tree=Roots