Jonathan Wade (abt. 1612 - 1683)

Born about 1612 in England

Descendants

Died 13 Jun 1683 at about age 71 in Ipswich, Massachusetts Bay

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Puritan Great Migration Project WikiTree [send private message], Karen Stewart [send private message], and Caley Gredig [send private message]

Jonathan Wade migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See Great Migration Begins, by R. C. Anderson, Vol. 3, p. 1883) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Jonathan Wade was a wealthy merchant and an investor in the Company of Adventurers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.^[1][2] He immigrated to New England with the hope and promise that he would receive large grants of land in compensation for his investment in the growing colony. As a merchant, he sold all manner of goods and ran a tavern.^[3][4] He delt in large quantities of fish for export back to England. He purchased sugar from Barbados in quantities up to 100,000 pounds. He distributed liquor to various taverns. He ran a saw sawmill and a windmill. He also was a part owner of the Rowley ironworks. While all these activities certainly brought him great wealth, he made considerably more speculating on land.

In 1629, Jonathan Wade and his brother Thomas paid £60 as Adventurers and Participants in the Colony of Massachusetts.^[5][6] This investment bought of promise of land upon their arrival in New England. He arrived in Massachusetts on 16 September 1632 aboard the Lyon.^[7] He first settled in Charlestown, Massachusetts where he and his wife were admitted to the church on 25 May 1633.^[8] He was made a freeman on 14 May 1634, and would later make his Oath of Allegiance in 1678.^[9][10]

The first large land grant to Jonathan Wade by the General Court was for 200 acres in 1639.^[11] He was granted an additional 400 acres of land in 1649 "wherever he found it" as compensation for the £60 he and his brother had paid in 1629 for the furtherance of the Massachusetts Bay plantation.^[12] He apparently requested the land to be on Plum Island, but this was denied.^[13] However, in 1652, 400 acres were granted to him in the newly formed Nashaway plantation (Lancaster) with respect to the £50 formerly paid by Jonathan Wade.^[14][15] In 1661 he was granted by the General Court an additional 400 acres to be laid out "in any place free of former grants" in full satisfaction of what is due to him by the country.^[16] In addition to these large land grants there are many records of Jonathan acquiring land around Ipswich and other locations in Massachusetts.^[1] His largest purchase was 900-1000 acres he acquired from Richard Russell in May 1661.^[17] This land he split between his sons Jonathan and Nathaniel.

He made at least two return trips to England, the first in 1657. In December 1655 he made his oldest son his attorney in preparation. It was during this visit that he joined Company of Adventurers of the Bedford Level Corporation,and purchased land in Denver parish in Norfolk. He made a will in 1669 stating he was about to travel to England.

The name of Jonathan's wife was Susanna. Her parentage and origins are unknown. Together they had a total of three sons and four daughters. Their marriages speak to the influential circles Jonathan Wade with whom he was associated. Sarah Wade married Samuel Rogers, son of Rev. Nathaniel Rogers the influential pastor of Ipswich, Massachusetts. Prudence Wade married Dr. Anthony Crosby, a wealthy physician with extensive land in both old England and New England.

Jonathan Wade died in 1683 of smallpox. He left an extensive estate which was valued at 7,859 in the inventory presented to the court.^[18] His death led to a dispute between his three sons regarding the division of his estate.^[19][20] Multiple wills were presented to the court, all of which were eventually invalidated and he was declared intestate. The first will was signed in London during his 1657 trip, just prior to Jonathan returning to New England.^[21] A second will presented to the court was dated 22 May 1669 and written just prior to leaving for England.^[22] This will was also found to be defective as the signature had been torn off. This will was more specific in its bequests and more or less left his estate equally to his three sons.

Name and Origins

Name: Jonathan Wade of Ipswich

Though there has been a fair amount of conjecture, the English origins of Jonathan Wade are uncertain. He is often said to have come from Denver parish, Norfolk , England.^[23] This is based on his first will in which he left "all my land in Norfolk in the Parish of Denver" to his eldest son Jonathan.^[24] However, it has been shown that the land in Denver was part of the Bedford Level and was purchased in 1657 while Jonathan Wade was in England. He was essentially a venture capitalist who funded the draining of The Fens with the promise of great profits in the form of farm land grants. It is not unlikely that Jonathan Wade was never in Denver, and that the land was simply a business venture.^[24]

It is perhaps more likely that Jonathan Wade originated in Northamptonshire. We know that Jonathan Wade had a brother Thomas who apparently helped fund Jonathan's land speculation in the new colony of Massachusetts in 1629.^[5][25] This brother Thomas was described as Thomas Wade of Northampton in 1649.^[26] Jonathan is also called "of Northampton" by Banks in his record of immigration aboard the Lyon.^[7] The coat of arms used by Jonathan Wade perhaps links him to the family of Wade of Bowden and Kelmarsh in Northamptonshire, though this is not certain.

Birth

Born: About 1612.

He deposed aged about 64 years in September 1678.^[27] His admission to the church in 1633, marriage and being made a freeman in 1634 indicate he may have been slightly older than this, and Anderson has placed his birth at about 1612.

Marriage and Children

Married: Susanna before 1633 based on the birth of their first known child.

Children of Jonathan and Susanna Wade:

1. Mary Wade. Baptized on 2 October 1633 in Charlestown, Massachusetts.^[28] She married 1st William Simonds, and 2nd Francis Littlefield. Mary died on 15 January 1713 in Ipswich.
2. Jonathan Wade. Born about 1637 (in 53rd year at death). He married 1st Dorothy Buckley, 2nd Deborah Dudley, and 3rd Elizabeth Dunster. Jonathan died on 24 November 1689 in Medford.
3. Prudence Wade. Born say 1639. She married 1st Anthony Crosby, 2nd Seaborn Cotton, and 3rd John Hammond. Prudence died on 1 September 1711 in Watertown.
4. Sarah Wade. Born say 1641. She married Samuel Rogers, and 2nd Henry Woodhouse. Sarah died on 19 January 1717 in Ipswich.
5. Elizabeth Wade. Born about 1644 (aged 26 in 1670). She married Elihu Wardwell.
6. Nathaniel Wade. Born about 1648 (aged 36 in 1684). He married Mercy Bradstreet. Nathaniel died on 28 November 1707 in Medford.
7. Thomas Wade. Born about 1650 (aged 28 in 1678). He married Elizabeth Cogswell. Thomas died on 4 October 1696 in Ipswich.

Death

Died: 13 June 1683 in Ipswich, Massachusetts of small pox.^[29]

His date of death was given in the administration of his estate.^[1][30]

Will #2 summary: Jonathan Wade of Ipswich in New England

Made 22 May 1669; presented to the court 27 December 1683 but found to be defective as the signature was torn off.

I Jonathan Wade of Ipswich in New England going on a voyage to sea...

my land in England to be equally divided between my three sons Jonathan, Nathaniel and Thomas

my beloved wife Susanna to be executrix

to my son Jonathan one half my farm in Mystick

my son Nathaniel the other half of said farm

to son Thomas all my land, housing and mills in Ipswich

to Jonathan all my land Malden; to Nathaniel my land in Wemesek; to Thomas my grant of land of 800 acres

to my son Anthony Crosby £50

to Thomas Crosby, Nathaniel Crosby and Thomas Crosby £50 for use of Prudence Crosby their mother at her pleasure

to Elihue Wardell my son £200 for the use of Elizabeth his wife and his two children

the remainder to be split equally between my three sons on the death of my wife or at her remarriage

Research Notes

Coat of Arms

Wade: Gules, on a saltire argent between four escallops or, a hawks lure of the first.

Gules, on a saltire argent between four escallops or, a hawks lure of the first.

That Jonathan Wade had and used a coat of arms is proven by a wax seal which clearly shows the Wade saltire between four escallops. These arms were accepted by the NEHGS Committee on Heraldry with the tinctures given, though these were likely a guess.^[31] The saltire between four escallops is widely used by various Wade families throughout England.

Photo of wax seal used by Jonathan Wade in 1657.[32]

If the charge on the saltire is correctly interpreted as a hawk's lure, then it may indicate that Jonathan came from the family of Wade of Bowden and Kelmarsh in Northamptonshire.^[33][34]

Adventurer

The term Adventurer is meant to mean an investor or speculator willing to risk his money for the chance at large monetary gain. Jonathan Wade joined in a number of such ventures.

Massachusetts Bay Company: We know from records that Jonathan and his brother Thomas Wade invested £60 in January or February 1629 to be Adventurers of the Massachusetts Bay Company. The original charter of the company was granted by King Charles I on 4 March 1629, and was meant to promote the settlement of New England.

Bedford Level Corporation This corporation was formed by the Duke of Bedford to drain The Fens and reclaim 95,000 acres of the Bedford Level. This project was begun in the 1630s and would continue for decades. On 1 May 1657, Jonathan Wade purchased 251 acres and 33 perches of Fen Marsh Land and 5 acres near Salters Lode in Denver for £100.^[24] This purchase was confirmed on 15 June 1665 by the Commissioners of the Great Level. He apparently sold this land in 1671.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Anderson. The Great Migration Begins, vol. 3. (1995): pages 1883-1888.
2. ↑ Labarge, Charles. "The Wades of Ipswich, Massachusetts." (Wordpress Blog Website: https://ipswichwades.wordpress.com ).
3. ↑ Essex. Quarterly Courts of Essex... vol. 3. (1913): page 5, page 309, page 402.
4. ↑ Suffolk. Suffolk Deeds, Liber III. (Boston, 1885): pages 357-358.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Essex. Quarterly Courts of Essex... vol. 8. (1921): page 445.
6. ↑ Banks, Charles Edward. The Winthrop Fleet of 1630. (1930): page 95.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Banks. The Planters of the Commonwealth. (1930): page 100.
8. ↑ Hunnewell. Records of the First Church in Charlestown. (1880): page 8
9. ↑ Shurtleff. Records of Massachusetts Bay, volume 1. (1853): page 369.
10. ↑ Essex. Quarterly Courts of Essex... vol. 7. (1919): page 158
11. ↑ Shurtleff. Records of the Massachusetts Bay, vol. 3. (1854): page 262.
12. ↑ Shurtleff. Records of Massachusetts Bay, vol. 2. (1854): page 273.
13. ↑ Shurtleff. Records of Massachusetts Bay, vol. 3. (1854): page 154.
14. ↑ Shurtleff. Records of Massachusetts Bay, vol. 3. (1854): page 271.
15. ↑ Shurtleff. Records of Massachusetts Bay, vol. 4 pt 1. (1854): page 97.
16. ↑ Shurtleff. Records of Massachusetts Bay, vol. 4 pt 2. (1854): page 14.
17. ↑ Medford Historical Register, vol. 7. (1904): pages 49-64, see 52.
18. ↑ Essex. Quarterly Courts of Essex, vol. 9. (1975): page 126.
19. ↑ Essex Institute. Historical Collections, vol. 4. (1862): pages 23-24, pages 68-70.
20. ↑ Essex. Quarterly Courts of Essex, vol. 9. (1975): page 123-126.
21. ↑ Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881, (AmericanAncestors.org online database). Probate #28633, 1st will of Jonathan Wade.
22. ↑ Essex. Quarterly Courts of Essex, vol. 9. (1975): page 153-154.
23. ↑ e.g. Savage. Genealogical Dictionary of New England, vol. 4. (1862): page 378.
24. ↑ ^{24.0 24.1 24.2} Labarge. "Denver Parish, Norfolk County" at Wades of Ipswich blog website. (Posted on 1 April 2012).
25. ↑ Shurtleff. Records of Massachusetts Bay, vol. 1. (1853): page 150.
26. ↑ Shurtleff. Records of Massachusetts Bay, vol. 3. (1854): page 154.
27. ↑ Essex. Quarterly Courts of Essex... vol. 7. (1919): page 87.
28. ↑ Hunnewell. Records of the First Church in Charlestown. (1880): page 45.
29. ↑ NEHGR, vol. 160. (2006): page 198.
30. ↑ Essex Institute. Historical Collections, vol. 4. (1862): pages 68-70.
31. ↑ NEHGR, volume 107 number 2. (April 1953): pages 108-111.
32. ↑ Labarge. "The Search for a Coat of Arms" at Wades of Ipswich blog website. (Post on 13 July 2012).
33. ↑ Burke. General Armory of England. (1884): page 1061.
34. ↑ Metcalfe. Visitations of Northamptonshire. (1887): page 150.

Source list:

• Anderson, Robert Charles, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, volume 3: P-W. (Boston: NEHGS, 1995): pages 1883-1888.

• Banks, Charles Edward. The Winthrop Fleet of 1630. (1930): page 95.

• Banks, Charles Edward. The Planters of the Commonwealth. (1930): page 100.

• Burke, Bernard. The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, 1884 edition. (London, 1884): page 1061.

• Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881, (AmericanAncestors.org online database). Probate #28633, 1st will of Jonathan Wade.

• Essex County Courts. Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex... vol. 2: 1656-1662. (Salem: The Essex Institute, 1912). HathiTrust link, Internet Archive link.

• Essex County Courts. Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex... vol. 3: 1662-1667. (Salem: The Essex Institute, 1913). HathiTrust.org link.

• Essex County Courts. Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex... vol. 7: 1678-1680. (Salem: The Essex Institute, 1919). HathiTrust.org link

• Essex County Courts. Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex... vol. 8: 1680-1683. (Salem: The Essex Institute, 1921). HathiTrust link

• Essex Institute. Historical Collections of the Essex institute, volume 4. (Salem, 1862): pages 68-70.

• Essex County Courts. Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex... vol. 9: 1680-1683. (Salem: The Essex Institute, 1975). Online copy

• Hunnewell, James Frothingham ed. Records of the First Church in Charlestown, Massachusetts, 1632-1789. (Boston, 1880): page 8.

• Labarge, Charles. "The Wades of Ipswich, Massachusetts." (Wordpress Blog Website: https://ipswichwades.wordpress.com ).

• The Medford Historical Register, volume 7, number 3. (July 1904): pages 49-64, see 52. "Some Old Medford Houses and Estates," by John H. Hooper.

• Metcalfe, Walter C. ed. Visitations of Northamptonshire Made in 1564 and 1618-19. (London, 1887): page 150.

• New England Historical and Genealogical Register, volume 107 number 2. (April 1953): pages 108-111. "Fifth part of A Roll of Arms Registered by the Committee on Heraldry of the New England Historic Genealogical Society," by The Editors.

• New England Historical and Genealogical Register, volume 160 number 3. (July 2006): page 198. "Note on the Death of Jonathan Wade," by Mark Donnelly.

• Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, volume 4 S-Z. (Boston, 1862): page 378.

• Shurtleff, Nathaniel Bradstreet ed. Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, volume 1. (Boston, 1853). Internet Archive link.

• Shurtleff, Nathaniel Bradstreet ed. Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, volume 2. (Boston, 1853). Internet Archive link.

• Shurtleff, Nathaniel Bradstreet ed. Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, volume 3. (Boston, 1854). Internet Archive link.

• Shurtleff, Nathaniel Bradstreet ed. Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, volume 4 part 1. (Boston, 1854). Internet Archive link.

• Shurtleff, Nathaniel Bradstreet ed. Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, volume 4 part 2. (Boston, 1854). Internet Archive link.

• Shurtleff, Nathaniel Bradstreet ed. Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, volume 5. (Boston, 1854). Internet Archive link.

• Suffolk. Suffolk Deeds, Liber III. (Boston, 1885): pages 357-358.

• Vannah, Alison I. Crotchets of Division: Ipswich 1633-1679. (PhD Thesis Dissertation, Brandeis University, February 1999). Available online.

See also:

• Geni webpage for Jonathan Wade.