Historical records matching John Coolidge, of Watertown
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About John Coolidge, of Watertown
Biography
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Coolidge-6
John Coolidge was baptized on 16 September 1604 in Cottenham, Cambridge, England. He was a son of William Coolidge and Margaret (Mayse) Coolidge.[1]
Emigration
John Coolidge emigrated by 1635 and settled in Watertown, Massachusetts. Bond suggested that John Coolidge may have been in Watertown, Massachusetts as early as 1630. The first record of him in New England is from 25 May 1636, when he became freeman in Watertown, Massachusetts. [2]
Marriage and Children
John Coolidge married Mary Ravens in England by about 1630. Children recorded from their marriage are:[3]
- John, born about 1630 in England
- Simon, born about 1632, probably in England
- Nathaniel, born about 1636, probably in Watertown
- Mary, born in Watertown on 14 October 1637
- Stephen, born in Watertown on 28 October 1639
- Obadiah, born in Watertown on 16 October 1642
- Jonathan, born in Watertown on 10 March 1645 (1645/6?)
Bond listed Elizabeth, who married Gilbert Crackbone, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, in June 1656, as an additional, questionable child.[4] Anderson states that this is an error. Although she is called "Elizabeth Coolidge" in the marriage record, she was not a daughter of John Coolidge, but was in fact the widow of John Cooley of Ipswich, Massachusetts. On 6 July 1665 "Goodwife Crackbone, relict & administratrix of John Cooly" was mentioned in a deed.[5]
Burial
Date: 7 May 1691
Place: Watertown, Massachusetts
Notes from RootsWeb:
- Immigrated about 1630; granted "Lot No. 1" about 30 acre homestead in Watertown, Middlesex, Mass and admitted freeman there May 25, 1636; supposedly, the frame of his house was brought from England and was still standing after 1800.
- A Puritan.
- Watertown was the first New England town to be governed by a Board of Selectmen and John Coolidge was the first town Selectman in 1636 and was reelected several times until 1677; also Representative to General Court in 1658.
- Had a will dated Nov 19, 1681 and was proved June 16, 1691 in Middlesex Co. Probate Court; at the time of death, he owned about 240 acres.
- Joseph Bond's GENEALOGIES OF WATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS, pg. 165: "John Coolidge, freeman May 25, 1636, is one of the earliest proprietors, 1636-1637, and was a Selectman of Watertown many times between 1636 and 1677, was Representative in 1658, and often employed in witnessing wills; taking inventories, and settling estates. The date of his arrival has not been ascertained, but is probable he was one of the first settlers, 1630. His will, dated Nov 19, 1681, proved June 16, 1691, mentions his wife, Mary, sons John, Stephen, Simon, Nathaniel, and Jonathan, and granddaughters, Sarah and Mary Mixer."
Disputed Pedigree
Henry Bond's Genealogies of Watertown contains a long passage attributed to Horatio Gates Somerby describing the supposed origins of the Coolidge family in Cambridge, England, "from a very remote period." Somerby was a respected genealogist in his time, but in later years he was found to have fabricated many of the genealogies he wrote, so his account of the Coolidge family origins should not be credited.[6]
Notes
Born in Cottenham England, married Mary also born in England, came to New England with the first settlers, prob in 1630, was made freeman May 25 1636, granted nine lots of land in Watertown, frame of homestead was brought from England and is still standing. Representative in 1658, and selectman, 1638-1642; was often employed in witnessing wills, taking inventories, and settling estates.
The Coolidge Genealogy, p. 30, states (via Somerby) that John was the Colonist who left Cottenham, England about 1630 for the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Note that pg. 5 of the images associated with John has an unreadable section due to highlighting. It says "of Simon, the second son, ancestor of the Vermont branch, of the Brookline branch and of many in the vicinity of Bolton and Hudson, as well as many today residing in Watertown."
Sailed with the Winthrop Co. 1636. Had 30 acres in Watertown, Ma.
"Good Lineage" First selectman of Watertown, MA 1668, deputy to the gen court of the Mass Bay colony 1658 first mentioned Dec 10, 1638 chosen to be the head of civil affairs of Watertown, MA Left a will. Grantee of 9 lots, purchased 2 more before 1644. became freeman May 25, 1636
References
- http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=14649325
- http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/j/o/n/Maryella-Jonesparr...
- The Great Migration cites NEHGR 80:597 for information about his parents, but volume 80 of NEHGR ends at page 498. The relevant article in that volume is "Records of the Coolidges of Cambridgeshire, England", which begins at about page 402. This man's baptism is on page 412 of that article: https://www.americanancestors.org/databases/new-england-historical-...
- https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Coolidge-6 cites
- Anderson, The Great Migration, Vol. 2, page 195, citing NEHGR 80:597]. Note: This information apparently came from a notebook of Horatio Gates Somerby. It may be valid, but Anderson warns that "Somerby's conclusions and constructions must be used with great circumspection."
- Anderson, page 192
- Anderson, pages 195-196
- Bond, page 165
- Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration, vol. 2, page 197.
- Anderson, page 197. See also Category: Horatio Gates Somerby Fraud
- Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society. (2001) Volume 2, pp. 191-198. < AmericanAncestors >
- Bond, Henry. Genealogies of the Families and Descendants of the Early Settlers of Watertown, Mass. 1855. vol. I, p. 155
- Unnamed RootsWeb's WorldConnect Project Database. Additional sources listed:
- Coolidge, Emma Downing, DESCENDANTS OF JOHN AND MARY COOLIDGE OF WATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS, 1630, publ. 1930, pp. 36, 38-39, 153-154, 146-147, 328-329
- Crawford, Frederick C., ONE BRANCH OF THE COOLIDGE FAMILY, 1427-1963, pub. 1964, pp. 4-10
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John Coolidge, of Watertown's Timeline
| 1604 |
September 16, 1604
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Cottenham, Cambridgeshire, England
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September 16, 1604
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Cottenham, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
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September 16, 1604
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Cottenham, Cambridge, England
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September 30, 1604
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Cottenham, Cambridgeshire, England, United Kingdom
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September 30, 1604
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Cottenham, Cambridgeshire, England (United Kingdom)
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| 1628 |
30, 1628
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Cottenham, Cambridgeshire, England
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1628
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Cambridgeshire, England (United Kingdom)
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| 1630 |
1630
Age 25
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Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts
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