William Hersey, I

Generation 1:

William Hersey- b.bef 22 August 1596; m. Elizabeth Unknown; d. 22 March 1657-58 at Hingham, Plymouth, MA, aged 61 years.

Their Children:

• 1. William b. abt 1632 at Reading, England
• 2. Frances b. abt 1634; m. 29 April 1656 Richard Croade
• 3. Elizabeth n. abt 1636 at Hingham, Plymouth, MA; m. 1658 Moses Gilman; d. 8 September 1719 at Exeter, New Hampshire, aged 83 years
• 4. Judith b. bef 15 July 1638 at Hingham, Plymouth, MA; m. 21 December 1663 Humphrey Wilson
• 5. John b. 9 August 1640 at Hingham. Plymouth, MA; m. 18 May 1669 Sarah Richards at Dedham, Essex, MA; d. 7 August 1726
• 6. James b. 1643 at Hingham, Plymouth, MA; m. 15 December 1666 Mary Fearing; d. 22 January 1684, aged 41 years.

William came in 1635 and moved to Hingham, Plymouth, MA. On 3 July 1636 he received a grant for a house lot of five acres. It was on South Street, just about opposite of West Street. In 1644-45, William was assessed a fine for supporting the views of Rev. Peter Hobart during the election of officers for the train band. His family rate was one of the largest for the new meeting house. He was a husbandman He was a freeman in March 1638. He served as selectman in 1642-1647 and again in 1650. In 1652 he was in the artillery company.

     William Hersey will dates 9 March 1657/8, proved 29 April 1658 following, gives to son William house and his penn plott before his gate and ye lott bought of Matthew Chafey at ye Capt. Tent; valuables to sons John and James, daughters Frances, Elizabeth, Judith f5 each, grandchildren John Croade , William Heresy 40 s each. Rest of lands and goods to wife Elizabeth, wife, exec.His wife was executrix. The estate was appraised at four hundred and nineteen pounds, thirteen shillings, and six pence.

Overseers "cousins" John Farrington, Thomas Marsh, son-in-law Richard Croade. Inventory appraised 28 April 1658 by Moses Collier. Thomas Marsh at f419, 13 s, 6 d. He was a selectman 1642, 1647, and 1650. Artillery Company 1652, lived on South Street, Hingham.

Hingham Cemetery stones- Old Church Cemetery- Back of Ship’s Church. In memory of William Hersey b. reading, England 1596. Inspired by the love of Liberty this Puritan Pioneer sailed for America and settled in Hingham 1635. He served as selectman 1642, 1647, 1650. Artillery Company 1652.

WILLIAM1 HERSEY was christened at St. Giles Parish, Reading, England 22 August 1596 and died at Hingham, Massachusetts 24 March 1658. On 1 January 1615/16 he married MARGARET GARVES (or Graves). Stiles’ “Ancient Wethersfield” book states that William had previously surveyed the Massachusetts coast for the British Government and was granted a large tract of land for these services in New England at what afterwards became Hingham, MA William came to New England in 1635 and early in the autumn of that year located in Hingham with others who were passengers on the ship he came in. On July 3, 1636, he had a house-lot of five acres granted him, on what is now South, nearly opposite West St. It is believed that part of William’s original homestead survives in the W. Allan Gay House located at 262 South Street in Hingham. In the History of Hingham, William, his son, grandson and great-grandson are listed as living in the ancestral home, with Deacon Joshua Hersey, the great-grandson, living there in 1737. He was the last of the line to occupy it, dying in 1784. The land in Hingham granted to William in 1635 is well documented. The location of his original house is also known. The house now standing on the site likely contains the original kitchen from William’s house. In the kitchen are exposed wood beams, whose great width indicates that the beams came from trees from the early to mid-1600’s. The main beam in the present kitchen is chestnut, a tree which disappeared in this size in the early 1700’s. William married secondly ELIZABETH CROADE, who was born at Suffolk, England 1610 and who died 8 October 1671. At the time of the trouble about the election of officers for the train band, 1644-1645, William was assessed a heavy fine for supporting the views of Rev. Peter Hobart and his friends; and the family rate towards the erection of the new meeting-house was the largest but one upon the list. He was a Freeman March, 1638; selectman 1642, 1647, and 1650; and a member of the Artillery Company 1652. At the time of his death, his property was appraised at 409 pounds, 13 shillings, 6 pence. William’s will, dated 9 March 1657, reads as follows: William Hersie, senior, of Hingham—Being now sicke. I giue to my sonne William ye house and home Lott that he now Liues in and ye penn plott before his gate, and ye Lott I bought of Mathew Chafey at ye Capts Tent, with one great Lott at Nuttey hill, yt Lyes outmost to ye South East, to him and his heyres for euer. To my sonne John, one Lott at Nuttey hill, yt lyes Northward of Moses Colliers. To my sonne James the Lott yt Lyes next ye aforesaid Lott giuen his Brother John, Lyeing to ye Northward of the Lott of George Lane. To my daughter Frances, £5 sterling; dau. Elizabeth, £5 sterling; dau. Judith, £ sterling; (each of these at ye decease of their mother, or ye day of their mothers marriage.) I giue my Grand Child, John Croade, after my decease, when Liueing to 4 yeares of age, 40s.; my grand child, William Hersie, 40s in like manner. All ye rest of my Land, housing goods &c. to my wife Elizabeth, during her life, or liues in a Widdowes Estate; but if she marryes, then to distribute it amongst my Children as she may see good, allwayes p’vided not to Lay any restraint vpon her for matter of time in disposall of what she may see meete to any of my Children; making her my only executrix. Overseers, Cousine John Farrington, Thomas Marsh & my sonne in Law Richard Croade. William’s estate was appraised after his death on 28 April 1658 as worth £419. 13. 06. “Land wch was John Princes and Stephen Gates; a piece of ground at the rotten tree; land at Hockley; at Conahasset; at ware neck,” &c., &c. Children, surname Hersey: by first wife, Margaret Garves; i. GREGORY, bp. Reading, England 19 Nov. 1616; had one son, ROBERT who d. England with no issue. ii. NATHANIEL, bp. Reading, England 13 Jan. 1617/18; d. 16 Jan. 1617/18. iii. CECILIE, bp. Reading, England 7 Jan. 1618/19; d.7 Dec. 1619. by second wife, Elizabeth Croade; iv. PRUDENCE 2. v. WILLIAM, b. Reading, England 1632. vi. FRANCES, m. 29 Apr. 1656 Richard Croade of Hingham, afterwards of Salem, MA. vii. ELIZABETH, b. Hingham, MA ca. 1636; living 1714; m. by 1658 Moses Gilman, who was born at Hingham, Eng. 11 Mar. 1630, son of Edward and Mary (Clarke) Gilman. viii. JUDITH, bap. Hingham, MA 15 July 1638; d. Exeter, NH 1716; m. Exeter 21 Dec. 1663 Humphrey Wilson. (note: a listing was found stating Judith Hersey m. 1663 Jonathan Pool.(?) 3. ix. JOHN, b. Hingham, MA 9 Aug. 1640. 4. x. JAMES b. Hingham, MA 1642-3.

Immigrant from England, founded Hingham, MA

• Note: the surname Hersey and Hearsey were both used by the descendents.

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https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Hersey-54
William Hersey (bef. 1596 - 1658)

William Hersey
Born before 22 Aug 1596 in Reading, Berkshire, Englandmap
Son of Nathaniel Hersey [uncertain] and [mother unknown]
Brother of Thomas Hersey and Nathaniel Hersey
Husband of Margaret Garves — married 1 Jan 1616 in St Giles, Berkshire, Englandmap
Husband of Elizabeth (Croade) Hersey — married 1631 in Hingham, Norfolk, Englandmap
DESCENDANTS descendants
Father of William Hersey, Frances (Hersey) Croade, Elizabeth (Hersey) Gilman, Judith (Hersey) Wilson, John Hersey and James Hersey
Died 22 Mar 1658 after age 61 in Hingham, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colonymap
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Profile last modified 16 Apr 2022 | Created 5 Jul 2011
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The Puritan Great Migration.
William Hersey migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1620-1640).
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Contents

[hide]
1 Biography
1.1 Origins
1.2 Marriages
1.3 Death
2 Research Notes
3 Sources
Biography

William, was the progenitor of all who have borne this surname in Hingham and vicinity. He came to New England in 1635, and early in the autumn of that year located in Hingham with others who were passengers on the ship he came in. July 3, 1636, he had a house-lot of five acres granted him, on what is now South, nearly opposite West St. The lot was bounded east by John Winchester, west by William Buckland, and included within its limits the estate now owned by heirs of the late Ebenezer Gay, Esq. In Hingham it is still one of the more numerous of the surnames of the early settlers ; and it has well represented the industrious as well as the enterprising and influential portion of the inhabitants of the town.[1]

At the time of the trouble about the election of officers for the train band, 1644-1645, William Hersey was assessed a heavy fine for supporting the views of Rev. Peter Hobart and his friends ; and the family rate towards the erection of the new meeting-house was the largest but one upon the list. [1]

Origins

His likely birth is before 22 Aug 1596. [2] His father was buried in St Giles in Reading, Berkshire in 1629.

Marriages

He married Margaret Garves (1596-1619) 01 Jan 1615 in Saint Giles, Reading, Berkshire, England [3][4]

His second wife was Elizabeth (Croade) Hersey (1610-1671).[4] She died in Hing. 8 Oct. 1671. He died 22 March, 1657-58. In his will, dated March 9, 1657-58, proved 29 Apr. following, gives to son, William "ye house and home Lott that he now Lives in and ye penn plott before his gate, and ye Lott I bought of Matthew Chafey at ye Capts Tent," etc. ; also valuables to sons John and James ; to daughter's "Francis" (Frances), Elizabeth, and Judith, £5 each ; "to my grandchildren John Croade and William Hersie, 40s. each. All ye rest of my Land, housing, goods, etc., to my wife Elizabeth during her life as a widow." Wife Elizabeth, executrix. Overseers, "cousine John Farrington, Thomas Marsh, and my sonne in Law Richard Croade."Inv. appraised 28 Apr. 1658, by Moses Collier and Thomas Marsh at £419 13s. 6d. " Husbandman." Freeman March, 1638 ; selectman.[1]

Death

He died 22 Mar 1658 in Hingham, Massachusetts Bay Colony.[5]

Research Notes

Directory. Courtesy of Scott Carles (G2G),

He does not have a featured entry in GMB or GM2, but he is in Great Migrations Directory:
Hersey, William: Unknown; 1636; Hingham [HiBOP 50; MBCR 1:295, 374; NEHGR 121:10; HiTR 3; SPR Case #208; Hingham Hist 2:298; Stephen E. Hersey, The Hersey Family: Tracing the Descendants of William Hersey of Hingham, Massachusetts, 1635-1994 (n.p. 1994) (clue).
Sources

↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Bouvé, T. T. (Thomas Tracy), et al.. History of the Town of Hingham, Massachusetts. 1893. Vol II. p.298
↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch [1] : 11 February 2018, Willm Hersie, 22 Aug 1596); citing , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 88,342.
↑ "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," database, FamilySearch: 10 February 2018), Willia Herssie and Margret Garves, 01 Jan 1615; citing aint Giles, Reading, Berkshire, England, reference , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 88,342. Private
↑ 4.0 4.1 Hersey, Stephen E. The Hersey family : tracing the descendants of William Hersey of Hingham, Massachusetts, 1635-1994. pg 4
↑ New England Historic Genealogical Society. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Volume 121. Pg 108. Boston: The New England Historic Genealogical Society. $
Farmer, John. A Genealogical Register of the First Settlers of New England. (Lancaster, Massachusetts: Carter, Andrews & Co., 1829). [3]
Stearns, Ezra S. el al. Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire : A Record of Her People in the Making of A Commonwealth and the Founding of A Nation New York: Lewis Publishing Co., 1908, p. 71: [4]