George Giddings (bef. 1609 - 1676)

Born before 24 Sep 1609 in Clapham, Bedfordshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Jane (Lawrence) Giddings — married 26 Feb 1634 in St Albans St Peter, Hertfordshire, England

Descendants

Died 1 Jun 1676 after age 66 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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George Giddings migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 3, p. 52) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

George Giddings, yeoman, Husbandman

Origin

George was baptized on September 24, 1609 at Clapham, Bedfordshire, England..^[1][2] He was the eldest child of John Gidding and Joan Purrier. He was deposed on 29 march 1659 and stated he was "aged about forty years," and then on 26 March 1667 he was "about fifty-nine years."^[2]

Immigration

George, age 25 listed as “husbandman of Clapham, County beds,” sailed from London on the Planter Nicholas Trerice as Master on April 2, 1635 and arrived in Boston on June 7, 1635.

"2 April, 1635
Theis underwritten are to be transported to New England, imbarqued in the Planter, Nicholas Frarice Mr. bound thither, the parties have brought certificates from the Minister of St. Albans, Herfordshire, and attestacon from the Justices of peace according to the Lord’s order.
Geo Giddins, husbandman 25 years
Jane Giddins 20 years
Servants of George Giddins
Thomas Carter 25
Michael Willinson 30
Elizabeth Morrison 12"

Also on the Planter were Jane’s mother and step-father, Jane and John Tuttle, and their children Abigail age 6, Simon age 4, Sarah age 2 and John age 1.^[3]

Family

According to Beekman Patent, George was married to Jane Lowman,^[4] however the source listed there is The Giddings Family which gives the name of his wife as Tuttle, and this is crossed out with "Lawrence" written in pencil.^[5]

According to Robert C. Anderson in Great Migration 1634-1635, G-H, George married 20 February 1633/4 at St. Alban's, Hertfordshire, England to Jane Lawrence, daughter of Thomas Lawrence and Joan Antrubus.^[2] Jane was the step-daughter of John Tuttle and the granddaughter of Joan Antrobus with whom she traveled to New England, also she was also the sister of John Lawrence, Thomas Lawrence, William Lawrence, and Mary (Lawrence) Burnham wife of Thomas Burnham, all of Ipswich.^[2]

George Giddinge of Clapham, Co. Bedd, yeoman, and John Tuttell of St. Albans draper are bound for £100… 20 Feb. 1633/4.

"George Giddinge Batchelor & one Jane Lawrence of St. Albans maiden are licensed to be married together; therefore there shall not hereafter appeare any lawfull impedmt… And that the sd marriage be penty solimized in the pish Church of St. Albans or St. Peters And that betweene the howers of eight & twelve of the clock in the forenoone."^[6]

He married Jane Lawrence, recorded in the parish register as George Goodwin, on 26 February 1633/4 at St. Peter's Church, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England. ^[7][8]

The marriage bond above gives George’s correct name, the St. Peter’s parish register lists him as George “Goodwin”.

Children according to Robert C. Anderson:^[2]

1. Thomas b c. 1636
2. John b c. 1638; mar Sarah Alcock, daughter of John Alcock
3. James b c. 1640
4. Samuel b c. 1644
5. Joseph b c. 1646
6. Rebecca b c. 1648
7. Abigail b say 1650; mar Samuel Dutch
8. Mary b say 1652; mar 1) Samuel Pierce, 2) William Hubbard

Anderson disagrees with Minot S. Giddings about two of the children. Anderson does not include George (the youngest according to Giddings), and also includes Rebecca (Giddings does not).

Life in Ipswich

"Petition of the Inhabitants of Ipswich To our much honored Gouvr and Counsellors att Boston deliver

Our humble duties and respect premised:
understanding there is an Intention to call Mr. Winthrp Junr. from us and to commit the Custody of the castle to him, we could not out of the entire affection we beare to him and his welfare but become earnest petitioners to our worships that you would not deprive our Church and Towne of one whose presence is so gratefull and usefull to us. It was for his sake that many of us came to this place and without him we should not have come, his abode with us hath made our abode here much more comfortable then otherwise it would have bene: Mr. Dudleys leaving us hath made us much more desolate and weake then we were, and if we should lose another magistrate it would be too great a grief to us and breach upon us: and not a magistrate only but our Lieutenant Colonell so beoved of our Souldiours and military men that this remote Corner would be left so destitute and desolate; neither can we conceive but that his removal from us will much predudice and unsettle him, the place he is chosen unto we feare will neither mayntaine him and his company comfortably nor prove certaine to him, but upon sundry occasions mutable. It would be very uncomfortable to him as we suppose to live upon others maintenance, or to neglect that portion of land and love which Gid hath given him amongst us the improvall of his estate here we hope will prove a better and surer support then a yearly stipend from the Country which hath groaned much under the burthen of that fort already. We find his affections great and constant to our Towne and we hope ours shall never faile towards him and his. We therefor humbly beseech you that we may still injoy him and that you would not expose him to so solitary a life and a place where we hope there will not be much use of him: nor us to the losse and want of one so much seired of us… June 21, 1637… George Giddings…"^[9]

The family settled in Ipswich where George became a freeman on 7 Sept. 1638.^[10] George was one of Major Denison’s subscribers in 1640, a commoner in 1641 and one of the 20 freeholders who paid the highest taxes out of the 230 families in 1664. He was a representative to the General Court in 1641, 1654, 1655, 1659, 1661, 1663, 1664, 1668, 1672 and in 1675.^[11] He also served as a selectman for the town of Ipswich from 1661 to 1675 and was also a ruling elder of the church. He served on the committee on Colony Assessment on 13 May 1640, the committee on the bounds between Salisbury and Haverhill, the committee concerning the bridge in Lynn on 23 May 1655, the committee to settle the bounds between Hampton and Salisbury on 14 Oct. 1656, and the committees on gifts to the colony on 23 May 1655 and 22 May 1661.^[12] George was also on the jury in 1641, 1645, 1647, 1649, 1650, 1652, 1654, 1655, 1656, 1658, 1659, 1669, 1670 and 1671.^[13]

George was involved in a lengthy law suit which occupies 25 pages in Hutchinson’s Collections. Mr. Symonds was the justice who tried this case:

“Copy of the case of George Giddings and others of Ipswich, referring to Mr. Cobett. June 22, 1657. George Giddings, plaintiff, against Edward Browne, defendant.

I find in this case for the plaintiff, Damage 0-1-0, Costs 0-5-8

And the case being of very weighty concernment in the countrey (I conceive), I shall expresse the groundes of my judgment. I understand this to be about a fundamentall law… properly so called. It is such a law as that God and nature have given to a people. So that it is in the trust of their governors in highest place and others, to preserve, but not in their power to take away from them, of which sort are these, viz.

1. Election of the supreame governours.

2. That every subject shall and may enjoy what he hath a civell right or title unto, soe as it cannot be taken from him, by way of gift or loan, to the use, or to be made the right or property of any other man, without his owne free consent.

3. That such lawes (though called libertyes) yet more properly they may be called rights, and in this sense this may be added as a third fundamental law, viz:

That no custome or precedent ought to prevayle in any morall case, that may appear to be sinnfull in respect to the breach of any law of piety against the first table, or of righteousness against the second.

And so for brevity sake I shall now forbear to write further, and respite what I have more to say, to be expressed in another paper, what doth more clearely and fully tend to inlightten my judgment in this case, ready to be manifested where occasion is.
Samuel Symonds

June 23, 1657. Edward Browne appealeth from the sentence in the case above unto the next county court, holden at Salem, and acknowledgeth himselfe bound to this government in the summ of three pounds to prosecute his appeale to effect according to the law provided about appeales. Samuel Symonds

At a general towne meeting the 25th of February 1665, voted to give 100£ toward building or buying a house for Mr. Cobbet. This is a true coppy taken out of the towne booke, June 20, 1657.

At a meeting of the selectment the 13th of June, 1657. There being a vote of the towne to give one hundred pounds toward building or buying Mr Cobbett a house, and the last seven men accordingly proportioned the same upon the inhabitants, and complaint being made by the deacons that divers refuse to pay:

It is therefore ordered by the now selectment that the Marshall Edward Browne shall and is hereby impowered to distrayne upon such persons (their several sums) as refuse or delay to pay their proportion to the hundred pound by vote of the towne given to Mr Cobbet toward building him a house…

To Edward Browne of Ipswich. You are required to appear before me upon the second day next, at two o’clock afternoon, it being the 22nd day of this instant, to answer the complaint of George Giddings, in an action for trespass upon the case for entering his house and severing his pewter dishes or platters and marking of them, and hereof you are not to fayle at your perill. Dated the 16th day of the 4th month… 1657… Samuel Symonds

June 22, 1657…
Whereas When I gave my sentence in the case before me, betweene George Giddings, plaintiff and Edward Browne, defendant, in an action of trespass upon the case &c. I did expresse some grounds of my judgement to be seen in the records. Now I shall add further what doth induce me to that apprehension in the case viz. First, This may be given as a reason that it is against a fundamentall law in nature to be compelled to pay that which others doe give. For then no man hath any certainty or right to what he hath, if it be in the power of others (by pretence of authority or without) to give it away (when in their prudence they conceive it to be for the benefit of the owner soe to doe) without his owne consent.

Secondly, This to me is some strengthening to induce my apprehension in this case, viz. That notwithstanding in England, it cannot be denied, but that mens estates were sometimes unduly taken from them: Some by force, some by fraud, some by sinister wresting of evidences, yea, and sometimes of lawe itselfe, as aabout knighthood-money, ship money, &c. yet I dare say, if search be made into histories, lawyers bookes of reports, records, &c. it cannot be made to appeare that in the most exorbitant times any man hath had his estate taken from him as by the guift of others, under colour of lawe, or countenance of authority. Noe, noe, lawyers would have blushed to have given such a construction of lawes; and suddently their faces would have waxed pale. For the Kinge would have beene too wise to have owned the plea. And what would all wise men have said for such taking away the greatest outward right or liberty from them? For it may be understood, that benevolencies, incouraging gratuities, leaves, or privy seales, were not required by lawe, or by pretence of lawe, but desired as by favour. However they were obtained by illegall and tyranicall meanes, as was apprehended…

The parliament may tax (and that justly) the whole country to give a guift or reward to one man for some service; for they are betrusted soe to doe. The reason is, it is levied upon the whole country, with their consent, and for the immediate benefit of the whole.

But if they should doe it between persons (though they should soe doe by power, and the person wronged hath noe remedy in this world) yet it would be accounted tyranny. Is it not to take from Peter and give it to Paul? If one man, for such or such a turne or good end, may fustly be deprived of a fundamentall right or liberty, then an other and and other, and so every man. In England there is but one sort of men that might be deprived of their goods; which kinde are usually called slaves but there they are called villeynes to the lord of the mannor...

The law both of God and the country doth require people to goe to the meeting for publique worship. But is not understood that any law doth provide that every towne shall build or buy a house for the minister as often as there is a removal by death or otherwise, I mean to be his in propriety… To conclude this matter I thank God, I am for ordinacnes both in church and commonwealth; and consequently for due meanes for the upholding of them (and doe account it not only a great wickedness to be contrary minded, but extreme folly and madness) and I thinke it tends to the honour of them, when in reference there unto provision is made either in a voluntary or else in a way of compulsion grounded upon such princeples as both here and in other nations will be owned as just and equall… It is supposed that noe man is Come to New England to have his goods given and taken from him, unto or for what good end, or under what pretence soever. If this should be confirmed for good law; henceforth then (I conceive) there will be noe more need, or little, to make any more propositions for voluntary contributions.

Vote of the General Court
The question being put, Whether this vote doth bind all or any of the inhabitants of the said towne to pay any thing towards the 100£. And whether such as are unwilling may be compelled there unto or no? The deputies on a hearing of the reasons alleged on both sides, and on serious consideration of the same, have resolved in the negative, with reference to the judgement of our honoured magistrates herein.
20th 8th 1657
William Torrey, cleric
The magistrates consent not hereto.
Edward Rawson, Secretary

The question was then appealed to the General Court and it was agreed that the parties should have liberty to present their reasons in writing pro and con, but no other pleading by either party be allowed. It was then voted by the whole court 21st Octob. 57.

The question is whether this vote doth bind all or any of the inhabitants of the said towne to pay any thing towards the said hundred pounds, and that such as are or were unwilling may be compelled thereunto yea or noe. And it is agreed that the parties shall have libertie to present their reasons in writing to the generall court pro and con, but noe other pleading by either partie to be allowed… Voted by the whole court 21st Octob. 57, On the Affirmative, E.R. Sec."^[14]

“The great doubt in this long case seems to have been whether an act of the supreme authority, impowering the major part of the inhabitants of a town to tax the minor part which did not consent to the tax, was not contrary to the fundamental laws in government. It must be remembered that many of this minor part were not voters in towne affairs, neither in person nor by any representative of their own constituting. The arguments as strong against taxes by the General Court as by a towne, and yet the House of Representatives voted that the tax made by the Towne was not binding. In a day or two after they altered their minds. There was a division in the Colony at this time upon the mode of maintainance of ministers, any other way except by voluntary contribution being opposed by many, of whom Mr. Justice Symonds seems to have been one.”^[15]

On 30 Mar. 1675 George gave to “my son Samuell Giddings… one whole commonage or freehold which belonged to a habitable house of mine near unto my dwelling house and was habitable & standing in Ipswich in that part called Chebaco some years before the year Sixty”.^[16]

Death and Legacy

George may have died June 1, 1676 at Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts. On 27 June 1676, administration of his estate was granted to "Jane, relict."^[2]

"Inventory of the estate of George Giddings, late of Ipswich, taken June 19, 1676 by John Whipple Sr., Henry Benet and Nathaniell Wells:

His waring Clothes, wollin & Linon................07-00-00
Money & platte.................................................04-10-00
Housing with Comonidg..................................60-00-00
In the parlor, a beed sted with a fether beed & what
belongs to it......................................................11-00-00
Cubbord with drawers....................................02-10-00
Table, two chayers, 4 cushins.........................01-18-00
Boxe, one basket, truncke..............................00-12-00
6 yds of Cloth....................................................01-10-00
More of the same.............................................00-07-06
Pewter...............................................................04-00-00
A table cloth & 6 napkins................................01-00-00
Two payer of pillowbeers, two towels,
tablecloth..........................................................01-06-0
One payer of sheetes......................................01-00-00
Fower payer of sheets, small table cloth......01-10-00
3 payer of pillow beers with other linen.......01-10-06
Beedsted with a fetherbeed & three blankits.07-10-00
An old table, one old chest .............................00-05-00
Trundle beed with what belongs to it...........02-15-00
Sheeps wooll, 140 lb........................................07-00-00
Flax, yerne & flaxe with som tooe..................01-00-00
Old tubes...........................................................00-02-06
10 bush. Of Indian Corne, 2 bush of malt.....02-03-00
3 sackes, one bush. of wheat.........................00-12-06
One sadle and bridle & pillion........................01-04-00
Tubes & Keelers...............................................01-00-00
Pailes, trayes, other wood dishis...................01-01-00
Old Cubbard.....................................................00-10-00
Smalle table & 4 Chayers................................00-10-00
A Copper, one cetle.........................................02-05-00
Two Iron potes.................................................01-07-00
Two trammels, two payer of pott hooks.......00-11-00
An Iron barr, payer of Andiorons...................00-16-00
Slice, paire of tonges.......................................00-04-00
Morter & two scillits.........................................00-10-00
Tin ware.............................................................00-10-00
One worming pann, one payer of belis.........00-07-06
One smothing Iron, with heaters...................00-03-00
Chespres...........................................................00-03-00
Gridiron.............................................................00-11-00
Two spinning wheels with cardes..................00-11-00
Ches moats & sives & spits.............................00-13-06
Powdering tub, two barrels............................00-07-06
A Cherne, a runlit ............................................00-07-00
Bookes...............................................................02-00-00
Seed plow..........................................................00-09-00
Two Chaines, two yoacks with Irone.............00-19-00
Cart & wheeles with spanshakle....................02-00-00
Beetle with ringes, 5 wedgis, one axe...........00-14-00
9 Cows & 3 hayfers..........................................36-00-00
Thre two yer old hayfers, 4 oxen...................27-00-00
One yearling, 6 Calves ....................................03-10-00
60 sheep, 40 Lames........................................27-00-00
One yearling, 6 Calves.....................................03-10-00
60 sheep, 40 Lames.........................................27-00-00
One hors, 3 mares, one year old coult & two
foales.................................................................08-00-00
6 swine..............................................................04-00-00
Poark, backen & cheese, butter.....................03-10-00
152 accers of Land.........................................760-00-00
6 accers of march at Plom iland.....................12-00-00
Total...............................................................1021-12-06

Debts owing from the estate 24-00-00"^[17]

Administration of the estate of George Gettings was granted on 27 June 1676 to his widow Jane.^[18]

For the settlement of the estate of George Gittins, deceased by agreement of the widow, administratrix and the five sons, it was ordered Sept. 26, 1676, that all the estate be delivered into the hands of the five sons, Thomas, John, James, Samuell and John Gittins, to be divided, Thomas to have a double portion. They were to give security to pay the widow during her life £25 per annum and her living in the house, with the use of the household stuff, and to pay to their three sisters, Rebecka, Abigaill and Mary, £50 each, deducting so much as any of them have formerly had as their portion from their father.^[19]

"Wee whose names are here under written the sonns of George Giddings desceased have Jointly agreed: as foloweth and in wittness hereof have set too our hands that Thomas eldest sonne to the said George shall have a Dubble portion of the estate and possession of his father equally to be devided viz. pasture arable and medow land; with house barnes commonage with all purtenances and preveledges thereunto belonging with cattle; to him the said Thomas… the rest of his Brethren: together with the land that was formerly given him by his father 7 acres more or less: where he now lives: and we doe also agree not to sell any of our land of from one another: and we doe expect and agree every one to beare his proportionable part in fencings.
Thomas Giddinge
John Giddinge
James Giddinge
Samuel Giddinge
26 Sept. 1676."^[20]

Sources

1. ↑ "The Parish Register of Clapham 1603-1812". Bedfordshire County Record Office 1937. https://archive.org/details/bedfordshirepari16bedf/page/n110
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5} Anderson, Robert C., "George Giddings" in The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume III, G-H, (2003) Page 54. AmericanAncestors.org (by subscription)
3. ↑ The Giddings Family- Minot Giddings, Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co., Hartford, 1882- pp. 12- 20
4. ↑ Doherty, Frank J., The Settlers of the Beekman Patent, Vol 5, (1999) page 567. AmericanAncestors.org (by subscription)
5. ↑ Giddings, Minot S., The Giddings Family ... (Pages 20-22) Hartford: Press of the Case, Lockwood & Brainard, 1882, Archive.org accessed November 9, 2014
6. ↑ Hertfordshire Record Office- ASA 22/1
7. ↑ "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ." Database. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 14 June 2016. Index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City.
8. ↑ Hertfordshire Names Online. HALS. https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/ufs/ufsmain?ebz=1_1552140739942&ebd=0
9. ↑ The Winthrop Papers- Vol. III, pp. 432-3
10. ↑ Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay: 1628–1686- Nathaniel Shurtleff, Ed., Boston, 1853- Vol. I, p. 374
11. ↑ Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay: 1628–1686- Nathaniel Shurtleff, Ed., Boston, 1853- Vol. I, p. 318; Vol. III, pp. 297, 340, 373; IV, pt. 1, pp. 120, 181, 221, 364, 416, 449; pt. 2, pp. 2, 30, 117, 362, 507
12. ↑ Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay: 1628–1686- Nathaniel Shurtleff, Ed., Boston, 1853- Vol. I, p. 295, 319; Vol. III, p. 377, 420; Vol. IV, pt. 1, pp. 223, 230, 282; pt. 2, p. 14
13. ↑ Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County- Salem, 1911- Vol. I, pp. 37, 39, 86, 124, 161, 197, 260, 325, 328; II, pp. 1, 3, 111, 168; III, pp. 270, 278, 326; IV, p. 175
14. ↑ The Hutchinson Papers- The Prince Society, Albany, 1865- Vol. II, pp. 1-25; Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County- Salem, 1911- Vol. II, pp. 47, 59
15. ↑ The Giddings Family- Minot Giddings, Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co., Hartford, 1882- pp. 12- 20 quoting Essex County Quarterly Court Files- Vol. XXV, fol. 49
16. ↑ Ipswich Land Records- Vol. III, p. 355
17. ↑ The Giddings Family- Minot Giddings, Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co., Hartford, 1882- pp. 12- 20 quoting Essex County Quarterly Court Files- Vol. XXV, fol. 49
18. ↑ Salem Quarterly Court Records- Vol. V, fol. 94
19. ↑ Ipswich Quarterly Court Records- Vol. V, p. 283
20. ↑ Essex Probate Records- Vol. III, pp. 63-5, Docket No. 10829

• Green, David L. "The English Origin of George Giddings of Ipswich, Massachusetts." New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Vol. 135 (1981) p. 274 - 286. subscribers$

• Manuscript, [ Hugh D. Miller, comp. ], Genealogy: Ethel P. Miller/Hugh D. Miller, 1985, copy in possession of Barbara M

• Ancestry Family Trees, Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members