Benjamin Houghton

Other Events and Attributes:

• Moved to: 15 Apr 1676, Charlestown, Suffolk County, Massachusetts; John, Beatrix and their children moved from Lancaster, Massachusetts during King Philip's War.

Notes:

Died:
He appears to have never married.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: 1646 or 1647; In 1646 or 1647 John brought with him his wife, Beatrix, and three children, John, Jacob and Mary. His cousin, Ralph and his wife Jane, came with him. After he and his family arrived, they lived for a while in Charlestown, Watertown, and Dedham.
• Land/House: 1647, Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts; In 1647 he received land in Lancaster, Massachusetts.
• Moved To: About 1650, Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts; About 1650 he settled in Lancaster, having spent a brief time in Watertown and Charlestown.
• Land/House: 1663, Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts; Proposition to the towne was that the towne would Consent that John Houghton might haue Libertie to Lay downe a halfe home Lot being that he had a lott and halfe granted by the towne, this was granted by the towne, 1:12: mon: 1663:
• Miscellaneous: 3 Feb 1667, Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts; Town Grants 3 Februray 1667: "Jo : Houghton's grant. It was ordered by a voate of the towne that John Houghton should haue Libertie to fall Timber in the Commons for his trade vse, And If he take the barke of it, And sett his marke vpon it, Then it is not Lawfull for any to take or make vse of any such Timber.
• Miscellaneous: 7 Feb 1670, Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts; Act of the Town 7 & 8 February 1670: Jo. Houghtons grant. It was granted John Houghton to Lay downe twentie acres of second deuision Land for a high way on the south side of deans brook. And to take it vp againe in a plaine neare his medow this alsoe was Confirmed by a voate of the towne.
• Moved To: 1676, Charlestown, Suffolk County, Massachusetts; John, Beatrix and their children moved from Lancaster, Massachusetts during King Philip's War (1675-1676).
• Petition: 11 Mar 1675/76, Charlestown, Suffolk County, Massachusetts; On 11 March 1675/76, he, and 18 others signed the "Humble petition of the distressed people of Lancaster" to the Government for assistance, in this emergency. It reads: To the Hone^rd Governor and Counsll The humble petition of the poor destressed people of Lancaster, humbley sheweth, that sence tlie enem}' mad such sad & dismall hauocke amongst our deare ffreinds & Bretheren, & we that are left who haue our Liues for a prey sadly seacable of Gods Judgm^t upon us, this with the destresse we are now in dus embolden us to present our humble Requests to yo^r Honors, hoping our Condisions may be considered by you & our Requests find exptance with you, our stat is very deplorable, in our Incapasity to subsist, as to Remoue away we can not, tb.e enemy has so Incompased us, otherwise for want of help our catle being the most of them caried away by the barberouss heathen, & to stay disinabled for want of food, the Towns people are Genially goo who felt the Judgm^t but light, & had theyr catle left them with theyr estats, but we many of us heare in this prison, haue not bread to last us on mongth & our other provision spent & gon, for the genrallyty, our Town is drawn into two Garisons wherin are by the Good favours of yo^r Hon^rs eigyo^r Honors shuould call them of, we are searlaynly a bayt for the enemy if God do not wonderfully prevent, therefore we hop as God has mad you fathers ouer us so you will haue a fathers pitty to us & extend your care ouer us who are yo^r poor destressed subjects. We are sorowful to Leaue the place, but hoplesse to keep it unlesse mayntayned by the Cuntrey. it troubles our sperits to giue any Incuridgm' to the enemy, or leaue any thing for them to promiot their wicked designe, yet better saue our Liues then lose Life & Estat both, we are in danger enienent, the enemy leying Aboue us, nay on both sids of us, as dus playingly Apeare. our womens cris dus dayly Increase beand expresion which dus not ordy fill our ears but our hearts full of Greefe, which makes us humbly Requtst yo^r Hon^rs to send a Gard of men & that if you please so comand we may haue Carts About fourteen will Remoue the whool eight of which has been presed long at Sudburry but nevr came for want of a small gard of men, the whooll that is, all that are in the on Garison, Kept in Major Willards house, which is all from yo^r Hon^rs most humble servants & suplyants.
• Miscellaneous: 12 Oct 1676, Charlestown, Suffolk County, Massachusetts; 1676 Oct. 12. This Court being informed by certifiicat vnder the hand of Capt. Dnniell Hinxksman, that when he was out in the service of the country at Lancaster, they had occasion to make vse of an oxe for a supply of the forces vnder his comand, which sajd oxe was vallued. bv indifterent persons, at fiue pounds in country pay, on a motion made in behalfe of the. ouno^r of the oxe John Houghton, it is ordered, that the Tresurer of the Coiuntry make payment to the sajd Houghton for the sajd oxe accordingly.
• Miscellaneous: 1677, Charlestown, Suffolk County, Massachusetts; While in Charlestown he had grant to use the common in 1677.
• Moved To: About 1679, Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts; In about 1679 he returned to Lancaster, Massachusetts.
• Will: 8 Apr 1684, Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts; He made out his will 8 April 1684 in Lancaster. He mentions his wife, Beatrix, and his children: John, Robert, Jonas, Benjamin, Mary, and Sarah.
• Probate/Proved: 17 Jun 1684; His will was probated. On 4 April 1721, after the death of the widow, division was agreed upon by John, Robert, Jonas, John Harris and Beatrix Pope.
• Last Full Review: 9 Jun 2020

Notes:

Mistake: Farmer (1829) has him a representative six years after his death. This refers to his son.

Name:

John married Beatrix about 1648/49. Beatrix was born in 1628 in England; died on 8 Jan 1711/12 in Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Moved To: Abt 1661, Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts; They moved from Dedham, Massachusetts.
• Moved to: 15 Apr 1676, Charlestown, Suffolk County, Massachusetts; They moved from Lancaster, Massachusetts.

Notes:

Name:

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: birth to death, Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire, England
• Immigration: Jun 1635;

Notes:

History:
From 1629 to 1630, he was a church warden of St. Mary's Church, Eaton Bray. During his wardenship the tower of this
ancient church was repaired.

Immigration:
He came to the New World on board the Abigail out of London. The following is probably a correct transcription of the passenger list June 20, 1635: "Passenger from London to New England in ship Abigail, Heckwell, Master, John Houghton 4 [40] years old, certificate of his conformity from Justice of the Peace and Minister of Eaton Bray, in County Bedford, England.

He has been confused with his son, who came over between 1646 and 1647. He did not remain in New England, but returned to England, after the civil trouble had subsided, where he had left his family.

John married Damaris Buckmaster. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Catherine Houghton. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]