AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT
Contact information on HOME page
Direct descendant is highlighted in red
Mary Hitchcock see FAMILY TREE
| Born: 2 Feb 1637/8 New Haven, CT |
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Married: 12 Oct 1663 Ralph Russell |
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Died: After Jan 1706/7 New Haven, CT |
Mentioned in will of her husband, John Potter |
FATHER
MOTHER
Mary
HUSBANDS
CHILDREN with Ralph Russell
1. John Russell
b. 14 Dec 1664
Quinnipiac, New Haven, Connecticut, British Colonial America
m. 17 Aug 1687 Hannah Moulthrop
d. 13 Feb 1723
2. Joseph Russell
b. 20 Mar 1666/7
Quinnipiac, New Haven, Connecticut, British Colonial America
m. 12 Jun 1687 Jane Blakeman
d. 11 Jul 1738
3. Samuel Russell
b. 29 Dec 1671
Quinnipiac, New Haven, Connecticut, British Colonial America
m. 27 Feb 1694 Esther Tuttle
d. 26 Jun 1724
4. Edward Russell
b. 25 Feb 1673
Quinnipiac, New Haven, Connecticut, British Colonial America
b. 20 Mar 1666/7
d. 3 Aug 1684
CHILDREN with John Potter
1. Abigail Potter
b. 23 Sep 1680
Quinnipiac, New Haven, Connecticut, British Colonial America
m. Abt. 1699 Samuel Thompson
m. Abt. 1718 Thomas Smith
d. 27 Mar 1756
Mary Hitchcock
by Susan Brooke
May 2020
Mary Hitchcock was born in New Haven on Feb 2, 1637/8. (1) Her mother, Mary, died sometime
before May 1656 when her father, Edward Hitchcock, remarried to a Frances. Mary was about 18
at that time and by Nov 1657 she was working as a servant in the home of Magistrate John
Brooke. An Edward Neele "frequented that home" and somehow a
contract of marriage was drawn up between her and this Edward Neele.
However, it was declared a "lye" by her father and ended up in the New Haven
courts on the 6th of 8th month 1657. (2)
Mary must have continued working at the home of John Brooke but did not keep
out of trouble. Sometime before her father died, she must have been
accused of theft because in a court appearance in Dec 1661 Mary was "minded of a
former miscarriage of her in the way of Theft for which she was corrected by her
father." She was in court at the time for fornication. By this time
her father had died and on May 11, 1659, she had received her inheritance of
£20.12.2. (3) She was 21 and had lost both her parents.
As stated she was back in court in December 7, 1661, she and a fellow
servant in the household of John Brooke had both confessed to a consensual sexual
relationship. Richard Matticks
testified that she had lured him into her bedchamber. Mary testified she
had only suggested it was time to retire for the night as the Mr. and Mrs. had
gone to bed. (4)
Obviously they disagreed. Richard Matticks also testified that he had
offered her marriage and asked her if she was pregnant. She had responded
no to both. The court then asked if she was willing to marry Richard
Matticks. She said no even though that probably meant corporal
punishment. Mary may have told the court she thought she was
pregnant because her punishment was delayed. When she reappeared in court nine
months later on September 2, 1662 her expressions of remorse were seconded by
several church members. She was then sentenced to a fine of £4 which her
friend John Herriman promised would be paid. (5)
One year
later Mary Hitchcock married Ralph Russell on October 12, 1663. (6) She was
25 years old and Samuel Russell probably in his late 30's or early 40's. Together
they had four children, the last, Edward being born on February 25, 1673.
Her husband, Ralph, died before 12 December 1675 when the inventory of his
estate was taken. A couple of years later she appeared in court, a widow, inquiring about some property adjoining the house of
her late husband. (7)
In
1675 when her husband died, she was 34 and had four children: John aged 11, Joseph aged 8, Samuel aged
4 and
Edward just 2 years old. A neighbor and friend, John Potter, had lost his
wife on June 15 of that same year, 1675. His son Samuel was just 12 days
old when his wife died. Mary and John Potter married on December 29,
1679. (6) Nine months later she and her new husband had a daughter, Abigail Potter,
born September 23, 1680.
John Potter died December 24, 1706 leaving a will naming his wife Mary.
The will was proved "1st Monday Jan 1706/7" referring to Mary as "a laborious,
loving, and tender-hearted wife."
(8)
Sources
(1)
Connecticut U.S. Church Record Abstracts 1630-1920
(Hitchcock) Abigail, Mary & John, children of ( ) w. of Edw. bb. Dec 15,
1644; Mary b. Feb 2, 1638; John b. Feb last, 1643
(2) New Haven Town Records, 1649-1684By New Haven (Conn.) page 323 |
Isack Hall, Thomas Weede, Edward Neale, Mary Hitchcock and John Brookes were called before the Court, and the said Isack was charged with writing, and the said Thomas with setting up a writing upon the meetinghouse, publishing a contract of marriage betwixt the said Edward Neale and ye said Mary Hitchcock, when as there is no such matter, as the father of the said Mary (who complained of this wrong) declared; which thing is the publishing of a lye, and the abuse of that wholesome Order made by the Court. |
| (3)
New Haven Town Records, 1649-1684 By New Haven (Conn.) page 401 |
At a Meeting of the Court the 11th of May, 1659 Francis, the widow of Edward Hitchcock, deceased, having informed that there was a considerable alteration of ye estate of her deceased husband since the inventory was taken, the Court ordered that a new inventory should be taken, before they proceeded to the division of the estate betwixt the widow and others ye were interested therein, which accordingly was done & presented to the Court, amounting to £185.10.09; Deacon Miles and John Cowper did testify upon the oath they had taken ye appraisement was just, according to their best light; with estate being divided, ye proportions are as follows: to Francis, the widow of the deceased, £61.16.11; to John, the eldest sonne £41.5.0 which was by his consent committed to Ensigne Lindon; to Mary, the eldest daughter, £20.12.2; to Abigaile, £20.12.2 1/2, which was at her desire committed to Sergeant Munson; to Samuel, £20.12.2, who being not of age to choose his guardian, it was at the present to remain under the care of the Court; to Elizabeth Perry, a kinswoman to the widow, who according to ye minde of the deceased was to have a childs part, as by ye records doth appear, £20.12.2 which was left with the widow until further orders; all which amounted to £185.10.9; but what shall appear due to Wm Andrewes or Edward Pattison, out of the estate is to be paid by the parties ye possess the estate, according to proportion. |
(4) New Haven Town Records, 1649-1684By New Haven (Conn.) page 497 |
"that he had committed Fornication with Mary Hitchcock, he thought 6 or 7 times, but whether more than 6 or 7 times he knew not. The first time (he said) began thus his mr and mrs being gone to Bedd they two being together in the kitchen in ye darke, Mary told him, that he looked like a wenching Fellow, saying come, shall we goe to Bedd." When Mary testified "she thought it was about 3 or 4 times, the first time about 6 months since, the last about 4 months since (as she thought)-- Richard and shee being in the kitchen together, she said to him, Come shall wee goe to Bedd; haveing so said, she went into her chamber, & shut the doore closse, being in bed & covered up closse he coming to the doore, she asked him what he did there. -- She told him she did not bid him come to bed there, but to his owne bedd, & therefore bid him be gone, upon which he went away." |
(5) New Haven Town Records, 1649-1684By New Haven (Conn.) page 497 |
"if she was willing to mary Richard Matticks; she said she was not willing; they were told that by their wickedness they had made themselves one flesh & so unfit for any other; - They were told that by the law they are to be punished, either by enjoyning marriage or fines or Corporall punishment, any or all, as most agreeable to ye Word of God." When she reappeared in court nine months later on September 2, 1662 John Herriman spoke that "he hoped she had in some measure seen her evil and he desired the lord may help her to see it more. Therefore desired a fine might be taken for her instead of corporal punishment." Sister Herriman also spoke that "she had a godly mother, but did not walk in her godly steps yet she did hope that god had begun a repentance in her." Sister Glover also spoke. The judges, 'hoping she would become a new woman,' thereupon changed Mary's sentence to a fine of "foure pounds, which Jn Herriman or his wife promised to see payd to ye treasurer." |
| (6) Married: 12 Oct 1663 New Haven, CT |
 Index to Marriages, Births and Deaths, New Haven 1639-1754 FHL film 1405824 image 96 |
Marriages: Ralph Russell to Mary Hitchcock 12 Oct 1663 Mary Russell to John Potter 29 Dec 1679 Births: John Russell 14 Dec 1664 Joseph Russell 20 Mar 1666/7 Edward Russell 25 Feb 1673 Deaths: Edward Russell 3 Aug 1684 |
(7) New Haven Town Records, 1649-1769, 1662-1684By New Haven (Conn.) page 367 |
Town
Meeting Held at Newhaven ye 18th of September 1677
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(8) John and William Potter and Their Descendants, page 25
