|
|
Pilgrim Stock
|
|
|
Nathaniel Fitz Randolph
Nathaniel, was the great grandfather of Daniel's wife Nancy Pangburn ? He was a genteel by religious affiliation and temperament. His Family Line goes back to the early days of settlement on this continent. The First of this line to appear in America was Edward Fitz Randolph Jr., born July 1607 at Sutton in Ashfield, Nottingham England. He latter Married Elizabeth Blossom, daughter of Thomas Blossom and Ann Helsdon. Thomas had joined a society of religious non-conformists, advocates of bible reading who were opposed to the extremes of Papal power that persisted in that day. It was because of their advocating a return to basic religious doctrine based on the bible and not the dictations of Rome that they soon were labeled as Puritans, and soon sought to free themselves of the religious intolerance that persisted in post reformation England. The solution for them was to immigrate to Holland where the more tolerant atmosphere allowed their group to prosper for a time. The first settlement in Holland was in Amsterdam, but within the year 1609 they again removed to Leiden, (Leydon) where the group prospered for the next 12 years. In 1617, discouraged by economic difficulties, the pervasive Dutch influence on their children, and their inability to secure civil autonomy, the congregation voted to immigrate to America.
Preparations for departure then began in earnest. Only about half of those to set sail on this historic voyage were of the church in Lyden, a ship thought capable was purchased, The Speedwell was her name, she was but 60 tons. She was to join up with the famous Mayflower and together make their way to the new colony. Among those on the Speedwell where Thomas Blossom and his small family. The Speedwell sailed on July 26th, 1620 from the port of Delfthaven, a short distance from Leyden; her destination was Southampton, England, where the Mayflower had been awaiting her arrival. Upon her arrival at Southampton the captain of the Speedwell complained of the condition of his vessel, recommending considerable repairs prior to attempting to cross the Atlantic .The repairs were made at the cost of considerable delay expense. The two Vessels then set sail for their destination, but again the Speedwell proved leaky so the two vessels put into Dartmouth for further repairs. Again they set sail and again the Speedwell proved not to be up to the challenge. It was than that the decision was made to sell the Speedwell. Redistributing passengers and cargo on the larger Mayflower would solve the problems but it became necessary for nearly 20 church members to return to Holland. Among those sent back was the Blossom Family. With them went our chance to claim any link to the first settlers in the north of what was to become the United States. It was however, but a few short years before the remainder of the congregation had joined them in the New World. The congregation received authorization to settle near modern day Plymouth Harbor on the western side of Cape Cod Bay and made their historic landing on December 21, 1620.
Edward Fitz Randolph arrived in New England in 1630 with the Winthorp Fleet. The Blossoms are believed to have arrived in the New World in just the previous year 1629. It is believed that they did sail on the Mayflower, though it would have been her final voyage to the New World. There is no record of Edward joining the church until 1637 at Scituate, Mass.. Elizabeth is not recorded as joining until 1643 at Barnstable. This may however just be due to a lack of surviving records.
Edward built a house at Scituate 1636 , but soon sold this house to move to Barnstable along with twenty-five townsmen. There he built a home on an eight-acre lot where he lived until 1649 when he sold this and three other town lots and moved to a farm of 143 acres in West Barnstable. The Family lived there for the next 20 years. However it was during this time that the Puritan rule prevalent in the colony began to feel oppressive to many and again seeking a greater liberty of thought, moved to Piscataway New Jersey. {As a side note it was at this time that the First Pollard's arrived in the New World} 1633 POLLARD THO. [s] Immigrant Ancestors , Plymouth Passengers , Feb. 1633 , lists a Tho. , Pollard of Paraneuth , 23 years old . POLLARD, GEORGE, Salem, died about 1646. WILLIAM, Boston 1644, had sons, William, member of the ar. co. 1679, who d. 1690; John, b. 1644, and Samuel, b. 1645. A great number of the name in N. E. are descended from Thomas Pollard, the son of William Pollard, of the city of Coventry, England, and who came over at the close of the 17th century, m. Sarah, daughter of Edward Farmer, and d. 4 April, 1724, leaving 10 sons and 4 daughters. 1667 POLLARD , JOHN [s] Maryland Land Records / The Land Called Grass Reeden , located between Poverty Point & Susquehanna Neck on St. Stephens Creek was sold by Stephen Gray to John Pollard , Cooper . On April 4 , 1667 , 750 acres . Pollard. THOMAS, Taunton, eldest s. of the first James, b. prob. in Eng. m. at Plymouth, 21 Aug. 1662, Mary Watson, prob. d. of George, had Mary, b. 2 Aug. 1663; Thomas, 22 Jan. 1666; John, 18 May 1668; George, 18 Apr. 1671; Samuel, 1 Feb. 1674; Elkanah, 15 May 1677; James, 17 Dec. 1679, d. young; Seth, 28 Apr. 1682, d. at six mos.; Phebe, 3 Mar. 1684, d. next yr.; and Elizabeth 15 July 1686; and he d. 24 Nov. 1713, in 72d yr. His wid. Mary d. 1 Dec. 1723, in 81st yr. THOMAS, Taunton, s. of the preced. had w. Joanna, but I kn. no more. URIAH, Taunton, youngest s. of the first James, m. 1 June 1685, Elizabeth d. of Thomas Caswell, had Uriah, b. 10 Apr. 1686; William; James; Seth; Jonathan; and Margaret. Eight of this name had, in 1834, been gr. at Harr. eight at Yale, and fourteen at other N. E. coll. 1607 POLLARD , GEORGE [s] Virginia Colony Records , Tax List . 1655, Isaac Pollard.(s) A Genealogical Dictionary of The First Settlers of New England, Before 1692, Volume #2 ,Jones - Jones , By James Savage 1675-6 William Pollard (s) Names of those who were credited with military service under Capt. Mosely in June and July 1675 at Mt. Hope. / Served KING PHILIP'S WAR, 1675-6 Joseph Pollard (s) Names of those who were credited with military service under Capt. Mosely in June and July 1675 at Mt. Hope. / Served KING PHILIP'S WAR,
Edward & Elizabeth prospered and produced many children, though not all survived. True to their nature when one child Named Mary died a premature death, well the very next girl child was again named Mary. This one had much better luck I am happy to report being born June 02, 1650, marrying one Samuel Hinckley, and living until January 04, 1737or 38. Despite the hardships presented by pioneer life the Fitz Randolph's prospered in New Jersey. Their last child Benjamin being born in Mass. But living his adult life in New Jersey.
It was at about this juncture in the history of this Family that a war broke out between the Natives and the colonists, King Philips War, it was called. No he wasn't the King of England but the leader of the Wampanoag Indians. His name wasn't really even Philip. But I suppose it was easier to give him a European name than to show him the simple respect of using his real name. His name was Wamsutta, he was summoned to the Plymouth Court in 1662, at gunpoint and soon after they questioned him he became ill and died. His death greatly angered the Wampanoag. Wamsutta's brother Metacom (also called Philip) succeeded him. It still wasn't until 1675 that hostilities broke out. No doubt the result of further disrespect shown the natives, Though Metacom had warned them saying "I am determined not to live until I have no country."
It had been just 55 years between the arrival of the Mayflower and the outbreak of King Philip's War. The English had prospered, multiplied and expanded their settlements, while the natives were in a slow state of decline from diseases introduced by the Europeans and loss of tribal lands to the whites. The final straw came near Bristol, Rhode Island, when a group of natives killed some cattle owned by settlers, these cattle had many times trampled the corn crops of the natives, with no compensation to the Native farmers. In retaliation the English went just a bit too far and killed an Indian. This single act is credited with setting in motion a native uprising that would threaten to wipe Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth Bay Colonies off the map.
Benjamin Fitz Randolph The youngest Son of Edward & Elizabeth born April 04, 1663, at Barnstable, Cape Cod, MA. And removed with his parents to New Jersey as a child, Married Sarah Dennis in 1689. They also prospered in New Jersey . Sarah bore Benjamin eight children; the youngest son was Nathaniel Fitz Randolph, born November 11, 1703 at Princeton, New Jersey. ----------------------------------------------------------------- RESEARCH NOTES :King Philips War 1675- 1676 Nathaniel He was primarily responsible for raising the money and securing the land required by the Trustees to locate the College of New Jersey, as Princeton University was then known, in Princeton, which they did in 1756. The citizens of Princeton complied with the Trustees' request to raise £1,000 (actually they raised £1,700), provide ten acres of cleared land for the campus and 200 acres of woodland for fuel. Fitz Randolph himself donated £20 and 4.5 acres of land.
1688-97.. King Williams' War - the first of a series of conflicts betwen the French and British called the French and Indian Wars.
Our Mitchell Line did not begin to arrive in America until about 1759-60. They were part of a general migration from Northern Ireland, landing at Philadelphia, but soon heading west, in search of good farming land. They settled in what was then Center County Pennsylvania, though later divisions & county creations placed them in Jackson Twp., Huntingdon County, PA Our Mitchell line being, of Scotch-Irish stock. Where likely thrifty in nature and soon prospered as well. John Mitchell, thought to be the first of our line to come to America is the subject of my currant research. So until I have completed this research I will keep my comments general in nature. In colonial times, the Irish population in America was second in number only to the English. Many early Irish immigrants were of sturdy, Scotch-Irish stock. Pushed out of Ireland by religious conflicts, lack of political autonomy and dire economic conditions, these immigrants were attracted to America by the promise of land ownership and greater religious freedom. Much as the Pilgrims who proceeded them were. Although Irish immigration to America did not reach its peak until the mid 1800s, during the revolutionary war, there were enough Irish soldiers to account for nearly half of General Washington's Continental army, including 1492 officers and 22 generals. Indeed General Washington's letters from that time include many letters both addressed to and from a John Mitchell. However, I do not at this point believe it to be the same John Mitchell . Though I do Belive a mention of a "Representatives in Congress" a John Mitchell is listed as the representative for Huntingdon, Mifflin, Centre and Clearfield Counties for 1824 and 1826. to be a decendant of or closely related to our John Mitchell. My Research is on going !
|
