John Doolittle
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth:
Christening: 2 May 1619 - Shenstone, Stone, Worcestershire, England
Death: 1698 - Shenstone, Stone, Worcestershire, England
Burial:
Cause of Death:
AFN #:
Parents
Father: John Doolittle (Abt 1585-1640)
Mother: Mary Thatcher ( -After 1640)
Spouses and Children
1. *Mary ( - 5 Jan 1719-5 Jan 1720)
Marriage:
Status:
Children:
1. Abigail Doolittle (1654- )
2. John Doolittle (1656- )
3. Joshua Doolittle ( -0003)
4. Elizabeth Doolittle ( - )
5. William Doolittle ( -1735)
6. Judah Doolittle (1677- )
Notes
General:
Dollittle says he was educated, and it certainly seems that he could read, write and do math. Dollittle thinks he eventually inherited his father's property but "we cannot tell".
The Shenstone Doolittles' name was characteristically spelled "Doelittle" at this time, especially in legal documents, and this continued for the next century.
I 1648 he was made Bailiff of the Manor of Stone, He was in cahrge of the day to day running of the manor on behalf of its Lord. He was was also, with other prominent men of the parish, a feofee or trustee of teh Stone Charity, which adminstered lands in Old Swinford, Stone, and Chaddesley Corbett. The income was used for repairs to the church, relief of the poor, and for the Stone school. In 1676 and periodically thereafter he served as Overseer of the Poor. He checked and confirmed the annual accounts of the parish. In the sparsely populated parish, a small group of familes carried out much of the administrative business of the parish; Oldnall, Hill, Clymer, Hornblower, Bacon, Thatcher, Kindon and Doolittle.
The last years of John's life were years of severe frosts, adverse weather conditions, and poor crops. He probably made his land and property over to his eldest son. When he died, at about 80, his inventory shows he had only a few possessions; a bed, a coffer, a desk, a round table, a pot, a kettle and clothing.