John Otis (immigrant)

John Otis was born in 1581 in Glastonbury, Somerset, Eng. [223] and died on 31 May 1657 in Weymouth, MA. [87]

immigrant from Barnstable, Devon, England (September 1635)

Married:

1. abt 1603 in Glastonbury, Somerset, England to Margaret ???. She died on 28 Jun 1653 in Hingham, MA.[87]
2. abt 1654 in Hingham, MA to Elizabeth ???, widow of ??? Streame, with whom she had had two children (Thomas and Benjamin Streame). Elizabeth died in 1672/1676. [87][fn1][fn2]

Children of John Otis and Margaret include:

1. Alicia Otis (ca 1604-aft 1657)
2. Joan Otis (Died soon) (ca 1610-1611)
3. Joan Otis (ca 1612-aft 1657)
4. Elizabeth Otis (Died soon) (ca 1614-1615)
5. Richard Otis (ca 1616-)
6. Hannah Otis (ca 1618-25 Jan 1675/6)
7. John Otis (ca 1621-16 Jan 1684)
8. Margaret Otis (ca 1619-21 Oct 1670)

Weary-All-Hill

• From William A. Otis’s Memoir of the Otis Family [223]:
  

'The remembrance of the original Glastonbury home of John was most curiously kept alive and perpetuated by him in the quaint hame he gave to this ground--Weary-All-Hill. Possibly its shape or location, or some other feature of his new possession, reminded him of one well-known and loved hill in his boyhood home, for its name certainly was no newly invented one, with a more local significance, as some historians would say, but assuredly goes back to England and to Glastonbury town.’

Notes

Oattis is one of the original spellings of this name.

1630- Probably came to New England late in this year and settled in hingham, MA..

1635, March 3- Admiited freeman of the colony of Massachusetts Bay.

His place of residence was at Otis Hill, southwest of the harbor.

1646, March 15- His house is burned to the ground.

Siblings: Stephen, Thomas, and two sisters.

See other entry for more information.

Of Glastonbury, Somerset, England.

Sources

• http://aleph0.clarku.edu/~djoyce/gen/report/rr02/rr02_056.htm#P15

Citations

• 223. William A. Otis, A Memoir of the Otis Family, Winnetka, Ill, 1924.
• 87. George Walter Chamberlain, History of Weymouth, Boston, 1923.

Footnotes

• 1. From William A. Otis’s Memoir of the Otis Family [223]:

“After his first wife’s death, he moved shortly to Weymouth, where he married again, his bride being Elizabeth Streame, who, according to the Genealogical Dirctionary of Rhode Island, died in 1676. He lived at Weymouth until the time of his death, May 31, 1657, which is recorded in Hobart’s journal with the statement athe he was seventy-six years old, thus corroborating the year of his birth as 1581. It appears that his wife, at the time of her marriage, was a widow with two children, Thomas and Benjamin Streame, and that she survived John at least several years; since five years later, on the death of the former son, she was appointed administratrix, as noted in the New England Gen. Reg., Vol. XI, pg. 173:--‘Thomas Streame, 1st, July, 1662, ...’”

• 2. Elizabeth’s surname is sometimes given as Whitman, and her father either Richard or John Whitman, all without reference. (Payne-Joyce Genealogy)
• _____________

Links

• http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p4256.htm#...
• ______________________

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Immigration: 1630

John Otis (son of Richard Oates and Margaret) was born 1581 in Glastonbury, Somerset Co, England, and died 31 May 1657 in Weymouth, MA. He married Margaret on Abt. 1603 in Tiverton, Devonshire, England.

From Pane-Joyce Genealogy, quoting from William A. Otis's "Memoir of the Otis Family:"

"John was probably born in the old family home at Glastonbury, Somerset County, England in 1581. The parish records of Glastonbury only commence in 1602, and there is no entry there of his baptism, although his children are later mentioned. As the earliest mention in the Glastonbury parish register of a baptism of his children was in 1604, it is reasonable to assume that he was married about 1603, when he was 22 years old. This was some 25 years before he left England....He was evidently a substantial yeoman, who, with the other Puritans of the time left his home to escape the religious persecution of the times, coming to the Plymouth Colony [now Mass] and willingly submitted to the hardships of a pioneer for such freedom. Tudor, in his life of James Otis, the Patriot, says that John came from Hingham, Norfolk, England, and it is a fact that most of the settlers of the New England town of this same name to which John himself came, did originally live in that English town. Such being the case, combined with the statement of Tudor, who from his earlier date of writing may have had sources of information now unknown or destroyed, it has been conjectured that he left his native Glastonbury and lived for a time in Hingham, England, previous to embarking for America. If so, he did not leave until after his son, John, was born in 1621, as recorded in the parish baptisms. It is not known with certainty when he landed in merica, or in whose company he came, but most probably the date ws in the latter part of 1630. This was the year after the Greate Charter was grnated the Colony by Charles I, and a generally more enlightened political action inaugurated by the English government. In fact, a distinguished historian writes that "as soon as this liberal action was made known, emigration began on an extensive scale. In 1630, about 300 of the best Puritan families in the kingdom came to New England; not adventurers, not vagabonds, were these brave people, but virtuous, well-educated, courageous men and women, who, for the sake of conscience, left comfortable homes, with no expectation of returning."

"At one time it was supposed that Joh arrived with the Rev. Peter Hobart in 1635, since the early searchers of the records found his name in that company when they drew lots on the 18th of September, 1635. it is evident, however, that he settled at Hingham, MA, at least as early as 1631, since in a division of land sin that town, a lot granted to him bears the date of 11 June 1631, while the last of several grants to him is dated 5 March 1647 [Hingham Records, Folio XII]. Among the grants recorded are the following: "June 1635, to John OTise, to have five acres of the medow called the Home Meadow nect to the cove." Vol. 1, pg. 10." In June 1636, he was granted "ten acres of planting ground" on a hill which he named "Weary-All-Hill" possibly reminding him of one well-known and loved hill in his boyhood home in Glastonbury town.. This hill, which is 129 feet high, is now bare and generally would not be considered interesting except for the view from its summit, which is however certainly delightful. In the "History of Hingham, Vol. 1, pg. 177, the writer says, 'we skirt the foot of Otis Hill, very steep upon its western slope, and from this cause known to early settlers in their quaintly expressive nomenclature as "Weary-All-Hill" the view from this hill is exquisite, lie at one's feet, and to the northeast and east is the deep blue expanse of the Ocean. Daniel Webster greatly admired Otis Hill, with its view, and often visited it on his way to Marshfield. It is said that he had a great desire to buy it, and make his home there, but feared that it was so near the city, he could not hope for the seclusion which a more distant spot would afford."

" John Ottis" took the oath and was made a Freeman of the Colony on 3 March 1635. On 15 March 1646, his house was burned to the ground, "being the Sabath day in the morning..." It was soon rebuilt and he lived there until the death of his wife in 1653, when he moved to Weymouth, where he married again and lived until the time of his death in 1657. In Hobart's Journal, it is stated that at his death, 31 May 1657, John Otis was 76 years old, thus corroborating the year of his birth as 1581. It appears that his second wife, at the time of her marriage, was a widow with two children, and that she survived John...."

The Amos Otis Papers, 1888, state that "Gen. John, was born in Barnstaple, Devonshire County, England, in 1581, and who came to Hingham in 1635.

More About John Otis and Margaret: Marriage: Abt. 1603, Tiverton, Devonshire, England.

Children of John Otis and Margaret are:

   +Hannah Otis, b. Abt. 1618, Glastonbury, England, d. 25 Jan 1676, Hingham, MA.

   +John Otis, b. Abt. Jan 1620, Glastonbury, England, d. 16 Jan 1684, Scituate, MA.

John came some weeks before Rev. Peter Hobart and company settled in Hingham. Freeman - 3 Mar 1636, often selectman. Removed to Weymouth after death of his first wife.

John "was probably born in the old family home at Glastonbury, Somerset County, in 1581. The parish records of Glastonbury only commence in 1602, and there is no entry there of his baptism, although his children are later mentioned. As the earliest mention in the Glastonbury parish register of a baptism of his children was in 1604, it is reasonable to assume that he was married about 1603, when 22 years old. This was some twenty-five years before he left England, but beyond the fact that this wife's name was Margaret, that she came with her husband and their family to America and died either April 4, 1653, April 28, 1653 or Jan. 9, 1654 (all dates being mentioned), nothing is known.

"He was evidently a substantial yoeman, who, with the other Puritans of the time, left his home to escape the religious persecution of the times, coming to the Plymouth Colony (now Massachusetts), and willingly submitted to the hardships of a pioneer for such freedom.

"Tudor, in his life of James Otis, the patriot, says that John came from Hingham, in Norfolk, England; and it is a fact that most of the settlers of the New England town of this same name, to which John himself came, did originally live in that English town. Such being the case, combined with the statement of Tudor, who from his earlier date of writing may have had sources of information now unknown or destroyed, it has been conjectured that he left his native Glastonbury and lived for a time in Hingham, previous to embarking for America. If so, he did not leave until after his son John was born in 1621, as recorded in the parish baptisms.

"It is not known with certainty when he landed in America, or in whose company he came, but most probably the date was in the latter part of 1630. This was the year after the great charter was granted the colony by Charles I, and a generally more enlightened political action inaugurated by the English government. In fact, a distinguished historian writes that 'as soon as this liberal action was made known, emigration began on an extensive scale. In 1630, about three hundred of the best Puritan families in the kingdom came to New England; not adventurers, not vagabonds, were these brave people, but virtuous, well educated, courageous men and women, who, for the sake of conscience, left comfortable homes, with no expectation of returning.'

"At one time it was supposed that John arrived with the Rev. Peter Hobart in 1635, since the early searchers of the records found his name in that company when they drew lots on the 18th of September, 1635. It is evident, however, tht he settled at Hingham at least as early as 1631, since in a division of lands in that town, a lot granted to him bears date June 1l, 1631, while the last of several grants is dated March 5, 1647 (Hingham records, Folio XII). Among the grants recorded are the following:--'June, 1635, John Otise is to have five acres of the meadow called the Home Meadow next to the cove.' Vol. I, pg. 10.

"But to his descendants one of the most interesting of these grants was that of June 1, 1636, 'ten acres for planting ground' on a hill. 'The remembrance of the original Glastonbury home of John was most curiously kept alive and perpetuated by him in the quaint hame he gave to this ground--Weary-All-Hill. Possibly its shape or location, or some other feature of his new possession, reminded him of one well-known and loved hill in his boyhood home, foits name certainly was no newly invented one, with a more local significance, as some historians would say, but assuredly goes back to England and to Glastonbury town.'

"This hill, which is 129 ft. high, is now bare, and generally would not be considered interesting, except for the view from its summit, which is however, certainly delightful. In the History of Hingham (Vol. I, page 177) the writer says, "We skirt the foot of Otis Hill--very steep upon its western slope--and from this cause, known to early settlers in their quaintly expressive nomenclature as Weary-All-Hill, the view from this hill is exquisite, lie at one's feet, and to the northeast and east is the deep blue expanse of the Ocean. Daniel Webster greatly admired Otis Hill, with its view, and often visited it on his way to Marshfield. It is said that he had a great desire to buy it, and make his home there, but feared that is was so near the city, he could not hope for the seclusion which a more distant spot would afford.'

"John appears to have been prominent among the Colonists, judging from the rather frequent appearance of his name and the events mentioned in its connection. According to the Plymouth Colony records, it appears that 'John Ottis' took the oath and was made a freeman of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay on March 3, 1635. His place of residence at Hingham was at Otis Hill, southwest of the harbor, being a beautiful slope of land, then covered by a heavy growth of forest trees. On March 15, 1646, his house was burned to the ground, 'being the Sabath day in the morning.' but it was soon rebuilt, and he continued to live here until the death of his wife...

"After his first wife's death, he moved shortly to Weymouth, where he married again, his bride being Elizabeth Streame, who, according to the Genealogical Dirctionary of Rhode Island, died in 1676. He lived at Weymouth until the time of his death, May 31, 1657, which is recorded in Hobart's journal with the statement athe he was seventy-six years old, thus corroborating the year of his birth as 1581. It appears that his wife, at the time of her marriage, was a widow with two children, Thomas and Benjamin Streame, and that she survived John at least several years; since five years later, on the death of the former son, she was appointed administratrix, as noted in the New England Gen. Reg., Vol. XI, pg. 173:--'Thomas Streame, 1st, July, 1662, ...'" [William A. Otis, A Genealogical and Historical Memoir of the Otis Family in America]

links

• http://math.clarku.edu/~djoyce/gen/report/rr01/rr01_489.html#P15
• http://www.chambersheritage.com/pafg527.htm#16848
• http://www.walthowe.com/genealogy/gp1213.html
• http://www.familyorigins.com/users/b/l/o/Peter-E-Blood/FAMO2-0001/d...
• FamilySearch AFNs: DWNJ-8W, FGSW-1R, 1G0R-MF4, 2RFT-ZX7
• http://www.babcockancestry.com/books/otis/039otis6gen.shtml

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GEDCOM Source

Geni World Family Tree MyHeritage The Geni World Family Tree is found on www.Geni.com. Geni is owned and operated by MyHeritage. Collection 40000 MH:S500002

GEDCOM Source

https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-40000-54622527/john-otis... 4 John Otis&lt;br&gt;Gender: Male&lt;br&gt;Birth: May 31 1581 - Glastonbury, Somerset, England&lt;br&gt;Marriage: Spouse: Elizabeth Otis (born Whitman) - Circa 1654 - Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States&lt;br&gt;Death: May 31 1657 - Weymouth, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colony&lt;br&gt;Father: <a>Richard Otis</a>&lt;br&gt;Mother: <a>Margaret Lydia Otis (born Streame)</a>&lt;br&gt;Wives: <a>Margaret Otis (born Unknown)</a>, <a>Elizabeth Otis (born Whitman)</a>, <a>Elizabeth Otis (born Streame)</a>&lt;br&gt;Children: <a>Child Otis</a>, <a>Richard Otis</a>, <a>Anne Otis</a>, <a>John Otis</a>, <a>Alicia Otis</a>, <a>Hannah Gill (born Otis)</a>, <a>Margaret Burton (born Otis)</a>, <a>Mercy Otis</a>, <a>Mary Otis</a>, <a>Thomas Otis</a>, <a>Joan (born Otis)</a>, <a>Anna (born Otis)</a>, <a>Elizabeth Otis</a>&lt;br&gt;Siblings: <a>Stephen Otis</a>, <a>Margaret Skiff(born Oates)</a>, <a>Judith Otis</a>, <a>Thomas Otis</a>, <a>Nicholas Otis</a>, <a>Mary Otis</a>, <a>Hannah Otis</a> Record 40000:54622527:

GEDCOM Source

WikiTree MyHeritage www.wikitree.com Collection 10109 MH:S500004

GEDCOM Source

https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10109-13600197/john-otis... 4 John Otis&lt;br&gt;Gender: Male&lt;br&gt;Birth: Circa 1581 - Glastonbury, Somerset, England&lt;br&gt;Marriage: 1603&lt;br&gt;Marriage: After 1653 - Hingham/Scituate Massachusetts&lt;br&gt;Death: May 31 1657 - Weymouth, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States&lt;br&gt;Father: Richard Otis&lt;br&gt;Spouses: Margaret Otis (born Unknown)Elizabeth Otis (born Whitman)&lt;br&gt;Children: John Otis, Jr.Hannah Gill (born Otis) Record 10109:13600197:

GEDCOM Source

FamilySearch Family Tree MyHeritage The FamilySearch Family Tree is published by MyHeritage under license from FamilySearch International, the largest genealogy organization in the world. FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church). Collection 40001 MH:S500003

GEDCOM Source

https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-40001-1352660405/john-ot... 4 John Otis&lt;br&gt;Gender: Male&lt;br&gt;Birth: 1581 - England&lt;br&gt;Marriage: Spouse: Margaret - 1604 - England&lt;br&gt;Death: May 31 1657 - Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States&lt;br&gt;Burial: 1657 - Scituate, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States of America&lt;br&gt;There seems to be an issue with this person's relatives. View this person on FamilySearch to see this information. Record 40001:1352660405: