John Churchill

Biography

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Churchill-2267

" He moved in youth to Portsmouth N.H., where he spent his life. The inventory of his estate taken Oct. 28 1769, was 129 lbs., 18 shs., 9pc. His widow Elizabeth sold her dower for for 15 lbs.

Elizabeth Cotton was his second wife. She was the widow of Thomas Cotton.

A very interesting and precious letter, from his own hand, written some time in 1764, is still preserved in the hands of his descendants. This letter was copied, from a copy made from the original by Joseph Churchill, by granddaughter Mrs. Mary W Churchill-Bailey of Dysart Iowa in 1886.

"When my son John was born, I wanted four days of being twenty one years old. I was born the twelfth day of Sept 1698. My son John was born the 8th day of Sept. Tuesday morning 1719. Daniel was born Thursday Oct 12 1721. Mary born Wednesday Mar 4 1724. Ebenezer born Sabbath June 6 1726. Arthur born Monday Nov 25 1728. William born Tuesday Mar 14 1732. Sanford born Sabbath day May 20 1733. Tobias born Sabbath Jan 26 1735. Martha born Saturday Oct 15 1737. Elizabeth born Tuesday April 10 1740. Benjamin born Tuesday Oct 14 1741. Joseph born Monday Mar 25 1744. Mary died Sept 21 1743 aged 19 years, 6 months 17 days.. My wife died 27 Dec 1745. My son Daniel died 1745. He sailed out of Boston, master of a large ship in Nov. before bound for London, and all hands perished for the ship foundered. He was married in Boston and had one child that is dead also. Arthur left me the 26 of Mar 1744, and went to sea, he left me the next day after Joseph was born and I have not seen him for more than 6 years and God knows whenever I shall. My son John was married in New York to his second wife and sent for his son John that lived with me and I sent him to his father. My sons John and Ebenezer both died sometime in 1751 with Small Pox at one time. As for John's children I knew nothing about. Ebenezer never married. I pray the Lord to sanctify their death to me their father for the good of my soul, knowing that in a short time I shall go to them for they cannot return to me. My son Arthur after he first left me, had the opportunity to come to Boston twice and then sailed to England for two voyages. The second voyage he was taken sick. I received a letter from him dated 3 Oct 1752, from London, then he wrote me the word that he designed to go to the West Indies and from there to Piscataway to see me, if God gave him opportunity, but being led away by bad company he was tripanned by some means I can't give account of, that he was oblidged to go to The East Indies as a soldier for two years, when I first heard of it I was troubled to think one with so good sense and learning as he had and as good a sailor as to cross the sea, should take no more care of himself, but to be led away in such a condition. It has been a great trouble to me and ever will be, for day or night never passes but I think of him, for I am out of all hope of ever seeing him again. I hope God will be with him and help him and give him a heart of grace to return from all of his evil ways. My son Arthur left me the day after Joseph was born and I have heard from one Brewster that he had got mate of an Indiaman and in the year 1763 he inquired after him and heard that he was dead..Tobias died the3rd of Aug. 1756 aged 21 years 3 months and 17 days and was buried in Thomas Cotton's orchard. His bearers were Samuel Hale, Benjamin Luce, Samuel Jackson, Joseph Jackson, Jonathan Long, and Edmund Loud, he was the first of my sons that died at home. My son William sailed out of Newbury in the year 1755. I heard one time about two years after that he was in Rhode Island and I have not heard whether he is living or not. He has been gone nine years. Sanford died July 3 1733 aged 6 weeks and two days."

According to the family, John Churchill left valuable family records in the hands of his youngest son Joseph Churchill. These records apparently went back to the time their forefathers left England and contained the Dorset connection; but the records had been taken from the chest of Joseph Churchill, and were destroyed or lost.

John appeared in many property transactions in Portsmouth and was designated cordwainer, 'a shoemaker.' His three sons John, Benjamin and Joseph were the only children to survive him and evidently inherited his estate as we find deeds from them disposing of the third parts of his property. [1]

Sources

• Churchill Family in America by Gardner Asaph Churchill
• https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=loc.ark:/13960/t6tx3rz9b&vie... page 8
• https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=loc.ark:/13960/t6tx3rz9b&vie... page 13