John Titus

Biography

John was one of the original purchasers of Rehoboth, north purchase, now Attleboro, and was an active citizen in church and state. He and his son, John Jr., were involved in the King Philip Indian War. They advanced funds to defray costs of the war.[1]

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Titus-118

John Titus Sr.

Born about 1627 in England

Son of Robert Titus and Hannah Anne (Carter) Titus

Brother of Edmond Edward Titus, Thomas Titus, Samuel Titus, Susanah Titus, Abiel Titus, Content Titus and Mary (Titus) Ketcham [half]

Husband of Abigail (Carpenter) Palmer — married about 1659 in Rehoboth, Bristol Co., Massachusetts

Father of John Titus Jr., Elizabeth (Titus) Guernsey, Abigail (Titus) Cushman, Sarah Titus, Silas Titus, Hannah Titus, Samuel Titus, Joseph Titus, Mary (Titus) Bowen and Experience (Titus) Newsome

Died about 16 Apr 1689 in Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts, Colonial America

Profile last modified 20 Nov 2018 | Created 3 Apr 2011

John Titus Sr. migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1620-1640).

Biography

John was one of the original purchasers of Rehoboth, north purchase, now Attleboro, and was an active citizen in church and state. He and his son, John Jr., were involved in the King Philip Indian War. They advanced funds to defray costs of the war.[1]

Birth

About 1627, age 8, when he emigrated from England

Questionable : 18 Dec 1627, St. Katherine's (or Catherine) London, Middlesex, England[2] The passenger list of the Hopewell (left London April 1635) describes Robert Titus as a husbandman "of St. Katherins," with no other information implying St. Katherines in London. There are three St. Katherine's. St. Katherine Cree has no extant baptismal records prior to 1639. St. Katherine Coleman and St. Katherine of the Tower records were checked and there are no Titus records at either parish during the relevant time. Since Robert was a farmer it is much more likely that he lived in a rural parish and that St. Katherines was the church where he obtained the required minister's certificate for immigration.[1]

Migration

Jo: Titus, age 8, his parents Robert and Hanna and brother Edmund embarked in the Hopewell 3 April 1635 to be transported to New England.[3] Marriage Abigail Carpenter

John Titus did not have a first wife. This was a misinterpretation, by Amos Carpenter, of the will of his father-in-law William Carpenter. Carpenter, misunderstanding, believed that John Titus and Abigail Carpenter were not married until 1659, necessitating a first marriage to accommodate all of the Titus children. In addition the vital records state that all the children were by John and Abigail[4][1] He married about 1650 to Abigail Carpenter, probably at Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts, where their children were born[1]

Children from Vital Records Rehoboth by Abigail:

1. John b. 18 Dec 1650
2. Abigail b. 18 Feb 1652
3. Silas b. 18 May 1656
4. Hannah b. 28 Nov 1658
5. Samuel b. 1 June 1661
6. Mary b. 17 Mar 1665
7. Joseph b. 17 Mar 1665
8. Expeirence b. 29 Oct 1669 [5]

There is more detail about these children in the Zubrinsky article about Abigail.[1]

Death

Buried: John, Sr., buried April 16, 1689-90[5] Probate: (not examined) [6]

John Titus was baptized 18 Dec 1627 at St. Katherine’ s Parish, near Stanstead Abbotts, Hertfordshire, England, thirty miles from London.  His parents were Robert TITUS and Hannah CARTER.   He emigrated with his parents and younger brother Edmund on the Hopewell, which departed London for Massachusetts in April 1635.  He married Abigail CARPENTER about 1650 at Rehoboth, Mass.   John died 16 Apr 1689 at Rehoboth, Mass.

biographical notes

Whereas his parents and younger siblings eventually settled at Huntington on Long Island, NY, John remained in New England. He was one of the original settlers of Rehoboth, North Settlement, now known as Attleboro, Mass, where he took an active part in Civil and Religious affairs.

He was one of the original purchasers of Rehoboth, north Purchase, now Attleboro, and was an active citizen in church and State. He and his son John, Jr., were engaged in the King Philip Indian war [1675], this renowned sachem residing but a few miles distant.

family

MARRIAGE: Amos Carpenter asserts (and others repeat) that Abigail married John Titus about 1659, after the death of a first wife Rachel (see Carpenter [1898] 47). There was no such woman, however. Abigail is recorded as the mother of all John2 Titus’s children, the eldest born on 18 Dec 1650 (TAG 70:198–200).

Abigail Carpenter was baptized 31 May 1629 in Shalbourne, Wiltshire, England.  Her parents were William CARPENTER and Abigail BRIANT.  She was the second eldest of four Carpenter children who accompanied their parents and paternal grandfather to Massachusetts on the Bevis in 1638.  After John died, she married as his second wife,  Jonah PALMER on 9 Nov 1692 in Rehoboth, Mass..  Abigail died 10 Mar 1710 at Rehoboth, , Mass.

Their children:

1. i. John Titus, Jr., b. Dec. 18, 1650, d. testate Dec. 2, 1697 at Rehoboth, Mass.; m. 1) July 17, 1673 at Rehoboth, Lydia Redway (q.v. Redaway), dau. of James Redway and either an unnamed 1st wife or Mary Whipple. She was b. May 30, 1652 at Rehoboth and was buried Nov. 25, 1676 at Rehoboth. One child of the marriage, dau. Lydia, b. Dec. 6, 1674 at Rehoboth who is named in her father's 1697 will. He m. 2) July 3, 1678 at Rehoboth, Sarah Millerd (q.v. Miller, Millard), dau. of John Millerd and his 2nd wife Elizabeth. Eight children of the marriage. Sarah m. 2) Aug. 16, 1716 at Rehoboth as his third wife, John Garnsey, Sr. (q.v. Garnzey), who d. intestate Mar. 31, 1722 at Rehoboth. There were no children of this latter marriage. Sarah (Millerd) (Titus) Garnsey was b. Oct. 15, 1655 at Rehoboth and was perhaps still living in 1729 at Rehoboth as the widow Garnsey.
2. ii. Abigail Titus, b. Feb. 18, 1652/3, d. May 31, 1734 at Attleboro, Mass.; m. 1) Apr. 25, 1673 at Rehoboth, John Fuller, s. of Robert Fuller, Sr and Sarah Bowen. He was b. circa 1648 at Rehoboth and was buried Aug. 23, 1676 at Rehoboth having been killed during an Indian attack on Rehoboth during the King Philips War. Two children of the family. Abigail m. 2) Oct. 16, 1679 at Rehoboth as his 2nd wife, Thomas Cushman, Jr. of Plymouth, Mass., s. of Thomas Cushman and Mary Allerton, latter a 1620 Mayflower passenger with her parents. Thomas was b. Sept. 16, 1637 at Plymouth, Mass. and d. Aug. 23, 1726 at Plymton, Mass. Four children of the marriage. Thomas Cushman's 1st wife was Ruth Howland, dau. of 1620 Mayflower passenger John Howland and his subsequent wife Elizabeth Tilley. Thomas Cushman and Ruth Howland m. Nov. 17, 1664 at Plymouth, Mass. and had three children prior to Ruth's death.
3. iii. Silas Titus, b. May 18, 1656, d. at Rehoboth betw. Feb. 22, 1727/8, the date of his will, and Dec. 15, 1741 when his will was probated. Was married three times and had children by his first two wives. See his separate memorial.
4. iv. Hannah Titus, b. Nov. 28, 1658, d. in adolescence and was buried Nov. 13, 1673 at Rehoboth.
5. v. Samuel Titus, b. June 1, 1661, d. testate July 12, 1726 at Attleboro, Mass.; m. Nov. 27, 1693, Elizabeth Johnson, b. May 19, 1673 at Rehoboth. She d. Sept. 5, 1726 also at Attlelboro. Four children of the family.
6. vi. Mercy Titus, b. Mar. 17, 1665/6, d. Jan. 27, 1746/7 at Rehoboth; m. Jan. 9, 1683/4 at Rehoboth, Dr. Richard Bowen, s. of Thomas Bowen and Elizabeth Nichols. He was b. in Aug. 1660 [day missing] at Rehoboth and d. there intestate Feb. 12, 1736/7. Seven children of the family.
7. vii. Joseph Titus, the twin of Mercy, b. Mar. 17, 1665/6, d. after June 16, 1741; m. Jan 19, 1687/8 Martha Palmer, dau. of Jonah Palmer, Sr. and Elizabeth Griswold, b. July 6, 1666 at Rehoboth. Nine children of the family. In 1692 Martha's father Jonah became her husband's stepfather.
8. viii. Experience Titus, b. Oct. 29, 1669, d. Mar. 11, 1732/3 at Rehoboth; m. July 18, 1693 at Rehoboth, Leonard Newsom (q.v. Newsome), who d. Aug. 25, 1724 at Rehoboth. Three children of record, the eldest dying in infancy.

notes

John Titus was born on 18 Dec 1627 in Saint Catherines, London, England. He immigrated in 1635 from Weymouth, Massachusetts Bay Colony aboard "Hopwell" from London; William Bundick, Master.. He died on 16 Apr 1689 in Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts Colony. He had his estate probated on 20 Nov 1689 in Bristol County, Massachusetts Colony. He was a farmer. In 1675 fought with John II in King Philip's War.

Apr 1667- Abigail Carpenter of Rehoboth, widow deeded to John Titus of Rehoboth all rights in land in North Purchase being the whole share of the lands purchased from the Plymouth Government. Witnesses: William Carpenter and Samuel Carpenter (Ihid., Volume III, pt 2, page. 225

30 May 1672-John Peck of Rehoboth, planter, deeded to John Tiliiq., Sr. of Rehoboth 8 acres upland in Rehoboth. Witnesses; William Carpenter and Samuel Carpenter (Ibid.. Volume. III. pt. 2, page. 22).

COMMENTS: The passenger list of the Hopewell, which departed London for Massachusetts in April 1635, describes Robert Titus as a husbandman “of St. Katherins” (Hotten 46). The absence of further information implies that St. Katherine’s was a London parish or precinct (see Hotten 50, 70). It is often said online that Robert’s son John, eventual husband of Abigail Carpenter, was baptized at St. Katherine’s, London, on 18 December 1627. There is no basis for this, however: three London churches were dedicated to St. Katherine, and documentation is not found in the records of any of them. The earliest extant baptismal records of St. Katherine Cree are bishops’ transcripts beginning in 1639. A Guildhall Library (London) archivist’s check of the relevant St. Katherine Coleman parish register (containing baptismal records between 1559 and 1659) found no Titus entry for the period searched (1 January 1625/6 to 1 January 1628/9). And from 1584 to 1695, at least, the surname Titus does not appear in the records of St. Katherine by the Tower. His father’s having been a farmer, John was probably baptized in a rural church (see below). It is likely that the Hopewell list’s mention of St. Katherine’s refers not to the Titus’s residence but to the parish or precinct from whose church Robert obtained the minister’s certificate needed for emigration (NEHGR 132:22–23; see Hotten 46, 50, 70).

It is possible (though not proved) that Robert Titus and Hannah Carter, whose 24 June 1624 marriage is recorded in the parish register of Watford, Herefordshire, are the eventual Robert and Hannah Titus of Rehoboth (NEHGR 132:22–23; Hotten 46). The confusing organization of Drake’s and Hotten’s respective transcriptions of 1635 lists of passengers embarking at London have misled some to conclude that the Titus family came from a parish near Stanstead Abbots, Herefordshire (NEGHR 132:22–23).

Repeating a Titus source, Amos Carpenter asserts that John2 Titus and his namesake son were “engaged” in King Phillip’s War (1675–1676) (see NYGBR 12:94; Carpenter [1898] 47). Actually, both were among many Rehoboth inhabitants who advanced money to the town to defray the expenses of the war, but neither is named as having fought in it (NEHGR 99:93–109)

will

Will of John Titus senior of Rehoboth, he “being weake of Body”, dated Feb. 21, 1688/89, proved Nov. 20, 1689.

…To wife Abigail the house I now dwell in, with orchard, barns, homelot, salt meadow, and use of my Commons, during life, also my oxen, horse, two cows, six sheep, household goods, cart, small plow and chains for her disposal;

…to eldest son John Titus four acres where he hath built, and several other pieces of land;

…to son Silas six acres of land which his house stands on, with other pieces of land;

…to son Samuel 50 acres where he hath sett up his frame, also other lands;

…to son Joseph ye house he now dwells in (except that his Mother shall have ye free use of ye oven without molestation during her life time), with other lands in connection with which “Cozen Samuell Carpenters Land” is mentioned, said Joseph to provide for his mother;

…to daughter Abigail [Cushman] two sheep; to daughter Mercy [Bowen] a cow; to daughter Experience [not yet m.] seven sheep;

…to grandchildren John Fuller and Abiall Fuller [sons of dau. Abigail by 1st husb. John Fuller] 50 acres of land, being the remainder of my 100 acre lot at Squissett;

…to grandchildren John Titus [eldest s. of s. John], Silas Titus [eldest s. of s. Silas] and Elizabeth Bowen [eldest child of dau. Mercy], each a sheep;

…wife to be sole executrix.

…I “Desire my loving Neighbour John Pecke & my Brother [in-law] William Carpenter to be Overseers.”

…Witnessed by John Peck, Gilbert Brooks and William Carpenter, of whom Gilbert Brooks and William Carpenter made oath to said will, Nov. 5, 1689. [Bristol County PR 1:17].

References

1. Miner Descent posted August 2010
2. Find A Grave Memorial# 57851515
3. Abigail (3) (William 2-1) Carpenter, of Rehoboth, Massachusetts Prepared for Carpenters' Encyclopedia of Carpenters, 2008 update, by Eugene Cole Zubrinsky, FASG.  Last revised 15 Oct 2012.
4. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s about John Titus
   1. Name: John Titus
   2. Year: 1635
   3. Age: 8
   4. Estimated Birth Year: abt 1627
   5. Place: Massachusetts
   6. Family Members: Wife Hannah 21; Child John 8; Child Edmond 5
   7. Source Publication Code: 6799.25
   8. Primary Immigrant: Titus, Robert
   9. Annotation: Most are date and port of arrival; some are date and place of settlement in Massachusetts. Name of ship, place of origin, occupation, and other genealogical data pertaining to will administration may also be provided.
5. POPE, CHARLES HENRY. The Pioneers of Massachusetts, A Descriptive List, Drawn from Records of the Colonies, Towns and Churches, and other Contemporaneous Documents. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1998. 550p. Source Citation: Place: Massachusetts; Year: 1635; Page Number: 456.
6. Zubrinsky, Eugene Cole, FASG Abigail3 Carpenter (William2–1) of Rehoboth, Massachusetts; by , published by author, Ojai, California, 2008, revised 15 October 2012 (Zubrinski, 2012) Online download at www.carpentercousins.com
7. Source: #S-1988657125
8. Hotten, John Camden (editor). The Original Lists of Persons of Quality: Emigrants, Religious Exiles, Political Rebels, Serving Men Sold for a Term of Years, Apprentices, Children Stolen, Maidens Pressed, and Others, who Went from Great Britain to the American Plantations, 1600-1700. London: John Camden Hotten, 1874 https://archive.org/details/originallistsofp00hottuoft p. 46
9. Zubrinsky, Eugene Cole. "The Family of William Carpenter of Rehoboth, Massachusetts. The American Genealogist. 70:193 (1995) link at AmericanAncestors
10. Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1621-1850. Rehoboth (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016). https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/i/14010/755/253501937 ↑ Bristol County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1686-1880. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2017. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. Digitized mages provided by FamilySearch.org) https://www.americanancestors.org/DB2724/i/48307/25946-co1/1414760689
11. Carpenter, Amos B. (Do not use. The author misinterpreted) A genealogical history of the Rehoboth branch of the Carpenter family in America, brought down from their English ancestor, John Carpenter, 1303, with many biographical notes of descendants and allied families. Amherst, Mass.,
12. Carpenter & Morehouse, 1898 Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s Author: Gale Research : Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2010.Original data - Filby, P. William, ed.
13. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2010.Original data: Filby, P. William, ed. Passenge
14. Family Data Collection - Deaths : Author: Edmund West, comp. : Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2001. FamilySearch.org.
15. Ancestral File Number: 46H8-R5.
16. Name-marriage: Ancestral Lines, p101. Massachusetts VR to 1850, Rehoboth - V1:19
17. The Titus Family in America: three generations, Anson Titus (147-1832), New York Genealogical Society, 1881 pg. 3
18. Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Nov 23 2016, 4:07:55 UTC

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• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Jul 19 2019, 6:16:23 UTC