William Holdridge (abt. 1610 - abt. 1680)

Born about 1610 in St. Alphage Cripplegate, London, , England

Husband of Isabella (Unknown) Holdridge — married 1630 in Great Bookingham Chapel, Surrey, , England

Descendants

Died about 1680 at about age 70 in Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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William Holdridge migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 3, p. 368) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

William was a tanner and came from the parish of St. Alphage, Cripplegate, London on the "Elizabeth" in 1635:

8 Aprilis 1635
Theis pties herevnder mencioned are to be transported to New England: imbarqued in the Elizabeth of London Wm Stagg Mr. [master] bound thither: they have taken the oath of Allegeance & Supremacie p Cert: from the pish of St. Alphage Cropplegate [Cripplegate] the Minister there

Tanners:
Wm Holdred, 25

Isabel Craddock, age 30, had sailed on the "Rebecca", John Hodges, master, arriving in Boston on 8 June.

On 5 Feb. 1637/8 William was granted a six acre lot in Ipswich and in the following year, 9 Apr. 1639, and inventory of his property showed he owned “a houselot an half an acre of ground lying on the south side the town river… six acres of planting ground lying on Sagamore Hill”. The following day, Apr. 10th, he sold both parcels to Daniel Hovey.^[1]

They lived in Ipswich until they moved to Salisbury where William received a house lot in 1640. About 1649 he moved to Haverhill where he and Isabella were living in 1667. On 8 Mar. 1649 they sold their house and lot to Henry Brown, however, he took the oath of allegiance on 9 Apr. 1650 in Salisbury. On 27 Sept. 1652 “William Holdrege of Haverill” mortgaged to “Joseph Jewett of Rowley… my dwelling house, situate in Haverill aforesaid, with my planting land, meadow & commonage”^[2] Either William or his son were a witness in Salisbury in Nov. 1679.

On 5 Dec. 1653: “William Holdred and his wife Isebell testified that about the last of November they were at the house of John Chater of Newbery, by the fireside with said Chater’s wife, she having formerly said that she knew something of Daniell Gun. Whereupon the deponents asked her what it was as they wished to acquaint her husband who then lay in the same room sick in bed. Then Alice, John Chater’s wife, went to her husband and confessed to him in an audible voice that when she carried beer or victuals to said Gun, who was sick or lame in bed, he assaulted her”. Then on 27 Mar. 1655 “William Holdred’s wife was presented for unseemly carriages with John Chator”. This offense was “proved not to be lasciviousness, he being sick and she his only nurse, and her own husband present in the house. She was troubled with fits, and they found no censure on her”. ^[3]

Isabella testified against John Godfrey who was tried for witchcraft in 1658 in Salem. Godfrey evidently sued Abraham Whittaker for debt and the following year was charged with witchcraft for which he was most likely indicted, tried and acquitted and won the suit for slander shortly thereafter. This scene repeated itself in 1665 and 1666 and in 1669 he filed a defamation suit which he lost. He was also in court for various suits for payment, drunkenness, stealing and "cursing speeches". He never married and he earned his living as a heardsman and died by 1675. For a history of his life see Entertaining Satan: Witchcraft and the Culture of Early New England by John P. Demos, chapter 2.

"At a court held at Salem June 28, 1659.

John Godfrey plaintiff against William Symonds and Samuel his son defendants in an action of slander that the said Samuel, son to William Symonds hath done him in his name, charging him to be a witch, the jury find for the plaintiff 2d damages and cost of court 29s yet notwithstanding do conceive that by the testimonies he is rendered suspicious."^[4]

"To the honored court to be holden at Ipswich this twelfth month 1658 or 1659

Honored gentlemen:
Whereas divers of esteem with us and as we hear in other places also have for some times have suffered losses in their estates and some affliction on their bodies also: which as they suppose doth not arise from any natural cause or any neclect in themselves but rather from some ill disposed person: that upon differences had betwixt themselves and one John Godfrey resident at Andover or elsewhere at his pleasure we whose names are underwritten do make bold to sue by way of request to this honored court that you in your wisdom will be pleased if you see cause for it, to call him in question and to hear at present or at some after session what may be said in this respect.

James Davis, Sr. in the behalf of his son Ephraim Davis
John Haseltine and Jane his wife.
Abraham Whitaker for his ox and other things
Ephraim Davis in the behalf of himself
Some things we hear of and it may be they may be of consequence
Benjamin Swet in the case of his child
Isabelle Holdred hearing a voice and being afflicted in her body
Job Tyler of Andover for a bird coming in to suck his wife
Charles Brown for what he did see although we say no more at present
Widow Ayre's daughter and Goodman Procter's daughter for a pail with some things in it."^[5]

"Thomas Hayne testifieth that being with Goodwife Holderidge she told me that she saw a great horse and showed me where it stood: I then took a stick and struck on the place but felt nothing, and I heard the door shake and Goodwife said it was gone: out at the door immediately after she was taken with extremity of fear and pain so that she presently fell into a sweat and I thought she would swoon away: she trembled and shook like a leaf. Thomas Hayne."^[6]

"Nathan Gould being with Goodwife Holderidge one night there appeared a great snake as she said with open mouth and she being weak hardly able to go alone yet then ran and laid hold of Nathan Gould by the head and could not speak for the space of half an hour. Nathan Gould." ^[7]

"The deposition of Isabelle Holdred who testifieth that John Godfrey came to the house [where] Henry Blaisdell her husband and herself were and demanded a debt of her husband and said a warrant was out, and Goodman Lord was suddenly to come. John Godfrey [ ]ed if we would not pay him. The deponent answered yes, tonigh or morrow if we had it: for I believe we shall not [ ] we are in thy debt: John Godfrey answered thats a bitter word: [ ] said I must begin and must send Goodman Lord: the deponent answered [ ] when thou wilt I fear thee not nor all the devils in hell: and farther the deponent testifieth that two days after this, she was taken with those strange fits with which she was tormented a fortnight together night and day and several apparitions appeared to the deponent in the night: The first night night a bumble bee, the next night a bear appeared with ground the teeth and shook the claw, thou sayest thou art not afraid: thou thinkest Henry Blaisdells house will save thee. The deponent answered I hope that Lord Jesus Christ will save me: the apparition then spake thou sayest thou art not afraid of all the devils in hell but I will have thy hearts blood within a few hours. The next was the apparition of a great snake at which the deponent was exceedingly affrighted and skipped to Nathan Gould who was in the opposite chimney corner and caught hold of the hair of his head and her speech was taken away for the space of half an hour: the next night appeared a great horse and Thomas Hayne being there the deponent told him of it: and showed him where: the said Thomas Hayne took a stick and struck at the place where the apparition was: his stroke glanced by the side of it: and it went under the table, and he went to strike again. Then the apparition fled to the [ ] and made it shake and went away: and about a week after the deponent and her son were at the door of Nathan Gould and heard a rushing in the [ ] the deponent said to her son yonder is a beast: he answered 'tis one of Goodman Cobbyes black oxen: and it came toward them: and came within [ ] yards of them the deponent her heart began to ache for it seemed to have [ ] great eyes: and spake to the boy lets go in: but suddenly the ox beat her up against the wall and struck her down and she was much hurt by it: not being able to rise up but some others carried me into the house: all my face being bloody being much bruised the boy was much affrighted a long time after: and for the space of two hours was in a sweat that one might have washed hands on his hair.

Further the deponent affirmeth that she hath been often troubled with [ ] black cat sometimes appearing in the house and sometimes in the night [ ] bed and lay on her and sometimes stroking her face the cat [ ] thrice as big as an ordinary cat."^[8]

"The deposition of Charles Brown and his wife: This deponent saith about 6 or 7 years since in the meetinghouse of Rowley being in the gallery in the first seat there was one in the second seat (which he doth to his best remembrance think and verily believe it was John Godfrey) this deponent did see him yawning open his mouth and while he so yawned this deponent did see a small teat under his tongue. And further this deponent saith that John Godfrey was at this deponents house about 3 years since speaking about the power of witches he the said Godfrey spoke that if witches were not kindly entertained the devil will appear unto them and ask them if they were grieved or vexed with anybody and ask them what he should do for them and if they would not give them beer or victuals they might let all the beer run out of the cellar and if they looked steadfastly upon any creature it would die and it were hard to some witches to take away life either of man or beast yet when they once begin it then it is easy to them."^[9]

In retaliation, on 26 June 1660, Godfrey sued William Holdridge of Haverhill for debt from three years previously. ^[10]

On 22 May 1662 William and Isabell Holdredg of Haverhill sold to John Carleton of Haverhill, 80 acres of upland in Haverhill bounded by the parsonage farm, brook and John Chenery’s land, being the 2nd and 3rd division of a 5 acre lot, also 5 acres and 3 commonages, including the house, orchard, outhouses and fences. The deed was witnessed by James Pecker and George Brown and was registered at the Salisbury court on 9 Apr. 1667/8. ^[11]

On 9 Oct. 1666: “Wm Holdred having complained against John Ilsly of Salisbury for his children abusing the daughter of said Holdred, now his apprentice, as by several testimonies appeared, court ordered that said Ilsly should restrain his children from further abuse upon penalty of £10 to be paid to the treasurer of the county, and also to appear at the next Salisbury Court for not coming according to summons”. Then on 9 April 1667: “in the complaint of Wm Holdred v. Jno. Ilsley, the court found some truth in that said Ilsley’s children had been beating Holdred’s daughter and ordered Ilsley to pay costs of court”. The daughter must have been either Mehitable or Mary as the other daughters had either died or married off. ^[12]

On 24 Jan. 1669/0 Robert Swan deposed “that in the month of December last, William Holdiege, Senior, being at deponent’s house about his daughter who lived with Lt. Browne, said ‘what if she do run away, and this was before I heard she was gone away’. Then on 11 Apr: “Josef Page deposed that he heard Elesebath Daves say that Mehitabell Heldrig had not stolen the scarf but that she, Mehitabell would do it”. The following day: “Mehetabell Smith convicted for stealing several goods from her master Lt. Georg Brown and for running away from his service, was sentenced to be whipped ten stripes or pay a fine”.^[13] Perhaps Mehitable being light fingered was a reason why the Ilsley children had been beating on her a few years before? Perhaps her falling in love with Jonathan Smith was the reason for her running away from Lt. Brown.

On 7 Nov. 1671 William Holdred of Exeter, laborer and Isabel his wife sold to Henry Tuxbery of Amsbury, weaver for £8, 13 acres of upland in Haverhill on the highway to Hoult’s Rocks. The deed was witnessed by Thomas Bradbury and Thomas Currier. ^[14]

On the 19th they were living in York and he acknowledged a debt to Thomas Holmes of York:

"I William Holldridge now resident in Yorke doe acknowledge my selfe in debt to Thomas Holms… the full some of Twenty eight pounds tenn shillings & 3d wch the sd Holldridg doth Ingage to pay in worke or other pay… this 19th of Novembr: 1671…
The marke of
William X
Houldridg
John Davess
John Penwill"^[15]

William and William Jr. were still in York the following Jan:

"William Howldridg Senior & William Houldridge Junior doe… bind them selves Joyntly… to pay unto Thomas Holms Twelve pounds in good Mrchable pine boards or Mrchantable staves or any Mrchanble goods & the sayd Holms to have his Pistolls againe onely the sd Homs to pay two thirds of the Costs in mending To & stockeing of them sufficiently… to bee payd by the above sd Howldrige… at or before the last of July next Insewing but if the sayd Howldridge Junior shall worke with sd Holms why yn the sd Holms is to pay unto him fivety shillings p Moenth… this 15th of January 1671/2…
The marke of X William Houldridg Senior
The marke of X William Houldridge Junior
John Davess
John Penwill" ^[16]

Then on 3 Apr. 1672 William Holdred of Stawberry Bank [Portsmouth] and Isabell sold to James Sanders of Haverhill a lot in the east part of Haverhill, part of which had been granted to William by the town and part he had purchased from a committee of the town including the house and fences. ^[17]

On 26 Mar. 1672 “John Leigh, being called to bring in his prisoner, Wm Holdred, and failing, court ordered his bond forfeited, he to pay charges to the constable of Andover”. ^[18] No record is given for what William’s offense was. This occurred at the time when William was moving from place to place… perhaps to avoid the law? To look for work?

They were back in Exeter by summer when on 11 July 1672: “William Holdred of Exiter… Senior… with the consent… of Isabel my wife… sould… to… Zakerie Davis of Nubery… a parcel of upland near Holt’s Necks containing… about forty acres… in the township of Haverhill”.^[19]

On 5 June 1676 “Richard Scamman Senior residing in the County of Norfolk… do… sell… to William Holdred Senior of the same place… thirty & five acres of land lying & being within the tract of land on which he the said Scammon dwells, & is the same land on which the said Holdridg hath built a house & made some improvements.”^[20]

Isabella was killed in the Mast Swamp on the border of Stratham and Exeter, by Negro Jack who was hanged in Boston on 8 May 1690 “for murthering the widow Isabell Holdredge”. On 25 Aug. 1710 James Sinkler sold a piece of land to James Dudley which was “nigh a way that formerly went into the Mast Swamp nigh where Goodwife Holdrig was killed”.^[21]

The inventory of Isabella’s estate is dated 16 June 1689 and amounted to £27 17s 1d and was signed by Jonathan Thing, Peter Folsom and Benjamin Jones and attested before John Hinckes by Richard Morgan 20 Feb. 1692/3 and included “an old house and about thirty acres of land” worth £15. The administration of the estate of Isabel Holdridge, widow of William Holdridge of Exeter, planter, was granted to Richard Morgan of Ipswich, planter “having marryed Elizbeth the eldest daughter of the sd Isabell”… this was Rebecca, not Elizabeth. Richard Morgan Jr. and Edward Dyer were sureties.^[22]

It sounds like this family struggled, moving frequently probably to find work, having lived in London, Ipswich, Salisbury, Haverhill, Exeter, York and Portsmouth, being involved in law suits and William being arrested for an unknown offense… and poor Isabelle ending up being murdered and only owning an old house and other things worth only £28 at her death. Sad.

Sources

1. ↑ Anderson, Robert C. The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England 1634-1635 Vol. III: G-H (New England Historic Genealogical Society, Great Migration Study Project, Boston, 2003). "William Holdred" Pages 368-372. NEHGS Member link
2. ↑ Ipswich Land Records- Vol. I, p. 137
3. ↑ Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County- Vol. I, pp. 324-5, 337, 388
4. ↑ Essex County Court Records- Vol. IV, p. 29
5. ↑ Essex County Court Records- Vol. V, p 7-1
6. ↑ Essex County Court Records- Vol. V, p 7-2
7. ↑ Essex County Court Records- Vol. V, p 7-2a
8. ↑ Essex County Court Records- 8-1
9. ↑ Essex County Court Records- 8-2
10. ↑ Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County- Vol. II, pp. 212, 222
11. ↑ Old Norfolk County Records- The Essex Antiquarian- Vol. VI, p. 86 (1902)- quoting Norfolk Land Records- Vol. II, fol. 83
12. ↑ Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County- Vol. III, pp. 365-6, 409
13. ↑ Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County- Vol. IV, pp. 213, 237-8
14. ↑ Old Norfolk County Records- The Essex Antiquarian- Vol. X, p. 109- quoting Norfolk Land Records- Vol. II, fol. 252
15. ↑ York Deeds- Vol. II, fol. 107
16. ↑ York Deeds- Vol. II, fol. 127
17. ↑ Old Norfolk County Records- The Essex Antiquarian- Vol. XII, pp. 82-3- quoting Norfolk Land Records- Vol. II, fol. 312
18. ↑ Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County-Vol. V, p. 21
19. ↑ Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire- pp. 343-4; Norfolk Land Records- Vol. II, fol. 270
20. ↑ Norfolk Land Records- Vol. III, fol. 40, Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County- Vol. VI, p.140
21. ↑ Gen. Dict. ME & NH- p.344; NH Provincial Deeds- NH State Archives- Vol. IX, pp. 174-5
22. ↑ Probate Records of the Province of New Hampshire- New Hampshire State Papers- Albert Batchellor, Ed., Rumford Printing, Concord, NH, 1907- Vol. XXXI, p. 328

• Our Holdredge Ancestors- Betty Brassington, in the Landon Family Research Quarterly- Vol. II, No. 3 (July 1993)
• Witch Hunting in Seventeenth Century New England- David D. Hall, Northeastern University Press, 1999- p.115ff
• Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury- p.203
• Noyes Genealogy- Laverne W. Noyes, 1900- article on the Holdredge Family- pp. 59-61
• Early Settlers of Essex and Old Norfolk- NEHGR- Vol. VI, p. 343 (Oct. 1852)
• Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006.Original data - Family trees submitted by Ancestry members. Original data: Family trees submitted by Ancestry members. Note: This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created.