Twelfth Generation

2114. John Polley was born in 1618 in England.¹⁶⁸ He emigrated between 1630 and 1639 from England. He died on 8 Jun 1689 in Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA.¹³⁰ Another source says 2 Apr 1689.
The inhabitants of Roxbury were largely from Nazeing, Essex, England. Most of the Nazeing settlers arrived in three ships, The "Mary and John" in 1630 and 1632, the "Lyon" in 1632, and the "Hopewell" in 1635. John very likely arrived in one of these vessels and settled in Roxbury with the other pioneers from Essex.

After the arrival of the eleven ships of the Winthrop fleet at Salem in June and July of 1630 it was decided to camp at what is now Charlestown until a permanent settlement sight could be decided upon. Ignorance of proper sanitation methods caused an epidemic to break out among the settlers who were already stricken with scurvy from the long voyage; many died and almost all fell ill. Mounting fear of a rumored attack by the French and continued illness precipitated a decision by the elders to disperse. Seven parties set out from Charlestown from late July to September. The sixth of these was led by William Pynchon who settled with his group at what became Roxbury.

Land was allotted to the group. The town, although in close proximity to Boston (less than three miles to the State House), grew as a separate community with its own church and officials to govern the day to day life of the colonists who maintained a loose official affiliation with the main government at Boston.

If John was born in 1618 (records indicate he was seventy one years old at his death in 1689) he would have been twelve years old in 1630 when the Winthrop fleet sailed from Plymouth, England. If he was aboard one of these ships would have probably been traveling with his parents or relatives. It is also possible that he came as an indentured servant. Many children arrived in New England bound to the gentlemen they traveled with or as servants and crew aboard the ships. Some were gathered from the streets of London and sent en masse to work in the colonies as laborers and household servants.

There has also been some speculation that he may have arrived on the ship Assurance in 1634 at age sixteen, not an unlikely age for a crew member at that time. Approximately two hundred ships arrived in the Bay between 1630 and 1643 with an average of eighty passengers aboard each (approximately 16,000 people). The names of the passengers on these ships in many cases is not known, making John's passage difficult at best to investigate. There is record of John as a landowner in Roxbury by 1639 at age twenty one; how long before this date he arrived in New England is still open to speculation.

John married four times and had thirteen daughters and one son, all born in Roxbury, Massachusetts. His first wife was Susanna Bacon, daughter of George Bacon and Margaret from Hingham, England. They were married in Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1647 and had seven daughters. John would have been twenty-nine years old when he married for the first time. She is listed as a member of the First Church of Roxbury 12 May 1650. Susanna died in Roxbury on February 30, 1664; her gravestone is still intact at the Roxbury Cemetery. He married for the second time in 1664 at age forty six to Mary Ives, daughter of Miles Ives and Martha from Watertown, Massachusetts. Mary had one son who died in infancy and she died the following year during a smallpox epidemic on June 30, 1666. Mary's grave marker is also at the Roxbury Cemetery. John married for the third time at age fifty in 1668 to Hannah Cowdrey of Reading, Massachusetts. Hannah's parents were Deacon William Cowdrey from Weymouth, England and Joanna Licence. John and Hannah had six daughters and John's only son and heir. Hannah died June 8, 1684 and is also buried in the Roxbury Cemetery. His last marriage was to Jane Metcalf the widow of Philip Walker and daughter of Michael Metcalf and Sarah Elwyn from England. They had no children before Jane died October 24, 1701 at age sixty-nine, surviving John by twelve years.

Roxbury, Massachusetts Land and Church records of June 1639 indicate that John owned a farm in Roxbury (Jamaica Plain), possibly allotted to him by William Pynchon who established the town at Roxbury in 1630. John's land is described in the Roxbury land and church records as "bounded on the west by South Street Highway" which is described in the History of the First Church of Roxbury in 1663 as "that highway leading out of Dedham by John Polley's lott, and so along by John Weld's farm and so leading to Baere Marsh." Bear Marsh being the name given the territory "embracing the meadows upon the head waters of Stony Brook. It is most irregular in form, running first due south, and then northwest, it's circuitous windings beginning at the Third Church, and terminating opposite the Second. Its southerly bend at Roslindale, makes a part of Washington... This triangle two centuries ago was opposite the "home lott" of John Polley." From the maps of the next pages one can see that this is due south of Jamaica Pond in what is now Jamaica Plains. The streets in the area still bear the names of his neighbors and friends, ie. Eliot, Brewer, Metcalf, Weld, etc. His home was most likely in the area of Greenough Street just south of the corner of Centre and South. John also had "six accres meadow more or lesse abutting upon the meadow of Mr. John Gore north east upon the side of Baere Hill." This area is now in Forest Hills Cemetery. He sold at least a portion of his land to John Weld's son Edmund on March 16, 1658. He owned "a dwelling house and barne with other housing" on the lot. It was common for the colonists to be allotted a small "Home lot" for a dwelling and garden in or near town, a "Great lot" for farming and "Meadow" for pasturing and hay away from the main settlement, John apparently lived and farmed on one main "lot" of land and had meadows and other holdings in diverse areas of Roxbury. John having a lot numbered as low as "74" leads one to surmise that he was allotted the land soon after the town was established as does it's proximity to the Weld's and Eliot's property who arrived in Roxbury in 1633, or he was able to purchase a choice piece of land that was allotted to someone else soon after the area was settled.

John deeded land to Edward Gould on March 30, 1670, stating that "having formerly had to wife one Susanna, the daughter of George Bacon of Hingham, dec'd and one Edward Gould taking to wife the widow of said Bacon ..... Pollie and Susanna during her lifetime sold to Gould all their interests in the land owned by George Bacon." The Polley estate in Roxbury was purchased in 1752 by Commodore Joshua Loring. The Record of Boston Commissioners Report states "Opposite the intersection of Centre and South Sts. well back from the thoroughfare, stands the Greenough mansion, a large, square, old fashioned, roomy edifice, in which lived the Tory, Commodore Joshua Loring. It is said to have been framed in England, and occupied the site of a dwelling purchased of Loring by Mr. Pemberton, who gave it to the parish for a parsonage, and who removed it to the spot where Dr. Weld resided. The estate, formerly John Polley's was bought by Loring, in 1752, of the heirs of Joshua Cheever, of Charlestown. In May, 1775, the house was the headquarters of General Nathaniel Greene and was used as a hospital for the Roxbury camp. Just back of the house a number of American soldiers who died of disease were buried. In accordance with the act of the General Court of April 30, 1779, to confiscate the estates of "notorious conspirators," Loring's "large mansion house, convenient out-houses, gardens planted with fruit trees and 65 acres of mowing land were sold. It is still owned by the Greenough family... The handsome Town Hall still stands upon a portion of this estate."

John arrived in New England during a prosperous time for agriculture. The indians had been decimated by disease in the late 1620s, eliminating the danger of attack for years and allowing the settlers to attend to their farming unmolested. The land was very much like that in England so farming methods and seed were much the same. The climate was a little milder and the growing season longer which produced good harvests. Pasture and timber were readily available making husbandry, home building and procuring firewood relatively easy. It was during his lifetime that the Samoset and Squanto Indians taught farmers like John to plant corn, beans and squash and where to find lobsters and clams. The Wompanoag Indians under the leadership of Chief Massasoit were friendly to the colonists but the Chief's son, Metacomet (called King Phillip by the settlers) made war on the colonists beginning in 1675. Discontent had been steadily growing among the Indians as the colonist's cows destroyed the meadows and their hogs spoiled the clam beds. Many settlers were called upon to fight the Indians in King Philip's War. Chief Metacomet's forces attacked and killed many colonists before he was defeated and executed in 1676 by John's fourth wife's first husband Philip Walker.

A document from the residents of Roxbury censuring Harvard College bears John's name and mark dated March 5, 1672. The document objects that the students: "are brought up in such pride as dosth no wayes become such as are brought up for the holy service of the lord, either in the Magistracy, or ministery especially, and in particular in their long haire, which last first took head, and broke out at the Colledg so far as we understand and remember. "

College students pride and their wearing their hair long was seen as an "evyl to be removed". (the full text of the document is in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register)

Another document bearing John's name (see copy) dated December 25, 1668, covenants with John Pruden to: "engage to use his best skill and endeavor, both by precept and example, to instruct in all scholasticall, morall and theological, discipline, the children (for far as they are or shall be capable)"

This covenant began the first formal school for the children of Roxbury, Massachusetts.

John is listed as having taken the freeman's oath in Boston May 7, 1673. During the period 1630-1691 approximately 4500 men were admitted as freemen in Massachusetts. Why John waited so long to take the oath when he was a landowner and church member for many years prior may be that he did not want to be imposed upon to hold an office. In May of 1643 the General court ordered that with regard to "members that refuse to take their freedom, the churches should be writ unto, to deale with them" subsequently, in 1647, inasmuch as there were "within this jurisdiction many members of churches who, to exempt themselves from all publicke service in the commonwealth, will not come in to be made freemen," it ruled that all adult male church members, except servants, be considered freemen and required to take office when called upon. What prompted John to finally take the oath is not known. In actual practice many of the inhabitants participated in local government and elections without taking the oath, even though this was technically unlawful and it appears it was rarely enforced.

John died in Roxbury on April 2, 1689 at age seventy-one. He left a will which was probated in 1691 case No.1824 which can be found in the Suffolk county probate records as follows:

"The last will and testament of John Pooly of Roxbury in the county of [ ] in New England the 17th of Dec. 1688, as followeth, having my perfect understanding and memory by the Blessing of my Merciful father into whose hands I commit my soule, I dispose of my worldly estate. In the first place my will is that all my just debts and funeral charges be paid and discharged by my executors hereafter named with all convenient speed after my interment. Item I will and construct and appoint my only son and heir John Pooly executor to whom I give all my housen and lands that I shall dye possessed of namely when my son and heir John shall come to age of 21 years. in the meantime I will constitute and appoint my son in law John Peelom of Rehoboth to be Executor in trust for to take care and to act for my son John Pooly whom I make heir of all my housen and lands. Item if my son John Peelom of Rehoboth shall no accept to be executor in trust to act for and in behalf of my son and heir John Pooly in his non age then I constitute and appoint my son-in-law John Lion of Roxbury, executor in his roome and stand for the defraying of funeral charges and other just debts out of the income of the lands or moveables as the said John Pelom may do so if exception or John Lion if John Pelom do not accept of Executorship. Item my will is that my beloved wife Jane shall have all and every part of that covenant and contract made with me John Pooly before marriage fulfilled and for my seven dafters which I had by my first wife Susannah, they received 20£ apiece as their full portions except my Daughter Sabon but 15£ my will is that if I do not pay the 5£ to my son Benjamin Sabon before my decease than my Executor shall pay the same to said Benjamin. Item My will is that my 6 daughters that I had by my 3rd wife Hannah shall have 20£ apiece for their portions if not paid by me before my decease then to be paid by my executors out of the moveables and incomes of my lands within the terms of 7 years after my son and Heir John comes to age. Item If any of these 6 younger daughters should dye before marriage,namely Rebekah, Johannah, Roode, Patience, Sarah and then my son John Pooly to have a double part of the portion or portions of the deceased and the remainder equally divided amonst the survivor sisters, and the foure motherless children of my daughter Sabon to have their mothers part. Item If that my son and heir John Pooly should dye before he come onto age of 21 years then the houses and lands to be equally divided amonst my 13 children and six score £ being first discharged and paid to my six younger daughters. Item My will is that my eldest daughter of thirteen shall have a double part of all lands and moveables in case John Pooly dies before age so the word equally is to be understood Mary Pelom a double part and the twelve a single part. Moreover my will is that my executor in trust neither the one nor the other shall cutt or sell any wood but for fencing my lands and for their own firen during the time before that the heir comes to age. Item my will is that all the moveables and incomes of my lands and housen be carefully improved by my executors an trust as farr as may be towards the payment of the six score œ before John comes to age. Item My will is in case the heir decease under age than my son-in-law John Peelom or Mary his wife or her heirs to have the whole estate first tendered them they paying the six score £ and all the childrens parts and portions according unto will.

Signed and sealed in presence of us: John Polly X [ mark] (Seal) Nathaniel Brewer, Senr. Nathaniel Brewer Junr. Samuel Peren."

An inventory of the estate was taken 16 Apr 1689 by Nathaniel Brewer, Jabez Totman and Samuel Gore.

Letters of administration were granted on the estate to Henry Bowen and Joseph Weld 16 Feb 1692, as John Perrin executor was deceased and John Lyon refused. John Polley and Susanna Bacon were married about 1647 in Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA.¹⁶⁹

2115. Susanna Bacon¹⁷⁰ was born in 1625 in Suffolkshire, England.¹⁷¹ She emigrated in Apr 1635 from England. She was confirmed on 12 May 1650 in Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA. She was confirmed at the First Church of Roxbury . She died on 30 Apr 1664 in Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA.¹⁷² She was buried in Roxbury Cemetery, Roxbury, Massachusetts.¹³⁰ Children were:

1057	i.	Mary Polley.
	ii.	Sarah Polley was born before 2 Jun 1650 in Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA.173 There is no proof that Mary and Sarah were twins. However, one line of descent from Sarah can be traced to the present day with each alternate gerneration having a record of multiple births. She was baptized on 2 Jun 1650 in Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA.130 She died on 7 Sep 1677 in Rehoboth, Massachusetts.174 "Dismissed" by The First Church of Roxbury to Rehoboth, Massachusetts Feb-30-1671.
	iii.	Hannah Polley was baptized on 15 Feb 1651 in Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA.130 She was born on 15 Feb 1652 in Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA. Another source says Feb 1651. She died on 8 Jun 1684.175 Another source says 6 Feb 1720. She was buried in Eliot Cemetery, Roxbury, Massachusetts.174
	iv.	Abigail Polley was born on 4 Apr 1654 in Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA.173 Another source says 4 Jun 1654. She was baptized on 4 Jun 1654 in Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA.130 She died on 15 Jan 1702 in Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA.174 Another source says 15 Jan 1703. She was buried in Westerly Cemetery, Roxbury, MA.174 Died of smallpox.
	v.	Elisabeth Polley was born on 14 Apr 1657 in Woburn, Massachusetts. She died about 1718.
	vi.	Bethiah Polley was born on 12 Feb 1658 in Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA.130 Another source says 12 Feb 1659. She was baptized on 20 Feb 1658 in Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA. She died on 23 Aug 1748 in Reading, Massachusetts.174
	vii.	Susanna Polley was born on 22 Oct 1661 in Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA.173 Another source says 22 Dec 1661. She was baptized on 22 Oct 1661 in Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA.130 She died on 20 Apr 1729 in Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA.174 She was buried in Eliot Cemetery, Roxbury, Massachusetts.174
	viii.	Polley was born in 1662 in Roxbury, Suffolk Co., MA.