Edward Rossiter

     Edward Rossiter was born circa 1575 at Combe St. Nicholas, Somerset, England.¹ He was the son of Nicholas Rossiter and Elizabeth (?). Edward Rossiter married ? Combe, daughter of John Combe, before 1599 at Somerset, England.¹ Edward Rossiter died on 23 October 1630 at Dorchester, Suffolk Co, Massachusetts.¹
     The first record of Edward Rossiter is in the lay subsidy roll in the PRO, London, 0f 1597. He was at that time paying taxes on his father's land. We might infer that his father was incapable of attending to his own affairs, since he did not die until 1608.
Edward Rossiter and his family were part of the group under the Rev John White that sailed from Plymouth 20 March 1630 on the "Mary and John". The passengers on this ship settled at Dorchester, Massachusetts. As a stockholder of the Mass Bay Company, Rossiter was entitled to 50 acres of land for each person he brought over, including himself. Edward Rossiter brought over a total of 13 persons, which undoubtedly would include himself, sons Nicholas, Bryan and Hugh, Bryan's wife, daughters Jane and Joane, his own wife, if she was still alive, and possibly the wife of Nicholas and his children.
Edward applied for freemanship on 19 October 1630 and died suddenly four days later. His death was also reported by Governor John Winthrop in his "Journal", and in the Combe St. Nicholas manorial rolls 2 Jun 1631 as well, as "free tenant of the manor, died since last court" [NEHGR, Jan. 1984, pp. 4-16].