Person Page - 459

     Unknown [--?--] Poore was also known as Unknown [--?--] Poore. She was born circa 1592 in in England.

Unknown married Daniel Poore circa 1614 in in England. Date of marriage guessed from birthdate of oldest child. Place from LDS Family Group Record..

Unknown died after 1624. Date of death assumed after birth of last child..

     Dorothy Prince was born before 2 March 1615/16.¹ She was baptized on 2 March 1615/16 in West Shefford, Berkshire, England.²

     Ursula Prince was born before 20 February 1619/20.¹ She was baptized on 20 February 1619/20 in West Shefford, Berkshire, England.²

     Edward Prince was born on 7 February 1621.¹ He was baptized on 24 November 1621 in East Shefford, Berkshire, England.¹

     He was baptized on 4 February 1625/26 in East Shefford, Berkshire, England.¹ George Prince was born on 4 February 1625/26.¹

     Katherine Prince was born before 26 July 1629 in East Shefford, Berkshire, England.¹ She was baptized on 26 July 1629 in East Shefford, Berkshire, England.¹

     Maria Prince was born before 26 September 1630.¹ She was baptized on 26 September 1630 in East Shefford, Berkshire, England.²

     Ralph Farnum was born on 25 August 1601 at Leicester, Leicester, England.¹ He was christened on 30 August 1601 at in Southampton, Hampshire, England.²

Ralph married Alice [--?--] Farnum before 1628 at St Peter's Church, England.³

Ralph Farnum set sail from london, England the latter part of July 1635 in the brig James, John May, Master. He was listed as 32 years old on the ship's passenger's list. He arrived in Boston the last week of September with his wife Alice, aged 28, and children: Mary 7, Thomas 4, and Ralph 2.

Ralph settled in Ipswich where he is first mentioned in 1639 but he was probably there earlier. He was called a barber on the ship list but was the first town crier of Ipswich. He probably died there, for his widow re-married there in 1648.²

Ralph died before 1648 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts.⁴

     After Ralph Farnum's death Alice married Solomon Martin on 18 June 1648 (not listed in Ipswich or Andover VR per CD). Solomon was listed as 16 years old when he came over on the James with the Farnums in 1635. He had settled in Gloucester where he was a ship carpenter and the widow Alice was his second wife. They no doubt moved to Andover shortly after their marriage for he was made freeman there on 26 May 1652. Alice [--?--] Farnum was born circa 1607 in in Leicester, Leicester, England.¹

Alice married Ralph Farnum before 1628 at St Peter's Church, England. Alice later married Solomon Martin, date unknown.²

Alice died after 1648.³

     Elder John Prince was born in 1610 at St. Martin, Oxford, England.^1,2

John Prince was a student at Oxford University and was expected to succeed his father, the Rev. John Prince, as Rector of East Shafford Church in Berkshire. However, his ideas of church government conflicted with those of Archbishop Laud, and he was obliged to flee from his displeasure and persecution (says George Prince, 1888); and in 1633 he left the classic grounds of Oxford for the wilds of America.

John is first mentioned in the records of Cambridge, MA as owner of two lots of land "in Westend" on 4 August 1634, with the memo "removed to Hull." He also got another two "behind the Pyne S(wamp?) on 5 January 1634/35 and a 1/2 share in the "meaddow ground undeuided belonging to the New towne (Fresh Meadow Pond)" (per Records of the Town of Cambridge [formerly Newtowne], Massachusetts, 1630-1703, pp.8-13).

John was made a freeman 4 March 1635 at Watertown. In 1635, he was granted a lot of land in "Broad Cove Meadows" in Hingham, MA bordering on the Commons, and consisting of three acres more or less. Since Hingham had been founded by Rev. Peter Hobart and house lots were drawn on 18 September 1635, it seems likely that John Prince was one of the founders.

After John married Alice Honor in Watertown, they lived in Nantasket in 1638 but soon removed to a permanent home on Light-House Island, Hull, MA (Since there was then no known lighthouse in Hull, it seems reasonable to believe that their first house may have been on an extension of Peddock's Island, which is still called Prince's Point), Nantasket had a settlement as early as 1628, and was incorporated in 1644 under the name of Hull.

When the land grants were made, John and his family may have moved to Hull Village but they still maintained close ties with the church at Hingham for Rev. Peter Hobart baptized all of their children born between 1638 and 1658. (Per Ethyl Farrington Smith, John's houselot in Hull was on Further Hill, between those of Nicholas Baker and George Vickery, where the Cushing house, built later, still stands. )

Being a young gentleman of liberal education, his fellow citizens urged John Prince to become their pastor, but thinking that he had not made enough progress in learning for the ministry, he compromised by accepting the office of Ruling Elder*: Hull's first Ruling Elder and religious teacher. He applied himself to husbandry and the sea.

In 1660, Elder John Prince was appointed magistrate of Hull by the General Court. The Town records are lost up to 1725.

On 31 May 1670, "in answer to a motion made to this court by the people of Hull, John Prince is empowered to solemnize marriages between such as are duly published there in that towne according to law" (Mass Bay Records, 2:454).

There is abundant evidence that Elder Prince was held in great esteem by all his townsmen. To him were referred the local disputes and differences of his neighbors; and to him were confided the marriage settlements of married couples, and the care of widow's and orphan's estates. He was recognized as intelligent and far-sighted, with a tolerant nature which made it possible for him to mediate beteen opposing elements in this diverse society of men. His solutions were submitted to without a murmur.

He continued for nearly thirty years to act as the Ruling Elder; teacher and shepherd of the little flock. Ministers came and went; but the beloved Elder was one of their own number and remained with them until his death, devoted to their welfare and the little Church by the Sea.

On 9 May 1676, John Prince, Sr. being "weak in body" wrote his will (Suffolk Co. Probate 6:128), leaving his whole estate for the current year and the next "by sea and by land" for the use of his dearly beloved wife and youngest son Thomas, who was under age and was directed to remian with his (step)mother until the end of 1678, having his "clothing and his years diet washing and lodging and his imploy and the profit of it for himself as all his brethren have had before time." Sons John and Joseph were named executors, and with Samuel were to manage the estate for the benefit of their (step)mother and younger brother. When the estate was divided (presumably after the death of the widow), it was to be split equally among all the children: John Prince, Joseph Prince, Elizabeth Prince wife to Josiah Loring, Martha Prince now wife to Christopher Wheaton, Job Prince, Samuel Prince, Isaac Prince, and William Prince, "to all of these alike as they may divide it amongst themselves or call any of their friend whom they agree on to do it for them and if either of them shall strive or endeavour by any trick of law to get more than his equal share my will is that he shall have no part..." Beloved wife Anna is to have the northwest room or end of the house as long as she lived if she "continue in the town" and to have a cow kept for her in the pasture, his children allowing her two bushelks of Indian corn apiece per year and one bushel of malt. His ship was to "made fit for service by either John or Samuel Prince and they to have one half the profit to (i.e., for) my wifes maintenance while she lives.." The will, witnessed by Zachariah Whitman and Nathaniel Bosworth, was proved 18 October 1676. The inventory came to 315 pounds.
The first family historian, Rev. Thomas Prince of Old South Church, Boston, states that all of Elder Prince's sons took to the sea. In Mass. Archives from 1687 to 1700 are found numerous records of clearances and arrivals of Capt. Job Prince of the ship "James" of Boston; Capt. Thomas Prince of the brig "Dolphib" of Bosoton; Capt. Samuel Prince of the sloop "Tryall" and of the "Little Otis" and others; Capt Joseph Prince and Capt Isaac Prince in the Naval Service.

John, the eldest son, died at Hull; Joseph at Quebec; Job was lost in the British Channel; Samuel died at Middleboro; Benjamin at Jamaica; Isaac at Boston; and Thomas, the youngest, at Barbadoes.

*Per Gildersleeve Pioneers by Willard Harvey Gildersleeve, M.A., one of the duties of a Ruling Elder of a Puritan Community was to assist the Pastor in the government of the church, particularly to keep stern watch over all brethren and sisters and see that they demeaned themselves in an orderly and godly manner; to prepare and bring in all cases of discipline; to warn the careless; admonish the wayward and to present the incorrigible before the proper tribunal and in the absence of the pastor or teacher to pray with the congrgation and expound the scriptures.

John married Alice Honor in May 1637 in in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Elder John and Alice had 9 children..²

John married Anna Hubbard circa 1670.³

John died on 16 August 1676 in Hull, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts.⁴

     Alice Honor was born in 1612?.¹

Alice married Elder John Prince in May 1637 in in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Elder John and Alice had 9 children..²

Alice died in 1668 in Hull, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts.³

     John lived in Scituate, Massachusetts. He was brought to the Plymouth Colony about 1628 by his father and mother. He was known as John Turner the Elder to distinguish him from a younger brother with the same given name. John Turner was born in 1620.¹

John married Mary Brewster on 10 November 1645. John and Mary had 9 sons and 4 daughters.¹

John died in 1697 in Scituate, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts.¹

     Mary Brewster was born on 16 April 1627.¹

Mary married John Turner on 10 November 1645. John and Mary had 9 sons and 4 daughters.¹

     Anna Hubbard was born in 1640?.¹

Anna married Elder John Prince circa 1670.²

     Nathaniel Merrill was born circa 1571 at Wherstead, Suffolk, England.¹ Nathaniel married Mary Blacksoll on 27 February 1591/92 at Wherstead, Suffolk, England.²

Nathaniel died between 17 March 1625 and 1656 in Wherstead, Suffolk, England.³

     Mary Blacksoll was born circa 1574 in Wherstead, Suffolk, England.¹

Mary married Nathaniel Merrill on 27 February 1591/92 in Wherstead, Suffolk, England.²

Mary died in May 1624 in Wherstead, Suffolk, England.³

     Thomas Merrill was born circa 1572 in Wherstead, Suffolk, England.¹ He married Rose Pearson on 15 July 1595 at Wherstead, Suffolk, England.² Thomas died on 17 March 1626 at Wherstead, Suffolk, England.³

     Rose Pearson was born ??? 1575.¹

Rose married Thomas Merrill on 15 July 1595 in Wherstead, Suffolk, England.²

     John Merrill was born circa 1574 at Wherstead, Suffolk, England.¹ He married Rose Plumley on 29 March 1601 .²

John died in 1602.³

     Rose Plumley was born ??? 1577.¹

Rose married John Merrill on 29 March 1601.²

     Michael Merrill was born in 1577 in Wherstead, Suffolk, England.¹ He married Margaret Scrivener on 7 March 1602 at in Belstead, Suffolk, England.²

Michael died circa 20 August 1616 in in Belstead, Suffolk, England.³

     Margaret Scrivener was born ??? 1580.¹

Margaret married Michael Merrill on 7 March 1602 in in Belstead, Suffolk, England.²

     Stephen Wolterton was born in Wherstead, Suffolk, England.

Stephen married Susannah [--?--] Wolterton ??? 1609.¹