AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT

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Ralph Russell                                      see FAMILY TREE

Born: Abt. 1620

    
Married: 12 Oct 1663 New Haven, CT

    

Died: Bef. 12 Dec 1675 East Haven, New Haven, CT 

    

WIFE

Mary Hitchcock

CHILDREN

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
    b. 20 Mar 1666/7
    m. 12 Jun 1687 Jane Blakeman
    d. 11 Jul 1738

3. Samuel Russell
    b. 29 Dec 1671 Quinnipiac, New Haven, Connecticut, British Colonial America
    b. 20 Mar 1666/7
    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

Biography of the Russell Brothers
by Susan Brooke
May 2020

Ralph Russell was employed at the Hammersmith Iron Works in Saugus, MA before Oct 1647. (1)  He had a two acre plot of land and was among the ten highest paid workers. He worked in the "Slitting Mill." (2) A fellow employee, Henry Leonard, who had supposedly learned his trade in Pontypool, Wales earned £ 16 (a year?) (3) Since Ralph Russell had land and was considered to be highly paid, he probably was an older man and possibly married. His fellow employee, Henry Leonard was born about 1618.
Ralph Russell and the Leonard brothers must have acquired a good reputation because in October when a new enterprise, by the same forge company, began in Taunton, MA,  the owners invited the Leonard brothers and Ralph Russell to help build the forge.   The three men had land "set off to them" by the proprietors "as encouragement," but only Henry remained once the forge was put into operation in 1656.  James Leonard and Ralph Russell relinquished their lands. (4) 
Supposedly Ralph Russell went to "Russell's Mills", near Dartmouth, where he established another forge, but if he was there, he did not stay very long. He does show up back in Lynn, however.  In the Ipswich court records of January 1657 we find Ralph Russell "overgone with drink," along with several other men in the house. (5)
In the meantime another iron works was being established in what is now East Haven, CT.   John Cooper, who had come from New Haven, on the other side of the Quinnipiac River, became the agent of the new iron works.  John and Ralph Russell were among the workmen. John Russell was a potter and Ralph Russell a forgeman.  This may be the John Russell who was in the New Haven court on January 3, 1653 about a lost bull. (6)  He stated at that time was he was 21 making him born about 1632.
Ralph Russell married Mary Hitchcock on 12 Oct 1663 in New Haven, CT. (7)  He must have been in his late 30's or early 40's by this time, since he was an adult in 1647.
There is pretty good evidence that Ralph and John Russell are related.  They show up in the New Haven courts several times in 1666 and 1667 being fined for swearing and being drunk. In August 1666 they were at Ralph Russell's house.  John Russell brought the liquor, about 3 gallons. Thomas Pinnion and other men were there.  They drank to the health of John Rose's daughter and another toast to the Duke of York.  Then they got arrested for drunkenness.  Ralph was fined 10 shillings for suffering such things in his house and another 3 shillings 4d  for excess drinking.  John Russell was fined 3 shillings 4d. A William Collins was sentenced to a whipping for attempting to violate the chastity of Mary Pinion. (8) That was in August.  The next March John Russell was back in court for "enticing" Sarah Gilbert and Elizabeth Butler.  He was fined 10 shillings for being drunk and another 10 shillings for swearing. (9) In May Ralph's wife Mary and Hannah Pinnion were in court claiming they had been accosted by a Patrick Morran. (10) He was the company clerk and boarded at Ralph Russell's home. (11)  And on the same day John Russell was fined again for his excess drinking, but this time the fines were doubled.  All this happened within a nine month period.  But then they seem to have settled down. Drunken parties had almost been the norm with all the iron workers and complaints had been made to the town.   Matthew Moulthrop, 2d, who had been appointed conservator of the morals of the people at the iron works, possibly was making a difference. (12)
Apparently these iron workers were a rough lot and enjoyed a drink or two.  Back in Hammersmith (Lynn) at least six of these men had worked together. Nicholas Pinnion and sons were considered to be "one of the most incorrigible families."  Back in Lynn in 1647 he was in court for beating his wife.  In New Haven in January 1664 his wife and two daughters brought suit against Patrick Morran. He was the company clerk and Ralph Russell's boarder.  Patrick Morran retaliated by bringing a suit of slander against the three women.  Samuel Hemingway gave testimony by quoting Ralph Russell, resulting in Patrick Morran winning his case and the women having to pay a fine of £5.  Women did not have many rights.  And the company name was not sullied.  (13)
Ralph Russell had married Mary Hitchcock on Oct. 12, 1663.  She had been fined for fornication before her marriage.  Being married to Ralph had rescued her from a whipping.  After 1667 they all seemed to have stayed out of the courts.
Ralph Russell died in East Haven in December, 1675.  The inventory of his estate was taken December 12 by Matthew Moulthrop and John Potter amounting to £103.08.06. (14) John Russell died in July 1681.  His inventory was taken July 14, 1681 and amounted to £30.16.00. Both men left their widows with young children.  Ralph's wife Mary had four children ranging from about 11 to 2 years old.  She remarried four years later to John Potter.  John Russell left his widow with at least three children ranging in ages from about 11 to under one year old.  His widow also remarried.

 

Sources

(1) October 30, 1647 Essex Court Records have John Chocksell and Ralph Russell as witnesses to Nicholas Pennion beating his wife "causing a miscarriage" and another time for "spending him time drinking & profanity."   The Essex Antiquarian Volumes 5-7

(2) https://www.nps.gov/sair/learn/historyculture/upload/03Chapter2.pdf

Hammersmith through the Historical texts

(pg 34) To improve production efficiency, an additional hammer may have been installed after 1652, although this conclusion is somewhat controversial. About ten men ran this complex operation. Among the most highly paid were finers John Turner and John Vinton. Other forge workers included John Francis, Nicholas Pinnion, Henry Leonard, James Leonard, Ralph Russell, Thomas Billington, Jonas Fairbanks, and Robert Crossman. Quentin Prey ran the forge at Braintree.43

(pg44) Located on land east of the Saugus River, Hammersmith village housed a community of skilled ironworkers and their families. The village contained “workmen’s houses and gardens, orchard and field of English grass adjoining the orchard.”17 Hammersmith was a forerunner of America’s mill towns built exclusively for the families of an industrial working class. Theirs were modest dwellings valued at between two and twelve pounds, except for a long house with four tenements that was valued at £20. The company paid for maintenance on and improvements to the workers’ homes, which sheltered single families and extended families with married adult children. Families often boarded bachelor workers and were reimbursed by the company for providing meals. References to fourteen houses indicate that they were generally clapboarded, probably with thatched or shingled roofs, and that some had cellars and some lean-tos. Many workers raised vegetable gardens, as well as sheep or goats. Four workers, John Vinton, John Francis, John Hardman, and Ralph Russell, were each granted their own two-acre plots of land. Since several workmen were in debt to the company in 1653, it is very possible that workers’ families bought goods from the company’s storehouse, as did workers of many nineteenth- and twentieth-century factory towns.

(pg 44) The Slitting Mill Process

The operation of a slitting mill in the wilds of the Massachusetts Bay Colony at a time when so few operated in the Old World is testimony to the vision and ambition of The Company of Undertakers of the Iron Works in New England. About twelve percent of the wrought-iron stock produced at the forge traveled to the slitting mill where it would be heated for several hours.46 Once pliable, a bar was drawn through a set of rollers to make flats, which were sold as stock for wheel rims, axes, saws, or scythes. Some flats were slit by large shears into nail rod, which was then bundled for sale to local blacksmiths and other settlers. The demand for nails in the young colony was enormous. Several forge workers were paid for jobs in the slitting mill, including Joseph Jenks, John Vinton, Ralph Russell, and Nicholas Pinnion

(3) http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~bart/genealogy/LEONARD3.htm#_ednref18

Henry’s total earnings (per annum?) were £16.[18]  Henry and his brother James were among the ten highly skilled workers required for the operation of the forge and the rolling & slitting mill at Hammersmith (Fig.3).[19]  However, since they drew only small sums for their work there, it appears that they were at that time not in charge of any of the equipment but served as skilled forge hands.[20] 

(4) Our County and its people: a Descriptive & biographical record of Bristol County, MA pg 261
"It was at a town meeting conferred and agreed upon between the inhabitants of Taunton and Henry Leonard of Braintree: Imprimis, It was agreed and granted by the town to Henry and James Leonard, his brother, and Ralph Russell, free consent to come hither and join with certain of our inhabitants to set up a Bloomery Work on the Two Mile River. " Property released.  "Mr John Paine on the right that was Ralph Russell's"  no date

(5) The Essex Antiquarian, Vol 11 by Sidney Perley 1907,  p 128  Ipswich Court Records "George Darline and wife Kate deposed that last winter all Sabbath day there were several persons sitting and drinking at Mr. John Hathorn's house.  They saw John Divan of ye Iron works and Ralph Russell in ye house overgone with drink"  31:1:1657 The Essex Antiquarium pg 128
(6) New Haven Town Records, Vol 1. pg 197  At A Court Held at Newhaven the 3d of January, 1653    "John Russell, about the age of 21 years, saith he heard Mr. Robins say he let a bull to Goodman Rose, of Totoket, but because the bull was carelessly lost, he would make the said Goodman Rose pay for him, & further saith not." New Haven Town Records Vol 1 pg 197
(7) Married: 12 Oct 1663 New Haven, CT New Haven Records for Russell
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

(8) New Haven Town Records Vol 2 pg 181-3  At a Court Held at New Haven August 7th 1666

Thomas Pinion called to answer for his drunkenness which was charged with & had been examined about ye 2nd of this instant & confessed by him; he was wish to declare ye business, & where he had the Liquor, Etc?  He said it was at Ralph Russells house; he spoke to him to go up & drink a dram, & so he did, & he thinks there was but about a quart drunk; & they drank health (Wm Collins began it), first to John Roses daughter, & another to the Duke of York, he being his soldier, etc.
William Collins said Liquor was bought of goodman tiler by John Russell to ye quantity of 3 gallons.

Ralph Russell Called, It was answered he was not well & he left himself to ye Court, & Having been examined & found to have drunke to excess & to have suffered this drunkenness in his house; Therefore the Court by way of sentence declared that according to Law he pay 10* for suffering such things in his house: and 3*; 4d for his excess in drinking.
John Russell was also Sentenced for his excess in drinking to pay 3*. 4d.		 New Haven Town Records Vol 2 pg 181 New Haven Town Records Vol 2 pg 182 New Haven Town Records Vol 2 pg 183
(9) New Haven Town Records 1649-1684 Vol.2  pg. 201  At a Court Held at New Haven March 5th 1666/7
Drunken party in New Haven enticing Sarah Gilbert & Elisabeth Butler. "John Russell for ye like 20*; for his swearing 10*; & for his suffering drunkenness in a private house ye is in his possession 10*"		 New Haven Town Records Vol 2 pg 201
(10) New Haven Town Records 1649-1684 Vol 2 pg 204 At a Court Held at New Haven May 7 1667 
Patrick Morran, having been formerly accused by Giles Black, John Lindon, & John Tylie of unsuitable & unreasonable familiarity with Mary Russell
John Russell fined for his excess in drinking, being ye second time, 6*, 8d, & for suffering drunkenness in the house where he had ye power of 10*.		 New Haven Town Records Vol 2 pg 204 New Haven Town Records Vol2 pg 205

(11) Founding Mothers and Fathers, Gendered Power in the Family, by Mary Beth Norton pg 27 and pg 30

Backed by Goody Mary Russell (the wife of Morran's landlord, Ralph Russell), Nicholas even convinced the reluctant Elizabeth to “pass it over.”

(12) History of New Haven Colony Connecticut Vol 1 by John L Rockey  pg 226
"It appears that other of the employees were lawless, and that the furnace had gathered some disorderly persons, so that complaint was made to the town, December 1st, 1657, on that score, It was then agreed that those working there in the future should bring certificates of character, and later Matthew Moulthrop, 2d, was appointed conservator of the morals of the people at the iron works."

(13) New Haven Town Records Vol 2 pg 117-123
, Hannah Pinion, about fifteen years of age declared, That one rainy day she went up to goody, Hannah Pinion, about fifteen years of age declared, That one rainy day she went up to goody Russells house to borrow a sieve & coming out of doors Patrick followed her, & as they were betwixt goodm. Russells & goodm Moulthrops he said to her if she would come to ye furnace with him & let him ly with her he would bring her a pair of gloves; but she answered him she would not for many gloves

(14) Died: Bef. 12 Dec 1675 East Haven, New Haven, CT (14) Died: Bef. 12 Dec 1675 East Haven, New Haven, CT 

Inventory, taken Dec. 12, 1675, by Matthew Moulthrop and John Potter, £103.08.06
Estate of Ralph Russell
American Ancestors, Vol 81 page 131		  

 


More Clues

William and Elizabeth Tuttle by George Frederick Tuttle, 1883

John and Ralph Russell were brothers and appear at the iron works in East Haven about 1664. John died 1681, leaving wife Hannah, who afterward married Robert Dawson; children 1. Hannah b. 1670; m. 1702 Joseph Granniss, 2. William 1676, one , 1679 4. John, Nov 1 1680. Ralph Russell, by petition from Thomas Barnes had grant of a piece of land near the iron works.  He died 1679 during a season of great mortality in East Haven. He married Oct 12, 1661, Mary Hitchcock; had 1. John Dec 14, 1664; m. Aug 17, 1687, Hannah Moulthrop 2. Joseph March 20 1667. 3. Edward  4. Samuel b. 1671 married Esther Tuttle and had: Samuel 1696; Esther, 1699; Mary, 1700. Infant, 1702; Ralph, 1703; Joseph, 1706; Daniel and Abel.

 

http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~bart/genealogy/LEONARD3.htm#_ednref18

Henry (Leonard) married MARY [-?-] 1645 (?) in Lynn, died before 1 Oct. 1695, probably in Monmouth Co., NJ.[4]  Mary was born ca. 1624/5 (see Salem Court Record 24 Sept. 1657 below), died in 1675 in Monmouth Co.[5] An undocumented source indicates that Henry’s wife’s maiden name was Mary Russell and that they were married in Lynn.  If this is true, then the next assumption might be that she was a sister or daughter of Ralph Russell.  This Ralph Russell was a less-experienced forge helper with Henry and James Leonard at Hammersmith (the name of the ironworks at Lynn).[6] 



The Russell Register - Volumes 1-2 - Page 160

published 1978

books.google.com › books 

FOUND INSIDE – PAGE 160

... RALPH RUSSELL (ca. 1625-1679) of Lynn, Mass., and New Haven, Conn First mentioned in February 1647/8 with Nicholas and John Russell as workers at the Lynn [Saugus] Iron Works, Essex ..

Snippet View below

The Russell Register

 

 

Social and Economic Networks in Early Massachusetts:  by Marsha L. Hamilton

(Nicholas Russell boarded with the Pinnion family at Hammersmith and was accused of having an affair with the wife of Nicholas Pinnion.) 

Nicholas first appears in the Essex Court records in Dec 1647 for beating his wife and common swearing.  In Feb 1647/8, he was fined for searing, along with six other ironworkers; Esther was presented for swearing in a separate charge.  -- At the same court session, Nicholas Russell, another ironworker, was in Nicholas Penyon's house after he had ordered him to keep away, being jealous of his wife. Pinnion suspected Russel and Esther of having an affair. --- At the same time, Russell was fined for drinking with Pinnion.---

 

 

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