This is taken from "John Cary, The Plymouth Pilgrim":
SKETCH OF JOHN CARY.
Chronological.
Samuel F. Cary, in "Cary Memorials," says: "The writer has had access to
a
manuscript more than one hundred years old, and written by a grandson of John,
which says that John Cary, when a youth, was sent by his father to France to
perfect his education, and that while absent his father died. On returning to
Somersetshire he differed with his brothers about the settlement of his father's
estate. He compromised by receiving one hundred pounds as his portion and
immediately sailed for America."
Tradition says that he was the first Latin School teacher in the Plymouth
Colony, and that he taught Elder Brewster the Hebrew.
He removed to Duxbury where he had ten acres of land allotted to him. At a
Court of Assistants, held October 2, 1637, "A proporcon of land is granted to
John Carew, about the lands graunted to Robte Mendall, contayning X acrees." And
at a Court of Assistants, January 7, 1639(???) "are appoynted to lay forth Robte
Mendloues & John Carews land"(???).
The history of Duxbury is interesting and is as follows: In 1630 and 1631 there
were a few settlers in Duxbury, but they went back to Plymouth in the winter to
be nearer public worship, and also because their houses were more comfortable
for the cold weather. Some of them signed an agreement to this effect. In 1632,
probably, the real settling began, but it was not till June 7, 1637, that the
town was incorporated: "It is enacted by the Court that Ducksborrow shall become
a township and unite together for their better securitie and to have the
p'veledges of a towne, onley their bounds and limmits shall be sett and
appoynted by the next Court."
The name probably came from Duxbury Hall, the seat of the Standish Family in
England.
So many people had left Plymouth that there was an effort made to unite the two
churches, and build a new town, and committees were appointed to consider the
matter. Two locations were suggested: Jones River, now Kingston, and Morton's
Hole, which was west of Captain's Hill. The Indian name was Mattakeeset.
Marshfield was incorporated March 2, 1640, but the bounds were not fixed till
1642.
At a Court of Assistants, October 7, 1639, "John Carew is allowed to be for
himself vpon the continuence of the good report of his carriage & demean'r; &
at
a Court of Assistants held the fourth of Novemb'r next after, Edmond Weston is
lycenced to liue w'th John Carew, and to be p'tner w'th him in workeing and
planting vpon the sd John Carews land, vpon their good demean'r together."
In 1640 Marshfield was set off from Duxbury, and as a compensation for this
loss of territory, the following plan was made: "The inhabitants of the town of
Duxbury are granted a competent portion of lands about Saughtuchquett
(Satucket), towards the west, for a plantation for them, and to have it four
miles every way from the place where they shall set up their center; provided,
it intrench not upon Winnytuckquett, formerly granted to Plymouth. And we have
nominated Capt. Miles Standish, Mr. John Alden, George Soule, Constant
Southworth, John Rogers, and William Brett, to be foefees in trust for the equal
dividing and laying forth the said lands to the inhabitants." It would seem that
this plan was never executed, although carried out in a larger way in the
Duxbury New Plantation, bought of the Indians in 1649. Those wishing to see the
old Indian Deed, will find it in "The Cary Family in America," pages 5, 6.
In June, 1644, John Cary and Elizabeth Godfrey were married; she was the
daughter of Francis Godfrey of Duxbury and Bridgewater. John, their first child,
was born November 4, 1645, and died in 1721.
It also appears that in 1646, according to the records of Marshfield: "At the
Town meeting it was agreed that Edward Winsloe (afterward Governor) should agree
with F. Godfrey for making a bridge over South River and what he shall agree the
town are ready to affirm."
Francis, his second son, was born January 19, 1647, and died in 1718.
October 23, 1648, he sold to James Lindell all the land, both upland and
meadow, granted him by the town, and at the same time "testified and affirmed"
that his father-in-law, Francis Godfrey, "did acknowledge and confess that he
had sold his present right and interest of his said land lying upon Green Harbor
River," to James Lindell.
March 23, 1649, Duxbury New Plantation, which was fourteen miles square, was
deeded to trustees for the benefit of the people of
Duxbury. John Cary was one of the fifty-six who had shares, but only a few ever
settled on them.
Elizabeth was born December 20, 1649.
January 16, 1650, he sold two acres of meadow land to Steven Briant.
John Cary was Clerk of the Plantation, which was a kind of land company, and
this year it began to be settled.
Francis Godfrey, of Marshfield, sold to Anthony Eames and his son, Mark Eames,
one hundred acres of land and dwelling-house on North River, near Mr. Vassells,
"for four-score pounds," December 10, 1650.
March 18, 1652, James was born in Braintree, Massachusetts Bay Colony. It is
quite likely that on account of some stress of the times, they were living
there.
Mary was born at Duxbury New Plantation, July 8, 1654.
The town records contain the following item: "It was agreed upon by the Towne
the twelfe of March, 1656, that there shall be five woulfe traps made."
June 3 (O. S.), 1656, the General Court incorporated Duxbury New Plantation as
Bridgewater: "ORDERED, That henceforth Duxborrow New Plantation bee allowed to
bee a tounshipe of ytselfe. destinct from Duxborrow, and to bee called by the
name of Bridgewater. Provided that all publicke rates bee borne by them with
Duxborrow upon equally proportions."
Plymouth Colony Records, volume 3, page 99, for June 3, 1656, have the
following entry:
"The Cunstables of the seueral Townes" "Bridgewater John Carew."
At this time there were but ten freemen in the town.
Jonathan was born September 24, 1656.
John Cary is mentioned as having "taken the Oath of Fidelitie at Duxborrow, in
the yeare 1657." He was elected Town Clerk this year, and this was most likely
the oath of office; he occupied this place until his death in 1681.
"Att the Generall Court holden att Plymouth, in New England, the first of
March, 1658."
"These may certify all whom it may concerne, that the fourth of March, 1658,
that these men whose names are vnderwritten, by the intelligence of an Indian,
came to a place a little below Namaskett,
where the Indians took vp an English man out of the Riuer of Tetacutt, with a
blew paire of stockings and a gray listed garter, and likewise pte of a locorum
paire of briches with wyer bottons fastened about his waist; but wee found noe
blemish about the man that should any way cause his death, but as wee conceiue
was drowned accedentally; and finding the man thuse, wee haue buried him, and
haue satisfyed the Indians for theire paines." Signed by John Carew and eleven
others "from Bridgewater."
And superscribed these: "I pray you deliur this to M'r Collyer, or M'r
Alden,
either of them, to doe with as they shall see meet. And by them sence ordered
heer to be recorded as aboue-said."
David was born January 27, 1659.
"It is Ordered and Agreed upon by the Towne, the tenth of July, 1660, freely
and willingly to give to Mr. Buckner if he shall come Heyther to supply the
place of A minister the sum of twenty pounds and his diet."
Hannah was born April 30, 1661.
"Att the Generall Court holden att Plymouth the fourth day of June, 1661, John
Carye is admitted by the Court to haue equall entrest in the graunt made to
Arthur Harris, and others, of Bridgewater, for accomodation of lands."
Joseph was born April 18, 1663.
Rev. Mr. Keith, the first pastor at Bridgewater, installed in 1663, was from
Aberdeen, Scotland, and preached there fifty-six years. It is said that his
sermon was preached on "Sermon Rock."
Rebecca, the tenth child of John and Elizabeth, was born March 30, 1665.
June 7, 1665, more land was granted to John Cary and others.
Francis Godfrey made his will 1666, and the property was inventoried at
oe117-17-5.
June 5, 1667, "a Jury was named and ordered to bee impaneled to lay out waies
requisett to the township of Bridgewater." Among the twelve appointed was John
Carrey, and "Captaine Bradford ordered by the Court to impanell this jury."
John Cary was also appointed with Deacon Willis "to take all the charges of the
late war (King Philip's) since June last and expenses of the scouts before and
since June last."
Sarah was born August 2, 1667.
June 3, 1668, land was laid out to John Cary and others.
June 7, 1668, the Jury appointed to lay out the lands reported to the Court and
John Cary signed the document with the eleven others.
John Cary was on "The Grand Enquest," June 3, 1662; June 5, 1672, and June 5,
1678.
John Cary's name appears in "An Exact List of all the Names of the Freemen of
the Jurisdiction of New Plymouth, transcribed by Nathaniel Morton, Secretary to
the Court for the said Jurisdiction, the 29th of May, Anno Dom. 1670."
John Cary, 2nd, and Abigail Allen, daughter of Samuel Allen, were married
December 7, 1670.
Mehitabel, the last child of John and Elizabeth, was born December 24, 1670.
A son (John) was born to John Cary, 2nd, November 6, 1671, and died the 29th of
the same month.
John Cary was "Celect Man for Bridgewater" from 1667 to 1679 consecutively.
"It was agreed upon by the towne mett togeyther, the first of November, 1675,
that there should be a fortification aboute the meeting house for the safety of
the towne."
The Records of the Proprietors of Bridgewater was in John Cary's handwriting,
"The First Book of Records was begun 1675 by John Cary, Sen. Clerk, who had 4
1/2 pence for each lot."
"The town being mett together by order from the Governor, and warned thereto by
the Constable, the 21st of August 1676, I, John Cary Cleark, being cald upon by
the Inhabitants to call for a vote, who should have the money that was made of
the Indians that was sold last. And the vote passed that the souldiears that
took them should have the money; the contrary vote being cald, I see but three
at most who held up their hands to the contrary."
His son Francis married Hannah, daughter of William Brett, in 1676.
"March 16, 1676-7, the Town granted to John Cary, Sen., 10 acres on condition
that he would book all the 106 acres then laid out and the three meadow lots to
each."
The fourth day of December, 1676, "Agreed with Samuel Tomkins to sweep and look
to the meeting house A full year after the date hereof. And he was to have 12 s
for his pains or labor."
"The towne made choice of John Ames Seynior and John Cary Junior, for this
year, to be helpful to the Constable and the Grand Jury man. About their
inspection into such houses that may be thought to harbour Any English or
Indians to sell or give Liquor, or sider to make them drunke."
November 1, 1680, Elizabeth Godfrey, for thirty-six years the loved wife of
John Cary, passed from the labor and hardships incident to the life of a Pilgrim
of the Plymouth Colony, to the heritage of the just.
In 1680, the Cary family, which had lived in Bridgewater for nearly thirty
years, like most families, began to scatter. It is quite probable that Joseph
was the first to go, although John and Francis were married and Elizabeth also,
before this. Joseph went to Norwich, and not long after removed to Windham,
where he well sustained the family reputation.
John and David removed to Bristol, where they were original proprietors,
deacons in the Church, and useful citizens in the community.
Most likely James went to Bristol a little later, as he was not married till
1682, when he married Mary Shaw, of Weymouth, and settled in Bristol, where he
lived and died.
The History of Plymouth says that, "John Cary was a man of superior education,
and had great influence in the Colony and as an officer in the Church."
The following is the record of his death: "John Cary Seniour inhabytant in the
town of Bridgewater deceased the last day of october in the yeare of our lord
1681."
At a Court held March 7, 1682: "Letters of adminestration is graunted vnto
Serjeant John Cary to adminester on the estate of John Cary, Seni'r deceased."
The family of John Cary at his death, October 31, 1681, consisted of the
following children and grandchildren:
1. John, thirty-five years old, was called "Serjeant Cary" and had five living
children--Seth, John, Nathaniel, Eleazer, James.
2. Francis, two children--Samuel, Ephraim.
3. Elizabeth, married Deacon William Brett.
4. James.
5. Mary.
6. Jonathan.
7. David.
8. Hannah.
9. Joseph.
10. Rebecca.
11. Sarah.
12. Mehitabel.
This makes a family of twelve children and seven grandchildren.