John Briggs

William married Elizabeth COOK Abt 1680, RI. Elizabeth (daughter of John "Butcher" COOKE and Mary BORDEN) was born Abt 1653. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

"John Brigges" was one of 29 men who signed the Second Portsmouth Compact in 30 April 1639.

There were several men of the name John Briggs among the early settlers of MA and RI. This one is known as "John Briggs of Portsmouth" to distinguish him from others.

John married Sarah CORNELL Abt 1640. Sarah was born Abt 1620; died Abt 1661, Portsmouth, Newport Co., RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

"John Cooke alias Butcher" was made a freeman of Portsmouth, RI, on 10 July 1648 at the age of 18. In March 1656/57 he signed as one of the purchasers of Conanicut Island (Jamestown). On 14 May 1660 his parents deeded to him 60 acres of land in Portsmouth. He was a grand juryman at the Court of Trials in 1667, 1669, and 1673. His name appears in many official records of the time period.

See his will dated at Portsmouth on 15 May 1691, proved 25 May 1691. The will describes John as aged. He names four sons and seven daughters, plus one granddaughter: John, Joseph, Thomas (probably the one who married Mary Cory, b. 1669), Samuel, Mary (Mrs. William Manchester; these are our ancesters), Elizabeth (Mrs. William Briggs), Sarah (Mrs. Thomas Wait), Hannah (Mrs. Daniel Wilcox), Martha (Mrs. William Cory), Deborah (Mrs. William Almy), Amy (Mrs. David Clayton), and granddaughter Sarah Manchester, plus six other unnamed daughters (or granddaughters, or daughters-in-law).

According to the book "Thomas Cooke of Rhode Island," he died of smallpox.

John married Mary BORDEN Abt 1652. Mary (daughter of Richard BORDEN and Joan FOWLE) was born Abt Jan 1632/33, Cranbrook, Kent, England; was christened 13 Jan 1632/33, Cranbrook, Kent, England; died 23 Dec 1690, Portsmouth, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The ages and birth order of the children are not certain. Birth years have been estimated for most.

Notes:

Thomas Cooke, his wife, and 3 children came to America in 1637, sailing from Weymouth, Dorset, England on the ship Speedwell. They first settled in Taunton, MA (at least by 1639), where in 1643 Thomas took the freeman's oath of fidelity.

Records seem to indicate that Thomas had two wives, both named Mary. The first Mary was the mother of his children, and signed deeds with a mark, not a signature. By contrast, the second Mary signed deeds with a neat signature, so was likely more educated. It is quite possible that she was Mary Shearman, daughter of Secretary of the Colony of Rhode Island, Philip Shearman (our ancestor). Also, the second Mary was probably much younger than Thomas, since she outlived him and remarried, having many more years in that marriage.

I have gone along with this assumption and entered her name as Mary Shearman (see "Thomas Cooke of RI" Vol. I, p. 13, by Jane Fletcher Fiske).

Another source says Thomas was born in 1603 at Karl's Colne, County of Essex, England, and that he came to America in 1635. This other source says his son George was b.1633, and that Thomas also had a daughter Sarah b. 1632.

Thomas married Mary Unknown Abt 1625, England. Mary was born Abt 1605; died Abt 1670. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Jeremiah had two wives, both named Mary. It is believed that his first wife was the mother of his children.

Notes:

From "Johnston Historical Society Historical Notes" Vol. XII, No. 3, Nov. 2006, by Steve Merolla: "The Borden family first began purchasing land on Neutaconcanut Hill in 1659, when Richard Borden of Portsmouth, RI, purchased sixty acres. His son Thomas added to the acreage on the hill, which amounted to about 400 acres at the time of his death in 1676. His three sons -- Richard, Mercy, and Joseph -- each received about 130 acres out of the estate. The Borden estate covered a great semi-circle around the brow of Neutaconcanut Hill, stretching from the area around the back of the 1025 Club [on Plainfield Street] to Neutaconcanut Park, along the west side of Killingly Street until it meets Hartford Avenue, then up Hartford Avenue to Borden Avenue."

Read the remainder of this interesting article in the above newsletter, available at the Johnston Mohr Memorial Library or on the Johnston Historical Society website.

From Friends' Records: "Richard Borden . . . being one of the first planters of RI, lived about seventy years and then died at his own house. He was buried on the burial ground given by Robert Dennis to the Friends, which is in Portsmouth, and lieth on the left hand of the way that goeth from Portsmouth to Newport." (see text at Google Books: "Historical and Genealogical Record of the Borden Family")

His will, dated 31 May 1671 and based upon stated intentions of Richard, mentions wife Joan, who received the house, fruit trees, animals, and yearly supplies of firewood, cider, and grain; son Thomas, who received all his lands in Providence; son Francis, who received all his lands in New Jersey; son John, who received all land around John's new dwelling house; and sons Joseph and Samuel, who received 40 pounds each; daughter Mary Cook, who received 5 pounds; daughter Sarah Holmes, who received 40 pounds, and daughter Amy Border, who received 100 lbs; son Matthew, who was the executor and received all the remainder of the estate after payment of debts and legacies. (see above-mentioned book)

Richard married Joan FOWLE 1625, County Kent, England. Joan was born 15 Feb 1603/04, County Kent, England; died 16 Jul 1689, Portsmouth, Newport Co., RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Joan survived her husband 18 years and died at age 84 y 6 m.