Samuel Abbey

Samuel Abbey was born 1646 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony, and died March 8, 1698, in Windham, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut, at about age 47. He is the son of John Abbey Sr. of August, 1614, in Staverton, Northamptonshire, England, and Mary Loring of Whitechurch, Cunonicarum, Dorsetshire, England.

Mary Knowlton was born about January, 1654, in Chebacco, Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony, and died 1716 in Windham, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut, at about age 62. She is the daughter of William Knowlton of Knowlton Manor, Canterbury, Kent Co., England, and Elizabeth Wilson of England.

Samuel Abbey and Mary Knowlton were married October 12, 1672, in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Samuel Abbey and Mary (Knowlton) Abbey had twelve children:

  1. Mary Abbey: Born 1674 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony; Died Unknown. Married December 31, 1694, in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony, to Isaac Goodell: Born March 29, 1670, in Salem Village, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony; Died 1739 in Salem Village, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony (about age 69).
  2. Samuel Abbey: Born 1676 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony; Died January 15, 1736/1737 in Windham, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut. Married March 15, 1710, in Unknown to Hannah Silsby: Born October 3, 1687, in Lynn, Essex Co., MA; Died March 22, 1747, in Windham, Windham Co., Co., Colony of Connecticut (age 59).
  3. Thomas Abbey: Born about 1679 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony; Died April 1, 1700, in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony (about age 21).
  4. Elizabeth Abbey: Born about 1681 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony; Died Unknown. Married September 23, 1702, in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony, to William Slate: Born 1675 in Salem Village, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony; Died 1725 in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Colony of Connecticut (about age 50).
  5. Ebenezer Abbey Sr.: Born July 31, 1683, in Salem Village, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony; Died December 5, 1758, Windham, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut (age 75). Married October 30, 1707, in Mansfield, Tolland Co., Colony of Connecticut, to Mary Allen: Born June 10, 1688, in Windham, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut; Died 1766 in Windham, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut (about age 78).
  6. Mercy/Marcy Abbey: Born March 5, 1684 in Salem Village, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony; Died February 12, 1741/1742 in Rehoboth, Bristol Co., Province of Massachusetts Bay  (about age 57). Married June 8, 1703, in Windham, Windham Co., CT, to Jonathan Ormsby: Born August 20, 1678, in Rehoboth, Bristol Co., Province of Massachusetts Bay; Died June 22, 1728, in Rehoboth, Bristol Co., Province of Massachusetts Bay (age 49).
  7. Sarah Abbey: Born July 4, 1686, in Salem Village, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony; Died January 14, 1774, in Lebanon, New London Co., Colony of Connecticut (age 87). Buried in Goshen Cemetery, Lebanon, New London Co., CT. Married Unknown to John Fowler: Born 1672, in Lebanon, New London Co., Colony of Connecticut; Died May 8, 1751, in Lebanon, New London Co., Colony of Connecticut (about age 79). Buried in Goshen Cemetery, Lebanon, New London Co., CT.
  8. Hepzibah Abbey: Born February 14, 1688, in Salem Village, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony; Died 1732 in Rehoboth, Bristol Co., Province of Massachusetts Bay (about age 44). Married April 8, 1707, in Windham, Colony of Connecticut, to Samuel Palmer: Born January 4, 1683, in Rehoboth, Bristol Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony; Died March 1778 in Kent, Litchfield, Co., CT (age 95).
  9. Abigail Abbey: Born November 19, 1690, in Salem Village, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony; Died after 1710 in Rehoboth, Bristol Co., Province of Massachusetts Bay. Married May 10, 1710, in Rehoboth, Bristol Co., MA, to Joseph Ormsby: Born July 8, 1684, in Rehoboth, Bristol Co., MA; Died May 10, 1710, in Rehoboth, Bristol Co., MA (age 23).
  10. John Abbey: Born June 4, 1692, in Salem Village, Essex Co., Province of Massachusetts Bay; Died Unknown. Married Unknown to Hannah Unknown: Born Unknown; Died Unknown.
  11. Benjamin Abbey: Born June 4, 1694, in Salem Village, Essex Co., Province of Massachusetts Bay; Died October 15, 1765, in Middletown, Middlesex Co., Colony of Connecticut (age 71). Married January 24, 1715/1716, in Glastonbury, Hartford Co., Colony of Connecticut, to Mary A. Tryon: Born October 5, 1695, in Glastonbury, Hartford Co., Colony of Connecticut; Died August 30, 1765, in Glastonbury, Hartford Co., Colony of Connecticut (age 69).
  12. Jonathan Abbey: Born about 1696 in Windham, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut; Died May 13, 1757, in Willington, Tolland, Colony of Connecticut (about age 61). Married (1) about 1724 in Wenham, Essex Co., Colony of Connecticut, to Mary Johnson: Born 1696 in Willington, Tolland Co., Colony of Connecticut; Died January 19, 1743, in Willington, Tolland Co., Colony of Connecticut (about age 46). Married (2) September 19, 1745, in Brooklyn, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut, to Rebekah Wedge: Born January 30, 1707, in Attleboro, Bristol Co., MA; Died 1754 in Willington, Tolland Co., Colony of Connecticut (about age 47).

After Samuel Abbey died, Mary (Knowlton) Abbe married Abraham Mitchell.

Abraham Mitchell was born 1657 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Colony of Connecticut, and died 1713 in Colony of Connecticut at about age 56. He is the son of David Mitchell of South Ouram, Halifax, England, and Sara Wheeler of Cranefield, Bedford Co., England.

Abraham Mitchell and Mary (Knowlton) Abbey were married April 27, 1699, in Windham, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut.

Abraham Mitchell and Mary (Knowlton) (Abbey) Mitchell had one child:

  1. Daniel Mitchell: Born December 10, 1700, in Windham, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut; Died December 10, 1700, in Windham, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut (age Infant).

TIMELINE

The children of Samuel Abbey and Mary (Knowlton) Abbey who were born in Salem Village, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony. Thanks to Kay Koslan for finding the original record on Familysearch.

The Massachusetts Bay Colony (more formally The Colony of Massachusetts Bay, 1628–1691) was an English settlement on the east coast of America in the 17th century around the Massachusetts Bay, the northernmost of the several colonies later reorganized as the Province of Massachusetts Bay. 

Essex County was created by the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony on May 10, 1643, when it was ordered "that the whole plantation within this jurisdiction be divided into four sheires." Named after the county in England, Essex then comprised the towns of Salem, Lynn, Wenham, Ipswich, Rowley, Newbury, Gloucester, and Andover.

Massachusetts Bay Colony reverted to rule under the revoked charter until 1691, when a new charter was issued for the Province of Massachusetts Bay. This province combined the Massachusetts Bay territories with those of the Plymouth Colony and proprietary holdings on Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. Sir William Phips arrived in 1692 bearing the charter and formally took charge of the new province.

The Province of Massachusetts Bay was a crown colony in British America which became one of the thirteen original states of the United States from 1776 onward. It was chartered on October 7, 1691 by William III and Mary II, the joint monarchs of the kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland. The charter took effect on May 14, 1692 and included the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Plymouth Colony, the Province of Maine, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick; the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the direct successor.

March 3, 1636: Connecticut Colony was established.

1662: Colony of Connecticut was established.

Connecticut Colony, known as the River Colony, was organized on March 3, 1636, as a place for Puritan nobleman. Early on, the English settlers under John Winthrop Jr. struggled with the Dutch for possession of the land, but the English eventually gained control of the colony and set up a permanent settlement there. After the era of the Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell had passed, Charles II took the throne. John Winthrop Jr., the governor of the Connecticut Colony went to England to secure a charter for the colony. Charles II granted his request in 1662. The charter of the colony covered both the Connecticut Colony and the New Haven Colony and they were permitted to choose their own assembly, their own governor, and rule themselves with minimal interference. New Haven was reluctant to give up their independence and deliberated for some time before coming to a decision to merge with the Connecticut Colony. Once merged the colony was called the Colony of Connecticut.

Samuel Abbey was born 1646 in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Mary Knowlton was born January, 1654, in Chebacco, Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Samuel Abbey and Mary Knowlton were married October 12, 1672, in Wenham, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Samuel Abbey and Mary Knowlton Marriage Record, Salem Village, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony. Thanks to Kay Koslan for finding the original record on Familysearch.

Samuel Abbey died March 8, 1698, in Windham, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut, at about age 47.

William Slate and Elizabeth Abbey were married September 23, 1702, in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts Bay Colony.

William Slate and Elizabeth Abbey Marriage Record.

Mary (Knowlton) Abbey died after 1715 in Windham, Windham Co., Colony of Connecticut, at age Unknown.

From Jeromey Ward's Web Site:

SAMUEL2 ABBE, son of John1 Abbe, born probably at Wenham, Mass., about1646, or soon after his father's settlement there; died in Windham, Conn., March, 1697-8. His name first appears in the Wenham records at the time of his marriage. "Samuel Abby and Mary Knowlton Married the 12th October 1672." He received a grant of ten acres of land in Wenham, and land to set his house upon, from his father, John Abbey, and wife, Mary, April 3, 1675, his brethren to have the refusal of the place if he should sell (Essex Deeds, 15:150). Samuel and his wife, Mary, were communicants of the church in Wenham in 1674. He was a land surveyor in 1676 and appears upon the town records as a husbandman, made freeman, October 3,1680 (Massachusetts Records, 5:540). He was named in his father's will, 1683.
A map of Salem dwellings in 1692, published in Volume I of Upham's Salem Witchcraft, shows the location of Samuel Abbey's house, number 114on a plot in the south-west part, east of Bald Hill, within the 500 acres laid out to Robert Goodell in 1652 and its subsequent additions.

On November 1, 1682, Samuel Abbey bought of Lott Killam and wife, Hannah, of Salem, he being then of Wenham, 6 acres in Salem on Norrice's Brook (12:112), and also bought of James Stimpson and wife, Priscilla, who had been the widow of Isaac Goodell, at the same place, some land in1684 (2:113). On April 3, 1697, he and his wife, Mary, sold those lands described as a dwelling house, two orchards, and seventeen acres in Salem, bounding Anthony Needham, John Walcott, Isaac Goodale, Samuel Goodale, Abraham Smith, Abel Gardner, Joseph Flint, and also six acres on Norrice's Brook, and two acres bought of James Stimpson, to Zachariah White of Lynn, all for £130 (12:147). The above James Stimpson was of Reading and had married the widow of the elder Issac Goodell. At the time of Goodell's death in 1680, the widow was administrated and Samuel Abbey was one of her sureties. He was then probably of Salem or possibly Topsfield.

He was admitted freeman of Salem Village, March 22, 1689-90. He and his wife were dismissed from the Salem Church September 15, 1689, to unite informing one at Salem Village; the date of its formation being
November 15, 1689. Salem Village is now Danvers. On July 1, 1690, he was taxed at Salem Village, and again, January 18, 1694-5, he and his son were taxed there.
Samuel Abbey of Salem bought of Benjamin Howard of Windham, Conn., for£22. 10s. current money, half an allotment of land (500 acres), being number 2 at the Center, at or near the locality known later as Bricktop. He probably removed to Windham about that time as he was admitted an inhabitant of that town December 21, 1697, and died there March of the following year.
His estate was settled in 1699. The inventory, taken May 9, 1698, gives as legatees, the following: wife, Mary; daughter, Mary, aged 25; son, Samuel, aged 23; son, Thomas, aged 20; Eleazer, aged 16 (the land records prove that this is a mistake for Elizabeth); Ebenezer, aged 16; Mercy, aged 14; Sarah, aged 13; Hepsibah, aged 10; Abigail, aged
8; John, aged 7; Benjamin, aged 6; Jonathan, aged 2. One record says he left a son, Eleazer, and a daughter, Abigail, each 8 years old at his death. This is doubtless an attempt to rectify the error noted above.
Samuel Abbe was living in Salem during the days of witchcraft and was one of those opposed to its fanaticisms. One Rebecca Nourse, on trial as a witch, produced a paper signed by several "respectable inhabitants" of Salem, among whom was Samuel Abbe. This document as to her good character caused her to be set at liberty but the sentence was later changed for some reason and she was put to death as a witch. Only a few years ago a monument to her memory was erected by her descendants.
Samuel Abbey testifies as to Mercy Lewis, May 20, 1692, she being at the house of her neighbor, John Putnam, jr., and accused of witchcraft.
Samuel Abbe and his wife, Mary, were witnesses in a witch trial in Salem in 1692 against Sarah Snow, a woman of vicious temper who had lived in their home for a time but was dismissed on account of her disagree able ways. She vowed vengeance upon them and when several of their cows and hogs were taken sick, the blame was laid to her as a witch.
The following are taken from Records of Salem Witchcraft, copied from the original documents, Volume 1, pages 24 and 25.

Samuel Abbey Et ux vs. Sarah Good
Samuel Abbey of Salem Village aged 45 years or thereabouts and Mary Abbey his wife aged 38 years or
thereabouts, Deposeth and saith.
That about this Time Three Years past Wm Good and his wife Sarah Good being destitute of a house to dwell in these Deponents out of Charity; they being Poor lett them live in theirs some time untill that the said Sarah Good was of so Turbulant a Sperritt, Spitefull and so Mallitiously bent, that these Deponents could not suffer her to Live in their howse any Longer and was forced for Quiettness sake to turne she yesaid Sarah with her husband out of their howse ever since, which is about two years 1/2 agone, the said Sarah Good hath carried it very Spitefully and Mallitiously, towards them, the winter following after the said Sarah was gone from our house we began to Loose Cattle and Lost several after an vnvsall manner, in a drupeing condition (sic) Condition and yett they would Eate: and your Deponents have Lost after that manner 17 head of Cattle within this two years besides
Sheep and Hoggs, and both doe believe they Dyed by witchcraft, the said William Good on the last of May was twelve months went home to his wife the sd Sarah Good and told her, what a sad Accident had fallen out, she asked what, he answered that his neighbovr Abbey had lost two Cowes, both dyeing within halfe an hower of one another, the sd Sarah good said she did not care if he the said Abbey had Lost all the Cattle he had as ye said Jno Good told vs. Just that very Day that the said Sarah Good was taken up, we yr Deponents had a Cow that could not rise alone, but since presently after she was taken up, the said Cow was well and could rise so well as if she had ailed nothing. She the said Sarah good ever since these Deponents turned her out of their howse she hath behaved herself every crossely and mallitiously to them and their Children calling their Children vile names and hath threatened them often.
Jurnt in Curio.
Warrant for Sarah Good was given at Salem, February 29, 1691-2, inresponse to complaints of Sarah Vibber, Abigail Williams, ElizabethHubbard, Ann Putnam, and Jno. Vibber. Among the many depositions inwitness to her malign practices were those of Samuel Abbey and wife.
Records of Salem Witchcraft, copied from the original documents, Vol.2, pp. 41-2, old series.

Samuel Abby v. Mary Easty
The Deposition of Samuel Abby aged about 45 years who testifieth andsaith that on the 2Oth of May 1692 I went to the house of Constable Jno Putnam about 9 a clock in the morning and when J came there: Mircy lewes lay on the bed in a sad condition and continuing speachless for about an hour: the man not being at whom: the woman desired me to goe to Tho:putnams to bring Ann putnam to se if she could se who it was that hurt Mercy lewes: accordingly J went: and found Abigail williams along with Ann putnam and brought them both to se mercy lewes: and as they ware agoeing along the way both of them said that they saw the Apperishtion of Goody Estick and said it was the same woman that was sent whom the other day: and said also that they saw the Apperishtion of
the other woman that appered with gooddy Estick the Other day, and both of them allso said that the Apperishtion of gooddy Estick tould them that now she was afflecting of mircy lewes and when they came to Mircy lewes both of them said that they saw the Apperishtion of gooddy Estick and Jno willard and Mary witheridge afflecting the body of mircy lewes: and Jcontinueing along with mircy who contineued in a sad condition the greatest part of the day being in such tortors as no toungue can express; but not able to spake: but at last said Deare lord Received my soule and againe said lord let them not kill me quitt, but at last she came to hirself for a little whille and was very sensable and then she said that goody estick said she would kill hir before midnight because she did notcleare hir so as the Rest did, then againe presently she fell very bad and cried out pray for the salvation of my soule for they will kill me. Jurat in Curia Sepr 9th 92.

Inventory of the Estate of Samuell Abby late of Windham who died in March 1697, apprized and ordered to be recorded.
Administration granted unto Abra. Mitchell who hath married Mary the Relict of the said Abby. July 5,1699. (Hartford Probate Office, Volume 6,page 93.)
An inventory of the Estate of Samuell Abby late of Windham deed as money.
His wearing Cloths£2
a feathr bed bolster 2 pillows wth beirs£3 £05-00-00
a bedsted curtaines wth a rug and blanket£02-10-d00
3 pr Cotten and lining sheets02-10-11
more beds wth 2 coverlids & blankets02-00-00
2 pillow beires 3 pr lining sheets02-00-00
3 table cloths 2 doz napkins£2 -10s
a great Iron pott20s-03-10-10
a little Iron pott 10s/2 iron kettles 10s/ tramell pot hooks and
tongs 15s01-15-00
pewter and earthen ware22s
a frying pan 5s01-07-00
dishes spoons and trenchers 5s/ box and irons6s00
chest, box, tubs, and payles20s
a gun15s
3 knives3s
two axes10s
hoes 6s beetle, rings and wedges10s
two pitchforks wth 3 hooks and old Iron00-05-00
Horse tackling, cart, wheels, boxes, & hoops02-05-00
a plough and Irons6s
an old spade shovell & mattock3s
a syth and tackling6s
2 horses & a mare wth bridle & sadle05-12-00
a little quantity of wool wth Old bags 6s00-06-00
Lands£25-00-00
two Swine12s

Total£58-08-00
This Inventory taken May the 9th 1698 Pr us Joseph Cary
Jeremiah Ripley
Townsmen.
(Hartford Probate Office, Volume 6, pages 125, 126.)

Mary the Relict appeared in Windham the 2d of May 1699 and gave oath that she had made present men of the estate of her decd husband, and if more comes to her knowledge she will cause it to be added to the Inventory, before me
Willm Pitkin, Assistant.

Debts due from the estate is £5- 0-0 Cash
Debts due to the estate is £l-10-0 Cash
The children's names and age.
Mary 25 years Samll 23 Thomas 20 Eleazr 18 Ebenezr 16 Mary 14Sarah 13 Hipzibah 10 Abigaile 8 John 7 Benj 6 and Jonathan 2 years ofage. (The names appear as here given but it is apparent that Eleazr is a mistake of the copyist for Elizabeth and that the second Mary should beMercy.)

Samuel2 Abbe married in Wenham, Mass., October 12, 1672, MARY KNOWLTON, born 1653, daughter of William and Elizabeth ( ) Knowlton. She married(2), April 27, 1699, Abraham Mitchell and had by him a son, Daniel, who was born and died December 10, 1700. Mary Mitchell, formerly Mary Abby, was dismissed from the Salem Village Church to Windham, Conn., September14, 1701.
The following notes are from the Knowlton Ancestry," compiled by Rev, C. H. W. Stocking of Freehold, N, J., published 1897: The name Knowlton reaches back traditionally to the time of William the Conqueror,1066-87. Richard Knowlton was born 1553, probably at Knowlton Manor, which is situated about six miles from the great cathedral at Canterbury, Kent County, England. He married, July 17, 1577, Elizabeth Cantize. The last of their four children was William, commonly called Captain William, born 1584, married Ann Elizabeth Smith. They had six children, two of whom died young. Captain William with his remaining family sailed for America about 1632. He died on the passage and was probably buried at Nova Scotia, as an ancient grave stone bearing the name of William Knowlton, 1632, was discovered there by a land-surveyor in 1839. The family appear to have moved to Massachusetts the next year, probably to Hingham, later to Ipswich. William, second son of Captain William, born in England, 1615, was a member of the first church in Ipswich and a freeman, 1641-2. He was a brick-layer by trade, married Elisabeth -, and died l655. The youngest of their seven children was Mary, born 1649, who married Samuel Abbe.

Samuel married Mary Knowlton daughter of William Jr. Knowlton and Elizabeth in 1673 in Massachusetts. Mary was born in 1653 in Ipswich, Massachusetts. She died about 1710 in Wenham, Massachusetts.