| Notes |
- If you use any portion of these notes, please give credit to me, Lois Sorensen, and to all other sources as noted herein:
John Hull was a son of Tristram Hull, a Quaker from Barnstable, MA; Tristram was a son of Rev. Joseph Hull, an Oxford-educated Anglican minister who had immigrated to Massachusetts, moved to Maine, back to England, and finally to New Hampshire. John Hull was a sea captain who made frequent trips between New England and London, England. On one of his voyages he met and married Alice Tiddeman, daughter of Edmund, who was in the British Navy. After their marriage in 1684, John & Alice lived in London for a little over two years. In 1687 they came to New England and settled on Conanicut Island (Jamestown), RI. He was Deputy from Jamestown to the RI General Assembly in 1698, 1703, 1706-7, and 1709. In 1712 he was Head Warden. (source: Genealogies of RI Families, Vol. II, p. 355)
"Capt. John & Alice Tiddeman Hull remained in London for about two years after their marriage. Then they removed to Newport, RI, bringing with them a certificate from the monthly [Quaker] meeting at Horseleydown, dated 27th of 2nd month 1687, certifying that while resident there 'they behaved themselves in their lives and conversations as becometh friends of the Blessed Truth' . . . Capt. Hull purchased a plantation of 370 acres on the north end of Connonicut Island, in Narragansett Bay, and there built a mansion which eventually became their permanent home. This mansion was burned by the British in the winter of 1775-6, but was rebuilt and is still occupied by his descendants, and is known as the Old Hull Place." (source: "The Hull Family in America" by Charles H. Weygant, Hull Family Associaton, 1913, p. 262)
Here is my summary/adaptation of a famous Rhode Island story:
Captain John Hull's merchant ship traded between Newport, RI, and London, England. He was a Quaker who settled on Conanicut Island (Jamestown, RI) but also spent a fair amount of time in London in between voyages across the Atlantic. He took on as an apprentice a boy from England named Charles Wager, whose father, a British naval officer, had died when Charles was an infant. The child's mother Prudence remarried to a London merchant and Quaker named Alexander Parker, and in the course of time asked Captain Hull, who was probably a friend of the family, to take the boy into his care and teaching. So, young Charles Wager traveled with Hull, who became not only his captain and teacher of seafaring, but also a father figure for him. Charles was like one of the family when home with the Hulls at Jamestown.
As time went on, Wager became an excellent seaman and probably became first mate on Hull's ship. England was at war against France starting in 1689, and during that conflict Hull happened to be sailing his ship in the English Channel and was surprised to see a French privateer heading their way. Captain Hull knew the French ship was faster and well-armed; besides, his Quaker religion would not have allowed him to fight anyway. With mixed feelings he asked Charles Wager to take the helm and went below to his captain's quarters -- perhaps not wanting to see the shameful moment of having his ship offically taken over by the enemy -- and perhaps to pray -- who knows? After pacing back and forth for a time, he could not stand the suspense and went back up to the deck, where at that very moment he saw the French privateer approaching them, about to cross their bow, its crew lined up jubilantly on deck signaling Hull's ship to surrender. Captain Hull, seeing the opportunity, said to Wager, "Charles, if thee turns the helm a little more to starboard thee will run that ship down." Wager quickly did exactly that, and the privateer, being caught in a vulnerable position, was struck midship and sank to the bottom. Hull turned his ship around and returned to the site in an attempt to save some of the crew, but apparently in the rough seas they had all drowned, for no one was to be seen.
Upon docking in England the tale was told, and there followed much rejoicing, since that privateer had caused many losses to English shipping. Hull was offered a captaincy in the Royal Navy, but he declined because of his Quaker convictions. However, he did put in a word for Charles Wager, and asked that he receive some recognition instead of himself. Consequently, Charles Wager was given a midshipman's berth in the British Navy, later rising to become Admiral, First Commissioner of the Admiralty, and Privy Councilor. Around 1695 he visited Newport, RI, as Admiral in command of a British squadron, at which time he introduced to his men as his captain. It is said that every year for Hull's birthday the captain received a cask of wine from Wager.
Charles Wager's stellar career was duly honored when he was knighted in December 1709. He was born c1664 - 1666, son of Charles & Prudence (Goodson) Wager, and died 24 May 1743. Sir Charles Wager was granted the ultimate posthumous honor of being buried in Westminster Abbey, where a monument commemorates his achievements. For many years Wager was a popular given name for boys born to families of South County, in memory of the boy who was raised by Captain John Hull. Examples on this family tree are Wager Hull and Wager Remington, both born to Jamestown families.
John Hull was a son of Tristram Hull of Barnstable, MA, and a grandson of Rev. Joseph Hull, who sailed for New England from Weymouth, Dorsetshire, England, in 1635. John married Alice Tiddeman in England; a witness to their marriage was Prudence Wager, mother of the child who would someday become a hero, thanks to Captain Hull.
(source: Genealogies of RI Families, Vol. II, pp. 283 - 285)
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1654 - 1733 (78 years)
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