RICHARD BAILEY OF ROWLEY,

by Chris H. Bailey 975 Club Hills Drive Eustis, FL 32726

For years it has been claimed by some that Richard Bailey of Rowley, Essex County, MA was the Richard "Bayley", age 15, who was transported on the ship Bevis which sailed from , England in May of 1638. Bayley was transported as the servant of Richard Dummer who was returning to from Bishop Stoke, a town about 10 miles north and east of the port city of Southampton. Dummer had originally come to on the ship Whale in May of 1632 and settled at Roxbury, and later at Newbury, MA. Dummer was treasurer of the from 1636 until May 17, 1637. Dummer left later that year, returning to England for a year with John Spencer, a partner in the mill business. Although it cannot be absolutely proven the Richard “Bayley” of the Bevis was the same Richard Bailey who lived at Rowley, MA, Bailey’s later business associations with Richard Dummer and Dummer’s associates makes the likelihood probable. The above Richard Bayley was not the only man of that name who settled in Massachusetts in the 1630s. One Richard Bayley was bound June 24, 1639 for ₤10, 10 shillings by Christopher Stanley to Isaac Cullimore, a shipwright and carpenter of Boston. There is no evidence that Richard Bailey of Rowley was a carpenter and his estate inventory does not indicate he owned any carpenter's tools. The writer had long been skeptical that a 15 year old servant could have become prosperous enough in six years after his passage to purchase a portion of an estate and that nine years after his passage, would die with a personal estate valued at over ₤106. But, Richard Bailey's involvement with millwright Richard Holmes who was, in turn, involved with Richard Dummer, suggests this may have been the case. Richard Bailey was a resident of Rowley, MA by 1644 when he purchased with Richard Holmes "mill wright", the estate of one Thomas Harris. Alfred E. Poor recorded in his Richard Bailey genealogy in 1858 that Bailey "was one of the company that set up the first cloth mill in America, which was in Rowley, where the mills stand that are owned by a Dummer at the present time." The first fulling mill in the American colonies was built in 1643 by John Pearson of Rowley on the same stream as the Nelson-Dummer mill, but was not on the same site as Poor suggested. Interestingly, in 1654 this same John Pearson leased the Nelson-Dummer mill, which was then a "corn mill". The above mentioned Richard Holmes, a brother-in-law of Ezekiel Northend who married Richard Bailey's widow, Edna, later testified that in 1642 he had made the millstones when Thomas Nelson built the grist mill and saw mill on Mill River. Nelson's mill was located in Rowley, just south of the Newbury line on property that adjoined Richard Dummer's estate. Thomas Nelson, whose second wife was a niece of Richard Dummer, later returned to England and died there on Aug. 6, 1648. Nelson’s property passed to his widow, but her uncle, Richard Dummer, as executor of Nelson’s estate, continued to operate the milling business. Eventually there was litigation about this mill between Dummer and Thomas Nelson’s heirs. Dummer leased half of the Nelson mill to John Pearson of 1 Rowley on May 1, 1654. The Pearson family operated this mill until 1817, at which time it was sold back to Dummer’s heirs. It was still being operated by Dummer heirs at the time it was destroyed by fire in 1916. Richard Bailey was married about 1645, almost certainly in Massachusetts, although no marriage record has survived. His wife was Edna Halstead, daughter of Nathan Halstead and Isabel (Denton) Halstead, who had come from Bradford, Yorkshire, England and settled at Concord, MA. Edna was christened as "Edith" on Oct. 1, 1626 at Bradford, Yorkshire, England. Though Richard's ancestry is yet unproven, there are proven records on some of his wife's ancestors. Alfred E. Poor, who published the earliest genealogy on Richard Bailey’s descendants in 1858, noted a family tradition: "It is said that he [Richard Bailey] was a very pious person, and in a storm when coming to America, the company would call upon him to pray for their safety." An association between Bailey and Rev. Ezekiel Rogers, the founder of Rowley, is evident in records of the Essex Court of March, 1646 when both Richard Bailey and Rev. Rogers sued John Crosse of Ipswich for slander. This dispute arose after Crosse had related to others that Rev. Rogers, Bailey and others of the town of Rowley "coveted his farm" and "hid or hurt his cattle." Rogers and Bailey were exonerated in this slander suit and on Oct. 2, 1646 a judgment was arrived upon settling all differences. It is obvious from court records that Richard Bailey was unbending in his religious beliefs, particularly for swearing, which was a punishable offense at the time. This eventually cost him his life. The Essex County Court session of March, 1647/48, one month after Bailey's death, tells the story of his fate. Two cases were on that docket, both for the offense of swearing. In each case, Richard Bailey was one of two witnesses. Quenton [or Quentweth] Pray and his wife were found guilty and fined 50 shillings for five oaths (a stiff fine!). Henry [Hendry] Stiche and Richard Stiche were also charged, but their case was not decided in that session because of a more serious incident. Henry Stiche was apparently a roughian who worked at the Iron Works at Lynn, MA. He apparently did not take kindly to being charged with swearing. In a physical altercation, the exact details of which are unknown, Stiche fractured Richard Bailey’s skull which resulted in the Bailey's death. Further records of the March, 1647/48 court session noted: "Henry Stiche presented for breaking the head of Rich. Bayley." [italics mine] Richard Stiche, who was present at the incident (and also charged with Henry for swearing), and one Nicholas Pynyon [Pynchon] were called as witnesses. Because other key persons did not appear, the case was continued to the next court which was to be held at the Iron Works in Lynn. Those proceedings have apparently not survived and the final outcome of the case is not known. Savage's Dictionary noted that in 1653 one Henry "Styche" of Lynn was an efficient workman at the iron foundry at Lynn and at that time was 103 years. Another reference suggested he was then 102. Although this may have been Richard Bailey's assailant, presuming this man’s age in 1653 was near correct, he would have been in his 90s when the event with Bailey occurred. Richard Bailey's nuncupative will was dated March 15, 1647/48 and was undoubtedly verbally given on his deathbed. He must have died that same day as he was buried the following day at Rowley. In his will, Bailey mentioned his wife Edna and his infant son, Joseph. Joseph Bailey was Richard’s only child since the will noted: "in case my wife should be with Child" the children's legacy should be divided. But, his wife was not pregnant with a second child. Richard’s will also mentioned his brother, James Bailey, and a nephew, John Bailey, son of James, who were both residents of Rowley. Knowing his young widow would probably remarry, Richard appointed his brother, James Bailey, and friend, Michael Hopkinson, overseers for his son should "her husbande prove unloving to the Child or Children or wastefull". In that case, the overseers were to have the power "to take the Child with his 2 portion from him and so to dispose of it for the Best behoofe of the children with my wifes consent." Richard also made a bequest of his house and house lot to his son, Joseph Bailey, after his wife's decease. An inventory of Richard Bailey's estate was taken on Aug. 23, 1648 which included numerous items of clothing and household goods. The inventory noted a house, barn, farm land, meadows and commons, plus corn, hay, cattle, and swine. It is obvious he was primarily farming and prosperous for the time as his inventory totaled ₤106, 8 shillings, 10 pence. His house was considered worth only ₤10 and his barn another ₤5, yet his cattle were valued at ₤22½ so he must have had a sizeable herd. As it turned out, Edna Bailey was not "with child" and therefore Joseph Bailey was Richard's only child and heir. Although no birth for Joseph Bailey was recorded in Rowley’s vital records, Joseph noted in a deposition in Essex County Court in 1681 that he was “about 34 years of age”, therefore was born about 1646, and was only a year or two old when his father died. In a later deposition dated July 20, 1698, Joseph Bailey noted: ". . . in Rowley where I was born." Less than nine months after Richard Bailey's death, Widow Edna Bailey was remarried Dec. 1, 1648 at Rowley to Ezekiel Northend of that town. Ezekiel was the son of John Northend and Elizabeth (Cole) Northend. He was born at Ripplingham, Yorkshire, England and was christened Feb. 10, 1621/22 at nearby Rowley, Yorkshire. Ezekiel and Edna had seven children born at Rowley, MA between 1649 and 1669. They are the progenitors of all Americans with the surname Northend. Ezekiel Northend was made guardian of his young step-son, Joseph Bailey. On Nov. 15, 1649 the youth also received a gift from the estate of a deceased uncle, William Halstead, of Concord, MA. Ezekiel Northend was still acting as guardian of Joseph Bailey in September of 1660 when Northend was bound for ₤100 concerning the payment of Joseph Bailey's legacy. At that time, Northend transferred to Joseph Bailey, then about 14 years of age, a parcel of land in the village of Rowley containing 300 acres, plus another 12 acres of meadow land, both valued at ₤51. Northend also gave Bailey ₤10 in cash, therefore fulfilling his step-son's inheritance. Later Northend gave Joseph Bailey money "to buy him a gun". Ezekiel Northend died Sep. 7, 1698 at Rowley, MA, age 77. Widow Edna Northend died Feb. 3, 1705/6 at Rowley, age 79. They, like Richard Bailey, were no doubt buried at Rowley, though none have surviving grave markers. About the time of his majority, Joseph Bailey moved from the Rowley village to the "Merrimack lands", a section in the northern part of the town of Rowley on the near the western border of the town of Newbury. This section was incorporated in 1675 as the town of Bradford, although the part in which Joseph Bailey lived became Groveland, MA when that town was formed from Bradford in 1850. Joseph Bailey’s farm was located on the southeast side of what is today Main Street, Groveland. Joseph Bailey was married about 1670, to Abigail Trumble, daughter of John Trumble and his second wife, Mrs. Ann (------) Hopkinson Trumble, (former wife and widow of Michael Hopkinson). Abigail was born Dec. 10, 1651 at Rowley, MA. Joseph Bailey was one of the selectmen of Bradford, MA for 23 years, from 1675 to 1710. He was also a Deacon of the Bradford Church from the time it was formed until his death on Oct. 11, 1712 at Bradford, MA, about 66 years of age. Widow Abigail Bailey, "an ancient woman", died Nov. 17, 1735 at Bradford, age 83. Joseph and Abigail Bailey had eight children born in Bradford: (1) Abigail (1671/72-1689) who married Samuel Tenny, (2) Richard (1675-1748) who married Joanna Webster (the compiler’s ancestors), (3) Anne (1678-1738) who married Abel Platts, (4) Elizabeth (b. 1681) who married Robert Hastings, Jr, (5) Joseph, Jr. (1683- 1755) who married Abigail Webster, (6) Edna (b. 1686) who married John Hastings, (7) John (1691- 3 c.1750) who married Susanna Tenny, and (8) Sarah (b.1694) who married James Davis. Most of these children and large families and at least 47 grandchildren are known.

THE HALSTEAD FAMILY

Edna (Halstead) Bailey Northend's grandparents were Henry Halstead and Margaret (------) Halstead of Middleton, Lancashire, England, a town five miles northeast of the city of Manchester, England. Margaret Halstead was buried at Feb. 9, 1611/12 at Middleton. Edna's father, Nathan Halstead, was christened June 6, 1585 at Middleton. As a young man he moved to Bradford, Yorkshire, England where an uncle, William Halstead, was a schoolmaster. When William Halstead died in 1623 at Bradford, he willed his personal property to his nephew, Nathan, who was made executor of his estate. Nathan Halstead was married Oct. 24, 1620 at Bradford, Yorkshire, England to Isabel Denton. They had at least six children born and christened at Bradford:

1. Edna Halstead, christened Nov. 4, 1621. She was buried at Bradford two days after. 2. William Halstead, christened Mar. 16, 1622/23. He came to America with his parents. He never married. William Halstead died July 27, 1645 at Concord, MA, age 23. He left an estate to his married sister, Edna, and her "child or children" and to his unmarried brother, Henry Halstead, with certain restrictions. 3. Henry Halstead, christened Aug. 29, 1624. Henry also came to America, but returned to England after his brother William's death. He was living at Sorybridge, Yorkshire on Jan. 29, 1650 when he wrote a latter to his sister, Edna Morthend, in which he mentioned an uncle, James Halstead, (James was Nathan's younger brother and christened Dec. 4, 1592 at Middleton, Lancashire). Henry was apparently the same Henry Halstead who again left England and settled in Virginia the following year. Henry married there, had a family, and died in 1685 in Virginia. 4. Edna Halstead, christened as "Edith", Oct. 1, 1626. She married Richard Bailey and secondly, Ezekiel Northend. 5. & 6. Infants (probably twins), b. abt. 1628, but not recorded in Bradford christenings. They were buried at Bradford July 30, 1628 and March 16, 1628/29.

Nathan and Isabel Halstead came to America with at least two children, Henry and Edna, although no record of their passage has survived. They first lived at Dedham, MA, then at Concord, MA. Nathan Halstead was made a freeman of the Massachusetts Bay Colony on June 2, 1641. Isabel Halstead died Mar. 15, 1641/42 at Concord, MA. Widower Nathan Halstead died Feb. 3, 1643/44 at Concord, MA, age 58. They were probably buried at Concord, MA, but have no grave markers. In spite of the myth perpetrated by F. A. Virkus in his Magazine of American Genealogy, 1929, it is almost certain that Richard Bailey was not entitled to arms. The coat of arms shown by Virkus was probably imaginary. If such arms did exist, there is no credible documentation suggesting that it belonged to Richard Bailey of Rowley, MA.

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