Family of John * WASHBURN and Elizabeth * MITCHELL

Husband: John * WASHBURN

Wife: Elizabeth * MITCHELL

Child 1: Samuel * WASHBURN

Note on Husband: John * WASHBURN

John Washburn, age fourteen, came to New England in 1635 with his mother Marjorie and brother Philip, and were passengers on the Elizabeth & Ann. John Jr. participated in the campaign against the Narragansett Indians in August 1645. He became the Constable of Duxburrow in 1659. (Cooke of the Mayflower, p. 9) He was a tailor by trade. John Washburn owned land at Green's Harbor, Duxbury, which he sold in 1670. He moved to Bridgewater somewhat later, where he was the second largest landholder in town, having "four proprietary shares" located in the east, south and west quarters of the town, and possesed rights in the undivided lands equivalent, altogether, to about one twelfth of the original purchase from Massasoit. He married in 1645 Elizabeth, daughter of Experience Mitchell, "a youth of the goodly company of Leyden," and granddaughter of Francis Cooke of the Mayflower and his wife Hester le Mahieu. He married, second, between 1684 and 1686, Elizabeth (Stream) Packard, widow of Samuel1 Packard of Bridgewater. As all of John's children were by the first wife, the discovery of a second wife does not affect any claim of descent from Francis Cooke of the Mayflower. "John Washburne, Senior," was in the 1639 list of those who had taken the oath of fidelity at Duxbury [PCR 8:182]. Admitted to freemanship on 2 June 1646 [PCR 2:101], and as a result added to the Duxbury section of the 1639 list of freemen [PCR 8:175]. In the Duxbury section of the 1643 Plymouth Colony list of men able to bear arms.[PCR 8:190] John was probably the John Washburn who was one of six men from Duxbury sent forth as soldiers in the "late expedition against the Narragansett Indians and their confederates," 28 Oct 1645.[PCR 2:90] John and Elizabeth had seven sons and three daughters. Of the sons, Benjamin went as a soldier in the expedition of Sir William Phipps against Port Royal in 1690 and never returned. In his will dated 30 Oct 1686, John named his wife Elizabeth Washburn; sons John, Thomas, Joseph, Samuel, Jonathan, Benjamin and younger son James not of age; daughters Mary, Elizabeth, Jane and younger daughter Sarah. The will named sons John and Samuel as executors, and "my kind friend" John Tomson of Middleboro and "my Brother" Edward Mitchell as overseers. The will was signed by mark and witnessed by Thomas Hayward and Joseph Alden. It was exhibited at Plymouth 08 Jun 1687 by executor John Washburn and sworn to by the witnesses. On 14 Sep 1687, John Ames Sr. appeared before the court and testified as a witness. The inventory of John's estate was dated 19 Nov 1686 by John Field and John Leonard. The estate was appraised at Ð142, 8s., and no real estate was mentioned. John Jr. and Elizabeth were among the original settlers in Bridgewater, Plymouth Colony. Six of the seven sons of John Jr. and Elizabeth left children, and many Washburns in America are descended from one of these six sons. Their daughters also left many descendants, and former President George Bush is a descendant of Mary (Washburn) Kingsley.

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