Descendants of John Towne and Elizabeth Clark, with sources

Descendants of John Towne and Elizabeth Clark, with sources

William Towne

From the Towne Family Newsletter:

William and Joana Towne came to Salem Massachusetts from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England about 1640.

Three of William and Joanna's daughters, Rebecca Towne Nurse, Mary Towne Estey, and Sarah Towne Bridges Cloyse, were victims of the 1692 Salem witchcraft hysteria. Sarah was imprisoned but later released; Rebecca and Mary were hanged.

Many of William and Joanna's descendants have distinguished themselves in various fields of endeavor through the years. Architect Ithiel Town, who designed the covered truss bridge, was a descendant, as were Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, and Elizabeth Nourse, the 19th-century artist. Laura Towne, who established the first school for African-American children after the Civil War, and Maine author Kenneth Roberts were both descendants. The home of General Salem Towne is now part of the Sturbridge Village, Mass., Living Museum.

**From "About Towne" Vol. XVI No. 1, Jan, Feb, Mar 1996:

"Update on the William Towne Family:

William (1) Towne was baptized on 18 Mar 1598/9 in the Church of St. Nicholas, Great Yarmouth, Norfolkshire, England, to John and Elizabeth Towne. John Towne married Elizabeth Clarke on 20 Sep 1597 in Blundeston (Fixton Parish Register), Suffolkshire, England. Charles Farrow, Towne Family Association (TFA) genealogist, stated that this is probably the marriage of William's parents.

William married on 25 Apr 1620 in the Church of St. Nicholas to Joanna Blessing. Their first six children were baptized in that church (per Norfolk Record Office Records):

Rebecca 21st February, 1620/21

John 16th February, 1622/23

Susan 26th October, 1625

Edmund 22nd June, 1628

Jacob 11th March, 1631/32

Mary 24th August, 1634

Their two youngest children, born in Salem, Massachusetts, and both baptized on 3 Sep 1648 in the Salem Meeting House were:

Sarah born 1636

Joseph born 1639

Death records from Great Yarmouth show that: John Towne d. on 13 Sept 1627; Susan Towne, a child, d. on 29 July 1630; and widow Elizabeth Towne d. on 7 Sept 1630.

The Blessing Family

More research needs to be done on the Blessing family, but some information is known: John Blyssynge married Joane Preaste on 15 Oct 1569 at Somerlayton, Suffolk, England. They had: Julian b. in 1571 and William b. in 1575, both at Somerlayton. William Blessing had at least four daughters:

Margaret m. Robert Buffam on 23 Aug 1613 St. Nicholas Ch., Gt. Yarmouth

Alice m. ? Firmage circa 1615; He was of Gt Yarmouth.

Joane (Joanna) m. William Towne on 25 Mar 1620 St Nicholas Ch., Gt Yarmouth

Julian m. Thomas Vergoose (Goose) on 31 Aug 1622 St Nicholas Ch.

Joanna Towne, Alice Firmage and Margaret's husband, Robert Buffam, came to the American Colonies, Margaret having predeceased her husband before he sailed. They all came with their children with the Puritan movement of which they had a part and settled in Salem, Mass. Julian Blessing Goose and her husband also came to the American colonies. She was later known as "Mother Goose" in the Boston, Mass. area and is referred to as such in publications.

Gardners at Great Yarmouth

William Towne and his father, John, both were gardners, despite the fact that William was apprenticed on 5 Nov 1608 "for 14 years from 2nd Feb next" to a basketmaker, Abraham Robbertes (Roberts) of Yarmouth (Great Yarmouth Apprenticeship Indentures 1563-1665 by Paul Rutledge.)

Coming to New England

In trying to determine exactly when William and Joanna brought their children to Salem in New Englad, the following items seem to indicate that it probably occurred in the summer of 1635. On 25 Apr 1635, William apprenticed his twelve year old son, John, to cooper, Lionel Gibson, for " a period of 8 years from 24th June next."

From the Norwich Consistory and Archdeaconry Visitation Records, we find on 26 Nov 1635, it was noted that William and Joan Towne were cited by the Archdeacon for failing to appear for communion and are noted as Separatists.

William and Joanna's children who came with them on the ship circa 1635 were: Rebecca, age 14; Jacob, age 3 1/2, and Mary, age 1. Edmund, age 7, supposedly came to America, at age 9, in June 1637 with the Henry Skerry family; however, there is some question if he is the same Edmund Towne who was listed as age 19 on the ship's manifest. Apprentice records in Great Yarmouth have no record of Edmund being bound to Skerry.

The Mystery of John Towne born 1623

In regard to John Towne, to be apprenticed until 24 June 1643, there still remains to be found the proof that he was John Towne/Townes, ancestor of the southern Towne/Townes families. Captain Charles A Towne certainly believed that he was the same John Towne (m. to Phebe Lawson) and collected data on the southern families. There are numerous records of a John Towne in CT in 1642/43; a John Towne in Northumberland Co, VA in 1649 and a John Towne was the witness of the signing of the deed in Springfield MA conveying the land from the Indians to Springfield. Now, genealogist Farrow, has found John Townes in the Yarmouth area. Did John come to New England??

When the estate of William Towne was settled on 10 Apr 1683, there was no mention of son, John. The Essex County Probate Record No. 27923 shows the following:

Estate of William Towne of Topsfield;

"Administration granted 24:4:1673 to Johana Towne on the estate of Wm. Towne, her late husband, and she was to bring in an inventory to the next Ipswich court. Salem Quarterly Court Records, vol 5, leaf 66.

Petition for settlement of a small estate left the undersigned by their father, who died ten years ago leaving no will, but left his estate in the hands of their mother who was appointed administratrix and the estate remained unsettled until her death, and now they desire that the following division may be allowed; the land to be divided equally to his three sons, Edmond, Jacob and Joseph and the moveables equally to the three daughters, Rebecka, Mary, and Saray; also the three brothers to pay all debts now due and what charges shall after arise in settlement of the estate to be equally borne by all six.

Dated Jan 17, 1682. Signed by Mary (her mark) Towne relict of Edmond, Jacob Towne, Josep (his mark) Towne, Francis (his mark) Nurs with the consent of Rebeka, Mary (her mark) Esty formerly Mary Towne, Sarah (her mark) Bridges.

Witness: John How, John Pritchet,

Allowed by the court at Ipswich Apr 10, 1683, Ipswich Deeds, vol 4, page 515."

** all the above by Shirley Drury Patterson, Editor in chief of the TFA Newsletter.

This is from the Towne Family Association web site 6-21-2008:

An interesting fact recently discovered is the first deed of sale of land by William Towne. In it he states he is a "Gardner." This term was used by those who grew and sold flowers. These men belonged to a Guild in old England. This would qualify William Towne's descendants for the new Lineage Organization "The Guild of Colonial Artisans and Tradesmen 1607 - 1783." If there is anyone interested in joining this organization to honor Willam Towne, please contact me at brbaylis@aol.com and I will certainly pass your name along to the President General of this group. At present we have three active Towne members who have joined. If you would like to know more about The Guild or coloninal occupations their web site is: http://www.guildcolonialartsandtrades.org/

This is from the Towne Family Association web site 6-21-2008:

A Colonial Map is in Sidney Perley's History of Salem, Massachusetts, Volume I, 1638-1670, Sallem, MA 1926 pages 315 & 316 which shows the location of the original Land Owners in Salem MA. Here it shows the plot of William Towne. Lois has tried to locate this on today's maps but with the change of time exact location has been impossible.

Joanna Blessing

From:

"About Towne" TFA Newsletter Vol XXI, No 4 Oct, Nov, Dec 2001

by Shirly Drury Patterson:

Baptism Record Found for Joanna Blessing

The record of the baptism of Joanna (Blessing) Towne on 22 June 1595 to John and Jone Blessing was found earlier this year in the Caister Parish Records, Norfolk County, by Charles W Farrow, the English genealogist. He is in the process of obtaining a certified copy of this record. [The full article can be read in the publication].