Robert Jeffreys (abt. 1605 - aft. 1652)

Born about 1605 in Hampshire, England [uncertain]

Husband of Marie (UNKNOWN) Jeffreys — married about 1628 in England

Died after Nov 1652 after about age 47 in London, England

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Robert Jeffreys migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 4, p. 33) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Robert Jeffreys immigrated to New England between 1621 and 1640 and later departed for England.

Robert Jeffrey/Jeoffries/Jeoffrey/Geoffrey was born about 1605 at an uncertain location,^[1] but probably in Hampshire, England as R. C. Anderson in "The Great Migration" page 35 suggests he may have been from Hampshire since he kept company with several men from that location in England when he was living in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, New England.^[1]

Marriage

Robert married Mary _____ (surname unknown) about 1628,^[1] probably in England; although no marriage record has been found. The year of marriage is based on the birth of their firstborn, Thomas, about 1628. Their children were:^[1]

1. Thomas who was born about 1628. He was 7 years of age on May 9, 1635. No additional records.
2. Elizabeth who was born about 1629 since she was 6 years of age on May 9, 1629. No additional records.
3. Mary who was born about 1632 since she was 3 years of age of May 9, 1635. No additional Records.

Migration

In 1635 the family was enrolled at London to be passengers on the Elizabeth & Ann bound for New England. They were recorded as "Robert Jeofferies" aged 30, and "wife & 3 children, Marie Jeofferies," aged 27, "Tho[mas] Jefferies," aged 7, "Elizabeth Jefferies," aged 6, and "Mary Jefferies," aged 3. Additionally there were "2 maidservants, Hannah Day," aged 20, and "Suzan Browne," aged 21.^[1]

From the ships' manifest of the Elizabeth and Ann:^[2] Theis under written names are to be transported to New England, imbarqued in the Elizabeth and Ann, prd. The parties have brought certificates fromn the minister and justices of the peace, of their conformitie to the orders and discipline of the Church of England, and that they are no subsidy men. In the ELIZABETH AND ANN, prd. Roger Coopr. Mr., bound for New England.

Robert Jefferies 30 years.

Marie Jefferies .. Wife 27 years

and Children

Tho. Jefferies 7 years

Elizabeth Jefferies 6 years

Mary Jefferies 3 years

Residences, Occupation, Community Service

The family first resided in Weymouth where (as reported by Samuel Butterworth on November 2, 1666) "...the homelot that was first given to Robert Jefferyes in Waymouth about 31 years since was six acres more or less & lying in Waymouth aforesaid near a place there called King Oak Hill."^[1]Thomas Holbrook Sr, at the same court hearing, said that the homelot was given to Robert Jeffreys "in Weymouth about one and thirty years [ago]" and the Jeffrey's stayed there "but a little while doubtless not three months." So, it seems less than three months later, they moved to Charlestown, where "Mr. Geoffreys was granted leave to sit down with us in such place as we can find fit for him." Here "Robert Jefferies" owned two shares of hay grounds in 1635. His wife, using the name of "Mary Jeffereis" was admitted to the Charlestown church on April 17, 1636. Robert, as "Robert Jeoffryes" sold his property to Samuel Hall on August 4, 1637. It included "all my dwelling house & land thereunto belonging ..., viz: 4 acres of planting ground adjoining to the house, 5 acres of land on Mystic Side up the South River, 6 acres by the town weir, & 6 cows' hay ground," with "liberty to gather & house his crop there & to abide in the house till his corn be inned, & shall have liberty to have possession of the 2 chambers over the old building to lay his corn & other goods in till the beginning of May next"^[1]

By 1637 they were in Boston. Citing "Winthrop Papers, 1498-1654" Volume 3 and page 517, R. C. Anderson in "The Great Migration" tells of a letter from James Luxford reporting to Governor Winthrop "that Mr. Jeffery hath sold his house and is coming to Bostone..."^[1]

When so many were leaving Massachusetts because of the Antinomian Controversy,^[3][4] in 1638 Robert and his family moved to Portsmouth on Rhode Island, a settlement established by Samuel Gorton.^[5]While there, on January 2, 1638/9, "Mr. Jefferies" as well as three additional men were appointed to "survey all the lands near abouts, and shall bring in a map or plot of all the said lands." Also on that day, he (Mr. Jefferies) and Will[iam] Dyre were appointed to "lay out and measure the home allotments." By August 23 of the same year, "Mr. Jefferyes" along with a group of men who were all identified as "Mr. Richard Dummer and his friends" were granted "thirteen lots on the west side of the spring [at Portsmouth] ...and these to build there at the spring at farthest, or else their lots to be disposed of by the company."^[1]

By 1639, the family was in Newport, Rhode Island, a settlement established by William Coddington and John Clarke in that year.^[5]In that year on September 2, Robert Jeffreys was admitted as a freeman of Newport. He was Newport treasurer from 1639-1643. It was ordered on September 17, 1641 ..."that Mr. Robert Jeoffreys shall be authorized to exercise the function of chirugery. Chirugery is an archaic term for the word, "surgery."^[6]In addition it seems he acted as arbitrator on several occasions; for instance, on September 2, 1639 there was differences of opinion regarding trade with Indians. Mr. Brenton and Mr. John Clarke were to give Mr. Jeofffreys the details and then Mr. Jeoffreys was to determine the cause. Mr. Jeoffreys, on the same day, was to "...have a hearing and deciding of matters concerning the damages done by the cattle upon the planted corn in the circuit of the town, and that such who hath been so undamaged shall repair to him." A few days later, on September 14, "Mr. Jeoffreys" was designated as a member of a Newport committee to lay out the boundary between Newport and Portsmouth. As "Captain Jeoffreys" he was specified as the person to be on "a committee to consult about the procuration of a patent for this island and islands, and the lands adjacent" on September 19, 1642.^[1]

We don't know the formal education of Robert Jeffreys, but he seems to have had extensive practical education when we see how he excelled as a treasurer, soldier, surveyor, and surgeon.^[1]

Military

It was ordered on November 25, 1639 that "...Mr. Robert Jefferies shall train the band [at Newport] for the present." By March 17, 1641/2 "Mr. Robert Jeoffreys is elected Captain for Nuport."

Return to England

Robert Jeffreys returned permanently to England about 1646^[1] and it was during this time that we see in history that many settlers returned. The final record that exists in New England for Robert Jeffreys and/or his family members is a letter that was sent from William Coddington to John Winthrop in Boston on November 11, 1646; said letter was to be carried to Boston 'per Mr. Robt. Jeafferyes'.^[3][1]

Robert Jeffreys is probably the man who was registrar-accountant in London from about October 1649- November 1652 since Edward Winslow recommended him to the accounts committee on October 19, 1649. Robert submitted a certificate of proficiency as a merchant and accountant that was endorsed by the Members of Parliament, Luke Robinson, Charles Fleetwood, Nathaniel Rich and Cornelius Holland.^[3]

The year of the death of Robert Jeffrys is not known, but it was sometime after November 1652 and probably in London, England since that is where he was living and working.

Research Notes

• Author and genealogist, James Savage suggested that William Jeffreys who moved to Newport a few years after Robert Jeffreys departed for England, was possibly Robert's brother. However the will of William's mother revealed that William had only one brother whose name was Thomas; so Robert did NOT have a brother named William.^[7]
• Although John Osborne Austin in his treatment of this family, discusses a son Jethro Jeoffrey, R. C. Anderson says there is "no evidence [that] connects him [Jethro] with Robert Jeffreys."^[1]
• His wife appears as Marie Gaunt in some trees based on a marriage of Robert Jeffreys marriage to Marie Gaunt on 15 Apr 1626 in Saint Gregory By Saint Paul, London.^[8] The date is a good match for their first son, but more research is necessary to confirm the identification.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13} Great Migration 1634-1635, I-L. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume IV, I-L, by Robert Charles Anderson. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2005. Sketch of Robert Jeffreys. pp 33 - 36.subscriber$
2. ↑ Pope, Charles H. The Pioneers of Massachusetts (Charles H. Pope, Boston, MA, 1900) Page 256.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Susan Hardman Moore. "Abandoning America, Life-Stories of Early New England" Boydell Press, New York. (2013) pp 159, 160.
4. ↑ Wikipedia, Antinomian Congroversy.link
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} wikipedia, "Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations"link
6. ↑ Dictionary.com.link
7. ↑ The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010), (Originally Published as: New England Historic Genealogical Society. Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols., 1995). Sketch of William Jeffreys. p. 1084.subscriber$
8. ↑ Marriage: "England, Select Marriages, 1538-1973"
   Original data: England, Marriages, 1538-1973. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013; FHL Film Number: 375028
   Ancestry Record 9852 #4446098 (accessed 19 November 2023)
   Robert Jeffreys marriage to Marie Gaunt on 15 Apr 1626 in Saint Gregory By Saint Paul, London, London, England.