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From my book "LINE OF DESCENT OF GEORGE ROGER GILBERT"
From the Genealogy
ABBE-ABBEY GENEALOGY
in memory of
JOHN ABBE AND HIS DESCENDANTS
"First Generation
1. JOHN ABBE born in England about 1613; died in Salem, Mass., about 1689-90. The place of birth of John Abbe, the founder of the American Abbe and Abbey families, is unknown, but every indication points to one of the interior and central counties of England as the home of the ancestors of the emigrant. It is not improbable that he was connected with the Abbye family of Staverton, Northampton. The parish registers of Stoke Bruerne, Northampton, show that there were many marriages of Abbyes recorded there during the 16th and 17th centuries.
John Abbe, from the age as given approximately at his death, was born about 1613. The first mention which seems to be of this John Abbe is on a register of the names "of all ye passengers wch passed from ye Porte of London for a whole yeare endinge at Xmas 1635 - those underwritten are to be transported to Virginia imbarqued in ye Mercht bonaventure James Ricrofte Mr bound thither have taken ye oath of allegeance - Jo: Abby 22 yeares - " Although this statement says bound for Virginia, it is a well-known fact that many of the early ships destined for Virginia, landed many or all of their passengers at other ports, even in New England about that time. The above Jo: Abby does not appear in the records of Virginia, nor in the head Rights for lower Norfolk from 1637 to 1666. The abbreviation Jo: sometimes stood for Joseph, but there are proven instances where it was used for John.
The first reference to the name in the Salem records is on page 11, volume 1, in 1637 or, according to the old method of marking time, 2d of the 11th month, 1636.
"John Abbie is Recd. ffer Inhabitant & is to haue one acre lott for a house next beyond the Gunsmiths, and 3 acres of planting ground where the Towne hath appointed beyond Castle hill."
There has existed some confusion regarding the various freemen of the name Abbey and Alby. Benjamin Albye was admitted freeman, May 18, 1642, and John Albye in Salem, May 10, 1643. These were, without doubt, the two Albys, John and Benjamin, mentioned in the early records of Braintree about this time. Benjamin Alby removed to Mendon and had numerous descendants, Whose names occasionally appear in printed records as Abbey. John Abbey, Sen., of Redding, freeman in 1634, may have been an Alby.
On the 21st, 11th month, 1638, John Abby had a further grant of five acres, location not specified, but, as on the 15th, 2d month, 1639, this record occurs, "Granted unto John Abby 5 acres neere to Mr. Throgmortons Hoogehouse," it may be that the first was the grant and the second the location. Under date of the 25th, 10th month, 1637, it was agreed "the marsh and meadow lands that have formerly been laid in common to this town shall now be appropriated to the inhabitants of Salem, proportioned out to them according to the heads of families. To these that have the greates number an acre therof, and to these that have least not above half an acre, and to these that are between both three quarters of an acre, always provided and it is so agreed, that none shall sell away their proportions of meadow, more or less, nor lease them out to any above three years, unless they sell or lease out their houses with their meadow."
Under the above division a list of the inhabitatns was taken, and the land divided. Jo: Abby is named in 1638 as having three in his family, and receives half an acre.
On the 23d, 11th, 1642, ten acres are granted to John Abby together with several other ten-acre grants, all to be laid out near to Kings lot. This was on the Beverly side near Bass River, and on the 15th of the 12th month, 1642, it is voted "ordered that John Abby shall have 10 acres of land at Enon in exchange of 10 acres of land bounded out nere Basse River."
The lot near Bass River was afterward granted to Michael Sallows. The record of the grants to Abbey show that he was of the same standing in the community as the great majority of the early inhabitants. The grants were in a great measure made with an eye as to the ability of the grantee to develop the land so granted, small grants to the poorer and larger grants to the richer sort.
In 1642, Mr. Fiske organized a church at Enon and the following year the name Enon was changed to Wenham, while a permanent church organization was effected in 1644.
In 1644, under date of the 13th, 6th month, it was agreed that John Abby "shall have all that wastground which lyeth between ye end of ye lott which he lives upon and ye meadow which belongs to ye town, leaving a poles bredth most convenient for a way." (Wenham town records, Worcester.)
Under date of 1653 is a list of engagements with Goodman Haws about the mill, and "John Aby gives a day and a half of his labor toward its erection," and others contributed in like manner, some also giving the use of oxen.
Mr. Fiske left the town in 1655 followed by a number of the church, and in 1657 Mr. Newman was procured as pastor. Under date of November, 1657, in a total rate of 42,19 pounds, divided among twenty-four persons, of whom five paid a total of 14 pounds, John Abey is assessed 1,5, which was about the sum paid by eleven other, but two being less.
In 1659, twenty-seven pay a rate of 46,2, of whom sixteen pay 1 or a trifle over. Of these John Abey pays 1,5, as before, " in corne or cattle"
In 1660 he was assessed as Goodman Abey at eight shillings toward a new meeting house or repairing the old one. The new house was built in 1663.
Under date of 6th, 11th month, 1661, John Abbey, Sr., and Edward Waldron had a town grant of land to be equally divided between them. The use of the title Senior at this time helps to place the birth of the son John.
In 1663 Goodman Abey, Sr., and John Clarke are chosen to join with the selectmen to make the minister's rate for the present year.
In 1669 and in 1671 John Abbey appears as constable, and office of great local power and reponsibility.
April 3, 1675, John Abbe deeded 10 acres of land to his son Samuel; Thomas, John, and Mary Abbe, being witnesses. John Abbe, sen., was a witness to the will of Edward Walden of Salem, 4th month, 1679
In 1683, John Abbey, who had been supporting his son Thomas, who lived with him and cared for him, dismissed Thomas on account of his bad behavior and called his son John, Junior, to take charge of him and his affairs. The son, John, proceeded early to build a new house, as the old one was unfit to live in.
Know all men by these presents that I John Abbey (Senior) of Wenham in the County of Essex being sensible of my owne & my wives inability to carry on my affaires so as to prouid for our comfortable livelyhood by reason of our age & weakness of body attending us by reason thereof doe make choice of & request my son John Abbey as my ffeiofe in trust to take into his hands my house & all my lands in Wenham together with that right I have in that land which was sometime Richard Gooldsmiths, to ocquipie & improue for myn & his muttuall benifit so long as my wife & I or eyther of us shall live; & for his incouriagment to maniage my affaires as abovesaid & he provide comfortably for my owne & my wives maintenance I doe hereby give and bequeath to him my aforesaid ffeiofe all my houses & lands fforever except which I doe hereby give out of it to the rest of my childrin viz Samuell Sarah Marah Rebeca Obaida & Thomas & to each of them as followeth viz to Samuell I haveing alridy given his a Lell of land I give him one Shilling mor & to all the rest of my childrin above mentioned viz Sarah Marah Rebeca Obadia & Thomas two shillings a peice or to so many of them as shall sirviv at the deacease of my selfe & wife if his heires shall continue to maniage & carry on my affaires as my abovesaid ffeioffe ought to doe then they shall have the houses & lands abovesaid as therin ordvard & in confirmation of what is above written I have here unto set to my hand & seale signed seald & delivered August the 3, 1683
in the presence of John Abbey Sen. (seal)
Thomas Ffiske his X mark
Martha Ffiske
John Abbey Sen. ded acknowledg this writing above written to be his act & deed August ye 3d; 1683 before me Samuel Appeton Assistant.
On the outside of the above document is the inscription:
John Abbey's Disposale of his Estate 1683 Recorded in Ips in ye Registrar's office for ye probate of Will for sd County of Essex Dec. 1702 p mee Daniel Rogers Registrar.
Administration on the Estate of John Abbey Senjr of Wenham
John Appleton Esqr. Commissionated by his Excellency Joseph Dudley Capt. General & Governr in Cheif in & over Her Majesties Counsell of said province for the Probate of Wills and Granting Letters of Administration. Within the said County of Essex &c. To Thomas Abbey of Enfield in ye County of Hampshire son to John Abbey senjr of Wenham - Deceased Intestate - Greeting - Trusting in Yr care and fidelity I doe by these presents comitt unto you full power to administer all & singular the Goods, Charttells, Rights & Creditts of the said Deceased & well & faithfully dispose of ye same according to law which to him while he lived & att ye time of his death did appeartain & belong, to aske sue for demand levy receive & recover and to pay all debts in which the deceased stood bound so farr as his goods Chattells rights & Creditts can extend according to the value thereof, and to make a true & perfect inventory of all & singular the goods Chattells rights and creditts of the deceased and to exhibit the same into the registry office of ye sd county att or before the last day of Oath att or before ye twentieth day of december which will bee in ye year of our Lord God one thousand seven hundred & three - and I doe by these presents ordaine constitute and appoint you administrator of all & singular the good chattells rights & creditts of ye deceased aforesaid - In testimony whereof I have herunto sett my hand & caused the seals of said office to be affixed - Dated in Ipswich the 12th Day of December Anno. 1702 Annoq. R: Reginae Annae Angliae &C. Primo.
Examined - 11 John Appleton
Daniel Rogers Registrar
Recorded Book 307, Page 456. Essex Probate Office
Know all me by these presents, that we Thomas Abbey of Enfield in ye County of Hampshire as principle and Waltar Fairfeild Snj. & Thomas Edwards both of Wenham as sureties within His Majesties Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England are holden and stand firmly bound and obliged unto John Aplleton Esquire Judge of the Probate of Wills and granting administration within the said County of Essex in the full sum of Two Hundred Pounds currant money in New England. To be paid unto the said John Appleton Esquire his successors in the said Office or Assignes. To the true payment whereof. We bind our selves, and each of us, our, and each of our heirs, executors and administrators, joyntly and severally for the whole and in the whole firmly by these presents sealed with our seals. Dated the Eleventh day of December Anno Domini. One thousand 701 Annoque Regni Reginae Annae primo.
The condition of this present obligation is such, that if the above-bounden Thomas Abbey administrator to all & singular the goods, chattells, rights & credits of his father John Abbey Senjr late of Wenham Deceased to make or cause to be made a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods, chattells, rights and credits of the said deceased, which have or shall come to the hands, possession or knowledge of him the said administrator or into the hands and possession of any other person or persons for him. And the same so made, do exhibit or cause to be exhibited into the registry of the court of Probate for the aforesaid County of Essex at or before the last day of February next ensuing. And the same Goods, chattells, rights and credits of the said deceased, at the time of Death, which at any time after shall come into the hands and possession of any other person or persons for him do well and truly administer according to Law. And further do make, or cause to be made a just and true accompt of his said administration upon oath, at or before the Twentieth day of December which will be in the year of our Lord, One thousand 703.
And all the rest & residue of the said Goods, chattells, rights & credits which shall be found remaining upon the said administrators accompt ( the same being first examined and allowed of by the Judge or Judges for the time being of Probate of Wills and granting administrations within the County of Essex aforesaid) shall deliver and pay unto such person or persons respectively as the said Judge or Judges by his or their decree or sentance pursuant to law shall limit and appoint. And if it shall hereafter appear, that any last Will and Testament was made by the said deceased; and the executor or executors therein named do exhibit the same into the Court of Probate for the said County of Essex making request to have it allowed and approved accordingly. If the said administrator within bounden being thereunto required do render and deliver the said Letters of Adminitration (Approbation of such Testament being first had and made ) unto the said Court. Then the before written obligation to be void and of none effect, or else to abide and remain in full force and virtue
Thomas TA Abbey (seal)
Sealed and Delivered mark & seal
in presence of Walter Fayerfield (seal)
Francis Crompton Thomas O. Edward (seal)
Daniel Rogers mark & seal
This inventory of the Estate of John Abee Senior formerly of Wenham deceased about thirten yere since intestate we whom names are her unto subscribed on this twenty-fourth of Febuary in the yere of our lord 17 did at the request of Thomas Abee one of the sons of the decesed and administrator of his fathers estat or by his order vallew and aprise the said decesed his house and land in Wenham on which to our certain knowing he lived for many yers and dyed seased of the same as his owne estat of inheritance as we ever understod we being his nere neighbors for many yers the sayd decesed his homsted being about twenty and three acres of upland and medow together with the housing and fences ther on the apertenances ther onto belonging together with his right in the comon all which we vallewed at ninety and two pounds. We also being informed that the sayd decesed in his life-time did to acomodate his son Obadiah acording to his desire with a trad for his futer benifett when the sayd Obadiah was eighten yers old give to Richard Goldsmith three yers sarvit of his said son Obadiah and untill he was one and twentey yers ould to learne him to be a shoemaker and all the sayd time his sayd father did find his sayd son meat and drink and clothes washing and lodging which we doe judg to be worth thirtey pounds.
The acount was settled betwen thomas Abee and his fathers estat by the children of the sayd decesed in our presants as witness our hands this 24 of the 12th month 1702/3
his
Richard RH Hutton
marke
Joseph Fowler
Aprisers.
The estate debtor to his sonn thomas Abee for severall things for which our sayd father John Abee Senor was indebted to his son thomas Abee before the death of our sayd father John Abee Senor the acount whereof was settled and alowed by use underwritten which debt is thirtey and two pounds
as witness our hands this 24th Febuerary 1702/3
his
Richard + Kimball for himself & Rebecc his wife
mark
her his
Mary | Killam Thomas T Abbe
mark marke
May 18th 1703
Then ye above said Thomas Abbe made oath to this inventory before John Appleton
Second Generation
John Abbe married (1) Mary _______. She was born in England about 1615 -20, and died in Wenham, Mass., September, 6, 1672. "Mary, the wife of John Abbey, senr. dyed the 9 Sept. 1672"; Wentham records. She was doubltess the mother of all of his children. Her name is given as Mary Loring, by Frederick Orr Woodruff, who says that the name was found on Enfield records by one who made researches for him there.
John Abbe married (2) November 25, 1674, Mrs. Mary Goldsmith, widow of Richard Goldsmith, who was killed by lightening, May 18, 1674. She was living in 1683. " John Abbie and Marah Goldsmith maryed 25 of Novemb, 1674"; Wenham records.
Children, probably all by first wife
2 John Abbe; b. probably in Salem, 1636 or 7; m. twice.
3. Samuel Abbe; m. Mary Knowlton.
Sarah Abbe;
Marah Abbe; m. _______ Killam.
4. Rebecca Abbe; m. Richard Kimball.
5. Obadiah Abbe; m. Sarah Tibbais.
6. Thomas Abbe; m. Sarah Fairfield.
Third Generation
3. Samuel Abbe son of John (2) Abbe, born probably at Wenham, Mass., about 1646 or soon after his father's settlement there; died in Windham, Conn., March, 1697/8. His name first appears in the Wentham records at the time of his marriage. "Samuel Abby and Mary Knowlton maryed the 12th October 1672." He received a grant of ten acres of land in Wentham, 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 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 114 on a plot in the southwest 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 in 1684 (12:113). 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 pounds (12:147). The above James Stimpson was of Reading and had married the widow of the elder Isaac Goodell. At the time of Godell's death in 1680, the widow was administratrix and Samuel Abbey was one of her sureties. He was then probably of Salem or possibly Topefield.
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 in forming 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 pounds 10 shillings 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 23, 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 18 (the land records prove that this is a mistake for Elizabeth);Ebenezer, aged 16; Mercy, aged 14; Sarah, aged 13; Hepzibah, 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 Nours, 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 29, 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 disagreeable way. She vowed vengence 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 documnets, 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 of thereabouts, Deposeth and saith.
That about this time three years past William 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 house any longer and was forced for quiettness sake to turne she ye said 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 unusall 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 said Sarah Good and told her, what a sad accident had fallen out, she asked what, he answered that his neighbor Abbey had lost two Cowes, both dyeing within halfe an hower of one another, the said Sarah Good said she did not care if he the said Abbey had lost all the cattle he had as ye said John Good told us. 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 herselfe very crossely and mallitiously to them and their children calling their children the vile names and hath threatened them often.
Jurat in Curia.
Warrant for Sarah Good was given at Salem, February 29, 1691/2, in response to complaints of Sarah Vibber, Abigail Willims, Elizabeth Hubbard, Ann Putnam, and John Vibber. Among the many depositions in witness 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 and saith that on the 20th of May 1692 I went to the house of Constable John Putnam about 9 o clock in the morning and when I came there: Mirey 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 the putnams to bring Ann Putnam to se if she could se who it was that hurt Mirey Lewes; accordingly I went; and found Abigail Williams along with Ann Putnam and brought them both to se Mercy Lewes; and as they ware a goeing 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 Appershtion 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 John Williard and Mary Witheridge afflecting the body of Mircy lewes; and I continueing 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 ablte to spake; but at last said Deare Lord receive my soule and againe said lord let them not kill me quitt, but at last she came to hir self 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 not cleare 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 September 9th, '92
Inventory of the Estate of Samuell Abby late of Windham who dec'd 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 inventroy of the Estate of Samuell Abby late of Windham dec'd as mony
His wearing cloths £ 2 a feather bed bolster 2 pillows with beirs £ 3 £ 05-00-00
a bedsted curtaines with a rug and blanket 02-10-d00
3 pair cotten and lining sheets 02-10-00
more beds with 2 coverlids & blankets 02-00-00
2 pillow beires 3 pair lining sheets 02-00-00
3 table cloths 2 doz napkins £ 2 10s a great Iron pott 20s 03-10-10
a little Iron pott 10s/2 iron kettles 10s; tramell pot hooks and tongs 15s 01-15-00
pewter and earthen ware 22s/a frying pan 5s 01-07-00
dishes spoons and trencers 5s/ box and irons 6s 00-11-00
chest, box, tubs, and payles 20s/ a gun 15s/3 knives 3s 01-18-00
two axes 10s/ hoes s/ beetle, rings and wedges 10s 01-06-00
two pitchforks with 3 hoos and old Iron 00-05-00
Horse tackling, cart, wheels, boxes, & hoops 02-05-00
a plough and Irons 6s/ and old spade shovell & mattock 3s 00-09-00
a syth and tackling 6s/ 2 horses & a mare with bridle & sadle 05-12-00
a little quantity of wool with old bags 6s 00-06-00
Lands £ 25-00-00/ two swine 12s 25-12-00
£ 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 presentment of the estate of her dec'd 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 £ 1-10-0 Cash
The children's names and age.
Mary 25 years SamÍll 23 Thomas 20 Eleazr 18 Ebenezr 16 Mary 14 Sarah 13 Hipzibah 10 Abigaile 8 John 7 Benj 6 Jonathan 2 years of age. (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 be Mercy.)
Samuel (2) 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., September 14, 1701.
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 Elizabeth ______, and died 1655. The youngest of their seven children was Mary, born 1649, who married Samuel Abbe.
Children of Samuel and Mary (Knowlton) Abbe
Mary Abbe, ^ b. in Wenham about 1674; probably d. unm.
14. Samuel Abbe, b. in Wenham about 1676; m. Hannah Silsby
Thomas Abbe, b. in Wenham about 1679, bapt. there 1680; d. in Windham, Conn. April 1, 1700; probably not m. In a deed of 1722, William Slate, Jonathan Ormsby, Sarah Abbe, Ebenezer Abbe, Jonathan Abbe, John and Samuel Abbe speak of "our loving brother Thomas Abbe deceased."
15. Elizabeth Abbe, b. in Wenham about 1681; m. William Slate
16. Ebenezer Abbe, b. July 31, 1683; m. Mary Allen.
Mercy Abbe, b. March 1, 1684-5, bapt. in Wenham before 1689; m. in Windham, Conn. June 8, 1703, Jonathan Ormsby of Windham. Child: Ichabod, b. April 15, 1704, recorded in Windham.
Sarah Abbe, b. July 4, 1586; m. John Fowler of Lebanon. She was bapt. in Wenham before 1688.
17. Hepsibah Abbe, b. Feb. 14, 1689; m. Samuel Palmer.
Abigail Abbe, b. Nov. 19, 1690; m. May 10, 1710, as recorded at Rehoboth, Mass. Joseph Ormsby ^ of Rehoboth, b. July 8, 1684.
18. John Abbe, b. June 4, 1692; m. Hannah _______.
19. Benjamin Abbe, b. June 4, 1694; m. Mary Tryon.
20. Jonathan Abbe, b. about 1696; m. Mary Johnson.
From a book called: THE ABBE GENEALOGY
1. JOHN ABBE born in England about 1613; died in Salem, Mass., about 1689-90. The place of birth of John Abbe, the founder of the American Abbe and Abbey families, is unknown, but every indication points to one of the interior and central counties of England as the home of the ancestors of the emigrant. It is not improbable that he was connected with the Abbye family of Staverton, Northampton. The parish registers of Stoke Bruerne, Northampton, show that there were many marriages of Abbyes recorded there during the 16th and 17th centuries.
John Abbe, from the age as given approximately at his death, was born about 1613. The first mention which seems to be of this John Abbe is on a register of the names "of all ye passengers wch passed from ye Porte of London for a whole yeare endinge at Xmas 1635 - those underwritten are to be transported to Virginia imbarqued in ye Mercht bonaventure James Ricrofte Mr bound thither have taken ye oath of allegeance - Jo: Abby 22 yeares - " Although this statement says bound for Virginia, it is a well-known fact that many of the early ships destined for Virginia, landed many or all of their passengers at other ports, even in New England about that time. The above Jo: Abby does not appear in the records of Virginia, nor in the head Rights for lower Norfolk from 1637 to 1666. The abbreviation Jo: sometimes stood for Joseph, but there are proven instances where it was used for John.
The first reference to the name in the Salem records is on page 11, volume 1, in 1637 or, according to the old method of marking time, 2d of the 11th month, 1636.
"John Abbie is Recd. ffer Inhabitant & is to haue one acre lott for a house next beyond the Gunsmiths, and 3 acres of planting ground where the Towne hath appointed beyond Castle hill."
There has existed some confusion regarding the various freemen of the name Abbey and Alby. Benjamin Albye was admitted freeman, May 18, 1642, and John Albye in Salem, May 10, 1643. These were, without doubt, the two Albys, John and Benjamin, mentioned in the early records of Braintree about this time. Benjamin Alby removed to Mendon and had numerous descendants, Whose names occasionally appear in printed records as Abbey. John Abbey, Sen., of Redding, freeman in 1634, may have been an Alby.
John Abbe married (1) Mary _______. She was born in England about 1615 -20, and died in Wenham, Mass., September, 6, 1672. "Mary, the wife of John Abbey, senr. dyed the 9 Sept. 1672"; Wentham records. She was doubltess the mother of all of his children. Her name is given as Mary Loring, by Frederick Orr Woodruff, who says that the name was found on Enfield records by one who made researches for him there.
John Abbe married (2) November 25, 1674, Mrs. Mary Goldsmith, widow of Richard Goldsmith, who was killed by lightening, May 18, 1674. She was living in 1683. " John Abbie and Marah Goldsmith maryed 25 of Novemb, 1674"; Wenham records.
Children, probably all by first wife
2 John Abbe; b. probably in Salem, 1636 or 7; m. twice.
3. Samuel Abbe; m. Mary Knowlton.
4. Sarah Abbe;
5. Marah Abbe; m. _______ Killam.
6. Rebecca Abbe; m. Richard Kimball.
7. Obadiah Abbe; m. Sarah Tibbais.
8. Thomas Abbe; m. Sarah Fairfield.
3. Samuel Abbe son of John (2) Abbe, born probably at Wenham, Mass., about 1646 or soon after his father's settlement there; died in Windham, Conn., March, 1697/8. His name first appears in the Wentham records at the time of his marriage. "Samuel Abby and Mary Knowlton maryed the 12th October 1672." He received a grant of ten acres of land in Wentham, 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 named in his father's will, 1683.
Samuel (2) 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., September 14, 1701.
Children of Samuel and Mary (Knowlton) Abbe
1. Mary Abbe, b. in Wenham about 1674; probably d. unm.
2. Samuel Abbe, b. in Wenham about 1676; m. Hannah Silsby
3. Thomas Abbe, b. in Wenham about 1679, bapt. there 1680; d. in Windham, Conn. April 1, 1700; probably not m. In a deed of 1722, William Slate, Jonathan Ormsby, Sarah Abbe, Ebenezer Abbe, Jonathan Abbe, John and Samuel Abbe speak of "our loving brother Thomas Abbe deceased."
4. Elizabeth Abbe, b. in Wenham about 1681; m. William Slate
5. Ebenezer Abbe, b. July 31, 1683; m. Mary Allen.
6. Mercy Abbe, b. March 1, 1684-5, bapt. in Wenham before 1689; m. in Windham, Conn. June 8, 1703, Jonathan Ormsby of Windham. Child: Ichabod, b. April 15, 1704, recorded in Windham.
7.Sarah Abbe, b. July 4, 1586; m. John Fowler of Lebanon. She was bapt. in Wenham before 1688.
8. Hepsibah Abbe, b. Feb. 14, 1689; m. Samuel Palmer.
9. Abigail Abbe, b. Nov. 19, 1690; m. May 10, 1710, as recorded at Rehoboth, Mass. Joseph Ormsby of Rehoboth, b. July 8, 1684.
10. John Abbe, b. June 4, 1692; m. Hannah _______.
11. Benjamin Abbe, b. June 4, 1694; m. Mary Tryon.
12. Jonathan Abbe, b. about 1696; m. Mary Johnson.