St. Mary's Church- Ottery
m.22 Nov. 1622 Ottery St. Mary, Devon, Mrs. Thomasine (Tamsen) Channon (d.c.1690), d. of Henry Channon
d. between 10 May and 19 Dec. 1648
St. Mary's Church- Ottery
An interesting tradition in Ottery St. Mary (known as "Ottry") is the lighting of the tar barrels. Around Guy Fawkes Night barrels soaked in tar are set alight and carried overhead throughout the town. Only those born in town or who have lived there most of their lives may carry a barrel. The event started in the 17th century or earlier and was started as a means of warding off evil spirits. Check out the Tar Barrels web site at: http://www.otterytarbarrels.co.uk/index.html Me thinks you must have a few pints before taking this on!
Along the same lines the Ottregians celebrate Pixie Day commemorating the pixies being banished from the town to local caves know as the Pixie's Parlour in 1454. The Pixies were evidently upset about a set of bells being brought to the church in Otteri as they knew that after the bells were installed it would be the death knell of their rule over the village. They cast a spell over the monks bringing the bells and redirected them to a road leading them to the edge of a cliff. Just as they were about to fall off the cliff one of the monks stubbed his toe on a rock and said: "God bless my soul" and the spell was broken. The bells were installed in the new church, however, the Pixies still come out one day in June and capture the bell ringers and imprison them in the Pixie's Parlour to be rescued by the Vicar of Ottry. Todays Pixies are members of the local Scouts and the festival is a fund raiser for Scouting... and, of course, the Pixies have a web page as well at: http://www.pixieday.org (2)
Pixies Running Amok in Ottry
One must wonder if our ancestors took part in such festivities!
Francis was a fish merchant and lived at Durham Point, NH. He received from Richard Vines, Henry Jocelyn and Thomas Wannerton 1 Oct. 1637 a lease of 100 acres of land for 1,000 years "on the N.W. side of the great island commonly called 'Muskito Hall'" at the Oyster River which flows into Great Bay. He signed the Exeter Combination 5 June 1639. He then bought land at Oyster River of William Hilton 7 July 1641. (1)
The Exeter Combination
Francis was a bondsman for Matthew Giles' wife Elizabeth and her son in 1644. He was on the Grand Jury in 1646. Then "Mr. Francis Matthews to hear and decide local cases" in 1647.
There was no record of an administrator to his estate until it was granted to his son Benjamin 10 July 1704. The inventory was £119, claims £356.
Francis' widow Thomasine sued John Heard of Sturgeon Creek in the Maine Court Oct. 1652 and the writings were ordered delivered to her. In 1653 she entered a caution about the land her husband bought from Heard on Great Isle. After her death Benjamin, who was the administrator of her estate, received some renumeration for having taken care of his mother for many years 6 Nov. 1705.
For some unknown reason the descendants of Francis Jr. spell their name Mathes.
Issue-
Ref:
(1) "Old Kittery and Her Families"- Everett S. Stackpole, pp.30-1
(2) Article on Ottery St. Mary in wikipedia at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottery_St_Mary
"Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England"- Savage, Vol. III, p.176
Matthews Genealogy- George Ernst, MS at York, ME Library
"Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire"- p.468
"Pioneers of Maine & New Hampshire"- Pope, p. 135
m. MARY ______
will 15 Apr.-25 June 1678
Walter was a fish merchant at Smuttynose Island at the Isles of Shoals and at Oyster River, N.H. He lived on Smuttynose and owned two houses there in 1652/3 which were occupied in 1680 by his widow Mary and by John Martin as tenant. Walter signed a petition in 1653 for establishment of a separate township at the shoals.
Smuttynose Island- Isles of Shoals
Walter was the constable in 1658 and in 1665 when he was in court for neglect of his office in gathering rates. He was a bondsman for Stephen Ford in 1660. He was on the grand jury in 1660 and 1665. In 1671 he sued William Croscer and was an appraiser of William Seeley's large estate.
The last will, and Testament of Walter Matthews revokeing all other, made this 15th of April 1678:-
Imprimis: I: I doe hereby give, and bequeath unto my dearely beloved wife, mary matthews, all my houses, lands, goods, and Chattles, moveables, and Immoveables... and after hir decease I doe give, and bequeath To my Son Samuel matthews: All my houses, lands, neck of land lying, and being upon oyster river, and upon or near the little Bay, which was formerly, my fathers mr ffrancis matthews... father I doe give unto my Son Samuel Matthews, my now new dwelling house wth the garden on Smuttinose Iland, One of the Ilands of Shoals; my storehouse, oyle house, and all my part of my Stages mooreing places, and mooreings, my new boat, with the furniture, and tackling, thereunto belonging; also Eleaven long flakes, with the laying roome, lying between my dwelling house, and my Storehouse, Towards the south;-
2: I doe give unto my nephew; matthews Young, my old dwelling house wth the leantoe, my old boat, if in being, wth a mainsaile, and other furniture, after the aforementioned boat is furnished; with fowre flakes, lying att the End of the former mentioned wth the priviledge of spreading fish, thereunto belongeing; the Second best feather bed, with the furniture, if not sould by my wife; the Second best gun; the Second best peice of plate, att my wives discretion; One best Chest;
3: I doe give to my daughter Susanna Young, Ten pounds, to be paid my son Saml matthews, in Currant pay, within Twelve months after the abovesaid Estate is Come into his hands, if demanded;-
4: I doe give to my daughter mary Senter, Ten pounds to be paid by my son Saml matthews, in Currant pay within twelve months after the abovesaid Estate is come into his hands, if demanded;
5: I doe give to my neece, Susanna Senter, the Eldest daughter of mary senter, to be paid by my son Saml matthews in Currant pay, within twelve months, after the above mentioned Estate is come into his hands, if demanded, five pounds;-
6: I doe give to my daughter Susanna's youngs, Eldest Son by name Joseph young, five shillings, to hir daughter mary young, five shillings; To my daughter mary Senters Son, nicholas Senter, five shillings, to be paid by my Son Saml mattews, in Currant pay, within twelve months after the abovesaid Estate is come into his hands, if demanded;
7: In Case my Son Saml matthews dy without Issue my will is, that the aformentioned Estate given him, be divided in manner following, Viz: two parts to my Eldest daughter Susanna young, and his heires, and the third part to my daughter mary Senter, and hir heires;-
8: In Consideration of the aformentioned Legacies to be paid by my son Saml matthews, I doe give him all my houseshould stuff, furniture, plate, Clothing, whatsoever;
9: I doe give, and bequeath unto Thomas Snell, The Son of my Sister Martha Browne, The dwelling house, she now lives in, and after foure years to have the rent due for The Same To be Improved to his use, and behoofe...
11: I doe Constitute, and appoint my beloved wife, mary matthews, my Executrix, and Administratrix, and my loveing friends, Samuel Belcher, and Andrew Deamont Overseers... in presence of us Michael Endell, Martha Browne, Samuel Belcher.
Walter's estate was valued at £310/18/6 29 May 1678.
Fish Flakes drying cod in Trinity Bay, NF
Issue-
Ref:
(1) Rockingham Co. Registry of Probate
Matthews Genealogy- George Ernst, York Library
"Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire"- p.469
"Isles of Shoals: A Historic Sketch"- John Scribner,p.100
"Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England"- Savage, Vol.III, p.177
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