JOHN PURCHASE [#170], d. Hartford, CT Oct 1645, m. JANE ____, d. 16 Apr 1683. She m(2) Hartford 29 Oct 1646 Nicholas Palmer, d. 30 Aug 1689.[5/14:607]
Little is known of John Purchase and his wife Jane (or Joan). They both were almost certainly born in England, but whether they married in that country or the colonies is not known. It seems probable that John was in this country early as he most likely fought in the Pequot Indian War in 1635. This belief is based on the fact that he received a grant of land in a part of Hartford called Soldier's Field and that these grants were suppossedly made to Pequot War soldiers only.[2/472] In 1640 John Purchase "was located in the northwest part of the village of Hartford on a lot bounded on the east by Centinal Hill, northwesterly on the road to the cow pasture, north on the road to Brick Hill, west on land of William Phillips, and south on land of Thomas Hales.[3]
The wife, Jane Purchase, may have been pregnant at the time of the death of her husband, seen by reference in his will to an unborn child. However, since no record of this child has been found, the assumption is that John was merely making room for the possibility of a child being born, since he and his wife were presumably in their prime.
John died sometime late in October 1645 as his will is dated the 15th and the inventory of the estate was taken sometime later that same month. The inventory amounted to 30.15.00.[1/1:30] The daughters were obviously very young at the time of their father's death, and it was just over 18 years from that time until they received their inheritance. Jane Purchase remarried on October 29, 1646 to Nicholas Palmer. She died April 16, 1683 probably in Windsor, Connecticut. No children are recorded in her marriage with Palmer.
On August 25, 1640 a John Purchase gave oath before Governor Thomas Dudley and the Massachusetts court as a witness to a deed of sale from Richard Standerweck of Broadway, Somersetshire, England to Nicholas Nurton of Weymouth, MA dated Feb. 20, 1639. He signed as a witness as did John Hawkins, Peter Pinny, John Dwelley, and Benedict Alford.[4/1:160] If John Purchase of Hartford signed anything, then the signatures can be compared. If they match, our ancestor's origin might possibly be found in Somersetshire. Many early Connecticut settlers settled first in Massachusetts. In fact, Benedict Alford was an early settler of Windsor and had relations in Boston.[7] On the other hand, it appears the document was written in America and was not necessarily witnessed by Somersetshire men.
John may also have been related to the Purchase family of Dorsetshire, which included Thomas Purchase of Dorchester, Dorset and Lynn, MA; Joan Purchase, wife of Bernard Capen; and Aquila Purchase, who died enroute to New England in 1633. They were probably also related to Sarah, wife of George Way. George was referred to as Thomas' brother-in-law. The parents of these Purchase children were Oliver and Thomasine (Harris) Purchase, married in Dorchester in 1577.[6/16:67,97]
REF: [1] Early Connecticut Probate Records - Charles Manwaring,
1906
[2] Familes of Early Hartford - Lucius Barnes Barbour, 1982
[3] The Nash Ancestry, 50 Puritan Ancestors - Elizabeth Todd
Nash, 1902 (pg.39)
[4] Plymouth Colony Records, 1855
[5] Collections of the Connecticut Historical Society, 1912
[6] Search for the Passengers of the Mary & John - The Mary
& John Clearing House, 1991
[7] Early Puritan Settlers of the Colony of Connecticut - Royal
R. Hinman, 1852 (pg.32)
Children:
1. Mary, m. Jeret Speck 2. Elizabeth, m. bef. 1664 Richard Case, d. Hartford, CT 30 Mar 1693-4
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