Mercy Northup

Notes:

I have estimated Mercy's year of birth. She is mentioned as Mercy Allen in her father's will.

Mercy married Caleb Allen 15 Jul 1724, South Kingstown, RI. Caleb was born Abt 1699; died Abt Mar 1783; was buried , Common Burial Ground, Newport, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

According to the Northup-Hazard Family Bible, Stephen died at age 77. (see RI Roots magazine, Vol. 32. No. 4, Dec 2006)

Stephen's will mentions his wife Mary, and the following children: Thomas, Henry, Nicholas, Abigail (Watson), Mary (Watson), Mercy (Allen), & Patience (Hazard). If there were other children, they must have died before his will was written. For instance, some genealogies list a son Stephen, the oldest, in this family group.

The will also mentions some grandchildren, including three with the surname Card. So, either there was another daughter who had already died, or else one of the three daughters was previously married to a Mr. Card.

Stephen married Mary Thomas 11 Jul 1684, North Kingstown, RI. Mary was born Abt 19 May 1666; died 26 Dec 1754, North Kingstown, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Stephen's will mentions his wife's name, Mary. Her last name is found in the RI Genealogical Register (By A. G. Beaman), Vol. 3, No. 1, p. 53. It says she was "of Jamestown."

According to the Northup-Hazard Family Bible, Mary died at age 88y 7m 7d. (see RI Roots magazine, Vol. 32. No. 4, Dec 2006)

Notes:

Notes extracted from RI Genealogical Register, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 73ff (in some places quoting Bates & Chatfield; other info from John O. Austin's Genealogical Dictionary of RI):

The first record of Stephen Northup in RI was on 2 Oct 1655 when the town meeting of Providence granted to him 25 acres of land. Also, on 27 August 1656, it was ordered that Stephen Northup have a home-lot laid out to him, bordering Christopher Smith's lot; also, that he have "commonage" equal to any other townsman; and that he be able to vote with the other townsmen. [This suggests he was at least age 21 by this time.]

John O. Austin states that Stephen Northup was made a freeman in 1658, but the above date seems more likely to be correct.

It is believed that Stephen's house and lot were at the north end of town, from the description in the deed. It was probably destroyed in King Philip's War.

On 27 July 1659, Stephen sold to William Carpenter 60 acres at Rocky Hill [possibly in the area of present-day Rt. 2 in East Greenwich/North Kingstown, near fairgrounds/flea market]. On 4 June 1660 he was elected Towne Sargeant at Providence. During his term of service, John Clawson, a Dutchman, was murdered by an Indian not far from Stephen's house. Stephen spent a day warning the inhabitants of the town about the prisoner, and four days in taking the prisoner to Newport and attending the trial there. For these services, Stephen received 3 shillings per day.

On 8 February 1662, Stephen Northup sold to William Hawkins all rights between the Pawtucket and Pawtuxet Rivers. On 28 March 1666 he witnessed a deed in Providence, but his name is not on a list of inhabitants who took the oath of allegiance to the king on 31 May 1666. He had probably already moved to "Kings Towne" by this date.

On 19 May 1671, Stephen Northup took the oath of allegiance at Kings Towne (per J. O. Austin). He bought land there sometime before 5 December 1679 (settlement of the Pettaquamscutt Purchase). His property consisted of about 120 acres near the present location of the Gilbert Stuart Homestead in Saunderstown.

It has been suggested that Stephen's wife may have been a daughter of Benjamin Harrington (see RIGR, Vol. 3, No. 1, p. 75; various reasons).

In August of 1672, Stephen Northup was summoned by the colony of CT to appear there in court concerning land in RI claimed by CT. Stephen refused to obey the summons, declaring his submission to the authorities in RI.

His name appears for the last time in the official records, when on 6 September 1687 he was taxed by Gov. Andros.