Major Brian Pendleton

Evidence needed to support as son of Edward Pendleton Jr. and Margerie Pendleton

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Summary

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/37332346/brian-pendleton

Brian Pendleton was born about 1599 (deposed on 2 Jul 1669 aged "about seventy years"). Magistrate & Merchant from London, who came to Massachusetts Bay in 1634 (based on election as Watertown selectman on 23 August 1634). First settled in Watertown MA; moved to Sudbury MA in 1639, Watertown again by 1645, then Topsfield MA, then Portsmouth NH, Then Saco ME, then Portsmouth again, & finally back to Saco. Died between 3 Jul 1680 (date of deed) & 5 Apr 1681 (probate of will).

Married at St. Martin, Birmingham, Warwick, 22 Apr 1619, Eleanor Price.
Source: Anderson's Great Migration Study Project

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Disputed Origins

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Pendleton-146

He was more than likely NOT the son of Edward Pendleton and Margerie Thomas. Even the sources that state this is probable clearly say that the evidence is "circumstantial."[1] The only "records" that can be found that say Edward was Brian's father come from Find A Grave, Millennium Files, US International Marriage records, etc, ALL which are EXTREMELY unreliable and filled with error.

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The Pendleton Genealogy BRIAN PENDLETON l. Page 24. < Archive.Org >

Brian Pendleton was bom in England about the year 1599, for on the 2nd of July, 1669, when testifying in regard to the boundary line between Portsmouth and Hampton, N. H., he stated that his age was about seventy years.* Nothing is known at present of the exact date and place of his birth, nor of his early history. In view, however, of his career in the colonies, where he was a man of dis- tinction almost from the time of his arrival until his death, it is fair to assume that he came of good stock, was fairly well educated for his time, and possessed of some means when he left the old home.f Not a single item bearing upon his origin appears in any record he has left in this country, and the published records of such English Parish Registers as we have examined — some three hundred available in the libraries of Boston, Albany, and New York, — contain no reference either to his baptism or to his marriage.

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Family

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Pendleton-146

On April 22, 1619 he married Eleanor Price in St. Martin's Church located in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.[4][6]

Children of Brian Pendleton and Eleanor Price:

1. Nicholas was baptized at St. Martin, Birmingham on December 4, 1619.[4][7]
2. James was born about 1628.[4] He married Mary Palmer at Sudbury on October 22, 1647. He married (2nd) at Sudbury on April 29, 1656 to Hannah Goodenow.[8]
3. Joseph was born by about 1632.[4]
4. Mary was born about 1635.[4] She married Seth Fletcher by about 1655.[9]
5. Caleb was born about 1637.[4] He married Judith _____ by about 1662.[10]

Biography

HISTORY OF STONINGTON CT, by Wheeler, page 531. "He first settled in Watertown, MA and was made freeman there Sept 3,1634, and was Deputy for six years to the General Court. He moved toSudbury and helped settle that town, and was selectman for several years. From Sudbury he went to Ipswich. He was a member of the famous artillerycompany of Boston. He removed to Portsmouth, NH about 1651, and was Deputy there five years. In 1653 he purchased 200 acres of land near Winter Harbor, Saco, ME, and after a few years he returned to Portsmouth,where he made his will, which was proven April 5, 1681. He was an eminent man in his day, and held the office of captain and major for many years, besides important civil and military offices." He emigrated about 1629 as his first 4 kids were born in London and the 5th was born in 1630 in Massachusetts.

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a distinguished citizen of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and a large landholder in Maine. Before the government of Maine was officially incorporated, Pendleton served as acting Governor of the territory.

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• Founders: Brian Pendleton. Watertown, MA, 1634. Sudbury 1638. Ipswich. Portsmouth, NH, 1651. Saco, Maine, 1677. Died Winter Harbor, Maine, by 5 April 1681. Captain of Militia. Major. Deputy. President Maine Province. Associate Justice.
• IGI names five children, the first two being born in London.
• Beers and Wheeler list only two children. Early New England Pendletons lists five children, with four of them probably being born in England. Marriage record at St. Martin's Church, Birmingham, England, reads: "Aprell 22, 1619, Bryene Pendleton et Ellinor Prise." Birth of first child, Nicholas, recorded at same church. He probably died young. Next three probably born in London and the fifth probably in Watertown, Mass. After the birth of Nicholas, the Pendletons are found in 1625 in the Parish of St. Sepulchre's without Newgate in London. That church's records were lost in the Great Fire of London in 1666.
• Brian Pendleton was probably among the original settlers of Watertown, Mass. On Aug. 14, 1634, he was chosen one of three men to "order" the civil affairs of the town--an office which later became known as that of selectman. On Sept. 3, 1634, he was made a freeman. On March 3, 1636, he was chosen as deputy from Watertown to the General Court of Massachusetts. He was several times reelected to both positions. He also was one of the original members of the Military Company of Massachusetts.
• In 1639 he was one of the first settlers of Sudbury, Mass., and in 1640 was appointed to drill the military company there. He also was a selectman and commissioner in Sudsbury. He returned to Watertown in 1646 and again to the General Court. Referred to in Watertown as "Lieut. Pendleton."
• Moved to Topsfield, Mass., in 1648-49 and to Portsmouth (later N.H.) in 1651 where he was appointed an associate justice by the General Court of Massachusetts, serving until 1665, when he moved to Winter Harbor, Maine.
• In Portsmouth he was chosen commander of the train band (militia). selectman, town treasurer, and deputy to the General Court, all for several terms, as well as serving in other positions. In fact, Everett Hall Pendleton, in Early New England Pendletons, says he and his son, Capt. James Pendleton, "ran the affairs of Portsmouth."
• In Winter Harbor (Saco), he was a selectman, elected a Burgess to attend the General Court of the Province of Maine, a "surveyor of highways," a justice for "small causes," and in 1668 was appointed major of the York County regiment and also an associate justice of the Province of Maine when Maine once more came under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts. He later was town clerk, commissioner, and assessor of taxes at Saco. In 1680 he was named deputy president of the Province of Maine.
• Brian Pendleton died during the winter of 1680-81, either in Winter Harbor or Wells, Maine, at the home of his granddaughter, Mary. Two Wells men were appointed to take the inventory of his estate, indicating he may have died there.
• During his lifetime, Brian gave son James 140 acres of land in Sudbury and also 700 acres in Westerly, Rhode Island, that he had obtained in a business transaction. He also apparently turned over business interests in Portsmouth to James. The major's will left land on the Great Island in Portsmouth to grandsons Pendleton Fletcher and Brian Pendleton, Saco area property to his wife, and housing and land at Wells to Mary and Hannah Pendleton, daughters of James and his first wife. This included "three plantations or lotts."
• The land left to his wife included 640 acres along the Saco River, his house and 300 acres at Cape-Porpus (now Kennebunkport), and "all my several islands in or near sd. Cape-Porpus."
• The trust deed to the 700 acres of land in Westerly stated that James was to hold it intact during his lifetime. Afterwards it was to be divided equally amongst James' children by his second wife, except the oldest surviving son should have a double share.
• Wheeler: Brian Pendleton's will is on pages 722 and 723.
• TAG: "Bryene pendelton et Ellinor prise Aprell 22, 1619. (Register of St. Martin's, Birmingham, England, 1554-1653, p. 108). Note. Bryan Pendleton, who came to New England, was born about 1599, by deposition. His son Nicholas, baptized 4 Dec. 1619, at St. Martin's, Birmingham, England, probably died young.
• Babcock and Allied Families: Brian Pendleton, born in England about 1599. Will probated 23 April 1681 in York County Court, Maine. First appears in New England in Watertown, MA, 24 Aug. 1634; removed to Sudbury as an original settler in 1639 and returned to Watertown in 1646. He removed to Ipswich, MA, where he bought land 9 Nov. 1648, and then moved on to Portsmouth, NH, about 1651. In October 1652 he was one of the commissioners sent to Maine to assert the authority of Massachusetts there, although he remained a resident of Portsmouth. He served as a major in King Phillp's War, but it is uncertain whether he served from Portsmouth or Maine. He was a special magistrate in Winter Harbor, Maine, and an associate justice for York County, Maine, and also headed the York County Court of Pleas. "In the course of his judgeships he permitted no Quakers to be whipped or witches hanged." [More info on pages 79-81.]
• Colonial Wars: Major Brian Pendleton, born about 1599, died 1681; married Eleanor Price 22 April 1619.
• NEHGR--Article, "Early Settlers of Essex and Old Norfolk" (v7): Brian Pendleton, a witness at York (Maine), 1653. Age about 70 in July 1669. Captain Brian, Portsmouth (New Hampshire), 1647. Vol. 3, in "Memoir of Charles Frost," says he was one of eight men appointed [about 1678] to the provincial council of Maine by the the govenor and council of Massachusetts
• Migration: Bryan Pendleton bought Watertown, Mass., land 6 May 1646 from Nicholas Knapp. Brian Pendleton was one of the executors named in the 8 April 1647 will of "Margaret How of Water=Towne Widow." Mentioned in 26 May 1646 land transaction, along with Edmond Goodenow, in Sudbury. Capt. Pendleton mentioned in Kittery, Maine, records, indicating he had property there in 1648. Brian "Pemelton of Saco" (Maine) on 6 June 1667 acknowleged he sold to William Dodge and others, about 1653 or 1654, a 600 acre farm "formerly belong[ing] unto Old Mr. Thomas Dudley" and "was honestly paid for it."
• Puritan Village: Three residents of Watertown, Peter Noyes, Brian Pendleton, "a wealthy London man," and the Rev. Edmund Brown petitioned the General Court of Massachusetts for a town grant below Concord. Noyes was termed an administrator and Pendleton a land speculator who "had enjoyed power in the first few years of Watertown and then fallen out of favor." The General Court appointed Pendleton captain of the town military company after Sudbury was formed. By 1647 he had returned to Watertown, but despite that departure he was awarded more Sudbury land in 1658, even though he had left Sudbury some 12 years earlier. Others who had moved away were not awarded new land. [Perhaps Pendleton was favored because he was a town founder.] Also, he threatened to sue the town in 1647, reason not specified, but the Middlesex County Court shows no record of the case, according to Puritan Village author Powell. [Powell's label of land speculator for Pendletown appears accurate since he moved on to other areas, accumulating more and more land. See above.]
• NEHGR, v8, pp239-240: Indian War Papers. Reports an Indian attack in Maine in 1675, in which Major Pendleton was asked to help by sending 12 men.

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Brian is the progenitor of the Stonington Pendleton family. He first settled in Watertown, Litchfield County, Connecticut. He was made freeman in Watertown September 3, 1634 and was Deputy for six years to the General Court. He moved to Sudbury, Middlesex County, Massachusetts where he helped settle the town. He then removed to Ipswich, Issex County, Massachusetts and was a member of the famous artillery company of Boston. He later removed to Strawberry Bank, Portsmouth, Rockingham County, Hew Hampshire about 1651 and was Deputy there for 5 years. Even later he removed to Winter Harbor, Saco, Hancock County, Maine where he purchased 200 acres of land. Finally he removed back to Portsmouth where he died. He was a very prominent civil and military man holding many offices and the highest rank of major.

http://members.cox.net/trm/PendletonEdwardJr.htm

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HISTORY OF STONINGTON CT, by Wheeler, page 531. He first settled in Watertown, MA and was made freeman there Sept 3, 1634, and was Deputy for six years to the General Court. He moved to Sudbury and helped settle that town, and was selectman for several years. From Sudbury he went to Ipswich. He was a member of the famous artillery company of Boston. He removed to Portsmouth, NH about 1651, and was Deputy there five years. In 1653 he purchased 200 acres of land near Winter Harbor, Saco, ME, and after a few years he returned to Portsmouth, where he made his will, which was prov en April 5, 1681. He was an eminent man in his day, and held the office of captain and major for many years, besides important civil and military offices.

BRIAN PENDLETON AND HIS DESCENDANTS, 1599-1910, Compiled by Everett Hall Pendleton, Privatley Printed MCMX, found in the DAR Library, Washington, DC. Page 1-77. Brian Pendleton was married when he came to this country but we have not found his wife's family name. Her Christian name was Eleanor, as appears in every deed she signed with her husband from 1648 to 1680. She survived the Major for about eight years as on the 28th of July, 1688, Pendleton Fletcher of Saco petitioned Governor Andros for a confirmation of his (Fletcher's) title to lands received from Brian Pendleton, his grandfather. "Also 100 acres given yr petition by his Grnadmother, lately deceased and purchased by her husband of one Jno West, lying upon Saco River, on ye Southward side." This was the land which Brian Pendleton bought of West 15 March 1678/9. York Deeds, 1:80.

Researching this line is Nancyann Norman at nancn@exis.net

Sources: Genealogical and Biographical Record of New London County, Conn., by Beers; Early New England Pendletons; History of Saco and Biddeford (Maine); Wheeler's History of Stonington; Babcock and Allied Families: IGI; Founders of Early American Families; National Society, Daughters of Colonial Wars, Lineage Book V; NEHGR, v7, p357; v8, pp 239-240, & v3, p258; The Great Migration Begins, v1, pages 302, 496 and 564; v2, pages 1015 and 1135; The American Genealogist, Vol. 10, pages 14 and 15; Puritan Village by Sumner Chilton Powell.

Founders: Brian Pendleton. Watertown, MA, 1634. Sudbury 1638. Ipswich. Portsmouth, NH, 1651. Saco, Maine, 1677. Died Winter Harbor, Maine, by 5 April 1681. Captain of Militia. Major. Deputy. President Maine Province. Associate Justice. IGI names five children, the first two being born in London. Beers and Wheeler list only two children. Early New England Pendletons lists five children, with four of them probably being born in England. Marriage record at St. Martin's Church, Birmingham, England, reads: "Aprell 22, 1619, Bryene Pendleton et Ellinor Prise." Birth of first child, Nicholas, recorded at same church. He probably died young. Next three probably born in London and the fifth probably in Watertown, Mass. After the birth of Nicholas, the Pendletons are found in 1625 in the Parish of St. Sepulchre's without Newgate in London. That church's records were lost in the Great Fire of London in 1666. Brian Pendleton was probably among the original settlers of Watertown, Mass. On Aug. 14, 1634, he was chosen one of three men to "order" the civil affairs of the town--an office which later became known as that of selectman. On Sept. 3, 1634, he was made a freeman. On March 3, 1636, he was chosen as deputy from Watertown to the General Court of Massachusetts. He was several times reelected to both positions. He also was one of the original members of the Military Company of Massachusetts. In 1639 he was one of the first settlers of Sudbury, Mass., and in 1640 was appointed to drill the military company there. He also was a selectman and commissioner in Sudsbury. He returned to Watertown in 1646 and again to the General Court. Referred to in Watertown as "Lieut. Pendleton." Moved to Topsfield, Mass., in 1648-49 and to Portsmouth (later N.H.) in 1651 where he was appointed an associate justice by the General Court of Massachusetts, serving until 1665, when he moved to Winter Harbor, Maine. In Portsmouth he was chosen commander of the train band (militia). selectman, town treasurer, and deputy to the General Court, all for several terms, as well as serving in other positions. In fact, Everett Hall Pendleton, in Early New England Pendletons, says he and his son, Capt. James Pendleton, "ran the affairs of Portsmouth." In Winter Harbor (Saco), he was a selectman, elected a Burgess to attend the General Court of the Province of Maine, a "surveyor of highways," a justice for "small causes," and in 1668 was appointed major of the York County regiment and also an associate justice of the Province of Maine when Maine once more came under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts. He later was town clerk, commissioner, and assessor of taxes at Saco. In 1680 he was named deputy president of the Province of Maine. Brian Pendleton died during the winter of 1680-81, either in Winter Harbor or Wells, Maine, at the home of his granddaughter, Mary. Two Wells men were appointed to take the inventory of his estate, indicating he may have died there. During his lifetime, Brian gave son James 140 acres of land in Sudbury and also 700 acres in Westerly, Rhode Island, that he had obtained in a business transaction. He also apparently turned over business interests in Portsmouth to James. The major's will left land on the Great Island in Portsmouth to grandsons Pendleton Fletcher and Brian Pendleton, Saco area property to his wife, and housing and land at Wells to Mary and Hannah Pendleton, daughters of James and his first wife. This included "three plantations or lotts." The land left to his wife included 640 acres along the Saco River, his house and 300 acres at Cape-Porpus (now Kennebunkport), and "all my several islands in or near sd. Cape-Porpus." The trust deed to the 700 acres of land in Westerly stated that James was to hold it intact during his lifetime. Afterwards it was to be divided equally amongst James' children by his second wife, except the oldest surviving son should have a double share. Wheeler: Brian Pendleton's will is on pages 722 and 723. TAG: "Bryene pendelton et Ellinor prise Aprell 22, 1619. (Register of St. Martin's, Birmingham, England, 1554-1653, p. 108). Note. Bryan Pendleton, who came to New England, was born about 1599, by deposition. His son Nicholas, baptized 4 Dec. 1619, at St. Martin's, Birmingham, England, probably died young. Babcock and Allied Families: Brian Pendleton, born in England about 1599. Will probated 23 April 1681 in York County Court, Maine. First appears in New England in Watertown, MA, 24 Aug. 1634; removed to Sudbury as an original settler in 1639 and returned to Watertown in 1646. He removed to Ipswich, MA, where he bought land 9 Nov. 1648, and then moved on to Portsmouth, NH, about 1651. In October 1652 he was one of the commissioners sent to Maine to assert the authority of Massachusetts there, although he remained a resident of Portsmouth. He served as a major in King Phillp's War, but it is uncertain whether he served from Portsmouth or Maine. He was a special magistrate in Winter Harbor, Maine, and an associate justice for York County, Maine, and also headed the York County Court of Pleas. "In the course of his judgeships he permitted no Quakers to be whipped or witches hanged." [More info on pages 79-81.] Colonial Wars: Major Brian Pendleton, born about 1599, died 1681; married Eleanor Price 22 April 1619. NEHGR--Article, "Early Settlers of Essex and Old Norfolk" (v7): Brian Pendleton, a witness at York (Maine), 1653. Age about 70 in July 1669. Captain Brian, Portsmouth (New Hampshire), 1647. Vol. 3, in "Memoir of Charles Frost," says he was one of eight men appointed [about 1678] to the provincial council of Maine by the the govenor and council of Massachusetts Migration: Bryan Pendleton bought Watertown, Mass., land 6 May 1646 from Nicholas Knapp. Brian Pendleton was one of the executors named in the 8 April 1647 will of "Margaret How of Water=Towne Widow." Mentioned in 26 May 1646 land transaction, along with Edmond Goodenow, in Sudbury. Capt. Pendleton mentioned in Kittery, Maine, records, indicating he had property there in 1648. Brian "Pemelton of Saco" (Maine) on 6 June 1667 acknowleged he sold to William Dodge and others, about 1653 or 1654, a 600 acre farm "formerly belong[ing] unto Old Mr. Thomas Dudley" and "was honestly paid for it." Puritan Village: Three residents of Watertown, Peter Noyes, Brian Pendleton, "a wealthy London man," and the Rev. Edmund Brown petitioned the General Court of Massachusetts for a town grant below Concord. Noyes was termed an administrator and Pendleton a land speculator who "had enjoyed power in the first few years of Watertown and then fallen out of favor." The General Court appointed Pendleton captain of the town military company after Sudbury was formed. By 1647 he had returned to Watertown, but despite that departure he was awarded more Sudbury land in 1658, even though he had left Sudbury some 12 years earlier. Others who had moved away were not awarded new land. [Perhaps Pendleton was favored because he was a town founder.] Also, he threatened to sue the town in 1647, reason not specified, but the Middlesex County Court shows no record of the case, according to Puritan Village author Powell. [Powell's label of land speculator for Pendletown appears accurate since he moved on to other areas, accumulating more and more land. See above.] NEHGR, v8, pp239-240: Indian War Papers. Reports an Indian attack in Maine in 1675, in which Major Pendleton was asked to help by sending 12 men.

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[There are two other books, Brian Pendleton and His Massachusetts and Brian Pendleton and His Descendents, that contain more information but I (LBB) haven't seen them.] Batch #: M010721, Source Call #: 919764 Batch #: 8676708, Sheet #: 52, Source Call #: 1396239 ____

Note: Marriage record at St. Martin's Church, Birmingham, England, reads: "Aprell 22, 1619, Bryene Pendleton et Ellinor Prise."

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References

• https://fisher.bibliocommons.com/item/show/7738079075?active_tab=bi...
• https://webtrees.mstevetodd.com/tree/M%20Steve%20Todd/individual/I1...
• Brian Pendelton and his descendants, 1599-1910 by Pendelton, Everett Hall, 1878. < Archive.Org >
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/37332346/brian-pendleton links to ancestors without evidence and incorrectly to Mary Newhall as sister
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Pendleton-146 cites

1. Pendleton, Everett Hall, 1878. Early New England Pendletons : with some account of the three groups who took the name Pembleton, and notices of other Pendletons of later origin in the United States. (pg 7)
2. ↑ Foster, Joseph. Alumni Oxonienses: The Members of the University of Oxford, 1715-1886 and Alumni Oxonienses: The Members of the University of Oxford, 1500-1714. Oxford: Parker and Co., 1888-1892. [1]
3. ↑ Pendleton Families in America (DNA Proof) [2]
4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633, Volumes 1-3; The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volumes 1-6. Great Migration, Vol 5, M-P. pgs 425-428. Boston: New England Historical and Genealogical Society, 1996-2011. < AmericanAncestors >
5. ↑ Pendleton, Everett Hall, 1878-. Brian Pendleton and his descendants, 1599-1910 : with some account of the Pembleton families of Orange County, N.Y. pg 22
6. ↑ England Marriages, 1538–1973 , database, FamilySearch [3] : 10 February 2018), Bryene Pendelton and Ellinor Prise, 22 Apr 1619; citing Saint Martin,Birmingham, Warwick, England, reference , index based upo)]n data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 919,764.
7. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch [4] : 11 February 2018, Bryen in entry for Nicholas Pendleton, 04 Dec 1619); citing , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 0097316, BOOK.
8. ↑ Pendleton, Everett Hall, 1878-. Brian Pendleton and his descendants, 1599-1910 : with some account of the Pembleton families of Orange County, N.Y. pg 30
9. ↑ Pendleton, Everett Hall, 1878-. Brian Pendleton and his descendants, 1599-1910 : with some account of the Pembleton families of Orange County, N.Y. pg 29
10. ↑ Pendleton, Everett Hall, 1878-. Brian Pendleton and his descendants, 1599-1910 : with some account of the Pembleton families of Orange County, N.Y. pg 39
11. ↑ Representative Men and Old Families of Rhode Island (J. H. Beers & Co., 1908) Vol. 1, pg 49
12. ↑ Anderson, Robert Charles. Great Migration 1634-1635, M-P. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume V, M-P, p. 425, by Robert Charles Anderson. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2007.$
13. ↑ York Deeds Book V. (1889). [5]
14. ↑ York Deeds Book V. [6]
15. Will of Brian Pendleton, The New England Historical & Genealogical Register (NEHGS, Boston, Mass., 1849) Vol. 3, Page 122-3

• Early New England Pendletons; … by Pendleton, Everett Hall, 1878. Publication date 1956. page 6 < Archive.Org > So far, neither the will nor administration on the estate of Edward Pendleton, Jr., has been found, and as the early records of St. Sepul¬ chre’s Church were destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666, we lack direct evidence as to his marriage or children.