Judith Stoughton

Other Events and Attributes:

• Arrival: 1630, Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, USA

Notes:

Judith’s first husband John Denman was born in 1591 in Retford, Nottinghamshire, England. His parents were Nicholas Denman and Lady Anne Hercy. John died 1624 in Retford, Surrey, England.

Judith’s second husband William Smead was born 1601 in England. William died 1636 in Essex, England.

Judith was one of the signers of the Dorchester Church Covenant in 1636, and at the time of her death in 1639 was a widow. The General Court confirmed Israel Stoughton as executor of the will of his sister, Judith Smead, and the disposal of her effects is on record, though no copy of her will has been preserved. Though not proved, it is possible that Judith was a widow before leaving England and that she journeyed to America in 1633 with Israel Stoughton and his wife, Elizabeth.

Judith’s young son was apprenticed rather than taken into the home of his Uncle Israel.

Judith Smead signed the covenant in 1636 with the church at Dorchester, Massachusetts, and in 1638 had a grant of twenty acres there just below the First Burying Ground. An inventory of her estate after her decease was taken on May 18, 1639. She was the mother of John Denman, Mary Denman (wife of Clement Maxfield), and William Smead.

Step-mother of Humphrey Denman, an Elder of the English Reformed Church at Amsterdam, North Holland.

William Smead was the son of William Smead (d.c1634) and Judith (Stoughton) Denman Smead (1599-1639). Judith was the widow of John Denman, with whom she had two children. William was only three or so when his father died. Judith sailed from Gravesend with her three children on September 3,1635 on the ship “Dorset”. They stopped in the Barbadoes, then continued to New England. She settled with her children in Dorchester. She signed the Dorchester Church covenant in 1636 and was granted 20 acres of land there in 1638.

About the time his mother died, William was apprenticed at age seven or so, to John Pope of Dorchester. Pope died in 1646 and made provision in his will for William, calling him “my Littell boy.” He left to William his looms and tacking if William was willing to live with Pope’s widow, learn the trade, and become a weaver.

He married Elizabeth Lawrence at Dorchester,MA on Dec 31,1658.

Children: William Smead III, Elizabeth Smead Janes, Judith Smead Hawks, Mehitable Hull Smead Nims, Samuel Smead, John Smead, John Smead, Ebenezer Smead, Thankful Smead Hawks, and Waitstill Smead Warner.

It has been suggested that he must be buried at Old Deerfield Cemetery since that was the only cemetery at the time. However, that is not always the case as many ancestors were buried on their homesteads at the time.

Judith married John Denman in 1620 in , , , England. John was born in 1591 in Retford, Nottinghamshire, England; died in 1622 in Retford, Nottinghamshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. John Denman was born on 16 Jan 1621 in Retford, Nottinghamshire, England; died in 1691 in Long Island, Queens, New York, USA.
2. Mary Denman was born on 16 Dec 1621 in Naughton, Suffolk, England; died on 31 May 1707 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA.

Judith married William Smead in 1623 in , , , England. William (son of Woodhull Richard Smith and Mary Boyle) was born in 1601 in Naughton, Suffolk, England; died in 1636 in , Essex, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. William Smead, Jr was born in 1624 in Coggeshall, Essex, England; died on 1 Jan 1703 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, USA.

Notes:

Dissident Preacher and Writer. Fellow of Queens College, Cambridge.

Stoughton matriculated pensioner from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1573, received his B.A. from Queens College 1577, his M.A. 1580. He was ordained deacon and priest at Lincoln Cathedral on Feb. 13, 1582, and was brought to the attention of Robert, 3rd Lord Rich by John Butler of Thoby Priory, Essex, and continued to benefit from Rich's patronage for many years. He was rector of Naughton from 1586 until 1594, at which time he was made curate of Great Burstead, Essex. He published A general treatise against poperie, and in defence of the religion by publike avthoritie professed in England and other churches reformed (Cambridge, 1598), which was dedicated to Lord Rich. In 1600 he was instituted vicar at Coggeshall at Lord Rich's presentation, but due to his nonconformity he was admonished by Bishop Richard Vaughan and deprived of Coggeshall by the High Commission in 1606. Despite being removed from his living it was reported in 1606 that he 'doeth often expound the Word in his deske'. In 1610 at Great Totham, Essex, he signed the dedicatory epistle to his work The dignitie of Gods children. By 1616 he had returned to his native Sandwich, where he remained living in poverty until his death. He continued to expound on his beliefs, publishing Two Profitable Treatises in 1616, followed up in 1622 with The Christians Sacrifice, a text of some 251 pages, which was dedicated to his patron, who had since purchased the title Earl of Warwick. He signed the dedicatory epistle to this on 20 Aug. 1622 from 'my poore lodging in the poor Hospitall called S. Bartholomewes by Sandwich in Kent', and further stated he was now 'ready to be dissolved, and to laye down my earthly Tabernacle...the time of my departing being at hand...' Two days later he appended the work with The Authors postscript to his Children as it were his Last Will and Testament unto them.

At the end of his life he recalled being present at Hampton Court 43 years earlier, where he heard ministers preaching before Queen Elizabeth.

In 1606 Stoughton was a legatee, along with others, in the will of Timothy Saint Nicholas, who 'moste humblie thanckinge them for their faithefull endeavor and for their earnest labour and paines for the instruction of my conscience and the consciences of many men in the knowledge of Gods truthe and relligion'. Described as 'a silenced preacher', he received a bequest in the 1610 will of Alice Wade of Bildeston, Suffolk, and in 1612 was mentioned in the will of his first cousin Thomas Stoughton of St Paul's Parish, Canterbury. In the 1619 will of Charles Eure, esquire, fourth son of William, 2nd Lord Eure, Stoughton being described as of St Bartholomews in Sandwich, Kent, received the generous bequest of £10.

Thomas married Katherine Evelyn Montpesson in 1585 in Naughton, Suffolk, England. Katherine was born in 1564 in Naughton, Suffolk, England; died on 18 Apr 1603 in Naughton, Suffolk, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: , , , USA

Notes:

Francis left a will on 28 July 1551 at Sandwich, Kent, England. He provided for his wife, his only son, Thomas and his sister Alice. He bequeathed to his son, Thomas, more than 3 pounds yearly to keep him in school. He left is brother, Thomas Stoughton of St Martin's Canterbury, his lands, tenements, etc. until his son reached 21. He asked to be buried in the chancel of St John's in the Church of St Peter, Sandwich. He died between 28 July 1551 and 30 Sep 1557 when his estate was probated at Sandwich.

Francis married Agnes Tringall. Agnes was born in 1535 in Naughton, Suffolk, England; died in 1557 in Naughton, Suffolk, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Edward married Mary Exhurst. Mary was born in 1505 in Ash, Kent, England; died in 1550 in Ash, Kent, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]