Nicholas Danforth (bef. 1589 - 1638)

Born before 1 Mar 1589 in Framlingham, Suffolk, England

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Barber) Danforth — married 11 Feb 1618 in Aspall, Suffolk, England

Descendants

Died Apr 1638 after age 49 in Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts

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Nicholas Danforth migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 2, p. 281) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Nicholas Danforth^[1] was baptized at Framlingham, Suffolk, England on March 1, 1589/90, son of Thomas and Jane (Sudbury) Danforth. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

He married Elizabeth Barber at Aspall, Suffolk, England on Feb. 11, 1617/18. ^[3] His wife Elizabeth died in England in 1629. ^[3]

He became one of the leading citizens of his native town. In 1622 he was warden of the parish church. In 1629 he was a member of the Court Baron or Borough Leet Jury. He came to America in 1634 with his children and settled at Cambridge, Massachusetts and Rev. Cotton Mather in his account of the Rev. Samuel Danforth, Son of Nicholas says of the pioneer

" Mr. N. Danforth, a gentleman of such estate and repute in the world that it cost him a considerable sum to escape the knighthood which King Charles I imposed on all of so much per annum; and of such figure and esteem in the church that he procured that famous lecture at Framlingham in Suffolk where he had a fine "mannour" which lecture was kept up by Mr Burrougha and many other noted ministers in their turn; to whom, especially to Mr. Shephard, he proved a Gains, and especially when the Laudian fury scorched them.

This person had three sons, whereof the second was our Samuel, born in September of the year 1626 and by the desire of his mohter, who died three years after his birth, earnestly dedicated unto the schools of the prophets. His father brought him to New England in 1634 and at his death, about four years after his arrival here, he committed this hopeful son of many prayers unto the peternal oversight of Mr. Shephard, who proved a kind patron unto him." (Magnalia II 59).^[5]

His home in Cambridge was on what is now Bow St. Near Mt. Auburn St. He was Deputy to the general court in 1635, and selectman 1635. He was admitted freeman March 3, 1635-36. He must have kept a tavern as he was given permission by the general court in 1637-38 to "sell wine and strong water".^[6] He died in April 1638 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. ^[7]

Children

The children of Nicholas Danforth, the Immigrant and his wife Elizabeth:^{[8] [9]}

1. Elizabeth Danforth bapt. Aug 3, 1619 Framlingham, England, married Oct 1, 1639, Andrew Belcher.
2. Mary Danforth born c. 1616. b. May 3, 1621 Framlingham
3. Anna Danforth bapt. Sep. 3, 1622 Framlingham married Matthew Bridge.
4. Thomas Danforth bapt. Nov. 20, 1623 Framlingham married Mary Withington.
5. Lydia Danforth bapt. May 24, 1625 Framlingham, married William Beaman.
6. Samuel Danforth bapt. Oct 17, 1626 Framlingham, married Mary Wilson.
7. Jonathan bap. Framlingham March 2, 1628/9; married first Elizabeth Poulter at Boston on Nov. 22, 1654; married second, widow Elizabeth (Champney) Converse at Billerica on Nov. 17, 1690. ^[3]

Notes

• According to Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635,
• Danforth is a corruption of Dane's Ford, the combination of a personal name and a place, a shallow stream. The spelling Danford is also seen.Volume II, C-F, the name of his wife is Elizabeth Barber
• There are sources that list his wife as Elizabeth Symes. In the Danforth Geneology, May notes this is in error.^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ #May Page 1
2. ↑ #May Page 4
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} Anderson, Robert C. Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume II, C-F, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA 2001. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) p. 282 entry for Nicholas Danforth $subscription
4. ↑ Framlingham St Michael (CP/11) Parish registers, Suffolk Family History Society.
5. ↑ Mather Vol. 2, Page 59
6. ↑ #Cutter P. 164 (V) Nicholas Danforth
7. ↑ #Cutter P. 165
8. ↑ #May Page 6
9. ↑ #Cutter P. 165 bapt date and some spouses
10. ↑ #May Page 5

• May, John Joseph. Danforth Genealogy Nicholas Danforth, of Framlingham, England, and Cambridge, N. E. (1589-1638) and William Danforth, of Newbury, Mass. (1640-1721) and their descendants, (C.H. Pope, Boston, 1902) Page 1
• Mather, Cotton. Magnalia Christi Americana (Printed for Thomas Parkhurst, at the Bible and three crowns in Cheapside, 1702)
• Cutter, William Richard. Historic Homes and Places and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts (Lewis Historical Pub. Co., New York, 1908
• Don Gleason Hill, ed. Early records of Dedham, Massachusetts. vol. 4: Town meeting and selectmen records, 1659-73. (Dedham, MA: Office of the Dedham Transcript, 1894). P.235
• Ferris, Mary Walton, compiler. Dawes-Gates Ancestral Lines A Memorial Volume Containing the American Ancestry of Rufus R. Dawes. Volume 1, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1943 p. 250
• Harris, Esq., Willaim Thaddeus "Notes on the Danforth Family" The New England historical and genealogical register. ... v.7(1853). Page 315
• The Fountain From Whence We All Come! http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=annak1&id=I116&style=TABLE

Ancestry Links

• Emigrants from England to New England: "Topographical Dictionary of 2885 English Emigrants to New England, 1620-1650", database with images, Emigrants from England to New England > image 191 of 331, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Image
• New England Marriages Prior to 1700, database with images, D > image 219 of 1026, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Imagev
• Passenger List: "U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s", database, Place: Massachusetts; Year: 1634; Page Number: 130, Ancestry Record 7486 #1435956 Ancsestry Sharing Link
• Rose Family Tree
• Family History
• Biography
• Biography from History of Middlesex County

FamilySearch Tree

• Author: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Title: Ancestral File (TM) Publication: Name: July 1996 (c), data as of 2 January 1996

Ancestral File Number: 577H-MP

FamilySearch Profile

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Danforth-158 created through the import of Terry Kraft and Ancestors as of 093011.ged on Oct 1, 2011 by Terry Kraft. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Terry and others.