WILLIAM CUTTER [#588], m. ELIZABETH ____, b. abt. 1575, d. Cambridge, MA Jan 10, 1663-4.
Very little is known of this man, including his name. Nor does there appear to be any direct record of him in this country. He is referred to as William in [2/144] but evidence is not given. The little we do know about him comes from records regarding his wife and children, the most information coming from the "confessions" of his wife, son, and daughter that were recorded when they joined the church in Cambridge. The confessions were taken and scribbled by Reverend Shepard in the late 1630's and 1640's. There was a William Cutter in Cambridge by Sept. 1639 as a man of that name and two others were chosen at that time to lay out highways,[6/38] but this man have been his son.
The family appears to have been in Cambridge before or shortly after 1640. A large contingent of Cambridge residents left England with Reverend Shepard in 1635, and the Cutter family may have been among them, though this is merely a possibility. From his son's confession, it sounds like this Mr. Cutter came from England to this country, but since he does not appear in any existant record and his wife is referred to as "widow Cutter", it can be surmised that he died within a short time of his arrival in Massachusetts. That he came from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland is very likely. From Elizabeth Cutter's confession we have that she, "was born in a sinful place where no sermon preached". She apparently didn't know her father, and her mother sent her to Newcastle where she was placed with a godly family. After at least six years, she "went to another family where the people were carnal and there fell to a consumption". Later she married and it sounds like her husband and friends went to New England. "And I desired to come this way in sickness time and Lord brought us through many sad troubles by sea and when I was here the Lord rejoiced my heart".[2/1445] Elizabeth's children Richard and Barbara also indicated a difficult voyage. Richard stated, "and so I came to this place and coming by sea and having a hard voyage ...".[2/179] And Barbara's "sad passages by sea".[2/90]
The Cutter name appears in Newcastle records early in the seventeenth century adding weight to the likelihood that the family was from there. A Cuthbert Cutter, cooper, was made a freeman there in 1603.[3/6] The age would be right to be the father of the immigrant Cutter but further research needs to be done to find what relationship, if any, there was between Cuthbert and the Cambridge family. Additionally there was a William Cutter, cooper, who was a freeman of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1577.[3/2] A couple of additional links of the family with Newcastle are the fact that one of the children of the immigrant, William, left Cambridge some time prior to 1653, at which time he resided in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Furthermore the Cambridge family were coopers as seen by a letter of attorney from William Cutter of "Newcasle upon Tine wine Cooper" to his "loving Brother Richard Cutter of Cambridge in New England Cooper".[5/5:252] William died prior to June 10, 1693 the date that Richard deeded lands in Cambridge that he had inherited from his brother.[5/10:181] While in Cambridge, William lived at the southwest corner of Dunster and Wintrop Streets.[1/521] In June of 1652 widow Cutter received lot 97 of 40 acres in the Shawshine grant. William had probably already returned to England by that time as he was not included in the grant.[1/59]
The widow Elizabeth Cutter, died in Jan. 1663-4, and her will was probated April 1, 1664. Having lived with her daughter for the last twenty years of her life, Elizabeth left all her estate to her daughter Barbara (Cutter) Corlett, wife of Elijah Corlett, the Latin teacher and grammar schoolmaster in Cambridge.[1/89] She was 87 years old at the time the will was written, February 16, 1662.[4/2:172] Since Elizabeth was living with Barbara since the early 1640's, that would tend to indicate her husband had died prior to that time.
REF: [1] The History of Cambridge - Lucius R. Paige, 1877
[2] Thomas Shepard's Confessions - edited by George Selement
& Bruce C. Wooley, 1981
[3] The Register of Freemen of Newcastle upon Tyne - Newcastle
upon Tyne Records Committee, 1923
[4] Middlesex County Probate (Fisrt Series Docket 5604)
[5] Middlesex County Deeds
[6] The Records of the Town of Cambridge, 1901
[7] The Cutter Family of New England - William Richard Cutter,
1871
Children (order unknown):
1. William, d. bef. 1693 2. Barbara, d. prob. 1707, m. before 1644 Elijah Corlett, b. abt. 1608, d. 25 Feb 1686-7 3. Richard, b. abt. 1620 d. Cambridge 16 Jun 1693, m(1) Elizabeth Williams, b. abt. 1620, d. 5 Mar 1661-2, m(2) 14 Feb 1662-3 Frances (Perryman) Amsden, d. 15 Aug 1702
RICHARD CUTTER [#294], b. abt. 1620, d. Cambridge, MA 16 Jun 1693, age abt. 72, m(1) ELIZABETH WILLIAMS (dau. of Robert Williams and Elizabeth Stalham), b. abt. 1620, d. Cambridge 5 Mar 1661-2, age about 42, m(2) 14 Feb 1662-3 Frances (Perryman) Amsden, d. 15 Aug 1702. She m(1) 8 Jun 1654 Isaac Amsden, d. 7 Apr 1659.
Richard Cutter was an early resident of Cambridge, MA where he was admitted freeman June 2, 1641 and was made a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Co. of Boston 1643. He may have come to Massachusetts on the John & Dorothy with his widowed mother in 1637.[8] He was a cooper by trade[8/5:252] but may also have been a wheelwright, as one of the entries in the town records states that the town grants timber to Richard Cutter for a "payre of Wheeles". Again he is granted permission to fell "foure trees for his trade on the South side the river".[3/19] However he is often referred to in the records as a cooper.[4/6]
Richard's mother, the widow Elizabeth Cutter, died in Jan. 1663-4. It was thought by some that Richard's daughter Elizabeth had died at this time because he subsequently had another daughter named Elizabeth. However, it was not unheard of to give the same name to children by different wives, thus two Elizabeths. Furthermore, proof exists that the first Elizabeth later married William Robinson (see the Robinson family). Richard made a confession to the Cambridge Church which begins, "The Lord Was Pleased for to give my parents hearts to bring me up in the fear of the Lord though I had much opposition of heart against my parents and those that were over me. And so I came to this place and coming by sea and having a hard voyage my heart was dead and senseless and I found my heart as stubborn as before".[7/179]
Several other records can be found from which we can get a glimpse of the personality of Richard Cutter. June 12, 1648: "Upon the complaint of Edward Goffe against Richard Cutter for wrongful detaining of calves impounded by him of the said Edward Goffe's, wherein Samuell Eldred witnesseth: - Edward Goffe desired his calves of Richard Cutter, promising to pay all damages and cost as two men should apprehend to be right; but the said Richard Cutter denied to let him have them except he would take a course with his boy and promise they should never come there again".[7/5455] As did his mother, Richard took part in the Shawshine grant in 1652. He received lot 10 of 80 acres.[7/58] The Shawshine plantation later became the town of Billerica. October 17, 1664 Richard signed a document claiming satisfaction with the government of the town and colony.[7/7475] The King had sent several commissioners to enforce the colony's subjection. However, a long controversy, shrewdly managed on the part of the court, resulted in the departure of the commissioners without having accomplished their objective.[7/73]
The final record included here, from the Middlesex Court Files of 1660, is not a flattering one for Richard Cutter. It was written by his brother-in-law, the well respected town schoolmaster, Mr. Elijah Corlett. Apparently Richard was aggrieved by a decision of the County Court in 1659 regarding Elijah. Richard and Elijah petitioned the General Court for relief, and the petition was referred to the County Court with a favorable result. Elijah Corlett then wrote a letter to the deputies thanking them for helping him. However, he either didn't appreciate Richard's help or Richard did not make the most diplomatic presentation. "Much honoured, Mr. Deputie Governour, Major Willard, Mr. Russell, and Mr. Danforth: Elijah Corlett, who was latelie your Worships humble petitioner ... As touching my petition in the behalfe of Ric. Cutter, referred to the full and finall decision of the honoured Court; I most humblie and thankfullie acknowledge your Worships favour in your remarkeable gentlenes and very tender dealinge with a sad, afflicted, weake man, inconsiderate and rash sometimes, &c., your goodnes towards him will, I hope, have a good effect upon him to mollifie his heart, and the influence of your good advice you left with him, to moderate his spirite. Soft meanes many times effects what rigour cannot; and mercy rejoiceth against (exulteth over) judgement ..." Elijah Corlett 1660.[7/368]
Richard's will was dated April 19, 1693. In it are mentioned his daughters Mary Sanger, Hepsibah, Ruhamah, Sarah, Rebecca Fillebrown, and Elizabeth Hall. He also mentioned his sons Samuel, William, Ephraim, Gershom, and Nathaniel. The will was witnessed by James Hubbard, John Pratt, and John Jackson. A request was made in the will that he "be buried at Cambridge burying place near my first wives grave".[5/8:254] The inventory of Richard Cutter's estate was taken July 3, 1693 by James Hubert, Stephen Wills and John Whitmore and amounted to 228.17.4.[5/8:307] Inventory of his widow's estate (i.e. Frances) was taken Aug. 15, 1702 by Nathaniel Patten, John Dickson, and Abraham Watson. It was proved Aug. 24, 1702, recorded May 28, 1725 and amounted to 98.11.9.[5/17:271]
REF: [1] The History of Watertown - Henry Bond, 1860 (pgs.192-3,
751)
[2] New England Historic Genealogical Register, 1879 (pg.105)
[3] The Robinson Family - Jane Bancroft Robinson, 1903
[4] The Cutter Family of New England - William R. Cutter, 1871
[5] Middlesex County Probate (Fisrt Series Docket 5648)
[6] Thomas Spehard's Confessions - edited by George Selement
& Bruce C. Wooley, 1981
[7] The History of Cambridge - Lucius R. Paige, 1877
[8] Founders of Early American Families - Meredith B. Colkert,
1985
[9] Home Page of Virginia Basken (www.bearclaws.basken.com)
Children (by Elizabeth):
1. Elizabeth, b. Cambridge, MA 15 Jul 1645, m. William Robinson, b. abt. 1640, d. before 1693 2. Samuel, b. Cambridge 3 Jan 1646-7 3. Thomas, b. Cambridge 19 Jul 1648, d. bef. 1693, m. Abigail ____ 4. William, b. Cambridge 22 Feb 164950, d. 1 Apr 1723, m. Rebecca Rolfe (dau. of John Rolf and Mary Scullard), b. Newbury, MA 9 Feb 1662, d. 2 Nov 1751[9] 5-. Ephraim, m. 11 Feb 1678-9 Bethiah Wood, d. 18 Sep 1732, aged 72 6. Gershom, d. 2 Apr 1738, m. 6 Mar 1677-8 Lydia Hall 7. Mary, d. bef. 24 Apr 1727, m. Nathaniel Sanger, b. 14 Feb 1651-2
Children (by Frances):
8. Nathaniel, b. Dec. 11, 1663, d. aft. July 10, 1726, m(1) Oct. 8, 1688 Mary Fillebrown, b. May 5, 1662, d. March 14, 1713-4, m(2) Elizabeth ____ 9. Rebecca, b. Cambridge Sept. 5, 1665, d. Cambridge July 26, 1741, m. Dec. 19, 1688 Thomas Fillebrown 10. Hepzibah, b. Nov. 11, 1667, d. Feb. 27, 1667-8 11. Elizabeth, b. March 1, 1668-9, m. April 16, 1690 Nathaniel Hall, b. July 7, 1666, d. April 14, 1725 12. Hepzibah, b. Aug. 15, 1671, d. Jan. 1, 1745, m. June 7, 1698 Jabez Brooks, b. July 17, 1673, d. Jan. 30, 1746-7 13. Sarah, b. Aug. 31, 1673, m. Dec. 5, 1700 James Locke, b. Nov. 14, 1677, d. Dec. 11, 1745 14. Ruhamah, b. abt. 1678, d. July 1, 1756, m. Feb. 1, 1705-6 Joseph Hartwell, b. Jan. 24, 1680-1, d. Nov. 3, 1743
Children (of Isaac and Frances Amsden):
1. Isaac Amsden, b. abt. 1655, d. aft. 1727, m. May 17, 1677 Jane Rutter, d. abt. 1740 2. Jacob Amsden, b. Nov. 1657, d. June 11, 1701, m. Susanna Marrett, d. Oct. 16, 1707
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