Rebecca Eaton

Immigrants on The James from London, landing in Boston, 3d June, 1635: "Anthony Emery of Romsey Hants with Mrs. Frances Emery, James Emery, Rebecca Emery and William Kemp, servant to Anthony Emery."

4 REBECCA EMERY Anthony), daughter of Anthony and his first wife ; married, first, Thomas Sadler ; second, Daniel Eaton, who died July 11, 1704. In 1714 she was a resident of Little Compton, H. I., and her son Anthony a resident of E. Greenwich, R. I. Child : 12 i ANTHONY m. Mary ___

Genealogical Records of Descendants of John & Anthony Emery of Newbury, Ma. 1890 Rufus Emery pg 312

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Below is from the Emery Family Research Transcript on John and Anthony Emery - and is contributions of many researchers and to expand further on the 1890 biography all is online on a private site:

11 REBECCA EMERY she was born between 1620 and 1640; and died in Little Compton 18 Jul. 1719; m. ROBERT WEYMOUTH he was probably a fishing master. He was in Kittery by 1652 and probably d. by 1655. However, the death apparently occurred at sea or under other uncertain circumstances, and it was not until 24 December 1661 that he was considered dead with enough certainty to proceed with administration of his estate and that of "some others of his company dying intestate." Nicholas Shapleigh failing to carry out the administration, Rebecca's brother James did so in his stead.

Rebecca apparently presumed herself to be an eligible widow by 1659. On 4 July of that year, she and THOMAS SADLER were presented at court. The following about the incident was found:

July 4, 1659 Upon suspition of some misbehavior bt Tho. Sader towards ye Court of Dover. This Court thinks meete to bind the sd Sadler to his good behavior until the next County Court for the performance wrof Thos. Sadler and Anthony Emery do joyntly and severally bind themselves in bond of Tenn puonds that ye sd Sadler shall make his personal appearance at the court aforesaid. Wee present Thomas Sadler and Rebecca Weymouth for rideing around together on the Sabbath day. Witness Abia Conley, Charles Frost.
Rebecca's father paid ten pounds bond toward Sadler's good behavior and wound up forfeiting it when he himself left Maine the next year. On 7 July 1663 James Emery petitioned to the court to free his father from the bond and succeeded in recovering five pounds of it.

Thomas and Rebecca were married by July 1663, and had left Maine, leaving her son William Weymouth behind in care of his uncle James Emery. The published Calendar of Historical Manuscripts in the office of the Secretary of State in Albany, New York notes that 12 August 1667, Thomas Sadler of Flushing, Long Island and others presented themselves to the government and gave in their names in readiness to serve his majesty off all occasions. Their course over the next few years is not quite clear, but they were living on Staten Island, where Sadler deserted Rebecca and their three children about 1672

She took the children to Portsmouth, Rhode Island and moved in with her father, who probably used her services as a housekeeper.

As she is found embroiled in a dispute in Oct. 1675 with Peter Tollman, regarding a highway to be built on Tollman's land, must have aroused stronger emotions than the pure legalities of the matter would suggest. Tollman brought suit against Rebecca (Emery) Sadler for breach of the peace and threatening his family. The Portsmouth town records are dated 12 October 1675 and tells that Anthony Emery, Lot Strange and Francis Brayton were named attorney’s “to plead the town’s right for a highway which Peter Tallman is indicted for, and the have the power to choose an attorney at the town’s charge”. Anthony’s daughter Rebecca unquestionably played her part in the squabbling that ensued, because eight days later, October 20, Peter Tallman brought legal action against Rebecca Sadler wife of Thomas Sadler, for breach of the peace and threatening his family. Her mother must of died several years previous as she was living at her father’s with her young son Anthony Sadler. The Emery’s were never exactly quietest.

She petitioned in 1676 to recover land owned jointly by her and her husband on Staten Island and taken over by someone else after his desertion. There is no record that any satisfaction was ever obtained, however. The petition as found in the Archives of State Education department, Albany, NY. As follows: The Humble petition of Rebecca Sadler liveinge in the towne of Portsmouth on Rhode Island in his Majaties Collony of Rhode Isalnd and Providnece Plantations in New England most Humbly showeth: The wherease your poore petioner the wife of Thomas Sadler (whoo formerly lived upon Staten Island) having been for several years in a widow-like Conditioon left by her said husband with three small children to maintaine, with only the labour of her owne hands not haveinge any Deleloof from her husband thereto and also your poore petioner for this four yeares past not heareinge nor haveinge any information wheter her said husband be liveinger or Dead.

And beinge certainely informed that her husband when he went away from Staten Island (as she is informed intending for mainland) he left some small estate on the said Island in the custody of on Joannas Holsted whoe though he can lay noe just claims to it in any respect yet the said Joanas doth keep and with hold the same from your poor petioner whoo with her children are in great wante for their livelyhood.

And you petioner not only lliveinge rempote, and of soe poore a Conditioon not abid to proseciute in the law whereby she is disabled to follow the said Joannes Holsted in a course of law for Rcovery of her just right.

Therefore your poor and distressed petioner most humbly prays your honor thatyou will cast an eye of tneder pitty upon your petioner and her poore childrene deplorable Condition, and in your clemency grant the favour to your Supplicant that he said Jooanas Holsted may be constrained by your Homor to surrender up and deliver what is in his custody left by your pertioners husband and that it may be Restored to your poore supplicant whicvh will be a great Comfort to her and her Children who are also her said husband’s children And your petioner shall still ppray your Honor happiness and prosperity etc.

Portsmouth the 22nd of May, 1676 On March 1680, Anthony in lieu of a will, and his wife being dead, gave his daughter Rebecca Sadler, evidently a widow, a deed [recorded under father] to all his property in Portsmouth, retaining a life interest for himself, and providing that after the daughter’s death the housing and land should belong to “her sonn, my grandchild, Anthony Sadler” unless his mother should choose to put him in possession sooner.

In 1682 a court record for some William Weymouth alias Sadler was in jail for abusive talk about magistrates and ministers.

There was an early law suit over land that shows Robert Weymouth, James Emery and John Green as joint defenders. Three grants of administration were made on Robert Weymouth’s esatate two to Major Nicholas Shapleigh, and one to James Emery; the latter was one of the creditors. The first grant of administration to Shapliegh declared that “Robert Weymouth and some others of his company died “intestate” and Shapliegh was made administrator of all of them. This reads like a drowning accident, and no doubt Weymouth was a fishing master.

The son William Weymouth was brought up by his uncle James Emery and removed to Dover, New Hampshire, and the names of his elder children: Rebecca, William and Robert are to be found on the Friend’s records. He was known by the name of his step-father Sadler, even after reaching his majority.

Whatever the physical portions of Rebecca she seems to have been a remarkable woman. She had won the love of three men, and outlived her third husband. No doubt she influenced her father in his deed of gift and her third husband to favor her grandchildren in his will. Her son Anthony Sadler could not sell the Portsmouth property but she must have a hand in it.

She had rallied with great energy to the defense of her father in a dispute with Peter Tallman.

10 May 1700 James Emery of Dedham, Mass. “only surviving son of Anthony Emery late of Portsmouth on Rhoad Island” quit claimed to his sister Rebecca Eaton, alias Sadler, all his rights to his father’s estate at Portsmouth.

After several years of presumably attentive care to her aging father, she married DANIEL EATON, quite possibly after her father's death. They moved to Little Compton, Rhode Island, where he was a prosperous citizen and one of the town's innkeepers. He d. 11 Jul. 1704, leaving an estate which included one Negro woman slave. Among his heirs were children of his step-son Joseph Sadler, alias Emery. Thus it appears that Rebecca's children by Thomas Salder renounced their paternity and took the name of their mother's family, giving rise to a Rhode Island branch of the Emory family.

Daniel Eaton appears upon the scene 11th month 4th, 1683 being propounded as a freeman of Portsmouth. Subsequently he succumbedto the blandishments of the Widow Sadler. In 1685 he served on a coroner’s jury.

They moved to Little Compton, Rhode Island some time before 1690 as in the year Daniel Eaton was constable of the town., In the yellow and musty archives of the Supreme Court in Boston (Little Compton being until 1746 a part of Massachusetts) Constable Eaton deposed that as he was conveying one William Briggs to Nomquid for refusing to pay his tax, a band of men appeared and rescued the prisoner. In December 1692, Captain Gookin with a posse came from Boston to take Henry Head to jail for resisting tax payment. Head and his friends gathered at the house of Daniel Wilcox, armed with guns and clubs, the records not being clear as to the outcome. The men in Wilcox’s house agreed not to fire first. Among the list of Head’s defenders was Anthony Sadler, Constable Eaton’s step-son. Refusal to pay taxes was not necessarily discreditable, as some pioneers had conscientious grounds for deeming certain taxes unjust.

In 1697, Daniel Eaton was chosen for jury of trials at Little Compton, and subsequently was surveyor of highways. Court records at Taunton say that in October 1699, he complained of Captain William Southworth for hindering him the previous May in the performance of his duties, ad deposed that Southworth said the laws of the king were not worth a farthing. Captain Southworth was found guilty and ordered to remove road obstructions across the layout over his land.

Daniel Eaton from time to time bought and sold considerable land.

He was a prosperous citizen and one of the town's innkeepers. He d. probably 11 Jul. 1704 [between April 29 and August 21, the dates of execution and probate of his will], leaving an estate which included one Negro woman slave. Among his heirs were children of his step-son Joseph Sadler, alias Emery.

Rebecca Eaton no doubt urged her husband to do well by her won. The petition of 1676 shows that she had three Sadler children. One was apparently dead by 1704. He son Anthony Sadler had been amply cared for. He son Joseph Emery was in possession a a comfortable farm. She asked that provision be made for three of her favorite grandchildren and Daniel complied. He named as executrix his wife “who hath been a loving wife to me” and gave her for life “if she remain a widow” his entire estate, and at her death the property was to be divided equally between Patience, Rebecaa and Daniel Emery, and ‘my couzen and kinswoman, my brother’s daughter by marriage” Mary Callender. She was his niece, but of old the word cousin meant niece or nephew. If Rebecca married, all property was to be sold and she allowed her third, with the remainder divided as above. The inventory shows a house, and sixty acres of land, also a Negro slave, a woman. On May 25, 1704 Patience Emery married Richard Grinnell. The next fall Mary Callender and her husband sold Mr. Grinnell their interest in the Eaton estate. In 1719, Daniel Emery sold his part also to Mr. Grinnell referring to it as one-third of the estate, and as he originally and a fourth interest, it is evident that his sister Rebecca had died [1712 being the date of her death].

On page 30 of the original first volume of vital records of Little Compton is the entry: “Daniel Amory the son of Joseph was born the 24th day of August, 1695

Joseph Amory was Rebecca Eaton’s sone. He had discarded his father’s name Sadler, and taken that of his mother though he had altered the spelling. It is evident from Richard Grinnell’s will that his wife Patience was granddaughter of Rebecca Eaton. Joseph Emery’s birth date was about 1660 died 31 January 1711/12

Rebeckah Amory deceased the 8th day of April, 1712.

Rebaco Eaton departed this life the 18th day of July, 1719.

John Amory the son of Daniel Amory born the 25th day of September, 1722 (Little Compton records).

Thus it appears that Rebecca's children by Thomas Salder renounced their paternity and took the name of their mother's family, giving rise to a Rhode Island branch of the Emory family.

In 1710, Anthony Sadler, residing in East Greenwich, Rhode, Island sold some of his Portsmouth land, and although his mother was not named as grantor, she insisted on signing the deed. Richard and Patience Grinnell were witnesses. In 1714, Rebecca Easton of Little Compton, widow and Anthony Sadler of East Greenwich, cordwainer, sold land in Portsmouth to James Tallman, “practitioner in physic and coroner”. These transcriptions must have disposed of all of Anthony Emery’s land. A deed at E. Greenwich shows Mr. Sadler had a wife, Mary. The Following is an article written on Rebecca by William M. Emery who was Genealogical Editor of the Boston Transcript:

Rebecca The Resolute Daughter of Old Anthony Emery Emerging from the Colonial archives comes the story of a hitherto forgotten Rhode island heroine of three centuries ago - - Rebecca, daughter of Anthony Emery. She won the love of three men, had some more or less exciting experiences, and from time to time tasted the bitterness of defeat and enjoyed the fruits of victory.

The scene opens in Old Kittery, Maine, on the east bank of the Piscataque River, just subsequent to 1650. There is a spot called Cold Harbor, Anthony Emery, by order of the Court, was keeping a tavern, or ordinary, and maintaining a ferry across the river in Dover, New Hampshire. A wit of the period is quoted as defining an innkeeper as a man who “kept an ordinary at extraordinary rates”, and Emery certainly made money.

His daughter Rebecca was married to Robert Weymouth, a fisherman, they had a son William who later in life became a Quaker. The father was lost on one of his voyages. Therefore Rebecca lived for a time at the tavern with her parents. In the summer of 1659 there appeared in Kittery, from nobody knows where a dashing and roving young blade, Thomas Sadler. He became enamored of the attractive widow Rebecca Weymouth, and the infatuation was mutual. One bright Sunday afternoon they secured two good mounts, and in contravention of the blue laws, took a horseback ride together. Complaint was made to the Court, and the following indictment was found by the grand jury:

“Wee present Thomas Sadler and Rebecca Weymouth for riding abroad together on the Sabbath day.” Rebecca’s case was probably not processed, but Sadler was bound over to “his good behavior until the next County Court.” And Anthony Emery went on his bond therefor to the tune of ten pounds. Sadler and the Widow Rebecca were married, at a date unknown, and departed for other scenes. Mrs. Sadler left behind her in Kittery her son, William Weymouth, and he was brought up by her brother, James Emery, who became a prominent and prosperous resident. To the Salders were born three children. It is known that they lived in Flushing, Long Island, in 1667, and subsequently on Staten Island. There Sadler deserted his wife and children. Mrs. Sadler and her offspring went to live with her father, Anthony Emery, who had removed to Portsmouth, Rhode Island in 1660.

Meanwhile James Emery had petitioned the court in Maine to free his father from the bond forfeited for Sadler’s appearance in court, but it was ordered that the five pounds must be paid.

Anthony, who came from England in 1635, was a man of strong will and very independent disposition, a quality shared by his daughter Rebecca. Although he served in town office in Kittery he was not exempt from court action as occasion required. During the Quaker persecutions he entertained at his tavern William Robinson and Marmaduke Stephenson when they went on their Quaker proselyting tour of New Hampshire and Maine, the latter province the being a part of Massachusetts. In consequence he was haled to Boston in 1659, and at the same session of court when Robinson, Stephenson, and Mary Dyer received death sentences, Emery was fined ten poyunds, ten shillings, and ordered disfranchised. Angered beyond endurance he sold his property in Kittery and removed to Portsmouth, where he bought a farm, believed to have been located in Portsmouth Park in the Island Park district. Portsmouth used him well. He served on grand and petty juries, was chosen constable, and was one of the deputies to the Genral Assembly. One of his tasks as constable was to bring before the court an erring wife whose husband had applied for divorce. She was fined ten pounds, and sentenced to receive fifteen stripes at Newport. Subsequently the fine and punishment were remitted, but the husband was granted the divocre. One of the earliest in the colonies. This was in 1665.

In October 1675 Anthony Emery, Lot Strange, and Francis Brayton were appointed attorneys “to plead the town’s right for a highway which Peter Tallman is indicted for.” This affair caused bad blood between Emery and Tallman, with the probability that hot words ensued. Mrs. Rebecca Sadler had arrived by this time in town, and very forcibly took her aged father’s part in the squabble, as evidenced by the entry, a few days later, of s suit by Tallman against her, for breach of the peace and threatening his family. So far as is learned, nothing ever came of it.

Word was brought to Rebecca that a piece of property owned by her husband, Thomas Sadler, on Staten Island, had fallen into the possession of one Jones Holsted, and with her usual vigor she determined to reclaim it if possible. Accordingly she applied to the General Assembly of the Colony of New York to compel Holsted, in absence of knowledge as to Sadler’s where about’s to surrender the estate to her, as necessary for support of herself and her children. Her petition reposes in New York Archives. She did not state that she was living with her father, and owing to the death of her mother was acting as his housekeeper, and that he was providing well for her and her children probably her prayer was not granted; at least no record shows the fate of the petition.

By 1680 Anthony was about eighty years old. Rebecca’s eldest son Joseph had gone away to sea, and married. One child was dead, and her son Anthony Sadler lived with her and his grandfather, in lieu of a will Rebecca induced her father to execute a deed conveying to her at his death all his Portsmouth real estate, with provision it should descend to her son Anthony. Following her father’s death she succeeded in persuading her brother James, who never lived in Portsmouth, to quite claim to her all his rights in the father’s property. She knew what she wanted, and she got it.

Never hearing from her husband, Mrs. Sadler considered herself a widow. In. 1683 Daniel Eaton appeared upon the Portsmouth scene. Subsequently he succumbed to the blandishments of the fascinating Rebecca. Before 1690 the couple moved to Little Compton. In that town was residing her son Joseph Emery who had taken his mother’s maiden name when he ran away to sea. It is spelled Amory on the Little Compton records. Joseph had married Elizabeth Washburn of Bridgewater, Massachusetts. They removed to Little Compton where some of the Washburn connection owned land, and raised a family. Anthony Sadler removed to East Greenwich, where he married.

Daniel Eaton served Little Compton as a town officer, and for a number of years kept a tavern. Richard and Daniel Grinnell were also tavern keepers. In the inventory of Eaton’s estate it appears he possessed a barrel of rum - - twenty-eight gallons - - not an excessive supply for his thirsty patrons. He owned considerable land.

Having seen that her sons were well cared for, Mrs. Eaton prepared a will for her husband, who died in 1704. He left her all his estate for life, explaining “she hath been a loving wife to me”, and at her death the property was to be divided among his niece, Mary Callender; and Patience; Rebecca and Daniel Emery, Mrs. Eaton’s favorite grandchildren. But the will did not state their relationship to anybody. Rebecca died unmarried, and Patience married Richard Grinnell. He subsequently bought out the other heirs, so he and his wife eventually owned Daniel Eaton’s entire estate.

For years genealogists had been all at sea placing the Little Compton Emerys. The discovery of Rebecca Sadler’s petition of 1676, and of some papers disposing of the Eaton bequest cleared up everything.

In 1719 Daniel Emery, selling his share, termed Eaton my “grandfather-in-law”. Richard Grinnell, in his will of 1722, bequeathed house and land that “was formerly my grandfather-in-law” Daniel Eaton’s”, but in those days “grandfather-in-law actually meant step-grandfather, which makes it clear. The birth of Daniel as a son of Joseph Emery is recorded in Little Compton. Death came to Rebecca Eaton July 18, 1719. She must of been 85 or older. “Had I but lived in a later day” might have been her plaint, “What I could of done”.

With her energy and determination she would have been an advocate of votes for women, and might even have gone to Congress. We are fortunate that the scattered glimpses here afforded indicate to us so clearly qualities of the resolute daughter of Anthony Emery.

Children:

• 74 WILLIAM WEYMOUTH

children 2nd marriage:

• *75 JOSEPH AMORY alias EMERY
• 76 ANTHONY SADDLER m. MARY [-?-]; res. E. Greenwich, R.I.
• 76a [-?-] SADDLER

http://www.emery.research.pasttracker.com/john-anthony/two/emery2b.htm