Desire Kingman

Descendant of Mayflower passengers Mary Winslow and James Chilton

• Birth: July 5 1669 - Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA
• Death: Feb 11 1698 - Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA
• Parents: Isaac Harris, Mercy Latham
• Husband: John Kingman

Children:

• Joseph Kingman, Bethia Kingman, Desire Kingman, John Kingman, John Reynolds Kingman, John Kingman, Mary Kingman, Joseph Kingman, John Kingman, Isaac Kingman, Bethia Kingman, John Kingman, Abigail Kingman, Seth Kingman, John Reynolds Kingman, Desire Kingman

Desire illustrates the life (in a sad way) of early colonial women. She was born in Weymouth April 30, 1664. She married John Kingman in 1690. Their first child, Desire, was born June 17, 1690. In March, 1691, Desire and John were charged with fornication (according to Plymouth Court Records) as their daughter Desire was born too soon after their marriage. The punishment was not stated. John and Desire went on to have 4 more children (1692, 1694, 1696, and 1698). Desire died during the birth of the last child, named Deliverance, on February 11, 1698. So, despite that long list of children given above, there are five children in this family: Desire, Mary, John, Seth, and Deliverance. Desire may have been a workhorse, but she did not have that long list of children listed above by the age of 28 (when she died). Another interesting tidbit is that Desire’s maternal grandfather was Robert Latham (1623- 1688). In March, 1655, Robert was indicted for felonious cruelty causing the death of his 14 year old servant, John Walker. The cruelty was withholding food and clothing and exposing young John to the elements. For his punishment, Robert’s personal property was confiscated as he did not own any land. He was additionally punished by being burned on the hand. (Susan E. Roser, Mayflower Increasings, Genealogical Publ, Baltimore, 2nd ed. 1995)