The Descendants of Samuel Sturtevant

by Robert H. Sturtevant

INTRODUCTION

The history of the settling and growth of the Plymouth, Massachusetts area, the first permanent settlement in the United States, is a most heart warming and inspiring story. When studied in depth, it will bring tears to your eyes and tear at your heart strings. This is the one story that stands out in history as to what can be accomplished by faith, love, determination, and hard work.

The early years of the settlement (first started by the Pilgrims in late 1620) can only be described as rough ones. Insurmountable tasks had to be performed, required living on reduced rations so newcomers could be fed, there was always the Indian scares, there were problems of being ill-equipped to face the cold and the wilderness about them, and then the sadness and despair of losing many loved ones.

There was a certain quality about these early settlers that makes it so inspiring; the faith of the people, their charity towards those who differed with them, their courage in the face of danger, their ready forgiveness of those who wronged them, and their patience under adversity. They were hard years for these early pioneers. The hours were long and the work was back-breaking, but they struggled to meet each challange or set-back as it occurred.

There is a saying "I can neither be proud nor ashamed of my ancestors as I had nothing to do with choosing them" but I am proud of these ancestors as you should be. I appreciate the sacrifices they made and the challanges they met. They have bequeathed to us all - a very noble heritage.

Samuel Sturtevant was one of the settlers in Plymouth Massachusetts, coming to the "New World" about the year 1639/40. No documentation can be found relating to his birthdate, birthplace his parentage, or who he specifically married. To build a biography on Samuel, it has necessitated piecing together certain factors (like working a giant jig-saw puzzle) and making assumptions as to what the "picture" looks like.

SAMUEL'S DATE OF BIRTH

The date of "about 1624" is the most common date found. Samuel Sturtevant was a "Townsman of Plymouth" in 1640, by the list submitted to the town meeting on May 18, 1688. In 1640, "Townsman" meant "freeman and voter"• by 1688 it had more the implication of "resident". Under the earlier terminology this could indicate that Samuel was at least age 21 in 1640, so he could have been born as early as 1618 and that 1624 is the latest probable date.

SAMUEL'S BIRTHPLACE

Various statements have been found - none verified. Discovery of a birth or baptismal record would very likely give a clue to parentage. A query in Hartford Times, June 5, 1954, said "Nottingham, England", but no proofs cited. Holmes' "Ancestral Heads", page 231, says Rochester, Kent, England, but this is not found elsewhere and evidently is unproved. Some sources say Holland.

The names of Sturtevant, Sturtivant, Sturdevant, and Sturdivant, are of English origin and are early nicknames given to pursuivants harbingers, or heralds. From the Middle English "Sterten" - meaning "to start" - plus the Anglo-French "ava(u)nt" - meaning "forward"…"away" signifying "start away" for a messenger. Early forms of the name are: Stryrtauant; Stircuant; Stircyuant; and Sturdyvaunte.

Writing in 1913, Walter H. Sturtevant (see Dedication) said that in the early 1600's and later there were Sturtevant families in Nottinghamshire, at Carlton and Norwell - not far from Scrooby, but that it would be pure guesswork to connect Samuel with them, lacking verifying records.

SAMUEL'S PARENTAGE

Samuel's parents may have been among the Pilgrims who fled from England to Holland. They may have remained there or have died in one of the epidemics of 1610, 1616, etc. They may have returned to England. There are intangible indications that his parents were of good middle class stock, possibly with family or other relationships with persons of standing in Puritan circles. The family name "John" might have some important significance. On recording the name of Samuel's first son, the name Samuel was first written, then crossed out and John interlined in the same handwriting. His sixth child was also named John.

HOW AND FROM WHERE DID SAMUEL COME

There are no proofs or leads in known records. It is an educated guess that he came, possibly from London, England in his teens as an apprentice or indenture. Young men of good family often indentured themselves for passage costs and apprenticeships were a normal educational procedure of the times. Samuel's known record after 1642 makes it seem unlikely that he jumped ship at Plymouth, either from one of the fishing fleet that touched there, or from one of the vessels that made this port of call. He was a yeoman, and possibly something of a small trader, but not a mariner.

SAMUEL'S WIFE

To add confusion, Samuel's wife, in various records, has been listed as Ann, Anna, and Hannah. Her identity and vital dates, except her 2nd marriage to John Bass have never been proved. It has been generally "accepted" that Samuel married Ann Lee, daughter of Robert and Mary Lee. Robe Lee was a shoemaker at Plymouth from before January 3, 1636 until after August 6 1662. As of October 20 1643, he had two .daughters, Ann and Mary (both mentioned that date in the will of John Atwood). John Atwood called the elder Lees "my brother and sister". Daughter Mary Lee became the wife of John Howland; Jr., of Barnstable, Massachusetts.

KNOWN FACTS ABOUT SAMUEL STURTEVANT

A court order dated May 3 1642 settled a case over "corn in partnership" between Mr. John Jenney (Plymouth's miller), Samuel Sturtevant and Joseph Ramsden. This order indicates that Edward Dotey, not a litigant, had agreed to pay Samuel Sturtevant 13 1/2 bushels for his part of the crop ( probably harvested in 1641); that Jenney owed Dotey 5 1/2 bushes "for Thurston Clark"; and that Ramsden owed Dotey 8 bushels. Evidently Sturtevant was in debt to Jenney for the miller got 13 1/2 bushels of the corn and Dotey was "free from any further incumbrance therein". This court record might indicate that Samuel had come over under an indenture, had planted at Dotey's man, and was to get 13 1/2 bushels of the crop as part of his termination award. The usual final settlement on an indenture at that time was a suit of clothes 20 acres of land, and 12 bushels of corn. Dotey himself had come on the Mayflower as an indentured servant to Stephen Hopkins. About 1635 Dotey was seeking one or more indentures from London for his service.

The next year Samuel Sturtevant and Joseph Ramsden had John Jenney in court on a trespass action, 20 pounds damage. On June 6, 1643 Ramsden recovered, but apparently Sturtevant got nothing. This action would indicate that Samuel was a free man and a property owner by 1643, and also that he was born earlier than 1624 - the approximate date usually found.

Samuel was listed, at Plymouth, in August 1643, among the males between the ages of 16 and 60 able to bear arms. Under the law of the time, he was thus a member of the Plymouth Train Band and did normal military service. There is no record of his having combat duty. He was not listed in the small detachment sent from the colony to the Pequot Wars. After 1645, he was assigned to the north squadron of the Plymouth Company whose emergency assembly point was Jones River.

He helped lay out a route across Jones River to the Massachusetts Path prior to June 10, 1650; was elected one of the Surveyors for Highways of Plymouth Town on June 5, 1651; and was elected Plymouth Town Constable in 1664. He was elected as one of the Jurymen in 1650, 1656, 1657/58, 1659, 1660, 1661, 1663, 1664, 1665, 1666, 1667, 1668, and 1669 (serving in court on July 6, 1669). At the Plymouth Town Meeting on May 18, 1668, he was appointed on the committee of twelve to draw up the warrant for the next town meeting to be held on .February 21, 1669.

Samuel's first recorded land purchase was on July 17, 1645, when he bought from John Shaw, Jr. for L4:10•0 (payable in good Beaver before October 31, 1645), 20 acres at High Cliff, Plymouth, bounded south by lands of Samuel Cuthbertson, and north by lands of John Shaw, Sr. By October 26 1647 he had bought other land from Kanelme Winslow, the amount and location of this yet to be determined.

On December 25, 1655, he was granted by Plymouth Town 4 acres of meadow land on the north side of a branch of Jones River. Five years later the town granted him 50 acres of land on the north side of Jones River on the southeast side of his meadow. This 50 acres he exchanged in July 1667 for 50 acres at the south end of Monponsett Pond abutting 50 acres of Mr. William Bradford's. By grant or purchase he acquired considerable other land, and in his right some grants were made to his widow after his death.

Samuel Sturtevant's dwelling and homelot was at High Cliff (North Plymouth), presumably the 20 acres bought in 1645. This was later occupied by his son John, to whom his other sons sold their rights in this homestead on April 25, 1693.

SUMMARY

The following exerpt from a history written by Claire Sturtevant Booth (10-11) best describes Samuel and his wife Ann.

"The whole of Samuel's Colony life of about twenty-eight years was an active one of founding a home, providing for the needs of his family, extending his lands, farming and serving the community in minor capacities. It is surprising that Samuel found time to serve the community in any way considering the demands made upon his time and strength through the support of his family. In view of this fact, it is evident he was very ambitious and energetic, and possessed of considerable strength and courage. While to none of his public offices can be ascribed any particular greatness, still, each does signify a certain amount of stability and dependability. Had Samuel not been of proven value to the community he would not have been selected by the Governors and their Assistants for the positions to which he was assigned. Such men of strength as William Bradford, Miles Standish, Edward Winslow, Thomas Prince, William Collyer, and Edmond Freeman were active in administering the internal affairs of the Colony and their exemplary conduct to a great measure, influenced Samuel's life through his association with them. As the years passed over the Colony and Samuel gained the experience of age he became a respected member of the community and a man of moral worth in the estimation of his associates.

"Whoever Ann may have been before her marriage, she proved to be a good wife and mother. Perhaps Samuel was growing as a man of worth in his community before their marriage but it was not until 1647 that his name begins to appear conspicuously in Plymouth records. Ann was undoubtedly a women of intelligence and sensing the force of Samuel's character in a way, assisted in directing his perseverance and tenacity of purpose into fields of greater prominence. Samuel did not become a great man in the Colony but he accomplished a great deal in the way of assisting to stabilize the life of the community through his industry and moral conduct. It may readily be taken for granted that unless Ann had been a woman of character, of good family connection, and a real counselor that Samuel would never have progressed to a great degree. The fact that her boys grew to be rugged and stout hearted men would still further prove the value of her character and morals. Another indication is that her girls married into good families, the Little's and the Waterman's."

Index: 1-1

Name: Sturtevant, Samuel (none)
Born: Between 1618-1624 possibly at Rochester, Kent, England
Died: October 16, 1669 at Plymouth Massachusetts
Buried At: At Plymouth, Massachusetts
Married: Possibly Ann (none) Lee about 1644 at Plymouth, Massachusetts

Born: About 1625
Died: After March 30, 1697 possibly at Plympton, Massachusetts
Parent's Name: Robert and Mary ( ) Lee

Children:
Ann (none)- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Index:2-1
John (none) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Index: 2-2
Mary (none) ----------------- Index: 2-3
Samuel (none) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Index: 2-4
Hannah (none) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Index: 2-5
John (none) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Index: 2-6
Lydia (none ----------------- Index: 2-7
James none) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Index: 2-8
Joseph (none) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Index: 2-9

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF SAMUELL STURTIVANT deceased exhibited to the Court held att Plymouth in New England, the 29 day of October, Court on the Oathes of WILLIAM CROW and JOHN SMITH.
To all people to whom these presents Shall Come, Know yea that I Samuell Sturtivant of the Towne of New Plymouth, being weake in body through many infermities but in pfect and sound memory doe make and ordain this to be my last will and Testament in manor and forme following. Imp. I will and bequeath unto my soninlaw John Waterman, the one half of that my sharre of Land that I bought of Edward Gray, which lyeth near Mamassakeesett ponds called the Majors purchase. Item. I will and bequeath unto my Sonnes Namely Samuell, James, John; and Joseph and to the child my wife now goeth with (if a boy) after my wifes decease; all my house and land that I now dwell upon and all other lands and meddowes with all Rightes belonging thereunto that I have in any place whatsoever; to he equally Devided to all or Soe many of my aforesaid sonnes as Shalbe alive att my wifes decease; and incase my wife thinketh it meet, to Settle and give my Son Samuell a double sharre of the said housing and lands. Then it is my will that Hee shall hve it that is two sharres and the Rest liveing one sharre a peece and incase any of my Sonnes are minded to Seel theire prtes after theire devision my will is that Hee sell it to one of his brothers in case any of them will give as may be thought meet by two different men. Item. I will and bequeath unto my dear and Loveing wife all my cattle goods and estate whatsoever is appertaining and belonging to mee. And by these presents make and ordaine her to be the sole executrix of this my Last Will and Testament to administer upon my said estate to pay such debts an are due from mee and to Receive all such debts as are owing unto mee. In Witness heerof I have put to my hand and seale this first day of August one thousand Six hundred sixty and nine.

Signed and Sealed in the presents of William Crow

The foregoing is a true copy from Plymouth Colony Records
Volume 3, of Will, Page 10.
Attest: JOHN B. WASHBURN, Reg'r of Deeds