I:4
S&SMFB - RESEARCH NOTES
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PISCATAQUA PLANTATION 1603-1648
It has been written that Peter Staple, the Immigrant and father of Peter Staple
of Kittery, arrived in 1640. To understand what
Peter found when he arrived, a brief history of the beginning of the Piscataqua
Plantation follows.
'Old Kittery' by Stackpole, p18-20, chap. II 'EARLIEST SETTLERS' (in part) " The honor of having first seen the shores of the Pascataqua is, doubtless, due to Martin Pring, who in 1603, sailing in the Speedwell and Discoverer, coasted along the shores of Maine from the Penobscot and sailed up a river three or four leagues, probably to Quamphegan Falls." --- "In 1614 Capt. John Smith of Pocahontas fame touched at a group of islands which he named for himself, the Smith Isles, but which somehow got the name, Isles of Shoals, as early as 1630, and have retained it." (Note: Capt. Smith mapped the coast of what is now Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts to the tip of Cape Cod, which Capt. Smith called Cape James, when he returned to England he presented his map to Prince Charles who named his discovery New England.) --- " The fishermen learned earlier than we know that there was good fishing near the the mouth of the Pascataqua, and the islands were manned, if not inhabited, when the mainland had only a few scattered settlers. For many years no woman was allowed to be a resident there. --- There is no historical record of any settler at the mouth of the Pascataqua earlier than 1623. --- Williamson's History of Maine, Vol. I., p.244; "Mention is also to be made at this time of the settlements commenced on the northerly banks of the Piscataqua and the river above. these were at Kittery Point, at Spruce Creek, at Sturgeon Creek (Eliot), at Quampeagan Falls (or the Parish of Unity), and the ancient Newichawannock (or Berwick), some or all of which were seven years of age in 1631, being collectively called the Plantation of Piscataqua. Note: The boundary between northeastern New Hampshire and southeastern Maine runs through the Piscataqua River and offshore to the Isles of Shoals.
In 'New Hampshire's Historic Seacoast' by Eva S. Spear (1969), II:7-10 The Lore of History, states (in part) Pannaway - The Fishmongers Guild of Plymouth, England employed David Thompson to outfit the ship Jonathan to establish a fishing village at his bay which he named Little Harbor. His village was called Pannaway, the first permanent settlement in New Hampshire, in 1623, now called Odiorne's Point (located at the mouth of the Piscataqua in NH). With possibly 10 men, increased later to 30, he erected dwellings and other necessary buildings, and set up salt works and frames upon which the cod and haddock were salted and dried. Dover Point - In that same spring of 1623, two brothers, William and Edward Hilton, set up their fish flakes on the Piscataqua River at Dover Point (Across the river from old Kittery). Their settlement was also permanent, and to this day the dispute remains unsettled about which arrived first, David Thompson the Hilton brothers.
'Old
Eliot' bk.1:vol.1: p1; "At the court of elections, October 20, 1647, the
Piscataqua Plantation was formed into a town by the name of Kittery; deriving
it's name from Kittery in England."
NOTE: The town of Kittery, now in Maine, takes
it's name from the Manor of Kittery Court located in Kingswear,
Devon, England, across the river Dart from the city of Dartmouth.
Alexander Shapleigh, born about 1574 at the Manor of Kittery Court in Kingsweare,
England gave Kittery Point, located at the mouth of the Piscataqua River, its
name when he arrived in 1635 with his friend and
business associate, Captain Francis Champernowne in their jointly owned ship
'Benediction'. The Shapleighs of Dartmouth and Kingsweare, England were known as
Merchant Venturers, their ships traversed almost every sea, and were especially
engaged in commerce between England and America. Alexander's fishing fleet
was one of several stationed at the mouth of the Piscataqua River and 10 miles
off shore around the Isles of Shoals. Alexander was a large importer of salt
from the salt mines of France and Spain, he sold this to not only the English
markets but to the numerous European fishing fleets. Alexander opened a trading
post dealing in furs and supplying the many needs of fishermen, settlers and
Indians. From 'The Shapleighs of England and America' by the
Shapleigh
Family
Association website.
COMMENT: As no Vital Records were kept of many of the men and women
brought to the Piscataqua Plantation by the Merchant Venturers and Fishmongers in the 1600's, they remain
unknown to us today. These men were sailors and fishermen who caught fish which
was salted
by workers in the fishmongers settlements and shipped to England,
hunters and trappers for the fur trade, lumberjacks that cut the tall pines and workers
manning the saw mills to make sailing masts,
spars and lumber that was shipped to England, women performing domestic
duties plus the farmers and their families living on lands granted to the
Merchant Venturers and Fishmongers. Many of these Piscataqua Pioneers would die unknown,
buried in unmarked graves in this
harsh wilderness environment of sickness and hostilities.
By 1640, the immigrants coming from England to New England had
knowledge of where to locate. Many came to settle in southern New England were
farmers. They settled there because the land and weather was better than
northern New England. The first settlements at the Piscataqua were primarily involved
in the fishing industry, which included the repair of boats and shipbuilding.
COMMENT: The early historians indicate that the first Peter Staple came to
Kittery in 1640, if this is true then he would have been at least 20 years
old and born about 1620. Peter Staple of Kittery, died 1718-19 according to
his colonial probate records. This would have made our Peter Staple of
Kittery about 99 years old. This is very unlikely, his wife is reported to be
born in 1641. Peter was more likely born about 1641/42, thus it would have
been his father that arrived in 1940, and Peter of Kittery would have been
born in or near the Piscataqua Plantation.
**However the fact's are - the early historians left no source information about
the records of a Peter Staple arriving in Kittery in 1640 and in the Town of
Kittery records (1648 - 1896) the first mention of a Peter Staple is his land
grant in 1671.
RESEARCH NOTES RELATING TO PETER'S ANCESTRY
I) RESEARCH BASED ON PUBLISHED STAPLE/S GENEALOGY AND LEGAL DOCUMENTS:
Notes 1
through 4 are compiled writings from published genealogists and Staples Family
Historians that give us the basis for presenting strong circumstantial evidence
regarding Peter Staple of Kittery's father, however, they are yet to be proved.
1) Saco
Valley Settlements and Families, (1895) G.T. Ridlon, Sr. p1159: "Peter Staples,
Jr., of Kittery, made his will June 6, 1718, "being aged"; mentions wife,
Elizabeth, and sons, Peter, John and James."
NOTE: Ridlon refers to Peter of
Kittery as "Jr.". This means that the given name of Peter's father was also Peter.
This is the oldest genealogical (1895) book I have found that mentions the Peter
Staple family of Kittery.
2) Old
Eliot, Maine, Book Two, (1901-1903; 1985 ed. ) J.L.M. Willis, Vol VI:37, "The
Staples Family by the Rev. Charles J. Staples." (b1856-d1936) Staples Family
Historian, (in part) "The most consistent and authentic tradition connects the
family to the eastward, possibly the abandoned outpost at Pemaquid, founded
1625, or earlier. There were other brothers, it is said, who settled in
Massachusetts and Virginia."
NOTE: Rev. C.J. Staples indicates Peter Staple of
Kittery's family was in Maine prior to the formation of the town of Kittery.
3)
Genealogical And Family History of the State of New Hampshire, (1908) Ezra S.
Sterns, p 600: STAPLES (in part), "In 1640 three brothers named Staples ---
Peter, Thomas and another whose Christian name is now unknown --- arrived at
Kittery, Maine. Thomas removed to Fairfield, Connecticut, and Peter remained in
Kittery. The name was long written Staple."
NOTE: Sterns states that this Peter Staple arrived in Kittery in 1640, with two
brothers, this must be the father of 'Peter Staple of Kittery' d 1718/19, and
the two brothers would have been uncles of Peter Staple of Kittery. Therefore
Peter of Kittery would be a Jr. as Ridlon states and it would be Peter of
Kittery's father that 1st came to Kittery. This also indicates that since
Kittery did not become a town until 1648, it would have been Kittery Point (named
c1635) in the Piscataqua Plantation where Peter's father arrived.
4) "Old
Kittery and her Families” (1903; 1985 ed) by Everett S. Stackpole, p96, states;
Peter Staple had a grant in 1661 (Note: I have not found this land grant in the
Kittery Town Meeting records started in 1648 and transcribed in 1852. Early
records are reported to be incomplete.
Stackpole in his book Old Kittery and Her Families, page 96, "Mary Batchelder
married Thomas Turner and 4 July 1674, they sold their lot to Peter Staple."
------. "Joseph Hill, who married Susannah, dau of Christopher Beedle, Sen.,
relinquished all claim to this ten acre grant in favor of Peter Staples 20
March 1703-4." ------"Peter Staple had a grant in 1661. He married a widow
named Elizabeth , and died about 1719, leaving three sons." Page752 " Peter
Staple -- had a grant of land in 1671 ---".
5) “ Genealogical
Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire” (1928-1939) by S. Noyes, C.T. Libby and
W.G. Davis. P216, Edwards, Stephen, Portsm, Robert Jackson’s serv., drunk and
fined 1662; m. Elizabeth Beedle (4), b. 1641. She mar. 2nd bef. 1670
Peter Staples. List 298.
NOTE: Elizabeth (Beedle) Edwards, Peter Staple of Kittery’s wife was born
c 1641. I have found no record of Peter & Elizabeth's marriage.
6) “Vital Records of Kittery, Maine, (1991), J.C. Anderson II, L.W. Thurston,
C.G.. Introduction; (in part) states that; The original vital records of
Kittery, Maine begun in 1674, some 27 years after Kittery was incorporated as
the first town in the Province of Maine.
NOTE: Original vital records of Kittery, pages 1 through 4L are lost
(1674-1681), the first vital records found start in 1682. This is 42 years after
it is reported that the first Peter Staple came to the Piscataqua.
7)
Gen. Dict. of ME & NH, P656 Staples, Staple, lists 3 Samuel Staple, Kittery. Mrs
Mendum and S.S. wit ag. Wm. Norman in Oct. 1651. Handwritten court records held
at the Maine State Archives, Augusta, ME state that this case held at a court at
Kittery started 11 March 1650 and ended 17 May 1651, names 'mis' Mendam & Samuel
Staple as giving evidence that William Norman was married with a wife in England
and was not divorced. William had also 'taken of her to his wife' Margery
Randell. William was given "25 stripes on his bare skin at a post". Margery for
lying and abusing authority was fined "twenty shillings" and she was granted a
divorce.
NOTE: This is the earliest mention of a Staple I have found in Kittery records. Who is Samuel Staple, living in Kittery in 1650/51 and was he
related to Peter? How did 'mis' Mendam and Samuel know about William Norman's
wife in England and that he was not divorced?
8)
Peter signed his will with a "p", witness's of the signing were John Newmarch,
Paul Wentworth (Dover, NH?) and Nicholas Weeks.
NOTE: Peter's mark was a "p" not a s". The spelling of his name was entered by
clerks as they heard him pronounce his name.
The witnesses of his will were not neighbors, what was their common bond with Peter?
Peters inventory had no weapons mentioned. This is unusual for this time period.
Was he a Quaker?
Re: A copy of Peter's Probate Documents can be ordered from the Register of
Probate, York County Courthouse, PO Box 399, 45 Kennebunk Road, Alfred, ME
04002-0399
9) Peter's great-grandson, Peter b1723, eldest son of Capt. Peter (1699-1768)
filled an Administration in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC),
England in Feb. 1769.
NOTE: At this time this is the only document giving evidence that Peter was
an English subject and that he or his father came from England south of the
Humber within, the then, Province of Canterbury. See I-2 Recorded Family
History, Generation 3.
II) RESEARCH BASED ON Y-DNA
GENETIC DATA of Descendants of Peter Staple:
Paternal genetic test results of the members of the Peter Staple Heritage Group
(PSHG) are found at -
http://www.familytreedna.com/public/pshp/default.aspx
We are all 8th & 9th cousins according to our genealogy trails that go to
the various three sons of Peter Staple of Kittery and our Y-DNA establishes our common ancestor to be
Peter Staple (c1642-1718/19) of Kittery. This genetic data proves
beyond a shadow of doubt our relationship to Peter of
Kittery, his father, and allows us to reconstruct the Y-DNA of Peter Staple of
Kittery, Massachusetts, now Maine.
Ref; See Chapter II:2, Paternal Genetic Data, Reconstructing the YDNA of
Peter Staple (c1642-1719).
III) RESEARCH IN ENGLAND:
Ongoing research during the surname era from about 1550 to 1699, where we may
find written records connecting family generations has turned up a number of
STAPLE and a few STAPEL and STABLE individuals, to date nothing has been found that connects to
Peter STAPLE of Kittery.
Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC)
Administration records held at The Family Records Centre and The National
Archives, KEW, in London, England are being searched to locate the
administration filed by Peter's great-grandson Peter b 1723 in Feb 1769.
These records may give us the location of Peter's family homestead in
England. see I-2 Recorded Family History, Generation 3.
The filing of the Administration with the PCC states that Peter's STAPLE
family ancestors lived in England. This information can be further refined by
using 'Boyd's Marriage Index' (BMI) and locating where
STAPLE family marriages took place between 1538 and 1650, by County in
England. - Cornwall 11 marriages; Devon
8 m; Essex 3 m; Gloucesters. 11 m; Hertfords.
2 m; Kent 19 m; London 16 m; Middlesex 13 m; Norfolk
7 m; Somerset 15 m; Suffolk 6 m; Surrey 19 m; Sussex
4 m; Worchesters. 8 m:
RESEARCH REPORTS by ENGLISH COUNTY:
As information of a "Peter" Staple and others of the various spellings of
the "Staple" surname are located in various counties in England the information
will be placed here.
Cornwall; Devon;
Essex; Greater London; Hampshire;
Isle of Wight;
Kent; Sussex;
West Yorkshire.
Anyone wishing to add to this research please contact
Art
Staples, Jr.
NOTES:
1) IGI information from the LDS Church published on the internet is
not considered a primary or secondary genealogy source. To prove the
information copies of the microfilmed original records from the specified location need
to be procured.
2) Baptism and/or Christening of
individuals show the date and the parish location. Births were not recorded
in England until 1837.
3) Notes from the STAPLES FAMILY HISTORY ASSOCIATION
NEWSLETTER, James C. Staples President (1977-1987) on the origin of Peter Staple
of Kittery (in part):
a) SFHA N1/80 3:2:5/8; James C. Staples/Martha S. Dildilian: p5, Peter
Staple first appears in the records of Kittery now known as Eliot on April
13, 1671, when he is granted “10 acres of upland” by the town. P8 -- it is
likely that Peter came, either directly from or as a second generation
American from the southwest of England in Somerset, Dorset or Devon county,
where the name of Peter Staple is occasionally found. --- the records suggest
he arrived about 1670, unmarried, with means enough to buy his passage.
b) SFHA N1/84 7:2:9; Willard Irving Staples
Jr.; I found only four Staples
(from English records supplied by the Morman Library (CLDS)) with the given
name Peter born within a reasonable time frame.
1) Peter Staple, son of Mathew and Margery, chr. jul 10, 1642, at Newlyn
East, Cornwall
2) Peter Staple, son of Marke Staple and Alice, chr. Jan 9, 1635 (New Style)
at Ottery St. Mary, Devonshire.
3) Peter Staple, son of Robert, chr. Jan 8, 1629, at St. Peter’s, Thanet.,
Kent.
4) Peter Staple, son of Nicholas and Elizabeth, chr. Feb 15, 1634, at St.
Botolph’s without Aldgate in London.
c) SFHA N7/86 10:1:8; James C. Staples: --- evaluating all the evidence
we have at hand suggests that Peter was born about 1640, possibly in the
southwest of England, and that he came as a free (not indentured) young man
of 18 or 19, landing in Kittery or one of the Islands off the Maine coast. He
soon met and married Mary (Beadle), widow of Stephen Edwards, sometime in
late 1670 or Early 1671.
COMMENTS:
A growing number of some descendants of
Peter STAPLE of Kittery have internet pedigrees listing the year, place of
birth, names and the location of his parents. I have contacted those that I
have come across on-line that have listed their contact information. Of those
that have responded to my e-mail's - none have been able to present any
primary or secondary genealogy information that proves a parental match to
Peter STAPLE of Kittery.
A book that I recommend is "Genealogical Proof Standard" by
Christine Rose, CG, CGL, FASG, 1st printing 2005, 58 pages, ISBN
0-929626-15-X. The Introduction states (in-part) - Use of the "Genealogical
Proof Standard" is now the accepted standard in building a solid genealogical
case. It is the measure we can apply when there is no direct evidence to
supply our answers. Additionally, it provides us with tools to resolve those
knotty problems when evidence conflicts."
When a person has completed their lineage to Peter Staple of Kittery, or if
they feel they need further help, a good way to preserve their pedigree for
generations to come is to submit their lineage to the Registrar of the
Piscataqua Pioneers and become a member.
http://www.piscataquapioneers.org/
Members of the PETER STAPLE HERITAGE GROUP (PSHG) welcomes any individual who is
interested in genetically proving their family history by becoming a member,
or sponsoring a male
descendant of Peter Staple of Kittery.
http://www.familytreedna.com/public/pshp/default.aspx
If you would like to become a member of our (PSHG) group or if you have
additional information that you would like to share, questions or comments
please contact
Art Staples
rev 05 Nov 2013
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