DEACON JOHN DOANE

AND

HIS DESCENDANTS.

1 1 JOHN DOANE came over from England and settled in Ply- mouth. He was the founder of the Doane family in America.

Nothing is yet known of his history in England, but the same is true also of the greater number of the Pilgrims who repaired to these New England shores before the middle of the seventeenth century. A record was kept of those emigrants who on leaving England took the oath of loyalty to the English Crown and promised conformity to the Established Church. As a large number desired to avoid this enforced allegiance and to settle in the land of their adoption, free to follow their own religious inclinations, they took no legal depar- ture but sailed away with more or less secrecy and were therefore not enrolled in the official records of the government. Of John Doane's early life, of his parentage, the place of his na- tivity, the family name of his wife, the name of the vessel on which he came nothing whatever has yet been discovered. From the fact that he was one of the principal men in the affairs of the Plymouth Colony, we infer, however, that he was heir to a good birthright, that in some broad field education and friction had developed a man- hood and strength of character that inspired the confidence of his Plymouth associates.

John Doane was the first of the name in America and was the pro- genitor of a numerous posterity. Savage's Genealogical Dictionary of New England, Vol. n, p. 55, gives a John Done, aged 16, who embarked at London on the in Truelove Sept., 1635 ; also a Henry Doane of Watertown 1643, and a Richard Doane of Rhode Island in 1672. It has been suggested that John of the Truelove was the son of John Doane of Plymouth. In 1706, John Doane, Jr., of Plymouth

(1) :

* THE DOANE FAMILY.

was about seventy-one years old, according to his own testimony in his will, and therefore was born about 1635, the year the Truelove sailed from London. The year of John Doane's arrival in the Plymouth Colony can be only approximately determined. The Rev. Enoch Pratt, in his His- tory of Eastham, published in 1844, states that he came over in one of the "three first ships," but his authority is not given. It is now certain however that he did not come in the Mayflower, Fortune or Ann, the first three ships to arrive at Plymouth. His name does not appear in the list of Plymouth settlers in 1627, when the lands of the Colony were divided among the members of the community. In the notice of his daughter Abigail's death found on page 21 of this book, it is stated that he "came to Plymouth with his wife in 1630." This notice, printed in a Boston newspaper in 1735, is tolerably good evi- dence as to the time of his arrival in the Plymouth Colony. Mr. Nahum Mitchell, author of the History of Bridgeivater, Mass., in a letter dated Jan. 26, 1849, says : "Mr. John Doane came over to New England about 1629, when history informs us that thirty- five of the Leyden Company, with their families, arrived at Plymouth. He no doubt was one of these and a member of Mr. Robinson's church."

While it is not definitely known from what part of the United Kingdom originally came the founder of the Doane family in Amer- ica, there is a tradition that he was from "Wales, west of England." This tradition and the statement in Ormerod's history, that the last Sir John Done of the Cheshire family, during the troubles of the seventeenth century, adopted the cause of parliament and imbibed Presbyterian tenets, lead us to believe that our American ancestor descended from the ancient Dones of Cheshire. The Cheshire family very early spread out into Shropshire and other counties and possibly into Wales, while the name is found on the registers of several of the parish churches of London as early as 1590. John Doane was a prominent man in Plymouth as soon as his ar- rival there about 1630. He was one of the few who bore the title of "Mr." The Pilgrims were very careful to give no titles where they were not due. The late Amos Otis, genealogist of Early Barnstable Families, says

In the Plymouth Colony the Governor, deputy governor, the magistrates and assistants, the ministers of the church, school-masters, officers in the militia, men of great wealth or connected with the gentry or nobility were DESCENDANTS OF DEA. JOHN DOANE. 6

entitled to be called Blister and their wives 3Iistress; this rule was rigidly

enforced in earlier Colonial times, and in all lists of names it was almost the universal custom to commence with those who stood highest in rank and to follow that order to the end.

John Doaue must have been known to the Pilgrims previous to his coming to Plymouth. There are strong suggestions that he was in partnership with Ml John Atwood who was of London until 1635. The Done family are found in London at this period and in former generations there were not a few John Dones. He was a strong man. His associates and the offices he was bidden to undertake by the Governor, the Court and by the suffrages of his townsmen, show him to have been a man of superior quality. A larger knowledge of his ancestry and of his previous career will confirm, we have no doubt, this estimate we make of him. This knowledge will be a source of delight and inspiration to his numerous descendants.

The following verbatim et literatim extracts are from the several vol- umes of the Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, edited by Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, M.D. and printed by the Common- wealth of Massachusetts in 1855. These extracts comprise all references of importance to John Doane found in the Colony records. The notes are information and explanations drawn from various sources, some of which sources are noted. In many cases we suppose there are reasons for debate, but this has not been entered upon. The purpose of these extracts and notes is to show the career in Plymouth of Deacon John Doane, not to show a man above his fellows, but a strong man among strong men.

The names of the Freemen of the Incorporacon of Plymouth in New Eugland. An: 1633

Edward Wynslow Gov r Capt. Myles Standish William Bradford John Howland Cowncell. John Alden John Done Stephen Hopkins William Gilson

— Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. i, p. 3. m [Jan. 1, 1632-33] Likewise Mr. W Bradford, Capt. Myles Standish, John Howland, John Alden, John Done, Stephen Hopkins —

4 THE DOANE FAMILY.

& William Gilson were chosen for the Councill the same yeare at the

same Court who held & received the oath. — Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. i, p. 5.

[June 10, 1632] Thomas Brian the serv 1 of Samuell Eedy was

1 brought before the Gov " & Mr. Will. Bradford, Mr. John Done, Stephen Hopkins & Will. Gilson, Assistants, because the said Thomas had runne away & absented himselfe five daies from his master's service, and being lost in the woods & found by an Indian,

was forced to returne : and for this his offence was privately whipped before the Gov r & Councell afore-menconed. — Ply. Col.

Rec. Vol. i, p. 7.

According to an order in Court held the 2nd of January [1632-33] in the seaventh yeare of the raigne of our soveraigne lord Charles

1 by the Grace of God, King of Eng , Scott, France & Irel, defender of the faith &c. the p sons heare under-menconed were rated for pub- like use by the Gove. Mr. Will. Bradford, Capt. Myles Standish, Joh Alden, Joh Howland, John Done, Stephen Hopkins, Will. Gil- son, Sam Fuller Senior, John Genny, (Jenny) Godbert Godbertson & Jonathan Brewster to be brought in by each p'son, as they are heere under written, rated in corne at m s p. bushell, at or before the last of November next ensuing, to such place as shall be heere after pa- pointed to receive the same. And for default heereof the value to be doubled accordingly l & leavied by the public officer for y end. Edward Winslow Govr — 9

DESCENDANTS OF DEA. JOHN DOANE. 5

London : and his services were sold by Mr. Atwood for a period of five years. This lease of Harris' service was transferred by John Done in April, 1633 to Henry llowland for £14 sterling.

[July 1, 1633] That Capt. Myles Standish, John Done, Stephen Hopkins, Joshuah Prat, Edward Bangs, Jonathan Brewster & Rob Heeks devide the medow grownd in the bay equally according to the proporcon of shares formerly devided to the purchasers at or before

the last of Aug. next ensuing.— Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. i, p. 14.

[Oct. 28, 1633] At this Court John Done presented an inventory of the goods and chattels of Martha Harding deceased, who in be- half of her son was allowed the administracon of the said Martha.

—Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. i, p. 18.

Note. The widow Martha Harding was taxed in Plymouth in 1632, and was living there in March, 1633. It has been suggested that she was a sister of Mr. John Doane. Martha Harding's inventory was presented Oct. 28, 1633. It states that she died without will, leaving a son in the custody of Mr. John Done, in behalf of whom Mr. Done is allowed to administer. Her estate amoiinted to £20. 18. s 6. Her debts to £33. s 1. John Done charges

her estate with £9. 9. s 1 money lent to, or paid out for Martha Harding. Phoebe Harding married John Brown, Jr., of Duxbury, Mar. 26, 1634. Winnifred Harding married Thomas Whitten in 1639. John Harding was probably the " Capt. Harding " sent to treat with the Narragansetts ml 645. In 1652, Joseph Harding of Eastham was presented to the Grand Enquest, " for carrying an Indian's gun into the smith's to bee mended in his uncle's name." Would John Doane have paid out over nine pounds for the widow Harding, if she was not a relative? Unless a relative, would Martha Hard- ing have left a son to the custody of John Doane when she evidently had other children in Plymouth grown to manhood and womanhood?

[Nov. 11, 1G33] It was ordered that whereas Peter Browne died without will, leaving divers children by divers wives, his estate

amounting to an hundred pounds or thereabouts it is ordered that Mary his wife who is allowed the administracion of the said Peter, forwith pay downe fifteen powncls for the use of Mary Browne, daugh- ter of the said Peter, to Mr. Joh Done of Plymoth aforesaid w Ul whom the said Court have placed the said Mary for nine yeeares ; at the end whereof the said John is to make good the said fifteen pownds to her or her heires, if in case she die. Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. i, p. 18.

[Oct. 10, 1644] Memorand, the tenth of October 1644, that

11 whereas Mr. John Doane had some tyme since xv , the childs porcon of Mary Browne whom he was to keepe and bring up until — — —

6 THE DOANE FAMILY.

shee should accomplish the age of seventeene yeares, and should have the use of the said p'con until then. Now the said terme oeing ex- pired the said John Doane hath deliverd wth the consent of the said Mary Browne, and by order of the Court, unto John Browne of Dux- borrow two cowes, two cowes at xii" and forty shillings in swyne

11 and wheate and is by the Court discharged of the said xv , and the

said John Browne is to keep the said two cowes and their encrease for their milk w 1h the rest of the stock as afores t] untill the said Mary shall be marryed or thought fitt to marry, whereunto the said Mary

hath consented. Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. ri, p. 76.

Note. Peter Browne came in the Mayflower in 1620. He deceased before Oct. 10, 1633. His last wife was Mary who administered upon his estate. The daughter Mary who for eleven years was under the guardianship of John Done, in 1644 chose her uncle John Browne of Duxbury as her guar- dian. The daughter Priscilla was under the guardianship of Wm. Gilson and likewise chose her uncle John Browne, in 1644, as her guardian. —Vide

N. E. Hist, and Geneal. Begister, 1883 : p. 276.

[Nov. 11, 1633] At this Court Phineas Prat appointed to take into his possession all the goods & chattels of Godbert Godbertson & Sarah his wife & safley to preserve them according to an inven- tory upon oath to be true and just by Mr. John Done & Mr. Steph.

Hopkins. Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. i, p. 19.

[Feb. 14, 1633-4] Joh Coomb, gent, hath sold unto Joh Done & his heires forever a dwelling howse & misted w th the inclosure & out bowsing thereunto belonging next adjoining to the late dwelling howse of Godbert Godbertson on the West side thereof & the herring wire on the est. for & in consideracon of nine pownds, ten shillings, whereof eight pownds to be paid to Mr. Will. Bradford & the other thirty shillings to Josias Wynslow. Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. i, p. 25.

Note. Godbert Godbertson, who was fromLeyden, came to Plymouth in 1623. He contracted marriage with Sarah, a sister of Isaac Allerton, was in full communion, says Winslow, with the purposes of this English com- pany in Holland and New England. He died in 1633. The estate in 1633 was appraised by Mr. John Done and Mr. Stephen Hopkins. It is possible that Sarah the wife of Godbertson had been the widow of John Vincent and of Degory Priest and that her daughters Mary and Sarah, who became the wives of John Coombs and Phineas Pratt, were daughters of Degory Priest. It would appear that the estate of Godbert Godbertson and wife Sarah was much involved. The same date on which John Done was ap- pointed an appraiser of the personal effects of the family in possession of Phineas Pratt, he—John Done—bought of John Coombs house and land —

DESCENDANTS OF DEA. JOHN DOANE. 7 adjoining the homestead of Godbertson. The estate of Godbertson may have largely belonged to his wife Sarah and possibly it was really the rem- nants of the estate of Degory Priest. It is a debated question whether John Coombs and Phineas Pratt married daughters of Degory Priest. They certainly were the daughters of Sarah, the wife of Godbert Godbert- son. The families were all highly connected, but have afforded several genealogical puzzles.

[January 2, 1633-34] At this Court Mr. John Done being for- merly chosen to the office of a deacon in the Church at the request of the Church & himselfe was freed from the office of an Assistant in the Comon Weale. Ply. Col. Bec.Vol. i, p. 23.

Note. John Doane preferred to be a Deacon in the Church rather than an Assistant to the Governor in the affairs of the Colony. His position would suggest that he deemed the offices inconsistent one with the other. The question of the day was "separation" and "independence;" hence we can slightly appreciate his course of thought in deciding. Nevertheless, Mr. Doane, henceforth, was frequently summoned to act upon committees for the welfare of the community.

Note. The Plymouth policy of separating Church and State was this year illustrated in the case of John Doane, who, having been elected and ordained deacon, was for that reason voluntarily discharged as one of the Governor's Council. —Goodwin's Pilgrim Bepublic, p. 376.

Note. In 1633 a fever carried off Thomas Blossom and Richard Master- son of the late comers. They were deacons of the church at Plymouth. Their offices were filled by Wm.^Paddy and John Doane, also recent comers. Goodwin's Pilgrim Bepublic, p. 378.

r [Jan. 5, 1635-36] At this Court was chosen to assist ye Gove & Councell to sett shuch rates on goods to be sould & labourers for their hire as should be meete & juste. John Done John Jenney John Winslow John Browne Manasah Kemton John Barnes Kenelme Winslow

—Fly. Col. Rec. Vol. i, p. 36.

[July 5, 1635] At ye same Court it was agreed to be needfull to

build a mille : and these 4 whose names are under written were by ye Courte appoynted to collecte ye money for the building of ye same, as also to agree with workmen and order other all things for ye dispatch thereof. Captaine Standish John Done & Mr. William Collier John Winslow.

—Ply. Col. Bee. Vol. i, p. 85. :

8 THE DOANE FAMILY.

Note. Stephen Deane, who came in the Fortune in 1621, was a miller. In 1632, he desired "to sett up a water-worke to beat corn." In this he was en. couraged. He deceased in Sept., 1634. In July. 1635, John Doane was one of a committee to build a mill. The project of a public mill was futile, for in March, 1636, John Jenny was given liberty to build the mill which was operated by him and his son for more than forty years.

[Mar. 1, 1635-36] It was ordered that Mr. John Done, John Jenny, Manasseh Kempton, Josuah Pratt, John Winslow, Edw.

1 Bangs & Stephen Tracy be added to the Gov ' & Assistants for the ceasing of men for the publick charge of this first present year.

—Ply. Col. Pec. Vol. i, p. 38.

[Oct. 4, 1636] The ordnance of the colony & corporation being read, divers were fownd worthy the reforming, others the rejecting

& others fitt to be instituted & made. It was therefore ordered and agreed that four for the town of Plymouth, two for Scituate and two for Duxburrow, shall as Comittees for the whole be added to the

1 Gov ' & Assistants to rectefie & prepr such as should be thought most convenient, that if approved they may be put in force the next Generall Court. The p'ties mencioned for the towne of Plymouth. Mr. Will. Brewster John Done Mr. Ralph Smith Joh Jeney

—Ply. Col. Pec. Vol. i, pp. 43, 44.

[Nov. 15, 1636] Whereas, at his Malies Court held the 4 th & 5th

1 th of Octob ' in the 12 yeare of the raigne of our Sov. Lord Charles by the Grace of God King of Eng 1 Scott, ffr. & Irel. Defender of the ffaith &c. It was ordered that Mr. William Brewster, Mr. Ralph Smith, Mr. John Done & John Jenny for the Town of Plymouth Jonathan Brewster & Chris [topher] Wadsworth for Duxborrough & James Ciulworth & Anthony Annable for Situate should be (added)

1 to the Gov ' & Assistants as Committees for the whole body of this

Comon weale should meete together the 15th of Nov 1" at Plymouth above menconed and there to p' use all the lawes orders & consti- tucons of the plantacons in this Govenment, so that those that are

still fitting (might) be established, those that hath made (un)necesary might be rejected & others that are wanting might be prep rd that so the nex (t) Court they might be established. Now being assembled according to the said (order) and having

read the Combinacon made at (Cape) Cod the 11 th Novb 1' 1620 in the yeare of (the) raigne of our late Sov. L. King James of Eng1 ff (&) Irel. the eighteenth & of Scotland the fifty (fourth) as our letters — — —

DESCENDANTS OF DEA. JOHN DOANE. V

Patents confirmed by (the) honorable Councell his s d Matle established & (granted) the 13 th of January 1629 in the fefte yeare of the raigne of our Sov. Lord King Charles. And finding that as freeborne sub- jects of the State of Engl, we hither came indewed with all & sin- gular the priviledges belong to such, in the first place we thinke good that it be establish (ed) for an act. That according to the & due priviledge of the subject aforesaid no imposicon law or ordnance be made or imposed upon us by ourselves (or others at) present or to come but such as shall be made (or) imposed by consent according to the free liberties (of the) State & Kingdom of Engl. & no other- wise. Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. n, p. 6.

Note. In 1636, Elder Brewster, Pastor Smith and Deacons Doane and Jenney of Plymouth, Jonathan Brewster and Christopher Wadsworth of Duxbury, James Cndworth and Anthony Annable of Scituate were joined to the Governor and Council for the preparation of a regular system of laws. They began with the declaration of the Mayflower Compact, &c. Until now, 1636, there was no law establishing the offices of Governor, Councillors or Constables. By general consent, for fifteen years, they were chosen annu- ally. —Goodwin's Pilgrim Republic, p. 401.

Note. They assembled according to the Order and having read the com- bination made at Cape Cod the 11 th of Nov., 1620, on board of the Mayflower, they performed the important work for which they were appointed. This

was the first revision of the laws of the Colony ; and to be appointed one of the Committee for this work was a mark of distinction showing that Deacon Doane was respected for his wisdom and integrity. —Pratt's Hist, of Eastham, p. 16.

[March 14, 1635-36] That widow Billington have the marsh against her owne grownd & what is too much for her is for Mr. Done.

—Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. i, p. 40.

[June 7, 1636] John Done, yeoman entreth an acco of slander

lb & layeth it in an 100 against Helin Billington widow. Ply. Col.

Rec. Vol. i, p. 41.

At this Court an action of slander was tried between John Done, plaintiffe & Helin Billington defendant wherein the defend 1 was cast in five pownds starling to the plaintife and adjudged to be sett in the

stocks and whipt. Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. i, p. 42.

Note. Billington's name seemed for a time to be one of ill-omen. His widow succeeded to his farm at Plain Dealing (two miles North of Plymouth Kock), and for her cattle, was, in 1636, authorized by the Court to mow the " " adjacent grass ; but what is too much for her was to go to Deacon John Doane. A controversy ensued, doubtless as to tins " too much," and the —

10 THE DOANE FAMILY.

deacon charging the dame with slander sued for £10 damages. The Court

gave the complainant nothing ; but evidently finding slander very flagrant sentenced the defendant to a fine of £5, to sit in the stocks and to be publickly whipped. —Goodwin's Pilgrim Republic, p. 343.

Note. Nov. 25, 1633, Mr. Thomas Prence and Mr. John Doane were ap- praisers upon the estate of Francis Eaton. The last wife of Francis Eaton was Christian Penn, who afterwards became the wife of Francis Billington.

[Dec. 30, 1636] "Whereas the now dwelling howse with all & sin- gular the outhousing, lands & enclosures in the use & occupacon of John Done of Plymouth, neere unto Playne Dealing, were in p't'ner- ship between the said John Done & John Atwood, late of London,

Gent. : Now know ye that upon accounts between the said Job, & John, the said John Atwood for & in consideracon of three score pownds, hath bought out the said John Done, his heires & assignes so that it remayneth wholly to the said John Atwood & his heires for-

ever. Ply. Col. Bee. Vol. i, p. 47.

Note. John Atwood died abt. 1644. He came over from London about 1635, and at once assumed a prominent place in the affairs of Plymouth. He was an Assistant to the Governor in 1638 and was Deputy for Plymouth from 1641 to his death. He was treasurer of the Colony in 1641. He resided near the " Rock " in a house which he purchased of Governor Prence. His widow Ann removed to Boston. She deceased June 1, 1654. Wm. Crowe was a nephew and Robert and Mary Lee were kinsmen. Both Mr. and Mrs. Atwood left wills. John Atwood was prominent and wealthy. At times he was called John Wood. His Plymouth estate was sold to Benjamin Vermayes who married Mercy, dau. of Gov. Bradford. The scales of widow Ann Atwood were declared by the General Court to be " standard." In 1641, Mr. Atwood was the agent of James Sherley of London. Mr. Sherley was ever actively promoting the interests of the people of Plymouth. In 1624 he made a gift to Plymouth and also in 1638.

Note. Several are the instances where the names of John Atwood and John Doane are associated. They had dealings with each other more than two years before the coming of John Atwood from London about 1635, and it maybe that their partnership reached farther than the joint ownership of a houselot in Plymouth. Perhaps Mr. Doane was a partner in business in London with John Atwood. Mr. John Doane and Mr. John Atwood were partners in a dwelling house and enclosures near unto Playne Dealing in Plymouth previous to Dec. 30, 1636, not long after Mr. Atwood's arrival from London. These references which seemingly unite them are strong sugges- tions not only of partnership in Plymouth, but likewise before either of them ventured to the Plymouth Colony. In 1636, Mr. Atwood purchased the por- tion of Mr. Doane by the payment of three score pounds. They had further dealings with each other, and June 2, 1639, John Doane promised at the DESCENDANTS OF DEA. JOHN DOANE. 11

£3.17* sterling within Court of Assistants to pay John Atwood the sum of time. a year and Mr. Atwood promised to forbear until that beaver, corne beads, [Mar. 7, 1636-7] Concerning the trade of & of the Court, that &c. w th the Indians, it is agreed by the consent Court the be- they that now have yt shall hold yt untill the next had for the gining of June; and then further conference to be therein as mannageing thereof, that such further course may be taken Mr. Hopkins, Mr. shalbe thought fitt. And in the meane season the Gouv r Atwood, Mr. Done & Jonathan Brewster shalbe added to wayes so as the and Assistants to advise upon such p'p'ositions and the Collony.—Ply. said trade may be still continued to the benefit of

Col. Bee. Vol. i, p. 54.

Suritie for Thomas [June 22, 1637] John Done of Plym. Gent. Butler of Ducksborrow.— Ply. Col. Bee. Vol. i, p. 63. and Note. Thomas Butler removed from Duxbury to Sandwich in 1640, of Lynn before 1637. returned to Duxbury before 1657. He may have been He may have been Just why Mr. Doane was surety for him is not known. one of his workmen.

are graunted to William [Oct. 2, 1637] Seaven acrees of land Hodgkinson upon the north side of Winslows Walk towards the Cedar Swamp where Mr. Atwood & Mr. Done have lands.—Ply. Col.

Bee. Vol. i, p. 66.

Done in the same [Oct. 2, 1637] Ten acres graunted to Mr. John toward the place (Playne Dealing) northward from Winslowes Walk be therewth Cedar Swamp to belong to his house at Plymouthe & to Vol. i, 65. all used and not sold from it.— Ply. Col. Bee. p. from Court, Note. Deacon John Doane had frequent grants of land Colony. which must have been because of his many services in behalf of the Plymouth or Eastham He was continually rendering services as Deputy from and on the Grand and serving on Committees where interests were at stake one of the " Pur- Jury. His original grant at Eastham was because he was Jones River, now chasers "or "Old Comers;" but his various grants at were undoubtedly Kingston, at Rehoboth, to the north of Taunton, etc. etc., because of his many public services. John Doane was Note. "Playne Dealing," where some of the land of present Plymouth. Wins- situated, was at "Seaside" in northern part of the also, near lows "Walk" (obsolete word for pasture) was in this vicinity in many records, is that tract em- High Cliff. "Doane's Field," mentioned braced largely by the Plymouth Cemetery Association. indenture beareing date [Sept. 14, 1637] Mathew Osborne by his — — — ——

12 THE DOANE FAMILY.

the third day of May in the xiii year of his Ma tios now raigne &c. hath bound himself apprentice to John Read of Waymouth, for the terme of six yeares next after the date of the said indenture w Ul divers r other covenants on both pts to p formed contained & expressed in the said indenture. Now the said John Read for and in consideracon of the suine of eight pounds to him in hand payd by John Done of New Plymouth hath with and by the consent of the sd Mathew Osborne put him over to the said John Done, to serve all the residue of his

tyme according to the s (1 indenture. Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. i, p. 65.

Note. Matthew Osborne was probably a son of John Osborne of Wey- mouth. He deceased in 1041 at Weymouth. His age was not stated, but he was probably a man grown as many of the "indentured" men, indentured themselves to men of means who had employment, for the purpose of pay ing their passage across the ocean or of working out some indebtedness caused by misfortune or loss in business.

[June 4, 1639] Mr. John Done is allowed to draw wine until the

next Court. Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. i, p. 127.

[June 2, 1640] Also we p'sent Mr. Done for selling wine con- trary to order made by Court. It was mistaken by the grand inquest and so he was discharged by the Court the 3 rd Septembr 1640, and

appoynted by the Court to be thus rased out. Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. i, p. 156.

[Jan. 7, 1644-5] Whereas Mr. John Done is lycensed to draw wyne in Plymouth, and that James Cole is likewise lycensed to keepe ch the ordinaiy there w is very inconvenyent to many persons, the Court hath therefore lycensed the said James Cole from this day th foward to draw wyne if he shall agree w Mr. Done to take off those wynes hee now hath in his hands. Agreement was after made be- twixt them. Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. n, pp. 79, 80.

[Sept. 7, 1641] Mr. John Done, Mr. Willm Paddy & Nathaniell Sowther are appoynted by the Court to view James Luxfords bookes and to certify the Court what they find therein. Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. ii, p. 24. Note. James Luxford ran an unsavory course during his years in New England. He was of Cambridge and of Duxbury. He may or may not have deceased when the committee " viewed " the " books."

[Mar. 3, 1644-45] It is ordered that Mr. Miles Standish, Mr. John Done & John Dunhame shall take the accounts of Mr. Thomas Prence for his treasurership of its receipts and payments and certefye the Court thereof. Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. n, p. 82. —

DESCENDANTS OF DEA. JOHN DOANE. 13

Note. Governor Prence served the Plymouth Colony in many capacities. In his removal to Eastham it was his wish to retire as much as possible from public service. The above auditorship may have been an annual affair, but appears to have been the closing of his service as treasurer. Note. Rev. Ralph Smith came to New England in 1628. In 1629 he set- tled in Plymouth where he was pastor until 1636. From 1631 to 1634 Rev. Roger Williams was his assistant. Mr. Smith resigned in 1636, but con- tinued to reside in Plymouth until 1642 when he removed to Manchester to be the minister of the church there. He died in Boston in 1661. When he removed from Plymouth, John Doane as agent for the church at Plymouth gave him six score pounds for his house, buildings and garden plot together with six acres in the " Newfleld," and every other right he may have in Ply- mouth. This home of the pastor was soon deeded by Deacon John Doane to Rev. John Reyner, who served as minister at Plymouth eighteen years. Rev. Mr. Reyner began his pastorate about 1636 and removed to Dover, N. H., in 1644 where he died in 1669.

Note. In the list of one hundred and forty-seven in all between the ages of 16 and 60 years, able to bear arms in Aug., 1643, are the following who have the honorable prefix of " Mr." attached to their names. There were others resident in Plymouth who at this time were not able to bear arms.

William Hanbury William Bradford John Atwood Thomas Prence John Done John Reynor William Paddy

[Sept. 27, 1642] Mr. Prence, Mr. Done, Mr. Paddy, Mr. Jenny and Joshua Pratt are appointed to lay forth all the lands above graunted. Ply. Col. Bee. Vol. n, p. 48.

About this time there was a desire on the part of many in Plymouth to take up new lands. The new charter had given three parcels of land into the hands of the " Old Comers," and these people were on the lookout, for land which could be more profitably cultivated. Nauset or Eastham was one of the three tracts reserved to the "Pur- chasers," on the transfer of the Warwick Patent to the Colonists in 1641. Affairs at Plymouth had not been prospering as formerly. There was not sufficient upland. There was without doubt a slight division in the Church, which made those persons of similar minds and ambitions to think of removal to Nauset. In 1644 the movement towards the new settlement at Nauset began, but the final removal was in 1645. The leaders in the enterprise were Ex Governor Thomas Prence, Deacon John Doane, Nicholas Snow, Josiah Cooke, Richard Higgins, John Smalley (Small) and Edward Bangs. —

14 THE DOANE FAMILY.

The fortunes at Plymouth were even at a lower ebb after this emi- gration. Strong men in Plymouth had already deceased, such as Brewster, Atwood, Hopkins and Jenny and now the removal of other strong leaders brought double discouragement to the hearts of the Pilgrims. Bradford and Howland still remained, but they were aged.

Bradford, in his wonderful history says : "Thus was this poor church left like an ancient mother grown old and forsaken of her children (though not in their affections), until she had made many rich became herself poor."

[Feb. 19, 1645] Memorand. —That Mr. John Done doth acknowl- edg that for and in consideration of the sum of tenn pownds sterl. to be pay d by Mr. William Hanbury of Plymouth w th in the space of one whole yeare now next ensuing hath freely and absolutely bar- gained and sold unto the said Willni Hanbury all that his dwelling house and garden places, barne and buildings in and upon the same w th all the fruit trees now growing thereon scituate in Plymouth r aforesaid wth all and singular th app nts thereunto belonging and all his Right title and Interest of and unto the said pr'miss and every part and p'cell thereof w th the fences about the same. To have and hold the said House and garden places, barne & buildings w th all the fruit trees and all and singular the apprtences thereunto belong- ing unto the said Willm. Hanbury his heirs and Assignes forever to the onely pper use and behoofe of him the said Willm. Hanbury his heires and Assignes forever. th The corne now groweing in the garden is excepted w some half a dosseu of smale fruite trees wch the said Willm. Hanbury shall give the said John Done at the fall or spring. Ply. Col. Rec. Vol. xu, p. 136.

The value of the homestead of John Doane at Plymouth does not betray affluence. On removing to Nauset he sold his homestead for £10. Perhaps his business ventures in common with others had not been successful. This was doubtless a large reason for his fresh adventure at Nauset when he was fifty-five years old. But rich or poor his wisdom and counsel were ever sought and respected. The territory of Nauset, purchased of the Indians, for which they paid "moose skins, Indian boats, wampum and little knives," em- braced the greater part of the present town of Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet. The deed from the Indians confirmatory of the purchase, was given Nov. 9, 1666. Nauset is an Indian name, and was ap- plied by the Aborigines to a particular locality in the present town DESCENDANTS OF DEA. JOHN DOANE. 15 of Easthani. Our forefathers gave the name to the whole purchase, and so it was called until 1651, when the Court at Plymouth promul- gated an order that henceforth Nauset should be called Eastham. Deacon Doane settled on the north of Town Cove. The early records do not show the amount of land laid out to him at the time of the settlement. The History of Eastham says : "He took pos- session of about two hundred acres, and his house stood near the water." At various times after he became a resident of Eastham he bad land granted him by the Court as well as by the town. It is claimed that stone posts beariug his initials, and marking the bound- aries of his large farm were standing as late as 1844. Iu Eastham towu affairs John Doane was an important man. He was appointed by the Court June 1, 1663, to solemnize marriages and to administer oaths to witnesses. He was a deacon of the First Church there and served the town as selectman for many years. In 1649, 1650, 1651, 1653 and 1659 he was a Deputy to the Colony Court for Eastham as he had been in 1642 and 1643 for the town of Plymouth.

On Dec. 2, 1681, John Doane conveyed by deed, in which he is styled "Gent., Tayler," his Eastham homestead to his daughter Abigail as appears by the following extract from Ply. Col. Rec.

Vol. 5 of Deeds, p. 89 :

"To all people to whom these p rsents shall come. Greeting. Know yee thatt I, John Doane, Gent. Tayler of the Towne of Eastham in the Jurisdiction of New Plymouth in New England in America, for divers con- siderations, mee thereunto mouving, and especially for that love and naturall affection, which I bear to my daughter Abigaill Doane; hath freely, fully and absolutely given, granted infeoffed and confirmed; and by these p r sents, doth give, graunt, enfeoffe and confirm unto my said daughter Abigaill

Doane of the Towne and Jurisdiction aforesaid ; to her and her heires, executors, administrators and assignes, forever, my dwelling house with all the upland and meddow about the said house ; The land being'by estima- tion twelve acrees, more or less, and two acrees of meddow, be it more or lesse, in a place comonly called the acrees, or the Comon Cove in the boate meddow ; The said house land and meddow is sittuated and being in the

Towne shipp of Eastham ; with all and singular the appurtenances to the said given p rmises, or any yte or p r sell of them forever" etc.

In his will dated May 18, 1678, Mr. Doane declares his age

"eighty-eight years or thereabouts." If his own statement is cor- rect he was born not far from 1590. He died Feb. 21, 1685, aged about ninety-five years. His inventory taken by his neighbors 16 THE DOANE FAMILY.

Joseph Snow and Joshua Bangs, says "aged about 100 years." His wife's name appears as Abigail. They were undoubtedly interred in the old cemetery at Eastham, the first burial ground of the town. On Sept. 10, 1869, a Doane Family memorial meeting was held at Eastham to witness the erection of a granite post on the site of

Deacon John Doane's house. This site is on the eastern side of the town, perhaps three hundred yards from the waters of Nauset Bay extending to the south, about one-half mile from the Atlantic shore and two and one- half miles from Barnstable Bay on tbe west. The

old cellar now overgrown with wild grass is in a field of about fifteen acres, owned by Mr. Benjamin Higgins. The stone, a rough block of granite, was erected by the Hon. John Doane of Orleans (291) on which occasion an historical address was delivered by Heman Doane, Esq. (319) followed by the singing of an original hymn. The following is a copy of all documents in the settlement of John Doane's estate found in the Registry of Probate at Barnstable, Mass.

The will of Deacon John Doane.

Eastham in the Colony of New Plimouth in New England this 18 th of May 1768 I John Doane aged eighty and eight years or thereabout in considera- tion of my many Infirmitees that daily attend me and may in a moment close up my Life and therfore do think it meet to make this my last will and tes- tament; and first I give my soul to god that gave it and my body to a decent burial in the earth from whence it was taken. And for my outward estate I do dispose of it to those that God hath given me In the Bonds of Nature and it being of Little valine in your journey heavenward I do exhort you all to Labour after Indeuer and be Laying out for the kingdom of Right- eousness thereof and an Inheritance amongst the saints in Light and then all your needs and wants will be supplied. And to my Loving wife I give Loane and bequeath my now dwelling house Scituated and being in the Town of Eastham with all the upland and meadow about y e sd house and two acres of meadow more or less In a place comonly called y e Acres Likewise I give to my Loving wife all my moveables of all kinds as household stuff cattle of all kinds or whatsoever are mine I give wholy and fulley for her comfortable subsistence during her Life, And after decease I give the house land and meadow above specified to my daughter Abigal Doane I make my son John Doane whole and sole executor and to my sd John Doane I give twenty seven acres of upland more or less seven acres of it Lyeth Joyning to a parcel of land the Towne granted him and fifteen acres of it Lyeth on the west side of llockharbonr mouth and the other five acres Lyeth at Nauset Joyning to my sd Soun John his Laud And I give to my sd sonn John Doane eight acres of land at poche Island with all my right and Interest in the Towne of Eastham as being a Towne purcheser and to my sd son John I DESCENDANTS OF DEA. JOHN DOANE. 17

give a tract of Land granted to me by the honnoured court holden at pli- mouth by his magesties order Invested with power to do equity and Justice to his poor distresed Subjectes the grant was a hundred acres of upland and

meadow Answerable to it. I give to my son Daniel Doane all that Land which he now Liveth upon

and twenty acres of land nere a place called the dry swamp ; and I give to my sd son Daniel four acres and a half of meadow scituate and being on the southerly side of the boat meadow I give to my son Ephraim Doane twenty acres of upland and four acres of meadow be it more or less scituate and be- ing at little Billingsgate. I give to my granddaughter Margaret Hixs one Truuk and one payer of sheets. I give to my above sd son John Doane my great Table and the forme that belongs unto it and I make him whole and sole executor of this my Last will and testament that after my wife is deceased and the debts paid out of my estate to devide what is Leift equaly amongst all my sons and daughters. And so I leave you all to the Lord in whose hand I desire you may be all kept by his allmighty power threw faith unto salvation which is my great and earnist desire for you all and rest and under hopefullness that you will Live in Love and peace here walking in Love one with another and the God of Love and peace be with you and bring you to the kingdom of peace at Last. Signed and sealed In the presence of us John Doane Samuel Freeman. a(seale) Gershom Hall.

Samuel Freeman made oath in Court ye 2 d June 1686 that he see John Doane signe seal & declare this to be his Last will and Testament & that he was of disposing mind when he so did. As Attest John Walley Assist.

Gershom Hall made oath in the prerogative Court in Barnstable May y e 31 th 1687 that he saw John Doane signe seal and declare this to be his last will and Testament and that he was of a disposing when he did so. Attest Joseph Lothrop D R

Truly Transcribed out of the (tfiginal duly compared therewith and en- tered June y e 8 th 1687. Attest Joseph Lothrop Depy Registar.

An Inventory of the estate of Mr. John Doaue deceased the 21 th of Feb- ruary 1685 aged about a hundred years.

It. one fether bed two bed bolsters and one pillow 02-15-00 It. one Rugg 00-12-00

It. three bed blankets 00-16-00

It. one payer of sheets 00-16-00

It. three pillow Bears 00-06-00

It. two Table Clothes 00-10-06 2 18 THE DOANE FAMILY.

It. three napkins 00-04-00 It. two Towels 00-01-00 It. two pewter platters 00-06-00 It. one porenger, two sausers 00-01-06 It. one Beere bowle, one wine cup 00-01-06 It. one Brass cullinder, one skimer 00-02-00 It. one Skillet one payer of Scales and weight 00-04-06 It. one half pint pott ten trenchers one earthern pott -01-11

It. 4 earthern pots two chesevats one brush 00-02-04 It. one cubbord 1 Box one Desk 00-13-06

It. 3 chests one Tray 00-09-00 It. one payer of tongs one fork one morter and pessel 00-06-00 It. one payer of Andirons old pewter 00-09-09

It. one pressing Iron two Chaires 00-08-06 It. one Smouthing Iron one tunnel 00-01-09 It. old Iron one little Box one chaire one whele 00-05-04 It. 9 Books a glass Bottle a sword hammer foot handsaw 00-13-00 This 21 th of may 1686 this Inventory was prized by us Joseph Snow Joshua Bangs s It. one spit one Bullit of about 3 It. two small old baggs one Brass plate It. one payer of large pot hooks.

It. one Looking glass : these other things come to 00-05-00 This 29 may 1686 Abigal Doane made oath to the truth of this Invintory before me John Freeman, Assist.

Truly transcribed out of the original duly compared therewith and entered June the 8 th 1689. Attest JosErn Lothrop DR. Children of Deacon John Doane

2 2 i Lydia, b. . 2 3 ii Abigail, b. Jan. 13, 1632. 2 4 iii John, b. about 1635. 5 iv Daniel, 2 b. about 1636. 2 6 v Ephraim, b .