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John Hoyt Senior (abt. 1612 - 1688)

Sergeant John Hoyt Senior
Born about in Englandmap [uncertain]
Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married before 1635 [location unknown]
Husband of — married after 1642 in Essex Co., Massachusettsmap
Descendants descendants
Father of , , , , , , , , , , , and
Died at about age 76 in Amesbury, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colonymap
Problems/Questions Profile managers: Chris Hoyt private message [send private message], Puritan Great Migration Project WikiTree private message [send private message], and Loren Fay private message [send private message]
Profile last modified | Created 14 Sep 2010
This page has been accessed 9,048 times.
The Birth Date is a rough estimate. See the text for details.
The Puritan Great Migration.
John Hoyt Senior migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 171)
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Contents

Biography

Disputed Origins

Anderson, in his 1995 Great Migration Begins entry about Simon Hoyt documents a son John Hoyt that many have associated with John Hoyt of Salisbury and later Amesbury, MA, probably basing that interpretation on Cutter who suggested that John Hoyt of Salisbury was son or brother to Simon.[1] But two pieces of evidence prove otherwise:

  1. John Hoyt of Salisbury was survived by a wife named Frances who was alive as late as 1697.[2] This was long after John Hoyt (probably of Fairfield, CT) was married to Mary (Brundage) Purdy, both of whom died in 1684.
  2. DNA testing reported in 2003 indicates there was no connection between Simon (and the Connecticut Hoyts) and John Hoyt of Massachusetts.[3]

Disputed Spouses

Because of the misinterpretation of Anderson's entry about John, son of Simon Hoyt, and a suggested proposed by Cutter in 1908, many have believed that John Hoyt of Salisbury then Amesbury, Mass., had three wives.

However, the Salisbury, Massachusetts vital records and a 1697 probate record clearly indicate that we know only of two wives:

  • John married before 1635 to Frances(1) Unknown.[4] She died on "23: 12m 1642/3 (23 Feb 1642/3) at Salisbury.[5] Torrey reports this first wife might have been a Tuxberry and follows with a question mark.[6] Others assume she was Mary Frances Jewell.[citation needed]

Salisbury vital records clearly show the death of Frances, wife of John, who died on 23 Feb 1642/3 (p 578).[5]

The records also clearly indicate that he continued to have children with Frances "2d w" [second wife?] through 1664 in Salisbury (pp 138-39).[5] This second wife was still alive ten years after the death of John Hoyt.[7]

Children

Children of John and 1st wife, Frances (last three documented; first two supposed):[1][4]

  1. Frances Hoyt, b abt 1635; m1 John Colby; m2 John Barnard m 1st John Colby, 14 Jan. 14, 1655/6; m. 2nd John Barnard, 27 Dec. 1676. She d. in Amesbury, Jan. 2, 1720-1, probably aged about 85 years. (Hoyt, p. 20)
  2. John Hoyt, born about 1639; m 23 Jun 1659 Mary Barnes.[1], daughter of William and Rachel Barnes.
  3. Thomas Hoyt, twin, s John and Frances, 1: 11:m 1640 (1 Jan 1640/1)[4][5] m. Mary Brown, dau. of William and Elisabeth Brown, of Salisbury. (p. 23)[4]
  4. Gregorie Hoyt, twin, s John and Frances, 1: 11m: 1640 1 Jan 1640;[5] d 1:11m: 1641 (1 Jan 1641/2) (p.24)[4]
  5. Elizabeth Hoyt, d John and Frances, 23: 12 m: 1642 (23 Feb 1642/3)[5] NOTE: Day first wife died; therefore John's first wife likely died from complications related to childbirth.

Children of John and 2nd wife, Frances:[4][5]

  1. Sarah Hoyt, d John and Frances [2d w Ct. R.], 16: 11m: 1644;(16 Jan 1644/5 d 26:12m:1644
  2. Mary Hoyt d John and Frances [2d w ct. r], 20: 12m: 1645 (20 Feb 1645/6); probably married Christopher Bartlet, of Newbury Dec. 19 or 17, 1663.
  3. Joseph Hoyt, s John and Frances, 2d w., 13: 3m: 1648 (13 May 1648); d 19:2m:1648 (19 April 1648) according to the records. Probably a mistake in the month of one record.[5]
  4. Joseph Hoyt, (2nd son named Joseph) s John and Frances, 2d w., 27: 9m: 1649 (27 Nov 1649); d 24:11m:1649 (24 Jan 1649/50.
  5. Marah Hoyt, d John and Frances, 2d w., 24: 9m: 1653 (24 Nov 1653); d 1:10m:1653 (1 Dec 1653).
  6. Naomi Hoyt, d John and Frances, 2d w., 23: 11m: 1654 (23 Jan 1654/5); probably m. John Lovejoy, Andover, March 23, 1677-8.
  7. Dorethie Hoyt, d. John and Frances, 2d w., 13: 2m: 1656 (13 April 1656)
  8. Mehetabel Hoyt, d John sr and Frances, 25: 8m: 1664 (25 Oct. 1664).

Origin

John Hoyt was probably born in England, but his place of birth, birth date, and parents are unknown.[8]

Birth date is a guess, based on his having 2 children by 1639. Per Hoyt, this would lead us to estimate his birth as between 1610 and 1615.[8]

Life in New England

John Hoyt... was a proprietor of Salisbury as early as 1639 and owned land also at Ipswich in 1641 and at Haverhill in 1650 but his home was in that section of Salisbury across the Powow river later called Amesbury. He was among the earliest settlers of Salisbury and had land in the first division. His house lot of one acre was between the homes of William Holdred and John Dickinson. He had various other grants and parcels of land acquired by purchase in Salisbury. He was once fined for felling tree on the common lands without permission, but the fine was abated. He was admitted a freeman in 1650. In common with other inhabitants of Amesbury he was fined for neglecting to attend Salisbury church, after the Amesbury people established a church of their own without permission of the general court. They had asked for the right in 1649 and had been refused. The minister at Salisbury effected a partial compromise of the trouble by preaching at Amesbury once a month. In 1660 the township was set off and in 1672 the first minister, Rev. Thomas Wells, was called to Amesbury. Hoyt sold his house in old Salisbury, September 4, 1647, and removed to Amesbury and was one of the original commoners of the new town, his name being on the articles of agreement signed by Salisbury on the new town in 1652. He held various town offices; was selectman in 1681-2; moderator in April 1687, and other years; constable; juror and prudential man. He took the oath of fidelity October 3, 1650; was on the grand jury 1652; was a freeman; was a planter and also a brickmaker; was sergeant of the military company. A seat was assigned him in the Amesbury meeting house July 9, 1667.[9]
  • The date of the first division of Salisbury, Massachusetts land is not given, but the earliest subsequent grants are dated October, 1640. John Hoyt was almost the only individual who received all his earlier grants at the first division. (p. 16)[4]
  • His name appears on the original articles of agreement between Salisbury and Salisbury Newtown in 1654; and he was one of the seventeen original 'comenors' of the newtown whose names were recorded March 19, 1654-5.[4]
  • Goodman Hoyet was one of those who were chosen to lay out land in Lion's Mouth etc. February 1661.[4]
  • John Hoyt is also frequently mentioned on the old Amesbury records as prudential man; selectman; constable; jury man; moderator etc. [4]
  • It was customary in those days for the minority on any question in town affairs to enter their contrary desent upon the town books, his name appears in this way with sufficient frequency to show that his opinion did not always coincide with that of the majority.[4]
  • On the records of the Hampton Court 3 8m 1650, John Hoyt tooke the oath of fidelitie att this prsent Court.[4]
  • He was one of the Grand Jurie in 1652 and several times afterwards served in the same capacity and also as one of the Jurie of Tryalls. (p. 19)[4]
  • John Hoyt was a Sergeant of the Salisbury Military Company and was frequently called Sargent Hoyt. From the Massachusetts Records we learn that in May, 1658, the General Court answered the request of Sarjant Hoyte & Sarjt Stephens, that Phillip Challice might be confirmed left to ye ffoote company in Salisbury, by referring the determination thereof to ye next County Court of that county.[4]
  • Sargent Jn Hoyt was freed by the Salisbury Court 9: 2m: 1667, from all traynings allowing to ye Millitary company of Salisbury tenn groats per annui.[4]
  • John Hoyt senr was also one of the Commissioned and other officers of the Militia in the County of Norfolk who signed a petition to the General Court in May 1671, complaining of Capt. Pike's appointment over them, the year previous, as Sergeant Major. (p. 190)[4]

Death and Legacy

John died on 28 February 1687/8 at Salisbury[8] or at Amesbury, Massachusetts Bay.[10] Burial 29 Feb 1687 Amesbury, Essex, MA; Golgotha Stone, Macy St., Amesbury, Mass.[citation needed] Administration of his estate was granted on 8 May 1697.[8]

"The town records of Amesbury state that "Sargent Jno Hoyt sen. died on ye 28th and was buried on ye 29 day of Feb. An. Dom. 1687-88."[8][11]

Savage writes: "From Pike's Journal we learn that he was k. by Ind. prob. btw. Andover and Haverhill 13 Aug. 1696."[12] But this does not concur with the Amesbury Vital Records. Cutter (1908, p 390) concurs with the town records -- i.e., 28 Feb 1687/8. Cutter says that the John Hoyt killed by Indians was the SON of this John Hoyt.[13]

Probate

He did not leave a will and his estate was administered ten years after his death, by which time both sons had died. The husband of his oldest daughter was appointed to settle the estate. These documents should be found in the Probate Records at Salem:

"[1697]. May 8th. Administration of all & Singuler the goods Chattels rights and Credits of Sargnt. John Hoyt Senr. late of Almsbury decd. granted unto John Barnard son in law of the decd., he having given bond with Surety for is administration according to law. The Relict of Said Hoty having Signifyed under her hand in Writing her Renounciation of the Same, & desired that it might be Confered upon the said Barnard."[14]

The exact wording is this:

"To ye right worship[ful?] Bartholomow Gidney Esqr: Judge of probates or any other concerned:
"These may certify that I Ffrauncees Hoyt relict of Sergt John Hoyt of Almsbury deceased request yt administration to ye estate of my sd deceased Husband John Hoyt may be granted to my son in law John Barnard of Almsbury: yt in order thereunto I do renounce abandon & relinquish all ye right title & Interest I have thereunto or therein viz: by virtue of ye relation I stand or stood in, unto and belonging as witness my hand May ye fourth day: An: Dom: one thous. six hundred ninety & seven. The mark of Frauncees F.H. Hoyt. Witness Thomas Wells, Robert Hoyt. Granted May 8th 1697."[15]

Research Notes

NOTE: Whether he came directly from England, or had previously lived in other towns in America, is uncertain."There is an excellent write up of him. On pp 19 it says he "was a Sergeant of the Salisbury Military Co. and was frequently called Sargent Hoyt".. He had two wives, both named Frances. He probably married his first wife about 1635, though we have found no record of it...The town records of Amesbury state that Sargent John Hoyt died on ye 28ti day & was buried on ye 29 day of Feb. An. Dom.1687-88. The County records at Salem state that he died on the 29th of Feb, but the town records are probably correct. Sources stated as #Old Norfolk C. Records. Norfolk included Amesbury, Exeter, Hampton, Haverhill, Salisbury,--towns north of the Merrimack. Also the Hist. and Genealogical Register, Jan., 1852, p.53abt 1635 when John was 25, he first married Frances.

Sources

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Cutter, William R. (1908) Genealogical and Personal Memoirs. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., Archive.org (Volume 1, Pages 389-390). Note: the entry describing John Hoyt switches gears after initially calling him John and then calls him "William," but Cutter is clearly referring to John Hoyt.
  2. ↑ Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1840; Essex Cases 14000-15999; 14127:2; Boston, MA: New England Historical & Genealogical Society, AmericanAncestors.org, accessed 24 October 2013
  3. ↑ Dan Wharton, "DNA Story of Simon & John Hoyt," Hoyt Family Genealogy Forum 8 March 2003, genforum.com; last accessed 24 October 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 Hoyt, David Webster. (1857) Hoyt Family: A Genealogical History of John Hoyt of Salisbury, and David Hoyt of Deerfield, (Massachusetts,) ... Boston: C.B. Richardson, Archive.org (Pages 20-25).
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 (1915) Vital records of Salisbury, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849. Topsfield, MA: Topsfield Historical Society, Archive.org (Pages 138, 578).
  6. ↑ Torrey, Clarence Almon.. (2015) New England Marriages Prior to 1700, Vol 2. Boston: NEHGS AmericanAncestors.org (Vol 2, Page 805).
  7. ↑ Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881. AmericanAncestors.org NEHGS, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.)
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Hoyt, David Webster, (1871) A Genealogical History of the Hoyt, Haight, and Hight Families... Providence: Printed for the author by the Providence press, Archive.org Caution: Contains some errors. (Pages 15, 24, 27).
  9. ↑ Cutter, William R. (1915) New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial. New York: Lewis historical Pub. Co., HathiTrust.org (Vol 2, Page 755).
  10. ↑ Vital Records of Amesbury Massachusetts to the Year 1850.
  11. ↑ Despite the age of the David Hoyt publication (1857), its contents demonstrate that significant research and seeking of accuracy was conducted. While the author does not cite his sources specifically, he describes them sufficiently to be able to relocate them.
  12. ↑ James Savage, John Farmer, Orrando Perry Dexter, A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England: Showing Three Generations of Those who Came Before May, 1692, on the Basis of Farmer's Register, Little, Brown (1860), Volume 2, p. 481
  13. ↑ William R Cutter, Genealogical and Personal Memoirs, Lewis Historical Publishing Co.; New York; 1908, Volume 1, pp 390.
  14. ↑ Hoyt (1857), p. 20, citing Probate Records at Salem. It would be great to see the original documents and see how this Relict signed her name.
  15. ↑ Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1840; Essex Cases 14000-15999; 14127:2; Boston, MA: New England Historical & Genealogical Society, www.americanancestors.org, accessed 24 October 2013

See also:

  • Anderson, Robert Charles. (1995) "Simon Hoyt." Featured name. The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633, Vol. 1-3. Boston, MA: NEHGS, American Ancestors.org (Vol 1-3, Pages 1028-1033).






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Comments: 20

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Kathleen Walker
I have this John Hoyt in my tree, as a distant connection, through marriage. I also have Simon Hoyt in my tree. I am a direct descendant of Simon. I accept the concept that this John Hoyt is not related to Simon. Many people have Frances Twerksbury as his spouse, actually I do too, but I'm realizing it may be wrong. I'm not wanting to argue that. My problem is, I did a DNA test at Ancestry, and going through my matches, I keep finding Hoyt matches that go back to this John and Frances. But if John is not related to Simon, I'm not finding my DNA link to him and Frances. And it's not just one or two of my DNA matches to go back to them, it's several. And I don't know how to figure this out. How do I figure this out?
posted by Kathleen Walker
M Cole
With the type of test Ancestry does (atDNA), you can really only trace about 5-6 generations. After that the DNA segments are usually pretty small, which means they have a higher likelihood of being false matches or likely to be "sticky DNA" that is probably common to a lot of people with English ancestry. Ancestry does their best to filter these out, but they can only do so much. Ancestry also doesn't provide a chromosome browser, or much info at all on the actual DNA, which would be necessary to see exactly what's going on with those matches.

That's not to say that it's entirely impossible that you might have a match that far back, but statistically it's very unlikely...so the fact that you have so many matches, suggests to me that something else is going on. Also, remember that you have over 2000 9th great grandparents, but very few people have full visibility in their tree. So it's quite possible that what you're seeing is from a match in an earlier generation that isn't visible on the tree.

posted by M Cole
edited by M Cole
Kathleen Walker
Would it help to upload my DNA from Ancestry to another site? That's on my list of things to do later.
posted by Kathleen Walker
J (Wilson) Heath
The above source says John Hoyt died 28 Feb 1687 and was buried 29 Feb 1687. That means he would have been buried on "Leap Day" of a Leap Year. I checked and 1687 was not a Leap Year. Leap Years were instituted by Pope Gregory XIII when he instituted the Gregorian calendar in 1582. https:www.wwu.edu/astro101
posted by J (Wilson) Heath
Madison-125 Bobbie (Madison) Hall
No, but 1688 was. Note the date given is 1687/8. I'll adjust the data field.
posted by Bobbie (Madison) Hall
Chris Hoyt
I believe those categories may have come from someome merging John Hoyt of Salisbury, Ma with John of Connecticut. Go ahead and remove them.
posted by Chris Hoyt
Billups-130 Cynthia (Billups) B
This profile has two categories associated, Dorchester, Dorset and Rye, New York which may not belong. I'm no Hoyt expert, but there is no mention of either of these places in the bio. Anyone object to their removal? Thanks!
posted by Cynthia (Billups) B
Billups-130 Cynthia (Billups) B
Do we know the last name of one of his two wives, named Frances?

Any additional info on sources would be helpful. Thanks!

posted by Cynthia (Billups) B
Smith-32867 Jillaine Smith
While we have resolved the issue of the wives, there are still two complete bios in this profile and it needs cleaning up. Will someone take on the responsibility for combining these two into one, please? (And please be sure to retain the "Disputed Origins" and "Disputed Spouses" sections. Thank you.
posted by Jillaine Smith
Smith-32867 Jillaine Smith
I have:
  • made both wives Frances Unknown (adding suffixes 1st and 2nd wife)
  • made sure each documented child is attached to the correct mother
  • detached incorrect children who do not belong to THIS John Hoyt
posted by Jillaine Smith
Smith-32867 Jillaine Smith
Remaining to be done:

1. Make both wives Frances Unknown (unless someone can identify solid sources for the maiden names provided here); merge one of the dupes into one of those Frances Unknowns. DOES ANYONE OBJECT? 2. Attach the children to the appropriate mothers, following the Salisbury vital records and Cutter (1908). 3. If any children remain, they are likely children of Hoyt-601. Check and move.

posted by Jillaine Smith
Smith-32867 Jillaine Smith
Woo hoo! FOUND a digital image of the original 1697 probate document. It names the widow as Frances!! Therefore, THIS John Hoyt (of Salisbury/Amesbury) did not marry Mary (Brundage) Purdy, widow of Frances Purdy!
posted by Jillaine Smith
Smith-32867 Jillaine Smith
Buckley, the information about the third wife was found 150 years after the 1857 genealogy. Please re-read the indented paragraph under "Disputed Spouses" for Anderson's rationale for the third wife. It hinges on a) one of John Hoyt's daughters marrying the Hachaliah Brown mentioned in Elizabeth (Brown) Purdy's will(?) as her brother, while at the same time calling John Hoit her father.

That John Hoyt's last wife survived him is supported by the 1697 probate document about his estate, but she is not named. Did she sign or is she named in the actual 1697 document? Without knowing that, we don't know the name of his wife at his death. The 1857 genealogy simply assumes it was the second Frances. But the Anderson findings suggest a third wife.

posted by Jillaine Smith
Howe-1046 Philip Buckley Howe (1944-2017)
According to the book “A Genealogical History of John Hoyt of Salisbury and David Hoyt of Deerfield and their Descendants”, by David W. Holt, 1857 -- P.19 “He (John Hoyt) had two wives both named Francis. He probably married his first wife about 1635 though we have no record of it. She died Feb 23 1642-3 and he married his second wife in 1643 or44. His second wife survived him and was living in 1697.”

No last names give for the two wives. But that seems to eliminate the possibility of wives Mary F. Jewell and Mary Elizabeth Brundage being married to this John Hoyt.

posted by Philip Buckley Howe (1944-2017)
Bredehoft-6 Tom Bredehoft
I may have been too easily influenced by other profiles, fix this as needed.
posted by Tom Bredehoft

Rejected matches › John Hoyt (abt.1835-) › John Hoyt (1559-1657) › Jason John Hoyt › John Lewis Hoyt › John Hoyt (1669-1746) › John Hoyt 3rd (1765-1812) › John Hoyt (1689-abt.1757) › John Hoyt (abt.1699-) › John Hoyt Jr. (abt.1638-1696) › Richard J. Hoyt › John Irving Hoyt (1880-abt.1949) › Jack C. Hoyt › John Hoyt (abt.1817-) › John Hoyt (abt.1625-1684)

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